Library DVDs
Following is the list of DVDs at the Educator Resource Center in the Lyman Library, organized by subject. Each title has been given a suggested age range, which should be taken as a guideline only. Some viewing materials may not be appropriate for all viewers.
All media can be borrowed for two weeks, and no more than three DVDs can be borrowed at one time. If you would like to reserve a DVD, contact us: 617-589-0174, lymanlibrary@mos.org. We hold the reserved media behind the circulation desk for up to two weeks.
Ancient Civilizations and Archaeology
Archaeology (26 min. Disney) In Archaeology, Bill digs into the fascinating science of archaeology, the study of those who lived before us. Home Improvement's Richard Karn drops by to check out some ancient "Tool Time"-style artifacts. Grades 4 and up.
Greece: Secrets of the Past (45 min. IMAX®) Filmed in IMAX technology, Greece: Secrets of the Past takes viewers to the dawn of democracy and the birthplace of Western civilization on a quest to uncover the buried secrets of one of the world's most enlightened societies: Ancient Greece. The film is at once a modern detective story and a sweeping archeological journey back in time. State-of-the-art CGI recreates the massive eruption that blew Santorini sky-high and reveals the wonder of the Parthenon before it was reduced to ruins. Narrated by Nia Vardalos. Grades 6 and up.
Engineering Egypt: How Egypt's Two Greatest Pharaohs Built Their Way to Immortality (90 min. National Geographic) Monumental in scale and sophisticated in design, the engineering triumphs of the ancient Egyptians still inspire awe to this day. This in-depth National Geographic special explores two of Egypt's mightiest pharaohs, Khufu and Ramses. Grades 9 and up.
The Mystery of the Maya (40 min. Razor Digital) This DVD explores the culture, science, and history of the civilizations who lived deep within the jungles of Mexico and Guatemala. Grades 7 and up.
Secrets of Lost Empires: Colosseum, Stonehenge (112 min. WGBH/NOVA) How did the Roman builders completely cover the Colosseum with a billowing canopy? Scientists try out two competing concepts to see what engineering principles may have worked. How did early Britons construct Stonehenge 4,500 years ago without modern tools? Scientists attempt to replicate the conditions of the Stone Age to reproduce their own Stonehenge. Grades 4 and up.
Secrets of Lost Empires: Inca (56 min. WGBH) This DVD takes a look into the mysterious building techniques of the Inca as it tries to reconstruct their work. Grades 4 and up.
Secrets of Lost Empires: Pyramid, Obelisk (112 min; WGBH) Scientists face a daunting challenge to replicate a pyramid in three weeks, putting various construction theories to the test to learn how the original pyramids were built. Also, watch as a troupe of engineers, scholars, and craftsmen come together to figure out how Egypt's massive obelisks were erected. Grades 4 and up.
Secrets of Lost Empires II: Easter Island, China Bridge (112 min. WGBH/NOVA) Unlock secrets behind the massive Moai statues on Easter Island; learn how this vanished civilization may have carved its way to extinction; and learn the meaning of the Moai from an archaeological perspective. Return to the Song Dynasty in China Bridge where the revolutionary Rainbow Bridge reveals intricate mysteries of China's inventive past; and hear experts explain how China's technical wizardry went unrivaled in the West for centuries. Grades 4 and up.
Secrets of Lost Empires II: Medieval Siege (56 min. WGBH/NOVA) Discover how the fearsome, mechanized marvel known as the trebuchet catapulted warfare in an unpredictable direction in Medieval Siege. Grades 4 and up.
Secrets of Lost Empires II: Pharaoh's Obelisk, Roman Baths (112 min. WGBH/NOVA) Travel inside ancient tombs and temples, and "read" cryptic building instructions to see how ancient Egyptians used a lot of sand, ingenuity and unwavering faith to raise a 500-ton granite monument in Pharaoh's Obelisk. Learn why the intimate luxury palaces of Roman Bath remain such an impressive achievement today; and travel to an olive grove in Turkey to see the start-to-finish construction of a modern "ancient" Roman bath. Grades 4 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Coming Into America (57 min. PBS) Who were the first Americans? New discoveries and techniques for dating have archeologist rethinking what they know -- and rewriting history. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: The Secret Canyon (27 min. PBS) The best-kept secret of American archaeology is now revealed: an entire canyon of perfectly preserved 1,000-year-old remains. Grades 7 and up.
Animals
Amazing Journeys (106 min. IMAX) Witness nature's most incredible spectacles as millions of creatures undertake extraordinary journeys of survival. Grades 3 and up.
Amphibians (26 min. Disney) In Amphibians, Bill Nye shows why being called "cold-blooded" is no insult to these creatures! The Science Guy explains how amphibians can live both on land and in water, and he demystifies the process of metamorphosis. Grades 4 and up.
Animal Life for Children: All About Food Chains (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In All About Food Chains, young students learn about how energy from the Sun is passed on from one living thing to another. Students take a look at examples of various food chains, identifying the difference between producers, consumers, and decomposers while examining the roles that they play. Grades: K - 4.
Animal Life in Action: Animal Adaptations (23 min. Schlessinger Media) As animals adapt to new environments, their bodies and life cycles may change over thousands of years. Students will find out about the various adaptations that different species have undergone and how these changes affected the lives and lifestyles of new generations. Grades 5 - 8.
Animal Life in Action: Animal Interdependency (23 min. Schlessinger Media) No organism on Earth can exist independently. Students will find out more about animal relationships, such as predator/prey relationships and symbiotic host/parasitic relationships, and learn how animals are dependent on each other for survival through the food chain. Grades 5 - 8.
Animal Locomotion (26 min. Disney) In Animal Locomotion, Bill Nye checks out a millipede that crawls by coordinating the movement of its 200 feet, and reveals other creatures who move around without a leg to stand on. Grades 4 and up.
Animals Stories for Students: In the Company of Whales (12 min. Discovery School) Outlines a variety of whales, how they socialize, how they communicate, and how scientists continue to study these intelligent creatures of the sea. Pre-K.
Beavers (70 min. IMAX) Take a swim with beavers and experience the rich aquatic habitat of one of nature's greatest engineers. Grades K and up.
Birds (26 min. Disney) In Birds, fly the coop with Bill Nye the Science Guy as he explores his fascination with birds. Bill shows us how these feathery friends stay airborne, where they live, and what they eat. Grades 4 and up.
Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure (40 min. IMAX) Explore the extraordinary hidden world of insects, where a leaf weighs more than a car, rain drops feel like exploding hand grenades, and a blade of grass soars like a skyscraper. Grades K and up.
Chameleons Are Cool: A picture Book on DVD (8 min. Martin Jenkins, Chandlewick Press) Describes different kinds of chameleons, examining their physical features, their behavior, and their ability to change color. Grades K - 2.
Communication (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye the Science Guy shows how it's "E Z 2 C" the difference between human and animal communication. It's the signs and symbols that people use to pass information that sets them apart. Grades 4 and up.
Echo of the Elephants (110 min. Nature) Witness some of the most moving and intimate elephant behavior ever captured on film. Elephant expert Cynthia Moss is your guide to the daily dramas in the lives of grand matriarch Echo and her elephant herd that Moss has studied for more than 20 years in Kenya's Amboseli National Park. Two classic Nature episodes, "Echo of the Elephants" and "Echo of the Elephants: The Next Generation" tell this remarkable story that includes mating struggles, difficult births, a baby elephant's first steps, mischievous children, kidnappings, emotional reunions, and, occasionally, death at the hands of a hunter. Grades 4 and up.
Eyewitness: Bird (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Bird takes you soaring through the sky and around the world in an exciting journey from the bird's distant dinosaur past to its present astonishing variety. Take an up-close look at the staggering range of sizes, shapes, and habitats of these feathered creatures, and experience the miracle of flight. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Butterfly & Moth (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Butterfly & Moth takes a flight of fancy with nature's most beguiling creatures. See their miraculous transformation from lowly caterpillar to airborne adult, and learn why these delicate insects have long inspired and entranced us. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Insect (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Insect zooms in on a world of creatures that are industrious, sociable, and environmentally useful, but that are nevertheless avoided and ignored. Here, you can safely examine the wonders of the insect through macro-photography and startling 3-D graphics that reveal the true importance of these amazing life forms. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Mammal (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Mammal reveals the most amazing facts and folklore about our favorite furry animals. Towering or tiny, ferocious or friendly, mammals trot, hop, swim, and soar. Meet the creatures that make up this huge and varied family. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Reptile (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Reptile reveals the alien world of these often misunderstood cold-blooded vertebrates, uncovering reptilian facts that are stranger than fiction. From hot, steamy swamps to dry-as-bone deserts, travel the world in search of these amazing animals. Grades 2 - 6.
Growing Up Wild: Bouncing Babies (180 min. BBC) Growing Up Wild provides a fun and exciting look at baby animals in their growing-up years. This fascinating series offers a humorous and engaging view of the animal kingdom that the whole family can enjoy together. Your animated host, Madison the cat, brings the whole family right into the natural habitats of creatures large and small with amazing close-up footage that will enchant young audiences. Grades K - 4.
Hanging with the Sloth (30 min. Perezoso Production) Discover how conservation efforts are protecting the sloth and its habitat which is under constant threat from development. Scientists and animal experts discuss how efforts at rescue centers set up especially for sloths are contributing to better understanding. Grades 4 and up.
India: Kingdom of the Tiger (110 min. Slingshot Entertainment) India: Kingdom of the Tiger surrounds us with the landscape of one of the oldest civilizations in the world and brings us face to face with one of the world's most intriguing animals -- the Bengal tiger. Traveling through this land of tremendous beauty, we are guided by the story of Jim Corbett -- a writer, hunter and conservationist who, in the early 1900s, became famous in India as both a hunter of man-eating tigers and as a protector of Indian wildlife. Grades 9 and up.
Invertebrates (26 min. Disney) You may not believe it, but these "spineless wonders" far outnumber those of us animals with backbones. Bill Nye shares invertebrates' unique characteristics and explains why we are dependent on them. Grades 4 and Up.
Insects (26 min. Disney) In Insects, Bill Nye talks to special guest Queen Latifah, who's abuzz about her other favorite queens -- bees. The lab kids go exploring at an insectorium and go digging for insect fossils. Grades 4 and Up.
Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees (75 min. IMAX) This IMAX film shows Jane Goodall's extraordinary trip deep into Tanzania and across four decades of research to experience the world of the chimpanzee. Grades 4 and up.
The Last Great Ape (56 min. WGBH/NOVA) Deep in the Congo lives a little-studied group of apes called the bonobos. Like the more-familiar chimpanzees, bonobos are among the humans' closest relatives, but unlike the chimps who are known for their violent behavior, bonobos are far more peaceful. Grades 7 and up.
Life in the Freezer (180 min. BBC) Natural history guru David Attenborough and his camera team spent three years in Antarctica braving mountainous seas, blizzards with 100 mph winds, plummeting temperatures, and glaciers the size of cathedrals to capture the majesty of Antarctica both on land and underwater. In this starkly beautiful landscape, they discover penguins by the millions, whales by the thousands, half the world's seal population, and seabirds galore. Grades: 7 and Up.
Life in the Undergrowth (2 discs, 250 min. BBC) David Attenborough guides the viewer through a miniature universe teeming with life, never normally seen, yet all around us. New technology reveals surreal vistas and their extraordinary inhabitants -- swarming antler moths, desert locusts and a mountain of cockroaches -- up close and personal. The bizarre and the beautiful are represented and their habits, lifestyles, and characteristics explained in David Attenborough's inimitable style. Though small, these creatures are as ferocious as any seen before. Grades 7 and up.
The Life of Birds (3 discs, 580 min. BBC Video) Colorful, mysterious, noble, and intriguing, birds have fascinated us since the dawn of history. David Attenborough, one of the world's foremost naturalists, hosts an extraordinary exploration into the secret lives of these magnificent creatures. Grades 9 and up.
The Life of Mammals, Vol. 1 - 4 (4 discs, 500 min. BBC) In ten parts, the award-winning David Attenborough introduces us to the most diverse group of animals ever to live on Earth, from the smallest -- the two-inch pygmy shrew, to the largest -- the blue whale; from the slowest -- the sloth, to the swiftest -- the cheetah; from the least attractive -- the naked mole rat, to the most irresistible -- a human baby. The Life of Mammals is the story of 4,000 species that have outlived the dinosaurs and conquered the farthest places on Earth.
Lions: Kings of Africa (50 min. Reel Productions) Wildlife cinematographers capture the lives of a lion pride in Ngorongoro Crater in Northern Tanzania where three generations of lions revealed their fascinating lives. Grades 6 and up.
