Every January, I find myself waiting for one thing I know will make me pause for a few minutes: the Google Year in Search. I truly look forward to it every year. It is more than a recap video or a list of trending topics. It brings smiles, a few tears, and always a couple of goosebumps.
In just a few minutes, it captures what moved us, surprised us, challenged us, and connected us. Sometimes I even revisit past years to remind myself what happened and how it felt in that moment. It is a powerful snapshot of our collective curiosity and the events that shaped the year.
What Is Google Year in Search?
Google Year in Search is a two to four-minute highlight reel that captures the moments the world turned to Google for answers. It weaves together the year’s most searched topics, questions, events, and people into a fast-paced, emotional recap.
Through short video clips, headlines, and powerful music, it shows what made us curious, what made us celebrate, what made us worry, and what brought us together. In just a few minutes, it tells the story of the year through the lens of what people were searching.
You can access the 2010–2025 videos in two ways:
- YouTube Playlist
- Google website (you will need to scroll to the bottom of the page)
So of course, the next question is this — how could you use Google Year in Search in the classroom?
Trend Analysis Activity
Have students:
- Compare 2024 and 2025
- Identify patterns
- Notice repeated themes
- Analyze changes over time
You could also compare:
- 2020 and 2025
- Pre-pandemic and post-pandemic searches
Prediction Activity
Have students predict:
- What will trend next year?
- What questions will people ask?
- What global issues will continue?
Then revisit those predictions in December with another class and see how close they were.
Searching for Meaning
Possible questions to ask students:
General Curiosity
- What is something in the video you remember seeing?
- Why do you think so many people searched for that?
- Have you ever looked something up because you saw it in the news or online?
Feelings and Reactions
- Did anything in the video make you feel happy, sad, or excited?
- Which part made you think the most?
Making Connections
- What is one thing from the video that reminds you of something we learned in school?
- Did you see anything that happened in a country you have heard of?
Learning from It
- Why do you think people search for answers online?
- What is something you would want to learn more about from the video?
Looking Forward
- If we made our own Year in Search, what would you include?
- What do you think people might search for in 2026?
Create “Our Class Year in Search”
Have students create their own version:
- Top 10 classroom moments
- Most asked classroom questions
- Most searched homework topics
- Biggest “why” questions of the year
Students can:
- Create a slide deck
- Record a one-minute recap
- Design a poster
- Write headlines
This activity works especially well for end-of-year reflection.
Closing Thoughts
Google Year in Search reminds us that curiosity connects us. It shows that behind every trending topic is a question, a concern, a celebration, or a moment that mattered. Bringing it into the classroom invites students to reflect, analyze, predict, and connect their own learning to the larger world around them. And sometimes, it simply gives us permission to pause and remember the year together. Search on . . .
Featured image generated by ChatGPT 5.2, inspired by Google Year in Search 2025