Living with Wolves (83 min. Discovery Channel) For centuries, wolves have been characterized as bloodthirsty beasts, tormentors of ranchers and the bane of helpless livestock. Determined to overcome this misconception, filmmakers Jaime and Jim Dutcher – creators of the Emmy-winning Wolves at Our Door – spent six years in a tented camp in the wilderness of Idaho, living with a pack of wolves, listening to them, and earning their trust. Grades 6 and up.
The Magic School Bus: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs! (82 min. Scholastic) Buzz, flutter, and march into three busy episodes with Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus! With this trio, discover the fascinating world of insects as the class explores the sticky home of a bee, the industrious life of an ant, and the surprising identity of a caterpillar. Grades Pre-K - 2.
Mammals (26 min. Disney) They're (sometimes) big, they're hairy, and they're warm-blooded. From human beings to moose, and from cats to rats, Bill Nye the Science Guy explains in Mammals what it takes to be in the mammal family. Grades 4 and up.
March of the Penguins (80 min. National Geographic) Every year, thousands of emperor penguins make an astonishing journey to breed their young. They are birds, but they do not fly. They are aquatic animals, but this time they will not swim. Instead, they walk, marching day and night in single file, 70 miles into the darkest, driest, coolest continent on Earth. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Grades 6 and up.
Marty Stouffer's Wild America, Season 1 (2 discs, 300 min. PBS) Our favorite wildlife explorer, Marty Stouffer, is seen climbing mountains to film grizzlies and bighorns, sloshing through dangerous swamps to find alligators, as well as capturing tender scenes of wild babies. He explores wildlife's struggle for survival in the exciting Season 1 of Wild America. Grades 4 and up.
Marty Stouffer's Wild America, Season 2 (2 discs, 300 min. PBS) In Season 2 of Wild America, Marty Stouffer films our fastest and sleekest animals. You'll also enjoy the heart-warming adventure of Marty raising a grizzly cub and returning it to the wild. You'll laugh as you watch Marty sloshing through the swamps and trying to outrace a wild hog. Grades 4 and up.
Marty Stouffer's Wild America, Season 3 (2 discs, 300 min. PBS) Marty Stouffer takes his camera underwater to film a wide variety of fish; uses high-speed photography to show us humming birds; brings a pair of fishers into his home; and hikes the back country to find the elusive wolverine, or devil bear. Grades 4 and up.
Marty Stouffer's Wild America, Season 4 (2 discs, 300 min. PBS) Marty Stouffer explores animal designs, woodpeckers, coyotes, and mice in Season 4. His favorite park, Yellowstone, becomes the backdrop for exciting shows on the cutthroat trout, including never-before-seen underwater scenes examining their secretive spawning rituals. Grades 4 and up.
Marty Stouffer's Wild America, Season 5 (2 discs, 300 min. PBS) Marty has established his own unique tradition by focusing exclusively on North American wildlife. In Season 5, Marty begins to narrow the programs down to regions and states, highlighting the unique habitat and scenic wonders found in Texas, Pennsylvania, and the Adirondacks. Grades 4 and up.
Marty Stouffer's Wild America, Season 6 (2 discs, 300 min. PBS) Marty Stouffer films Season 6 from the far corners of Maine in Moosehorn Wildlife Refuge, home of the slow-flying woodcock to the Pacific Coast's seal and sea lion colonies during the violent breeding season. In between, he visits Minnesota, Oklahoma, and our favorite big game bird, the wild turkey. Grades 4 and up.
Masters of the Arctic Ice (52 min. National Geographic) Journey to the top of the world and witness first-hand how the planet's changing climate is affecting the creatures that inhabit the icy Arctic. See how the quickly melting Arctic ice affects the survival skills of ringed seals, polar bears, and narwhals. These Arctic creatures have become masters at negotiating the perils of this frozen world, but their dependence on the ice is also their greatest vulnerability. National Geographic's Crittercam technology provides a never-before-seen perspective on this changing world. See how the resourceful creatures of the Arctic are learning to adapt -- from their own point of view. Grades 6 and up.
Microcosmos (74 min. Miramax Films) Learn about the wonderful hidden universe where you'll see a pair of stag beetles dueling like titans, an army of worker ants race to stock their larder, and watch an amazing transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. Grades K and up.
Mountain Gorilla (39 min. IMAX Corporation) Mountain Gorilla provides an amazing encounter with the highly social species that is the largest of all primates. Eat, nap, travel, eat, interact, eat: that's a typical routine for adult gorillas. But for rambunctious three-year-olds, the routine is more like play, play, play, play as they tumble, swing, wrestle, and twirl. Overseeing all of the troop's activities is the proud, massive silverback male whose dominance is unchallenged -- until a young silverback tries to exert his newfound sense of power. Grades 4 and up.
The Natural History of the Chicken (60 min. PBS) Most of us best know the chicken from our dinner plates. Whether as thigh, wing or drumstick, we barely pause a moment to consider the bird's many virtues. This program expands the frontiers of popular awareness and delightfully reveals that this small, common, and seemingly simple animal is as complex and grand as any of God's creatures. The film allows us to rethink our relationship with a creature we have previously take for granted, while at the same time providing a lens through which we look at ourselves. Grades 9 and up.
Parasites: Eating Us Alive (50 min. Discovery) While many of us harbor secret fears of vicious or venomous animals, most are unaware that living on or even inside us are some of the deadliest creatures on Earth: microscopic parasites. Take a fascinating tour of a hidden, miniature world that will make your skin crawl. Grades 9 and up.
Popular Mechanics for Kids: Gators and Dragons and Other Wild Beasts (92 min. Hearst Entertainment) Join the cast as they encounter some of the most dangerous animals on the planet, including komodo dragons, alligators, and safari animals. Grades K - 6.
Popular Mechanics for Kids: Slither & Slime and Other Yucky Things (92 min. Hearst Entertainment) Join Jay, Elisha, Tyler and Vanessa as they skulk down stinky sewers, dig through piles of garbage, and bug out with leeches, roaches, and worms. Grades K - 6.
Really Wild Animals: Swinging Safari (44 min. National Geographic)Come along on a wild African safari and experience the amazing ways that animals like cheetahs, crocodiles, rhinos, and elephants survive. Experience life in a lion pride, what it's like to be a chimp, and much more. Includes bonus program: Hanging with the Primates as well as Interactive African Safari Creature Feature with fun facts, quizzes, sounds clips, and maps. Grades Pre-K - 4.
Reptiles (26 min. Disney) In Reptiles, join Bill Nye for adventure, thrills, and scaly encounters that would make Indiana Jones squeamish. Witness reptilian epicurean delights when a snake eats a mouse, and ponder the possible link between dinosaurs, reptiles, and birds. Grades 4 and up.
Spiders (26 min. Disney) In Spiders, The Science Guy demystifies the most misunderstood creature, the spider. He'll cure the most intense case of arachnophobia by showing how cool spiders really are, and how these eight-legged predators balance our ecosystem by preying on pesky insects. Grades 4 and up.
Survival Island: The Animal Cities of South Georgia (40 min. IMAX) This IMAX film follows the magical return each year of animals to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. The island, the only land for thousands of square miles suitable for breeding, hosts half the world's population of elephant seals (up to 6,000 on one beach), 500,000 penguins, the world's largest colony of albatross, and it receives about 2 million southern fur seals which breed there annually. Grades 6 and up.
Swamp Tigers (90 min. HIT Entertainment) This enthralling film brings you face to face with the beautiful yet terrifying man-eating tigers that stalk the mangrove swamps in the Bay of Bengal, striking fear into the heart of every living being! Grades 4 and up.
The Unknown World (60 min. NOVA) They're hiding in your closet. They're lurking in your bed. They're all over you -- snacking on your skin, burrowing through your scalp, munching on your mascara. They're the creepy crawlers of the unknown world, and now -- thanks to micro-photographer Lennart Nilsson, who brought us The Miracle of Life -- you can (shudder) catch these critters in the act, magnified to monster size. Grades 4 and up.
Winged Migration (89 min. Sony Picture Classics) Witness five film crews follow a rich variety of bird migrations through 40 countries and each of the seven continents. Grades 6 and up.
Wolves (101 min. IMAX) Discover the world of wolves by plane, helicopter, on foot, and through time. Meet the pack and find out what really goes on in the wolf world where family members play, hunt, travel, howl, and struggle to survive. Find out why wolf reintroduction is making news in the American west and setting a precedent around the world. Grades 6 and up.
Zoo Diaries: Season 1 (6 discs, 888 min. Mill Creek Entertainment) An intense look at life behind the scenes at the Toronto Zoo! One of the world's biggest, the Toronto Zoo has expanded its longstanding role as an exhibitor to devote more of its resources to protecting endangered species. Each episode of Zoo Diaries focuses on the relationship between the animals and their keepers, allowing viewers to experience what it's like to bond with some of the world's most exotic creatures. Grades 7 and up.
Astronomy and Aeronautics
Apollo 13: To the Edge and Back (90 min. WGBH) Tells the story of the catastrophic flight of Apollo 13 and the heroic struggle to bring the astronauts back alive. Grades 7 and up.
Apollo 8: Leaving the Cradle, A Bold Mission, Vol. 1 (Twentieth Century Fox) Explores the first time human beings adventured outside Earth's orbit with the Apollo 8 mission. Grades: Adult.
Apollo 8: Leaving the Cradle, Television Transmissions, Vol. 2 (60 min. Twentieth Century Fox) Presents the six complete television transmissions from the Apollo 8 spacecraft. Grades: Adult.
Apollo 8: Leaving the Cradle, Onboard 16MM Film, Vol. 3 (60 min. Twentieth Century Fox) Presents the complete 16 mm picture film exposed onboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft. Grades: Adult.
Asteroids: Deadly Impact (60 min. National Geographic) Learn more about these "stray bullets" that streak through the skies. Grades 9 and up.
Astrobiology: Does Extraterrestrial Life Exist? (25 min. Disney) Bill Nye explores how scientists search for life in outer space. Grades 9 - 12.
Astronomy Adventure: Learn Astronomy — History & Principles (105 min. Standard Deviants) This DVD offers interactive testing, instant accessibility to key content areas and helpful resources such as Newton's laws, Kepler's laws and Planck's laws. Grades 9 and up.
Blue Planet (42 min. Warner Home Video) Orbit the Earth's surface from space and discover familiar landforms from this amazing vantage point. Grades 4 and up.
Comets & Meteors (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye explains how the impact of meteors & comets on Earth may have created the oceans, caused the extinction of dinosaurs, or even brought life to Earth. Grades 4 and up.
Cosmic Voyage (36 min. IMAX®) Explore the universe from its tiniest particles to its greatest expanse. Grades 4 and up.
Cosmos (7 discs, 780 min. Cosmos Studios) In the course of 13 one-hour episodes, Carl Sagan's Cosmos spans its own galaxy of topics to serve Sagan's theme; each segment deepens our understanding of how we got from there (simple microbes in the primordial mud) to here (space-faring civilization in the 21st century). In his "ship of the imagination," Sagan guides us to the farthest reaches of space and takes us back into the history of scientific inquiry, from the ancient library of Alexandria to the NASA probes of our neighboring planets. Upon this vast canvas Sagan presents the "cosmic calendar," placing the 15-billion-year history of the universe into an accessible one-year framework, then filling it with a stunning chronology of events, both interstellar and earthbound. Grades 9 and up.
Eyewitness: Planets (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Planets journeys through space and time, witnessing the birth of the Sun and traveling to the outer limits of the solar system. Grades 2 - 6.
Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Astronomy (45 min. Discovery School) Host Bill Nye discusses the great discoveries of astronomy that give insight and clues about our vast universe. Grades 6 - 12.
If We Had No Moon (50 min. Discovery Communications) Scientists use the latest computer simulations to show how an ancient rogue planet collided with the Earth millions of years ago, producing a sizable chunk of debris that eventually became our Moon. If that collision had never occurred, we would live in a very different place. Grades 7 and up.
In the Shadow of the Moon: Remember when the Whole World Looked Up (110 min. Th!nk Film) Filmmaker David Sington merges the magnificence of science with the compelling drama of the human quest for advancement with this compelling and visually stunning meditation on the historic Apollo space program. In this documentary, space enthusiast Sington allows the surviving crew members from each Apollo mission the unique opportunity to recount their memories of those missions in their own words as vintage, original NASA film footage offers a tantalizing glimpse of this extraordinary era in American history. Grades: Adult.
In Space: Earth, Moon, Sun & Beyond, Squibs Vol. 2 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD teaches the basics about space science. Grades 4 - 6.
The Magic School Bus: Space Adventure (82 min. Scholastic) Arnold's know-it-all cousin Janet drives the whole class crazy when she joins Ms. Frizzle's class on a field trip and the Magic School Bus gets lost in space! Grades Pre-K - 2.
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (40 min. IMAX Corporation) Only 12 have walked on the moon. You're next! Presented and narrated by Tom Hanks, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon is an IMAX documentary film that transports the viewer to the lunar surface, where they can walk alongside the 12 extraordinary astronauts who have been there, experiencing what they saw, heard, and felt. Grades 7 and up.
Mars: Dead or Alive (60 min. WGBH) Take a look inside NASA's risky field trip to the red planet. Grades: Adult. Grades 7 and up.
Mars: Past, Present & Future (83 min. Finley-Holiday) Discover the complete Mars story from man's earliest discovery and science fiction fascinations to the latest revealing images from Pathfinder, Mars Global Surveyor and beyond. Grades 4 and up.
Monster of the Milky Way (56 min. WGBH) From the explosive birth of a black hole to its cannibalistic death throes, NOVA investigates one of the universe's darkest secrets. Grades 7 and up.
The Moon (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye illuminates our knowledge about the orbit and phases of the Moon. Grades 4 and up. Grades 4 and up.
Our Amazing Solar System (90 min. Finley-Holiday Films) Experience the eerie majesty of the giant outer planets and their amazing moons. Grades: Adult.
Outer Space (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye gives students the inside scoop on planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe. Grades 4 and up.
The Planets (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye gets closer and personal with each of the solar systems' planets and moons. Grades 4 and up.
The Planets: Different Worlds & Terra Firma, Vol. 1 (100 min. BBC) Presents a detailed introduction to the creation and composition of the planets. Search for clues of the geological forces behind the true nature of our planetary neighboors. Grades 9 and up.
The Planets: Giants & Moon, Vol. 2 (100 min. BBC) Take a closer look at awsome planetary giants and explore Earth's huge "companion world," the moon. Grades 9 and up.
The Planets: Star & Atmosphere, Vol. 3 (100 min. BBC) Step aboard the Skylab space station and plunge into the ecenter of the sun. Grades 9 and up.
The Planets: Life Beyond the Sun & Destiny, Vol. 4 (100 min. BBC) Early planetary researchers learn that conditions on our neighboring planets may be too hostile to support life. Explore the long-term fate of the planets in our solar system. Grades 9 and up.
Project Gemini: A Bold Leap Forward, Vol. 1 (60 min. Twentieth Century Fox) Discover the challenges, achievements, and hardships met by Project Gemini, the pivotal project in America's space history. Grades: Adult.
Project Gemini: GT-1 through Gemini VII, Vol. 2 (60 min. Twentieth Century Fox) View amazing Earth-orbital photography captivated by Gemini's on-board 16 mm cameras. Grades: Adult.
Project Gemini: Gemini VIII through Gemini XII, Vol. 3 (60 min. Twentieth Century Fox) Discover the missions of Gemini VI-A through Gemini XII and the bridge created between these and the voyages to come on Project Apollo. Grades: Adult.
The Right Stuff (193 min. Warner Home Video) Project Mercury was the catch-up crash program to put an American into space. The technology was in its infancy. The rockets were unproven. The gamble was enormous. And the pressure was on, because the Russians were already up there. To man Project Mercury, America needed pilots with "the right stuff" -- Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton, the men who were chosen to launch the U.S. into space. Based on the book by Tom Wolfe. Grades 4 and up.
Roving Mars (40 min. Disney) Join the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity for an awe-inspiring journey to the surface of the mysterious red planet. Through the eyes of these two intrepid, death-defying rovers and with NASA scientists and engineers at your side, you'll see Mars in a way no one ever has before. Grades 4 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Dark Side of the Universe (58 min. PBS) New discoveries about dark matter and dark energy have astronomers wondering if ours is but one of an infinity of universes. Grades 7 and up.
Space Exploration (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye examines the "final frontier" and shows the tools humans invent to explore space. Grades 4 and up.
Space Science for Children: All About the Moon (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Children get the scoop on the Earth's nearest neighbor in space. Why does it look different every night? Could people live on the Moon someday? Children will learn this and much more in this fun video. Spectacular NASA footage and lively animation will pique kids' curiosity. Grades K - 4.
Space Science for Children: All About the Sun (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Children will discover why the Sun is so important to us -- how it provides us with life-giving light and heat, how it is responsible for our seasons and weather, and why it is the primary source of energy on Earth. Grades K - 4.
Space Science in Action: Planets and the Solar System (23 min. Schlessinger) Students will learn the key characteristics of each planet, the difference between inner and outer planets, and which planets have their own moons. They'll take a fascinating look at how remote-controlled rovers are designed to explore other surfaces in the solar system. Grades: 5 - 8.
Space Station (47 min. IMAX) A fascinating look at the space station where today's space explorers develop technologies that will make possible future human voyages to Mars as well as provide new solutions to Earthbound problems. Grades 4 and up.
Stargaze: Hubble View of the Universe (60 min. Alpha) Take a look at the most incredible images of the universe through the lens of the Hubble space telescope. Grades 8 and up.
The Sun (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye sheds light on solar flares, eclipses, sunspots fusion, and solar energy, and visits an enormous solar power farm outside of Sacramento, California. Grades 4 and up.
To the Moon (120 min. WGBH) Presents the fascinating story behind the Apollo space program, including the most remarkable feat in human history: the historic walk on the Moon in 1969. Grades 7 and up.
Biology
Architecture and Design of Man and Woman (50 min. Discovery) In terms of biology and design, the architecture of a man and woman begins with indifference; men and women start out exactly the same. Though sex has been identified and codified genetically, a six-week-old embryo is physiologically indistinguishable as either male or female. Grades: Adult.
Biology (128 min. Cerebellum Corporation) Most living organisms are pretty complicated. That's where we come in! The Standard Deviants help break Biology down with an easy-to-understand, entertaining format. Learn about amino acids, DNA, RNA, cell structures, mitosis, meiosis, photosynthesis, and much more! Grades 9 - College.
Blood and Circulation (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye becomes a real heart throb when he talks about the not-so-wimpy organ, the heart. Valves, blood cells and the circulatory system work together to pump it up -- the heart that is. Grades 4 and up.
Body Worlds: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies (70 min. NTSC) Witness the exhibition that literally gets under your skin. The DVD offers a commented tour of the exhibition and explains the revolutionary plastination technique. Grades 7 and up.
Bones and Muscles (26 min. Disney) It doesn't have to be Halloween for the Science Guy to bone up on the things that give the body its shape and movement. Bill muscles in to give more than just the bare bones about X-rays, the healing of broken bones, bone marrow, and the body's joints. Grades 4 and up.
Brain (26 min. Disney) In this thought-provoking episode, some very tricky optical illusions show that the brain doesn't always correctly interpret what it sees. Check out Bill Nye from a whole new angle when he gets an M.R.I. of his brain. Grades 4 and up.
Cells (26 min. Disney) In Cells, Mad scientist Bill Nye CELLebrates the basic unit that makes up all living organisms-the cell. This exCELLent program zooms in on DNA and creatures like amoebas and paramecia. Grades 4 and up.
Digestion (23 min. Disney) Bill Nye explains how the body's digestive system is a fine-tuned machine that turns food into energy. Grades 4 and up.
The Double Life of RNA (60 min; HHMI) Thomas Cech explains the role of RNA in cellular biology. He also discusses other implications of RNA catalysis. Grades 9 and up.
Eyeball (26 min. Disney) In Eyeball, Bill Nye focuses his attention on the body's window to the world: the eyeball. Bill also interviews a seeing eye dog trainer and a virtual reality designer, and demonstrates how a 3-D movie works. Grades 4 and up.
Eyewitness: Skeleton (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Skeleton takes you beneath the surface to reveal the hidden secrets of an incredible variety of skeletal structures, none more complex than our own. See the skeleton -- a symbol of our deepest fears, a miracle of engineering -- as never before. Grades 2 - 6.
Fat: What No One is Telling You (90 min. PBS) Open abuse of fat people is our last accepted prejudice. As the number of obese Americans climbs to frightening levels, the quest for answers is becoming even more urgent. Obesity experts have a sobering awareness of the complex human puzzle that is driving this epidemic and creating so much personal pain. This program gives viewers a window into the intense human dramas of those labeled obese and the difficulty of solving weight problems. Grades: Adult.
Genetic Diversity: Sexual Reproduction (24 min. Disney) Bill Nye explores the evolutionary advantages and risks of sexual reproduction versus asexual reproduction. Nye discusses scientific theories and evidence that seek to explain why we reproduce sexually. Further topics include genetic diversity and sexual selection. Grades 4 and up. Grades 9 - 12
Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Biology (45 min; Disney) Host Bill Nye explores the most important breakthroughs leading to our understanding of life on Earth and why understanding biology may be our best protection against extinction. Grades: 6 - 12.
Heart (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye checks out this important muscular pump and its function in the body. Grades 4 and up.
Human Body for Children: All About Bones and Muscles (23 min. Schlessinger Media) All About Bones and Muscles gives young students a close-up look at these two key systems of the human body. First, they'll learn that bones and muscles are alive! Then, they will discover that bones give our bodies shape, structure and protection, while also performing the important job of making our blood! Muscles attached to bones are what give us the ability to move in so many ways, as a young gymnast demonstrates. Viewers will also learn about cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, as well as ways of caring for our bones and muscles. Grades K - 4.
Human Body for Children: All About Cells and Body Systems (23 min. Schlessinger Media) The body systems are all very different, but they do have one thing in common: they all begin with cells. Children learn how cells make up the organs and how organs join forces to build the body systems. Students also find out how the circulatory, skeletal, respiratory, digestive, and other body systems work! Grades K - 4.
Human Body for Children: All About Health and Hygiene (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers explore how and why humans get sick and what they can do to keep themselves strong and healthy. Viewers learn about the basics of infection and that hygiene is doing what it takes to keep the body healthy. Grades K - 4.
Human Body for Children: All About the Human Life Cycle (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers learn about the stages that humans pass through: birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Emphasis is placed on the concept of cycle and how this repeats with each new baby. Grades K - 4.
Human Body for Children: All About the Senses (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers learn about the five senses with emphasis on the special nerves call receptors that send signals to the brain. Grades K - 4.
Human Characteristics and Adaptations: Is Race Cultural or Biological? (25 min; Disney) Research has shown that racial differences are only skin deep. Then why do humans look so different from one another? Bill will go to any length to find scientific answers—even if it means having his own DNA analyzed. Grades 9 - 12.
In the Body: Organs, Health, & Nutrition, Squibs, Vol. 8 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD takes you inside the amazing machine that is the human body. Grades 4 - 6.
The Human Face (2 discs, 200 min. BBC) Anthropology, psychology, cultural history, and biology provide key filters in this breezy but substantial exploration of the focal impact of the face. The Human Face benefits from host, narrator, and cowriter John Cleese's signature blend of erudition, enthusiasm, and wit. Along the way, Cleese presents information on the evolution of human facial features, communication through facial expressions, and the face's essential role in defining identity. Ideals of physical beauty, the reasons why visual development and artistic expression focus on the face, and the nature of celebrity are examined, as are medical anomalies such as Mobius syndrome, a condition that eliminates the ability to smile. Grades: 9 - 12.
Human Transportation (26 min. Disney) Transportation is on the move, whether it floats, rolls, or flies! In Human Transportation, find out how humans move around for food, shelter, and to meet other humans. Grades 4 and up.
The Incredible Human Body (60 min. National Geographic) An astonishing journey inside bodies of real people, right down to their stem cells. Grades 9 and up.
Life Cycles (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye the Science Guy demonstrates how all living things grow, reproduce, and die in cycles. Bill explains life cycles and shows us why many different living things have similar life cycles. Grades 4 and up.
My 5 Senses (40 min. Braincandy) Features funny puppets representing the 5 sense parts and kids engaged in animations of how the senses work. Grades Pre-K - K.
The Magic School Bus: Human Body (80 min. Scholastic) Join the Magic School Bus gang to an exciting journey through the human body. Grades Pre-K - 2.
The Miracle of Life (60 min. WGBH) Takes one on an incredible voyage through the human body as life begins. Grades 9 and up.
The Meaning of Sex: Genes & Gender (60 min. HHMI) Two leading scientists in the field of sex determination research answer intriguing questions such as "why does sex exist?" and "what is its purpose?" Grades: Adult.
Respiration (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye the Science Guy gets aerobic about the importance of respiration when he jogs, bikes, swims, and scuba dives. Discover how to measure how much air each breath contains and make a model lung in a nifty home experiment. Grades 4 and up.
The Science of Fat (120 min. HHMI) In the 2004 Holiday Lectures on Science, HHMI investigators Ronald M. Evans and Jeffrey M. Friedman discuss how the body regulates weight by carefully controlling the storage and burning of fat and how a better understanding of these complex metabolic systems could lead researchers to treatments that curb obesity and improve public health. Grades: Adult.
Scientific American Frontiers: Chimp Minds (27 min. PBS) Watch a visit with an engaging if unruly bunch of cousins that humans formally broke up with about 6 or 7 million years ago. We share almost all of our genes with them, but not a lot of our lifestyle. Why the difference? Maybe it's in how we learn. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Don't Forget (57 min. PBS) Scientists attempt to unravel the mysteries of memories -- how we make them, where they come from and why some slip away. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Losing It (57 min. PBS) Scientists try to figure out the body's complex weight-regulation system, while host Alan Alda and 10 volunteers try to shed unwanted pounds. Grades 7 and up.
Skin (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye explains the naked truth about the organ that regulates our body temperature, protects our inner parts, and provides us with the sense of touch. Grades 4 and up.
Smell (26 min. Disney) Discover how the human sense of smell helps us interpret our environment and react to the things around us by letting us know when new smells are close-by. Grades 4 and up.
The Ultimate Guide: The Human Body (92 min. Discovery Channel) Discover the secrets you keep inside as you explore the inner workings of the human body. Grades 9 and up.
The Universe Within (60 min. WGBH) Take an incredible voyage into the microworld of the human body. Grades: Adult. Grades 7 and up.
World in the Balance: The Population Paradox (120 min. WGBH) Explore how world population is now careering in two dramatically different directions: one in which birth rates are declining and another in which more than half of the population is under 25. Grades 7 and up.
Biotechnology and Medical Sciences
2000 and Beyond: Confronting the Microbe Menace (120 min. HHMI) Two scientists describe the latest advances in understanding how pathogens invade the body and how this knowledge is leading to the development of new therapies. Grades 9 and up.
Addiction: Disease or Behavior? (24 min. Disney) Is addiction a disease? Or is it a chosen behavior? Hear from scientists who are studying the brain, psychology, social factors, and genetics. Meet people who live with substance abuse issues. Grades: 9 - 12.
AIDS: The Teen Guide to Living (22 min. TMW Media Group) In this important program, the dangers of AIDS are discussed frankly and clearly. At-risk activities are discussed, with tips on how to avoid the danger. Grades 7 and up.
The Age of AIDS (240 min. WGBH/FRONTLINE) Winner of a 2007 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for broadcast journalism. After more than two decades of stigma, research, and education, Frontline presents the definitive chronicle of one of the worst pandemics ever known. Through interviews with researchers, activists, and patients, Frontline investigates the science, politics, and human cost of this disease, and asks: what has been learned, and what must be done to stop AIDS? Grades 9 and up.
AIDS: Evolution of an Epidemic (2 discs, 240 min. HHMI) In four presentations, Dr. Bruce D. Walker and Dr. Bisola O. Ojikutu explain why understanding HIV evolution is critical to fighting AIDS. DVD includes detailed chapter search by scientific topic; direct access to animations; English subtitles; interviews with the speakers; special features on adherence and resistance, the immune system, and retroviruses; discussions about living with HIV and students helping to fight the epidemic abroad; and a special feature on HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Grades College and up.
And the Band Played On(140 min. HBO) Based on Randy Shilts' bestselling book, the movie And the Band Played On is the story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic and the political infighting of the scientific community that hampered the early fight with it. Grades 9 and up.
Antibiotics: Man vs. Microbe (24 min. Disney) Learn with Bill Nye how antibiotics work and find out how germs continually evolve to evade -- and survive. Grades 9 - 12.
Bird Flu: How Safe Are We? (56 min. NOVA / WGBH) During the past 100 years, life expectancy more than doubled in developed countries. In the last few decades, 30 new infectious diseases have emerged. New diseases travel the globe with unprecedented rapidity, and older killers that once seemed controllable are roaring back with a vengeance. Bird Flu: How Safe Are We? examines the most critical threats we face today and the pressing need to strengthen global public health systems. Grades: Adult.
Cloning: The Science Behind the Controversy (23 min. Disney) Explore the biology and ethics behind cloning with Bill Nye. Grades: 9 -12.
Ebola: The Plague Fighters (54 min. NOVA / WGBH) Enter the "hot zone" of one of the most frightful diseases on the planet: Ebola. When a dreaded outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus swept through a remote region of Zaire in May 1995, NOVA was the only film crew permitted into the "hot zone," spending a total of four weeks in the quarantined city of Kikwit. The result is unprecedented journalistic coverage of this grim battle against one of the world's most lethal diseases. Grades: Adult.
Ethics in Biomedical Research (79 min. HHMI) This video explores how researchers navigate the complex issues presented by modern science, including the experimental use of animals, DNA research, stem cell research, and the challenges of maintaining scientific integrity. Grades: Adult.
Fat: What No One is Telling You (90 min. PBS) This program explores the myriad psychological, physiological, and environmental factors that can make it so tough to shed pounds and keep them off. The documentary offers new scientific knowledge about hunger, eating, and human metabolic operation, and explains our psychological responses to food.
Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Medicine (45 min. Discovery School) Bill Nye explores the most significant medical discoveries about the human body, from 1538 until the 1980s. Grades 6 - 12.
Learning from Patients: The Science of Medicine (240 min. HHMI) Join doctors Bert Vogelstein and Huda Zoghbi, as they discuss how their patients have led them to a deeper understanding of the genetic and molecular bases of cancer and neurological disorders. Grades: Adult.
Of Hearts and Hypertension: Blazing Genetic Trails (240 min. HHMI) Scientists are gaining a greater understanding of the genetic and molecular bases of cardiovascular diseases -- knowledge that can lead to new tests and therapies. In four lectures, Dr. Christian E. Seidman and Dr. Richard P. Lifton discuss their groundbreaking research. The lectures feature an animation on the anatomy of the human heart and questions from the student audience. Grades: Adult.
Potent Biology: Stems Cells, Cloning and Regeneration (240 min. HHMI) What are embryonic stem cells? Why are they potent? How do they differ from adult stem cells? Are embryonic development and regeneration intimately connected? In four presentations, Dr. Douglas A. Melton and Dr. Nadia Rosenthal discuss how stem cells may hold the key for curing diseases and unlocking the secrets of regeneration. Grades: Adult.
Scientific American Frontiers: Cybersenses (27 min. PBS) Explore replacement synthetic Cochlear implants for hearing and artificial retinas for seeing. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Hidden Motives (30 min; PBS) Host Alan Alda explores how our unconscious determines our behavior including why we buy things that are "cool." Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Surgical Slimmers (27 min. PBS) In spite of the risks, people are lining up to solve their weight problems in the operating room. And if the latest device -- an implantable stomach "pacer" -- works out, millions more will be taking the surgical way out. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Worried Sick (27 min. PBS) The "fight or flight" response to stress once helped us evade predators, but its long-term effects can get us into a different kind of trouble: ill health. Grades 7 and up.
Surviving AIDS (55 min. NOVA) The story of the ongoing battle to fight the AIDS virus. The program looks at the most promising research from the scientific community and tells the story of the battle for a cure through the experiences of patients. Grades: Adult.
A Talk With Your Kids About Smoking (38 min. Tobaccofree) The 2006 edition of A Talk With Your Kids About Smoking is a multimedia presentation following CDC guidelines. Patrick Reynolds is perhaps the nation's best known tobacco prevention educator. A grandson of the tobacco company founder R.J. Reynolds, his advocacy work, motivational talks to youth, and appearances in the national press have made him a well known and respected champion of a smoke-free society. Patrick watched his father, R.J. Reynolds, Jr., his oldest brother R.J. Reynolds III, and other members of his family die from cigarette-induced emphysema and lung cancer. Concerned about the mounting health evidence, he made the decision to speak out publicly against the industry his family helped build. Grades 6 - 12.
Typhoid Mary: The Most Dangerous Woman in America (60 min. NOVA) Interweaving biography and social history, The Most Dangerous Woman in America tells the extraordinary story of Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary. She gained this notoriety by being the first person in North America to be identified as a healthy carrier of typhoid fever. Despite her indignant protests of innocence, she was incarcerated for years on an island in New York's East River. Mary Mallon's saga throws into vivid relief the emerging science of public health and the social, ethical, and legal dilemmas it posed to its pioneers at the turn of the twentieth century. Grades: Adult.
Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France (50 min. Partners Healthcare System) Discover what elite athletes have on their minds before, during, and after a competition. Wired to Win takes a look at the human brain and what it goes through as athletes gear up for the Tour de France. Grades 9 and up.
Buildings and Architecture
Architecture (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye uses the "Dollhouse of Science" to demonstrate how architects design buildings. Then, he travels to Japan to learn how pagodas are built to withstand earthquakes. Grades 4 and up.
Building Big: Skyscrapers (65 min. WGBH) Tour the world's most incredible skylines with captivating storyteller, David Macaulay. Grades 4 and up.
Extreme Engineering: Building Hong Kong's Airport (50 min. Discovery Communications) Follow architects and engineers from start to finish as they build the world's most vital air transit center, 16 miles out to sea! Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: City in a Pyramid (50 min. Discovery Communications) Imagine a towering pyramid with skyscrapers suspended like peapods within its steel frame. Now, imagine the entire construction process proceeding without a single human worker! Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Dubai Ski Resort (50 min. Discovery Communications) Head to one of the hottest regions on the planet United Arab Emirates for a look at the coolest engineering project yet: a ski resort in the middle of a desert. Rising from the sea of sand that surrounds the Arabian peninsula's most vibrant city, this impressive concrete structure will use 23 massive air conditioners to maintain an indoor temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit - in a country where the average high temperature reaches the low 100s in the summer months. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Space Tower (50 min. Discovery Communications) Witness construction of Spain's strangest skyscraper: the 700-foot tall Torre Espacio, a.k.a., the Space Tower. It's the only skyscraper in the world where every single floor plan is completely different -- a design feature dictated by the crazy, spiraling shape of the structure. Support columns tilt at weird angles, and the concrete forms used to layout each floor change as the building rises. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Tokyo's Sky City (50 min. Discovery Communications) With land area shrinking and population growing, Japan has decided to take urban development to the next level. Welcome to Sky City: 560 stories of fully enclosed, self-sufficient habitation! Grades 10 - 12.
Modern Marvels: Architectural Wonders, Vol. 1-4 (8 discs, 400 min. The History Channel) From ancient pyramids to the modern American skyscraper, Modern Marvels: Architectural Wonders circles the globe to profile the world's most phenomenal architectural gems. Vivid location footage and striking digital reenactments bring these mind-boggling engineering feats to life, while historians and architectural experts illuminate the construction, form, and function of each. Visit dozens of celebrated masterpieces including the Great Wall of China and Mount Rushmore and discover the thrilling histories that lurk behind the majestic facades. Grades 7 and up.
That's How We Build A House (28 min. Spots Video) Come along with construction workers Gwen and Danny on an incredible adventure in house construction! You'll see an actual house being built from the ground up. Watch as the surveyors, architects, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, and other trades, do what they do best. In English and Spanish. Grades Pre-K - 2.
Chemistry
Absolute Zero (112 min. NOVA) Absolute Zero presents the epic story of humanity's struggle to master extreme cold. This NOVA special recreates groundbreaking discoveries across four centuries that expanded our knowledge of low temperatures and led ultimately to today's cutting edge "cold technologies." Grades 7 and up.
Atoms (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye explains how atoms combine to form molecules and that even though they're too small to see with our eyes, they are the building blocks of all matter. Grades 4 and up.
Chemical Reactions (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye uses blasting explosives to explain that everything is made of chemicals. Grades 4 and up.
Chemistry: Elements and Equations (26 min. Cerebellum Corporation) What is chemistry? We'll teach you some terms and then we'll explain the building blocks of matter, elements, and units of measure, like the metric system. Grades 9 - College.
Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Chemistry (45 min. Discovery School) Bill Nye looks over the past two centuries in which chemistry has brought us from a time when atoms were a hypothesis to an age where scientists may be able to combine particles on the atomic level. Grades 6 - 12.
In Matter: Atoms, Elements, & Chemistry, Squibs Vol. 5 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD introduces the science concept of matter and atoms. Grades 4 - 6.
The Periodic Table of the Elements: Metalloids (56 min. Discovery) Some earthly elements are not metals, even though they exhibit similar chemical properties. Learn about arsenic and other so-called metalloids, and get a behind-the-screen look at computers and how they work. Grades 7 and up.
Phases of Matter (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye takes viewers on a tour of a steel mill to help demonstrate that matter exists in three phases: solids, liquids, and gases. Grades 4 and up.
Physical Science in Action: Atoms and Molecules (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In this fun and engaging program, kids will learn about the three main subatomic particles -- protons, neutrons, and electrons -- as well as the forces that keep atoms and molecules together. They'll discover how atoms bond to one another to form compounds. Colorful graphics and fun visuals bring these concepts to life and make them easier for kids to understand. Grades 5 - 8.
Physical Science in Action: Changes in Properties of Matter (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Learn what happens to the properties of matter when they change form. See the difference between chemical and physical changes. Grades 5 - 8.
Physical Science in Action: Elements, Compounds & Mixtures (23 min. Schlessinger) Examines how substances combine in mixtures, compounds, and solutions to make up the world in which we live. Grades 5 - 8.
Climate and Weather
Atmosphere (26 min. Disney) There is something in the air as Bill Nye the Science Guy talks about atmosphere, its five different levels, and how it protects the Earth. Bill soars into the heavy topic of atmospheric air pressure and radio waves. Grades 4 and up.
Climates (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye delivers hot sand from Saudi Arabia and bananas from humid Costa Rica to explain how different climates are created and how they affect our planet. Grades 4 and up.
Eyewitness: Weather (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Weather takes you on a whirlwind tour of Earth's turbulent atmosphere and reveals the forces that make the day fair or foul. From hurricane, to heat wave, weather is the most closely watched wild card in nature -- yet it can still baffle us every day. Grades 2 - 6.
Hunt for the Supertwister (60 min. WGBH) Join scientists and metereologists as they untwist mysteries and close in on a breakthrough that may solve the puzzle how these killer storms spawn and where they strike. Grades 7 and up.
Hurricane! (60 min. NOVA) Watch highly trained scientists as they routinely -- and carefully -- fly into the world's most destructive storms to discover what makes them tick and to measure their intensity and probable path. Then hear first-hand accounts of Hurricane Camille, the most devastating storm ever to strike the United States. Grades 7 and up.
Hurricane on the Bayou (42 min. MacGillivray Freeman) This large-format film takes viewers to one of the most vibrant places in America: the Louisiana bayou and the city of New Orleans, a region overflowing with life, love, music, history, and heartbreaking natural beauty. Tragically, the delta's bountiful coastal wetlands are eroding into the sea at the speed of one acre every 30 minutes, leaving the entire area ever more vulnerable to major hurricanes. Footage shot both before and after Hurricane Katrina poignantly documents both an environmental calamity and the staggering effects of one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history. Grades 7 and up.
Hurricane Katrina: The Storm that Drowned a City (56 min. WGBH) Hour-by-hour reconstruction of Hurricane Katrina. Exposes critical failures in preparation and engineering that led to the worst disaster in U.S. history. Grades 7 and up.
In the Clouds: Air, Weather, & Water, Squibs Vol. 6 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD reveals the wonders of water and how it moves through various weather patterns. Grades 4 - 6.
Inside Hurricane Katrina (120 min. National Geographic) National Geographic takes you inside Hurricane Katrina to shed new light on the fateful decisions of those in charge -- and the desperate struggles of those fighting to survive the awesome impact of one of nature's ultimate weapons of mass destruction. Grades 9 and up.
Lightning! (60 min. WGBH/NOVA) Take this high-voltage trip into the most electrically charged weather in the world, culminating in a dazzling lightning show set to music that rivals the most extraordinary fireworks display. Grades 7 and up.
Nature's Fury (55 min. National Geographic) Seen from the safe distance of a satellite, it can be a thrilling spectacle. But as anyone caught in the middle of a hurricane knows, the place that poets call Mother Earth is not always such a gentle parent. Extreme weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and violent upheavals of the Earth in the form of earthquakes and volcanoes, often bring misery and destruction. They are all expressions of a living planet, still changing after billions of years of existence. Satellites help scientists understand the forces behind natural catastrophes and mitigate their effects on humans. Grades 7 and up.
Popular Mechanics for Kids: Lightning and Other Forces of Nature (88 min. Hearst Entertainment) Watch out for lightning! Mother Nature unleashes her spectacular natural phenomena as Elisha, Jay, Tyler, and Vanessa witness the inner workings of Niagara Falls; an actual lightning storm; and try to get out of the way of an avalanche. Includes four episodes: "Ice," "Water," "Earth Power," and "Electricity." Grades K - 6.
Stormchasers (67 min. MacGillivray Freeman) Join stormchasing meteorologists who track extreme weather storms in order to understand how they form. Follow them into the eye of a hurricane and within two miles of a tornado. Filmed in IMAX. Grades 7 and up.
Storms (26 min. Disney) See what happens when huge masses of air collide. Disaster or not, storms benefit us. The tropical regions of the Earth would be too hot to inhabit -- and the sub-polar regions too cold -- if we didn't have hurricanes and typhoons to distribute the Earth's heat so efficiently. Grades 4 and up.
Water Cycle (26 min. Disney) Did you know that most of the water on the planet is the same water that's been here since the Earth formed? In Water Cycle, Bill uses a whimsical model to demonstrate the phases of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Grades 4 and up.
Weather for Children: All About Climate and Seasons (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Children discover why different regions of the world have different climates and why seasons change. Includes a hands-on investigation of the effects of direct sunlight on areas of the world. Dr. Jon Nese, chief meteorologist at the Franklin Institute of Science, demonstrates the concept behind the device known as an orrery. Grades K - 4.
Weather for Children: All about Rain, Snow, Sleet and Hail (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Precipitation comes in many different forms and is caused by a wide variety of forces. But what makes the sky open up? And how is water changed into all of these different forms? Young students will find the answer to these questions in All About Rain, Snow, Sleet and Hail, and learn more about the sky and storm clouds in this engaging program. Grades K - 4.
Weather Fundamentals: Climate and Seasons (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Learn the science behind climate and seasons with Good Morning, America's weatherman, Spencer Christian and friend. Grades 4 - 7.
Weather Fundamentals: Clouds (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In this program, students will learn how clouds form, the different types of clouds, and the important role they play in weather and the water cycle. In addition, students will see how other meteorological events occur, including fog, mist, smog, thunder, and lightning. Learn about how meteorologists analyze the size, shape, and location of clouds to determine the effect they will have on the weather. Doppler radar graphics and a hands-on science experiment help these concepts be easily understood. Grades 4 - 7.
Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life
Before the Dinosaurs: Walking With Monsters (90 min. BBC) From the makers of Walking with Dinosaurs and Walking with Prehistoric Beasts comes the prequel: the epic and entertaining story of life on Earth before the dinosaurs and beasts. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh. Grades 4 and up.
Chased by Sea Monsters (100 min. Discovery) Scour the depths of seven different prehistoric seas with renowned zoologist Nigel Marven as your guide – and marvel at the computer animation techniques that bring each aquatic world to life. Get up close and personal with creatures like the vicious sea scorpions of 450 million years ago, the armor-plated fish of the Devonian Period and a whale-chomping shark called Megalodon. Finally, wade out into the deadliest sea of all time – "Hell's Aquarium" of the late Cretaceous, an ominous body of prehistoric water that gets its name from its elevated water temperatures and the devilish creatures that call it home. Grades 7 and up.
Dinosaur George Live! (60 min. Dinosaur World) Join "Dinosaur George" Blasing as he explores the world of dinosaurs in this new DVD. George highlights different aspects of dinosaurs, including where they lived, what they ate, how they were different from other prehistoric animals, and how they became extinct. Filmed at Dinosaur World's Prehistoric Journey Traveling Fossil Exhibit. Grades K - 6.
Dinosaur Hunters (60 min. National Geographic) Learn all about the Oviraptor, a dinosaur that lived in what is now the Gobi in Mongolia. Grades 4 and up.
Dinosaurs (26 min. Disney) Robin Leach (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous) and John Ratzenberger (Cheers) drop by to help Bill Nye take a closer look at dinosaurs and what has been discovered about the lifestyles of the big and extinct. Grades 4 and up.
Dinosaurs: Lifestyles of the Big and Carnivorous (60 min. Goldhil Entertainment) The Standard Deviants, a dynamic troupe of young actors and comedians, will be your tour guides on this exciting adventure into the distant past! With the help of a respected dinosaur expert, the Standard Deviants will dispel dino-myths and give you the bare-bone facts about these mysterious creatures while using humorous skits computer graphics and a fun easy-to-understand format! Grades 9 and up.
Dinosaurs Unearthed: Dino Autopsy and Dino Death Trap. (100 min. National Geographic) National Geographic showcases two new groundbreaking dinosaur discoveries together on one disc. "Dino Autopsy" provides a fascinating in-depth look at a fully mummified 70 million year old dinosaur the world's most intact dinosaur mummy ever unearthed. Then in "Dino Death Trap," National Geographic travels to China's Gobi Desert to uncover the never-before-seen remains of Jurassic dinosaurs stacked four and five deep, believed to be the aftermath of a catastrophic volcanic eruption. Grades 7 and up.
Earth Science for Children: All About Fossils (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Examine the different ways in which fossils are formed, and see how paleontologists -- the scientists who study fossils -- figure out the age of these ancient creations. In a fun, hands-on activity, children will see how molds and casts are made, while a visit to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science showcases how fossils are restored in order to be displayed in museums. Grades K - 4.
Earth Science in Action: Fossils (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In "Fossils," students will examine molds, casts and imprints of various living things and discover how scientists place the age of these ancient remains and the methods they use to preserve them for future generations. Grades 5 - 8.
Eyewitness: Dinosaur (35 min. Dorling Kindersly) Dinosaur takes you inside the world of paleontologists and the real-life monsters they study. Experience the process of discovery: the excitement of digging, reconstruction, and the realization of how dinosaurs lived and died. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Prehistoric Life (35 min. Dorling Kindersly) Delve into the past to investigate how life formed on Earth! This revealing program explores Earth's age, uncovers amazing fossils, and traces evolution through the geological time periods. This prehistoric adventure examines the continental drift, studies cockroaches, witnesses early communication, and looks at the role of mass extinctions throughout history. Grades 2 - 6.
Fossils (26 min. Disney) Discover the relationship between dinosaurs and birds, and find out that rhinoceroses once lived in Nebraska. Bill also tracks down dinosaur footprints with paleontologist Grace Irby and travels to the La Brea Tar Pits to see what's underneath all that tar. Grades 4 and up.
Prehistoric America: A Journey Through the Ice Age and Beyond (2 discs, 300 min. BBC) Go back 14,000 years ago and explore North America at the end of the last Ice Age. Grades 7 and up.
Prehistoric Predators (135 min. National Geographic) Travel back in time and go face-to-face with the most ferocious animal giants of the Ice Age the saber-toothed cat, the short-faced bear, and the dire wolf. Using heart-racing computer animation, National Geographic's Prehistoric Predators brings these lethal creatures to life in a startling portrait of their wild existence and puzzling extinction in the ancient Americas. Grades: 7 and up.
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (40 min. National Geographic) For nearly 200 million years while dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the seas teemed with some of the most awe-inspiring ocean creatures of all time. Sea Monsters, a National Geographic Giant Screen film, is an entertaining journey into prehistoric oceans. Inter-cutting between the animated story and the reenactments of fossil discoveries combine the appeal of Indiana Jones with the CGI that brings these prehistoric monsters to life. Narrated by Liev Schreiber. Grades 4 and up.
Sky Monsters (90 min. National Geographic) Relive the age when monsters ruled the skies! Join scientists making astonishing new discoveries about the stunning diversity and complexity of pterosaurs -- the largest creatures ever to take wing. Grades 4 and up.
T-REX: Back to the Cretaceous (44 min. Warner Home Video) Join teenager Ally Hayden as she pluges throught time and becomes eyewitness to the primeval era of dinosaurs. Grades 4 and up.
What Killed The Mega Beasts (92 min. Discovery Channel) Take a fascinating journey through time where you will attempt to solve the reasons behind the extinction of the mega beasts. Grades 7 and up.
Walking with Dinosaurs (2 discs, 230 min. BBC) This film digitally recreates the time when dinosaurs reigned. Each episode focuses on a theme, whether it is a particular era, such as the Mesozoic, or a particular type of dinosaur, like those that ruled the oceans. Each part also focuses in on the life of an individual dinosaur or family of dinosaurs. The result is a series of short dramas that both inform and entertain. Episodes are entitled: "New Blood," "Time of the Titans," "Cruel Sea," "Giant of the Skies," "Spirits of the Ice Forest," and "Death of a Dynasty." Narrated by Kenneth Branagh. Grades 7 and up.
Earth Sciences
Earthquakes (50 min. The History Channel) In this in-depth program, Nature Tech introduces and explains the very latest technologies being used to predict seismic events. With the help of high-end modeling programs and increasingly sophisticated sensors and detection devices, scientists are gaining a clearer understanding of earthquake triggers and consequences. Grades 7 and up.
Earthquakes (26 min. Disney) Thousands of earthquakes happen each year and Bill Nye the Science Guy trembles in his boots when he explains what causes them. In Earthquakes, find out what makes big pieces of the Earth's crust (the plates) move and what you should have on hand in case of a quake. Grades 4 and up.
Earth's Crust (26 min. Disney) Bill goes to the depths of the Earth (literally) to explain how the Earth's surface and its inner mantle differ. Grades 4 and up.
Earth's Seasons (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye goes full tilt to give the reasons for the seasons. Grades 4 and up.
Erosion (26 min. Disney) Bill shows students how the process of erosion can make slow, almost invisible modifications or sudden drastic alterations to the landscape. Grades 4 and up.
Eyewitness: Rock & Mineral (35 min; Dorling Kindersley) This DVD shatters the stone's reputation for "rock-solid" permanence. Discover how rocks keep a constantly changing record of our planet's fascinating history, and see how minerals are at the very core of our civilization. Ages 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Volcano (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Volcano explodes the myths surrounding Earth's violent nature. Journey to the most inhospitable regions of the planet, where rock melts, and all life trembles. Witness the destructive effects of volcanoes and earthquakes -- and the life-giving results of their aftermath. Grades 2 - 6.
FireWars (120 min. WGBH) Explore America's war on wildfires and the science of fire, from the smallest burning match to uncontrollable, landscape-sized conflagrations. Grades 7 and up.
Forces of Nature (40 min. National Geographic) Witness the awesome power of volcanoes, groundbuckling earthquakes, and deadly tornadoes as you head into the field with scientists who explore these natural disasters. Grades 7 and up.
In the Environment: Organisms and Ecosystems, Squibs Vol. 4 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD shows how organisms relate to their ecosystems. Grades 4 - 6.
In the Ground: Geology, Tectonics and Rocks, Squibs Vol. 9 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD unveils the powerful forces beneath the Earth's surface. Grades 4 - 6.
In the Path of a Killer Volcano(56 min. WGBH/NOVA) The Philippines' Mount Pinatubo is about to blow big. Is there enough time to evacuate the hundreds of thousands in its raging path? Stay with the scientists who remain behind -- and see some astonishing footage of the world's largest volcanic eruption in 80 years. Grades 7 and up.
Killer Quake! (60 min. WGBH/NOVA) Metropolitan Los Angeles is sitting on ground zero. Slicing under the high rises of downtown is a network of potentially deadly faults which could trigger the nation's most devastating natural disaster. On January 17, 1994, a previously unknown fault convulsed beneath Northridge. It was the most destructive earthquake in modern Los Angeles history. NOVA takes viewers from urban trench sites to the top of the Santa Susanna Mountains, in search of clues to where nature will strike next. Grades 7 and up.
The Magic School Bus: Holiday Special (90 min. Scholastic) Kids learn about the world around them and how to care for it in this trio of engaging adventures based on Joanna Cole's bestselling books. In the title story, Miss Frizzle's class gets a clever tutorial on the wonders of recycling when Wanda makes a regrettable wish to abolish it forever. Faster than you can say "tin can," the Friz whisks her students into the future to discover the perils of a world without recycling. Dolly Parton lends her voice in a guest appearance while several holiday tunes add seasonal mirth. In the other episodes, Phoebe and friends receive a hands-on lesson about the extreme conditions of the desert and how native plants and animals not only survive, but flourish. Then, it's on to the rainforest as the students celebrate Earth Day uncovering the interdependent relationships of cocoa trees, midge flies, and mud wallows. Grades Pre-K - 2.
Magnetic Storm: Earth's Magnetic Field (60 min. WGBH) Magnets have the power to attract and repel, sometimes on a massive scale. The Earth's molten core -- a violent mix of searing heat, crushing pressure, and a billion trillion tons of liquid iron -- creates an invisible shield that surrounds the globe, guarding against a constant barrage of deadly radiation from space. But over the last few decades, the Earth's magnetic field has weakened dramatically, intriguing scientists across the globe. Grades 7 and up.
Rocks and Soil (26 min. Disney) Bill unearths the hard facts on volcanoes, landslides, tectonic plates, rivers, weather, and their varied effects on the creation of rocks and soil. Check out how to unearth fossils in sedimentary rocks and soil and why there's a piece of quartz in watches. Grades 4 and up.
Space Science for Children: All About the Earth (23 min. Schlessinger Media) All About The Earth gives children a close-up look at what makes the third planet from the Sun so special. Children will learn about the Earth's rotation, its seasons, and layers of the Earth's atmosphere. They will also learn how to build their own biosphere in a fun, hands-on activity that teaches how the Earth's resources work together to sustain life. Grades K - 4.
Tsunami: Killer Wave (60 min. National Geographic) Tsunamis are one of nature's most powerful forces, yet they are one of the least understood. Usually created by undersea earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, these killer waves can race across entire oceans at more than 600 miles an hour and swallow cities whole, leaving thousands dead. Heart-stopping footage and stories of survival illustrate how catastrophic a tsunami can be. Grades 7 and up.
Tsunami: The Wave that Shook the World (56 min. NOVA) On December 26, 2004, a series of tidal waves killed hundreds of thousands and devastated communities around the Indian Ocean. With around 100 tsunamis striking the world's coastlines each decade, NOVA investigates what made the recent event so powerful and catastrophic. In a special report shot within days of this shocking disaster, NOVA's Tsunami: The Wave That Shook The World presents a clear explanation and analysis of the tragedy, revealing exactly how these deadly waves were triggered by one of the most powerful earthquakes recorded this century. Grades 7 and up.
Volcano Above the Clouds (60 min. WGBH) Explore Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa and the world tallest volcano. Grades: Adult. Grades 7 and up.
Volcanoes (26 min. Disney) Bill takes a look at the hot-hot-hot world of volcanoes: what they are, how they're formed, and the different types that exist. Grades 4 and up.
Volcano: Nature's Inferno (60 min. National Geographic) Travel around the world for a first-hand look at volcanoes — perhaps the most dazzling but destructive natural force on Earth. Grades 7 and up.
Environment and Ecology
Biodiversity (26 min. Disney) In any given environment, there are hundreds of varieties of plants and animals living together, creating ecosystems. Bill Nye literally sets up office in an ocean, a forest, and a field to commune with nature and show what happens when one link falls out of nature's chain. Grades 4 and up.
Caves (26 min. Disney) Join Bill as he explores the fascinating, spooky, bizarre world of caves! In Caves, you never know what kind of living things you'll run into, either. Surviving in complete darkness requires an array of natural adaptations. Caves have their own unique forms of life. Grades 4 and up.
Deserts (26 min. Disney) Bill travels to Arizona's stunning Sonoran desert -- and has a close encounter of the camel kind -- while exploring this unique ecosystem and demonstrating the special ways its native plants and animals flourish. Grades 4 and up.
Ecosystems for Children: All About Deserts and Grasslands (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Deserts and grasslands are two of the world's most distinctive ecosystems. Both have plenty of differences, but also a few things in common. In All About Deserts and Grasslands, young viewers will discover the characteristics that make these regions unique, while exploring the plants and animals that make their homes in these environments. A visit with a scientist examines the world of the hummingbird, while a hands-on experiment demonstrates how different plants have adapted to survive in different ecosystems. Grades K - 4.
Ecosystems for Children: All About Forest Ecosystems (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In All About Forest Ecosystems, kids will explore the ecosystems where trees are the major plant life form. Viewers will discover the three different types of forests found around the world (rainforests, deciduous forests and coniferous forests) and explore the plant and animal life found there. A fun, hands-on experiment illustrates why rainforest soil is so poor in nutrients, while a visit with a scientist examines one of the world's most famous predators -- the boa constrictor! Grades K - 4.
Ecosystems for Children: All About Water Ecosystems (23 min. Schlessinger) Allows children to build an understanding of biological concepts through experience with living things, their life cycles, and habitats. Grades K - 4.
Farming (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye discovers why farmers really dig their soil, and Chris Ballew, of the rock group Presidents of the United States of America, sings a special version of the band's hit "Peaches." Grades 4 and up.
Garbage (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye digs up the dirt on garbage in ever-expanding landfills from New York to Florida. Grades 4 and up.Rivers and Streams (26 min. Disney) Get wet with Bill Nye the Science Guy as he follows the flow of rivers and streams. Bill tracks the origins of these bodies of water and shows us what impact they have on our lives. Grades 4 and up.
The Living Planet: A Portrait of the Earth (4 volumes, 720 min. BBC) Host David Attenborough visits the great environmental regions of the planet to examine how plants and animals adapt to their surroundings and how otherwise unrelated organisms, molded by similar conditions, develop similar techniques for solving problems of survival. Grades 7 and up.
Planet Earth (5 discs, 550min. BBC) More than five years in the making, Planet Earth redefines blue-chip natural history filmmaking and continues the Discovery Channel mission to provide the highest quality programming in the world. Actress Sigourney Weaver narrates this 11-part series. You'll be amazed by the never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time and unprecedented high-definition production techniques. Grades 7 and up.
The Secrets of Life on Earth (41 min. IMAX) Go on a breathtaking adventure through time and across five continents to reveal nature's most vital secret. Climb into the prickly jaws of insect-eating plants. Watch a flying fox gorge itself on a midnight snack of figs. Witness a mantis disguised as a flower petal lure its prey to doom. You'll see the alarming destruction humankind has caused to our ecosystems and find hope in recent efforts to restore the natural balance we have disturbed. Narrated by Patrick Stewart. Grades 7 and up.
Wetlands (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye sloshes across American wetlands and gets a little bit muddy while he shows us how these swamps, bogs, and marshes help control floods, naturally filter water, and provide a good home to lots of living things, especially wildlife. Grades 4 and up.
Evolution
Adapting to the World (52 min. Discovery School) This DVD demonstrates how adaptations have enabled species to evolve and thrive. Grades 6 - 12.
Animal Life in Action: Evolution (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In Evolution, students will discover how the Earth's animal species slowly developed and changed over the years -- from the earliest forms of bacteria to the animals that exist today. Discover how the animals that best adapted to their environment were able to survive and reproduce, and explore the complex structure of DNA -- the basic building block of life. A visit to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum examines the use of fossils in linking today's living organisms with those of the past, while a fun, hands-on demonstration illustrates how the genes you inherited from your parents determine your physical traits. Grades 5 - 8.
Charles Darwin: Evolution's Voice (50 min. A&E Biography) In his lifetime, Darwin was reluctant to reveal his findings for fear that he and his family would be ostracized. His concerns were valid; his views were considered by many to be slanderous heresy. From his historic voyage on the Beagle to his personal anguish over publicizing his work, Charles Darwin: Evolution's Voice offers a fascinating profile of "the Great Naturalist." Grades 9 and up.
Evolution (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye compares primordial to present when he dabbles with Darwin and looks at his genes in this evolutionary episode. Explore the surprising similarities shared by all living things and ponder the possibility that birds evolved from dinosaurs. Grades 4 and up.
Evolution: Constant Change and Common Threads (120 min. HHMI) Join two leading biologists on an exploration of how key developmental genes, natural selection, and time fuel the evolutionary process. Grades 9 and up.
Evolution, Vol. 1: Darwin's Dangerous Idea (120 min. WGBH) Explore Darwin's revolutionary idea and how it might matter even more today that it did in his own time. Grades: 8 - Adult.
Evolution, Vol. 2: Great Transformations & Extinction! (120 min. WGBH) Explore the evolutionary changes that triggered the Earth's incredible diversity and the causes for the extinction of some 99.9 percent of all species that ever lived on Earth.
Evolution, Vol. 3: The Evolutionary Arms Race & Why Sex (120 min. WGBH) Explore our arms race with microrganisms and discover why, in evolutionary terms, sex is more important that life itself. Grades: Adult.
Evolution, Vol. 4: The Mind's Big Bang & What About God? (120 min. WGBH) Explore the forces that may have contributed to the emergence of modern human mind and why humans try to explain who they are and how they came to be. Grades: Adult.
Evolution: Fossils, Genes, and Mousetraps (90 min. HHMI) Leading evolution educator Ken Miller discusses the controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution, presents compelling evidence for evolution and reasons why "intelligent design" is not scientific. The presentation also features Dr. Miller's responses to questions from a live audience of high school students. Grades 9 and up.
Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Evolution (45 min. Disney) Bill Nye showcases great scientific discoveries that have given insight to extinction and survival patterns of the Earth's diverse species. Grades 6 - 12.
Journey of Life: Human Life (50 min. Discovery) Today, there are few places on Earth devoid of life. But long ago, this was a barren planet. Watch as the latest integrated graphic techniques reveal the amazing evolutionary processes that gave rise to all manner of adaptations -- legs, wings, eyes and more -- and allowed life to progress from its single-cell origins to domination of the entire planet. Grades 9 and up.
Journey of Man (120 min. PBS) How did the human race populate the world? A group of geneticists have worked on the question for a decade, arriving at a startling conclusion: the "global family tree" can be traced to one African man who lived 60,000 years ago. Dr. Spencer Wells hosts this innovative series, featuring commentary by expert scientists, historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists. Grades 9 and up.
Origins (112 min. WGBH) This DVD examines Earth's origins, in regards to both the life sciences and earth sciences. Through the last century, scientists were able to formulate and prove more precise theories about the evolution of life and of the world we live in. A brief history of these discoveries unfolds here.
Flight
Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag (48 min. Image Entertainment) Follow an American pilot as he makes his way through Red Flag — the world's most intense simulated air combat training event. Grades K - 12.
Flight (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye demonstrates how airplanes, birds, and helicopters create differences in air pressure to develop lift for flying. Grades 4 and up.
The Magic of Flight (82 min. MacGillivray Freeman) This film takes you on a technological thrill ride that is faster, higher, and wilder than modern science or even your imagination! Relive the historical first flight of the Wright Brothers in 1903, then soar with the world-famous Blue Angels as they defy the laws of gravity with their most breathtaking maneuvers. Narrated by Tom Selleck, The Magic of Flight highlights and salutes a variety of modern aircraft, the people who fly them, and the human potential of training and performance. Grades K - Adult.
Wright's Brothers' Flying Machine (60 min. WGBH) Join a team of modern pilots, builders, aviation experts, and historians in their quest to rebuild one of the first powered airplanes. Grades 7 and up.
The Wright Stuff: The Life of Orville and Wilbur Wright (60 min. WGBH) Explore the achievements of aviation's first family: the life of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Grades 7 and up.
Food and Nutrition
Genetically Modified Food: The Benefits and Risks (24 min. Disney) Bill Nye explores the benefits and risks of genetic engineering. Hear from traditional wheat breeder, researchers who analyze organic and pesticide-free crops, and corporations engaged in genetic engineering. Grades 9 – 12.
Food Web (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye becomes tangled in a complex food web in his quest to demonstrate that all living things depend on other living things to survive. Grades 4 and up.
The Future of Food (88 min. Lily Films) This DVD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods found in the grocery stores.
Human Body for Children: All About Nutrition and Exercise (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers learn that nutrients in the food we eat are what our bodies need to grow and stay healthy. They also learn about the food pyramid and key nutrients, how we get energy from the food we eat, and how we burn the energy when we exercise. Grades K - 4.
Nutrition (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye demonstrates why you are what you eat! Everything from your eyeballs to your elbows is made of food! Bill Nye tells us what kinds of nutrients are in each bite of grub and what foods are best for healthy bodies. Grades 4 and up.
Forensics
Forensics (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye explores the world of forensics. Learn how detectives reconstruct events from the past using bloodhounds, fingerprints, and DNA. Grades 4 and up.
Forensic Detectives: Archaeology at Work (55 min. Discovery School) This DVD invites students on a worldwide journey to study the forensic uses of archaeology and geology. Grades 6 - 12.
Forensic Files (2 discs, 274 min. Court TV) Follow forensic scientists through real crime scene investigations. Adult.
General Science
Classification of Living Things (27 min. School Videos) A routine castle tour turns enchanting when King Philip shows up to teach a lesson in classification.
Connections 1 (5 discs, 520 min. Ambrose Video) James Burke begins tracking 12,000 years of science history in this ten-part series. Connections traces the history of technology and the interrelationships between ancient discoveries and present-day necessities.
Connections 2 (5 discs, 460 min. Ambrose Video) James Burke's 20-episode sequel to the first Connections. The new version corkscrews through history, linking seemingly unrelated events. Grades 6 and up.
Connections 3 (5 discs, 520 min. Ambrose Video) This humorous and upbeat science series shows that history is filled with seemingly unrelated discoveries that are actually connected in the most surprising ways. Host James Burke continues to delight viewers as he explores the effects and origins of inventions and events that shape the modern world. Grades 6 and up.
Do-It-Yourself Science (26 min. Disney) Students get a lesson from Bill Nye in conducting scientific research. Grades 4 and up.
DragonflyTV: GPS (Going Places in Science) - Season 5 (2 discs, 210 min. PBS) This two-DVD set of "Dragonfly TV: GPS" features seven episodes in which real kids team up with science centers across the country to perform exciting investigations. Included in each episode are fascinating scientist profiles and "science secrets" that will amaze you! Grades 4 - 8.
DragonflyTV: GPS (Going Places in Science) - Season 6 (2 discs, 210 min. PBS) From Alaska to Alabama, "DragonflyTV" showcases real kids doing real science with the help of smaller science centers nationwide. This two-DVD set features seven episodes of "DragonflyTV: GPS" is packed with hands-on science investigations, fascinating scientist profiles, and surprising "science secrets!" Grades 4 - 8.
The Hidden Dimension: An Adventure into a World of Wonder (39 min. IMAX Corporation) Hidden Dimension is a macrocosmic journey through the eyes of Elly, an 11-year-old girl on a holiday with her parents. Like Alice in Wonderland, Elly follows carefully contrived clues to discover an enchanted world unlike anything she has ever seen. The keys, left by her grandfather, unlock her imagination and draw Elly into an adventure into a hidden world. Grades 4 and up.
Inventions (26 min. Disney) Our lives are made easier by one invention or another, but we may not realize that not every invention is carefully planned; some of the most valuable ones came about by accident! With the help of Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Nye examines the process of inventing. Grades 4 and up.
The Magic School Bus: Creepy, Crawly Fun! (90 min. Scholastic) The kids are all ears as they explore the musical mysteries of sound during a spooky trip Inside the Haunted House! Next, things really start "Going Batty" when a lesson about nocturnal creatures convinces Ralphie that Ms. Frizzle is a vampire! Finally, the kids are zapped into a monster movie, where they discover the ingenious hunting skills of spiders as Scholastic's Magic School Bus spins a web! Grades Pre-K - 2.
NTV Top 11 Countdown (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye hosts the NTV Top 11 Countdown, featuring the best of his music video parodies. Grades 4 and up.
Patterns (26 min. Disney) Every time you look at something, hear something, touch something, smell something, or taste something, your brain collects a little information about the world around you. See how people deal with that information by finding patterns. Grades 4 and up.
Populations (26 min. Disney) A peep of chickens, a pride of lions, a gaggle of geese, and a crowd of people. What do they all have in common? They're all populations! Bill Nye explores how these living groups compete for food, homes, and space. Grades 4 and up.
Population: Human Demographics (24 min. Disney) Bill Nye compares population issues around the world, from demographics to social and cultural aspects. Explores how education and industrialization can affect human population. Grades 9 - 12.
Pseudoscience (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye shows how the cold, hard facts of science can be used to test ideas, myths, and inexplicable happenings. Grades 4 and up.
Pseudoscience: Looking for Evidence and Proof (26 min; Disney) Bill Nye shows students how to examine out-of-this-world claims by using the scientific method. Grades 9 – 12.
School House Rock! Science (30 min. Disney) The catchy Schoolhouse Rock tunes have taught millions of children that knowledge is power! Bring science alive with these classic songs. Grades K - 8.
Genetics
Clockwork Genes (120 min. HHMI) This lecture series highlights the research of two biomedical scientists who have made discoveries in understanding the molecular basis of circadian clocks, the internal timekeepers that govern fluctuations in behavior and physiology on a 24-hour-cycle. Grades College and up.
Cracking the Code of Life (120 min. WGBH) Meet the scientists who decoded human DNA: Francis Collins, Eric Lander, and Craig Venter. Grades 7 and up.
DNA: the Amazing Double Helix (21 min. Educational Video Network) DNA is a blueprint for each of our identities. The way our genes are expressed affects how our bodies function, what we look like, and who we are, in general. Learn how this important and complex molecule functions. Viewers will become familiar with the structure and function of DNA, how cells are formed and replicated, and how genetic engineering is applicable to our everyday lives. Grades 7 and up.
DNA: Interactive (60 min. HHMI) DNA Interactive is dedicated to the moment on February 28, 1953, when Jim Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helical structure of DNA - and to the scientists who breathed life into that structure. Many leading scientists, including 11 Nobel Laureates, were interviewed for their viewpoints on how we came to understand the language of DNA, how we bend it to our own service, and what it can tell us about who we are. Grades 9 - 12.
DNA: The Secret of Life (32 min. Windfall Films) Chronicles James Watson and Francis Crick's 1953 revolutionary scientific breakthrough: the discovery of the double helix. Grades: Adult.
Genes (26 min. Disney) Join Bill Nye as he explores the chromosomal world of DNA. Grades 4 and up.
Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Genetics (45 min. Disney) Bill Nye explains why certain traits are passed through families and species. Grades 6 - 12.
Inside: Cells, DNA, & Adaptation, Squibs Vol. 1 (60 min. Ignite!) This animated DVD is designed to introduce young learners to the cell, the most basic unit of life. Grades 4 - 6.
Scanning Life's Matrix: Genes, Proteins and Small Molecules (240 min. HHMI) The sequencing of the human genome has set the stage for a vast revolution in the biomedical sciences. In four presentations featuring state-of-the-art animations and compelling graphics, Dr. Stuart L. Schreiber and Dr. Eric S. Lander open a window onto the fast-paced world of genomic science and chemical genetics. Grades: Adult.
Global Warming and Alternative Energy
The 11th Hour (92 min. Warner Bros.) Explores the indelible footprint that humans have left on this planet and the catastrophic effects of environmental neglect and abuse, and calls for restorative action through a reshaping of human activity. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. Grades: 9 – 12.
Design: E² (180 min. PBS) Design E² examines the economies of being environmentally conscious in green building design. Includes all six series episodes: "The Green Apple," "Green for All," "The Green Machine," "Gray to Green," "China from Green to Red," and "Deeper Shades of Green." Grades: Adult.
e2: Energy (180 min. PBS) Global in scope and comprising six 30-minute chapters filmed in HD, e2: Energy features people, places, and innovations that suggest that a more environmentally benign future is possible and within reach. Equal parts visual style and storytelling acumen, each episode stands alone while contributing to the larger dialogue the series is intended to promote. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Adult.
Earth Science for Children: All About Natural Resources (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Natural resources include sunshine, fresh air, plants, animals, minerals, and fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. These things are resources because they are needed by living things. They are "natural" resources because they are all products of nature. In All About Natural Resources, children will learn about these resources and more, discovering along the way what makes some natural resources renewable and others nonrenewable. See how wind turbines provide an alternative to fossil fuels as a means of providing energy, while a fun, hands-on demonstration shows children how they can build their own simple water treatment system. Grades K - 4.
Energy for Children: All About the Uses of Energy (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers learn that electricity keeps our world running, and learn how giant generators produce electricity by using the mechanical energy of wind, water, or nuclear energy. Includes a hands-on activity that investigates how the energy from steam turns a paddle wheel. Grades K - 4.
Energy Resources: Use & Conservation (23 min. Schlessinger) Learn about a variety of natural resources of energy. Grades 5 - 8.
Global Climate Change: Earth's Atmosphere (23 min. Disney) Explore how scientists measure climate change. See how carbon dioxide affects the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and hear about the role of fossil fuels. Grades: 9 – 12.
Global Environmental Issues (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Students will learn about the positive and negative effects of industrialization, and how international efforts, such as the Kyoto Treaty, are attempting to manage economic development in order to protect the global environment. Grades 9 and up.
Global Warming: The Signs and the Science (60 min. PBS) This documentary profiles people who are living with the grave consequences of a changing climate, as well as the individuals, communities, and scientists inventing new approaches to safeguard our children's future. Filmed across the United States, Asia, and South America, this program brings the reality of climate change to life and offers viewers a variety of ways to make a difference in their own communities. Narrated by Alanis Morissette. Grades 7 and up.
Global Warming: What's Up with the Weather? (112 min. NOVA / Frontline) Deadly flooding in Africa. Catastrophic hurricanes in the United States. Record-high temperatures worldwide. Are these natural, temporary glitches in our global climate, or is the devastation the result of global warming? The weather is different now -- but why? Find out when Nova and Frontline join forces to determine What's Up with the Weather? Man-made carbon dioxide has overloaded the Earth's atmosphere. With demand for fossil fuels increasing daily, experts predict emission levels will triple in the next 100 years. But the greenhouse effect remains the subject of heated debate among scientists, climatologists, and futurists. Some believe the Earth's temperature will rise by nearly 10 degrees, melting arctic ice caps and, paradoxically, bringing about a new Ice Age. Others believe the weather will stay relatively normal. Who's right? Decide for yourself as this riveting two-hour special gives you the fascinating -- and occasionally frightening -- forecast for the future. Grades 7 and up.
An Inconvenient Truth (96 min. Paramount) Former Vice President Al Gore explains the facts of global warming, presents arguments that the dangers of global warning have reached the level of crisis, and addresses the efforts of certain interests to discredit the anti-global warming cause. Between lecture segments, Gore discusses his personal commitment to the environment, sharing anecdotes from his experiences. Adult.
Nuclear Energy: the Cost and Benefit of Alternative Choices (25 min. Disney) Bill Nye weighs the risks and advantages of using nuclear power as an alternative source of energy. Visit a nuclear reactor and a proposed nuclear waste site. Grades 9 - 12.
Pollution (18 min. TMW Media Group) See how air, water, and noise pollution are created both in nature and by humans. Discover the severe effects of pollution on our environment and how we can reduce, regulate, and recycle our wastes. Grades 4 - 9.
Pollution Solutions (26 min. Disney) From cleaning our water to cleansing our air, Bill demonstrates how important it is for all humans to prepare for the future by recycling, researching, and developing innovative solutions to combat this "way UN-cool" worldwide problem. Grades 4 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Future Car (57 min. PBS) Host Alan Alda visits the research labs and testing tracks of the Big Three automobile makers to find technologies that will fuel the cars of the future. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Hot Planet - Cold Comfort (27 min. PBS) So you think global warming won't affect you? Wait until the great Atlantic Conveyor shuts down. And find out what's already happening in Alaska. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Hot Times in Alaska (57 min; PBS) Melting glaciers, dying forests, and disappearing lakes; scientists explain why warmer temperatures are cause for alarm. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Hydrogen Hopes (30 min. PBS) Host Alan Alda meets with hydrogen enthusiasts working toward a future when hydrogen can be made in unlimited quantities from renewable, non-polluting resources. Grades 7 and up.
Six Degrees Could Change the World (90 min. National Geographic) By the year 2100, many scientists believe that the Earth's average temperature could rise by as much as six degrees Celsius. In a compelling investigation, National Geographic leads a degree-by-degree journey to explore what each rising and critical degree could mean for the future of our people and planet. Grades 9 and up.
Solar Energy (18 min. TMW Media Group) How can we capture, store, and use our Sun's energy? Learn some of the ways we use the Sun to heat or cool our homes, provide transportation, and make electricity. This program is segmented into 3 parts: How solar energy is "captured"; how solar energy is "transferred" and stored for later use; and how solar energy can help prevent pollution and global warming. Grades: 4 - 9.
Solar Energy: Saved by the Sun (56 min. NOVA/WGBH) In Saved by the Sun, NOVA poses the burning question: Can solar power help save the Earth from the ravages of global warming? In the face of steeply rising oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East, there's new urgency and enthusiasm for finding ways to make solar power more efficient and affordable. NOVA presents a provocative mix of scientist, economists, and ordinary citizens who are all pushing the envelope of solar power's untapped potential. Grades 7 and up.
Machines and Transportation
All About John Deere for Kids: Part 1 - 4 (180 min. TM Books and Video) See both new and antique John Deere equipment in action tractors, excavators, cultivators, planters, and dump trucks. We trace the growing season, show how soil is prepped, how seeds are planted, and how the soil is cultivated. Grades Pre-K - 1.
Big Stuff: Air, Land, and Sea (180 min. Acorn Media) What captures the imagination like nothing else? Few things make people stop, stare, ask questions or just say "wow" like the huge, the gigantic, and the enormous. People really want to see Big Stuff! This series looks at how the really gargantuan things of the world work; satisfying everyone's curiosity while teaching a little science, engineering, and design along the way. Grades 4 and up.
Fred Levine's Road Construction Ahead (30 min. Little Hard Hats) Kids get to watch something that's really constructive. As civil engineers work on roads and bridges, young viewers will learn about bulldozing, road-building, rock-blasting, and dirt-hauling. Grades Pre-K - 1.
Popular Mechanics for Kids: Radical Rockets and Other Cool Cruising Machines (92 min. Hearst Entertainment) In these four episodes of the Popular Mechanics for Kids television show, hosts Jay and Elisha take the audience on an adventure from the depths of the ocean in submarines to the far reaches of space. Along the way they work in a racing pit crew, ride in a monster truck, and drive a powerboat. Grades K - 6.
Popular Mechanics for Kids: Rip-Roaring Roller Coasters and All Access to Fun (92 min. Hearst Entertainment) Join Jay, Elisha and Tyler on a huge adventure into fun! You'll brave some of the world's fastest rollercoasters, learn how to fly on the circus trapeze, go backstage at a mega-rock concert, and even step into the ring with a real WCW wrestler! Grades K - 6.
Transportation: Traffic, Fuel Consumption, and Air Pollution (24 min. Disney) Bill Nye explains the environmental impact of American car culture. Grades 9 – 12.
Marine Life and Oceanography
Aliens of the Deep (47 min. Buena Vista) This underwater adventure gives you a glimpse of unbelievable creatures that live in an alien world in the deepest depths of the sea. Grades 2 and up.
Aliens of the Sea (50 min. New Era Media) An extraordinary wildlife film about Australian marine life. Grades 2 and up.
The Blue Planet: Seas of Life (4 discs, 392 min. BBC) Extraordinary footage and eloquent narration by David Attenborough highlight the BBC's remarkable wildlife series. One of the finest wildlife programs you're ever likely to see, The Blue Planet: Seas of Life provides the privilege of visiting a truly alien world teeming with the rarest wonders of nature. Grades 9 and up.
Coral Reef Adventure (43 min. MacGillivray Freeman) Join ocean explorers Howard and Michele Hall and learn about their concern for the future of the world's coral reefs. Grades 4 and up.
Deep Sea (41 min. IMAX) Famed oceanic filmmaker Howard Hall guides this immersive adventure that lets you swim alongside some of the most exotic creatures of the planet. An unusual array of finned and scaled stars are ready to steal every scene, among them: green sea turtles who gather off Kona so that surgeonfish can strip harmful algae from their shells; an ominous, predatory Humboldt squid that changes color four times per second like a flashing strobe light; an underdog mantis shrimp, whose claws have the speed of a 22-caliber bullet, in battle against a hungry octopus (the shrimp wins!). Grades K and up.
Dolphins (89 min. IMAX®/ MacGillivray Films) This movie captures the amazing lives of dolphins in the wild. Grades K and up.
Eyewitness: Fish (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Fish takes you deep into the waters of the world to discover some of the most exotic creatures in nature. Take the plunge from dazzling coral reefs to the darkest depths to meet fish -- a vast and varied group of animals, much closer to humankind than you might imagine. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Ocean (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Ocean visits the alien world of the deep, bringing us face to face with some of the most bizarre creatures on our planet. Ocean inhabitants have always remained mysterious, yet oceans contain 99 percent of the living space on the planet --- an enormous habitat for an amazing aquatic population. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Pond & River (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Pond and River takes you on a twisting journey down the great rivers of the world, pausing to visit the thriving realm of the freshwater pond. Travel upstream to find civilization's source, then down again to see the key to our very survival. Grades 2 - 6.
Eyewitness: Shark (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Shark takes you down into the murky world of sharks and their relatives and reveals what motivates these fascinating creatures. Discover a shark that eats only plankton, and learn that not all sharks are killing machines. Grades 2 - 6.
Fish (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye takes a dive underwater to study fish. Explore the depths with these submerged creatures and discover how they breathe, grow, and survive in their wet environment. Grades 4 and up.
Great Barrier Reef (39 min. Slingshot Entertainment) Filmed in IMAX technology, this film unveils the most colorful and diverse undersea world ever known. Viewers will experience not only the enchanting beauty of the reef, but will also learn of its complex ecosystem, symbiotic relationships and the extreme fragility of its environments. Grades 4 and up.
Jacques Cousteau: River Explorations (6 discs, 698 min. Warner Home Video) The Danube...the Mississippi...the Amazon. The names breathe adventure and excitement, history, and culture. Renowned explorer Jacques Cousteau and his team travel three of the world's great rivers and take you along for every enthralling moment of discovery. By ship, canoe, raft, plane, and helicopter, on foot and underwater, Cousteau and his team of scientists, divers, mariners, and filmmakers investigate the myths and mysteries of these amazing rivers that empty different continents, flow through different landscapes and shelter different ecosystems. Grades 6 and up.
Lakes and Ponds (26 min. Disney) Bodies of water surrounded by land on all sides are called lakes if they're large, and ponds if they're small. Where does all that water come from? Bill ponders this and many other questions in this exciting program. Grades 4 and up.
The Living Sea (77 min. McGillivray Freeman) Explore mysterious depths to discover the beauty, diversity, and importance of the ocean to all life on Earth. Narrated by Meryl Streep. Grades 4 and up.
The Magic School Bus: Catches a Wave! (80 min. Scholastic) Dive into three refreshing episodes with Ms. Frizzle and The Magic School Bus! The Friz takes her class on a rainy ride through the life cycle of a water drop, on the rough-'n'-tumble journey of a boulder subject to water erosion, and on a bubbly trip to the bottom of Walkerville Lake. Grades Pre-K - 2.
Marine Mammals (26 min. Disney) Marine Mammals may look like big fish, but Bill explains how they're really more like humans. Listen closely to hear mammals communicate underwater and find out how our "relatives at sea" have found ways to live in oceans around the world. Grades 4 and up.
Ocean Exploration (26 min. Disney) Exploring the ocean helps us to better understand the Earth. Get a glimpse of some of the special tools required for ocean exploration and find out why studying the ocean is so crucial to life on land. Grades 4 and up.
Ocean Life (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye goes underwater to talk about ocean ecosystems and the importance of small organisms such as coral, kelp, and plankton. Grades 4 and up.
Ocean Origins (40 min. Les Productions Dussart) This IMAX film takes viewers on an adventure through 4 billion years in the ocean, from the beginning of life until that incredible moment when the first vertebrate emerged onto dry land. Grades 6 and up.
Oceanography (26 min. Disney) Students get "current" information as Bill Nye explains why oceans are salty and explores how they flow. Grades 4 and up.
Popular Mechanics for Kids: Super Sea Creatures and Awesome Ocean Adventures (60 min. Hearst Entertainment) Four episodes of the program Popular Mechanics for Kids are included on one disc. Join the cast as they explore the seas in some sophisticated equipment and check into an underwater hotel. Grades K - 6.
Scientific American Frontiers: Going Deep (27 min. PBS) A look back at the decades of effort that culminated in the deep sub Alvin reaching the ocean floor, and a look forward to what's next now Alvin is retiring. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Mysteries of the Deep (60 min. PBS) Scientists unlock secrets from the last frontier on Earth: the ocean depths. Grades 7 and up.
Volcanoes of the Deep Sea (45 min. Volcano Ocean Films, Inc.) The depths of the ocean remain one of the last great mysteries on Earth. Far below the waves is an incredible place teeming with life, but few people have seen it -- until now. For the first time you can be there, 12,000 feet below the ocean's surface, inside an unparalleled undersea volcanic world filled with strange creatures and dramatic landscapes. Grades 4 and up.
Window to the Sea (60 min. Driftwood Productions) This DVD presents exhibits, research, and behind-the-scenes activities of four leading U.S. aquariums. The program introduces viewers to many of the dedicated and fascinating people who work in marine centers. Grades 2 and up.
White Shark Outside the Cage (75 min. Digiview Entertainment) Research biologist Mark Marks leads us on a dangerous and thrilling quest to understand the great white shark. Grades 4 and up.
Mathematics
Algebra Adventure: Learning Algebra (95 min. Cerebellum Corporation) Required study by high schools and colleges, algebra has been a notorious stumbling block for students. Without a solid foundation in algebra, however, you cannot expect to do well in more advanced math and science courses, such as calculus, physics, and chemistry. Suitable for students of all ages, this DVD presents the three basic principles of algebra in a clear, fun, and approachable manner. Includes functions, algebraic properties, and linear equations. Grades 9 - College.
Count on Math (36 min. Disney) All three programs, "Exploring Geometry: Shapes and More," "Solving Equations: Number Patterns," and "Organizing Data: Beginning Charts and Graphs" in the award-winning early elementary series. Grades 2 - 4.
Cyberchase: Codename Icky (80 min. PBS) The Emmy Award-winning series CYBERCHASE teaches math concepts to kids ages 8 - 12 in a fun way they can understand. Packed with mystery, humor, and action, the TV show features a team of curious kids who outwit, outsmart, and outlast the bad guys in their adventurous quest to save Cyberspace. This three-episode disc includes "Codename Icky," "Harriet Hippo and the Mean Green," and "Of All the Luck." Grades 2 - 6.
Cyberchase: Ecohaven CSE (80 min. PBS) The Emmy Award-winning series CYBERCHASE teaches math concepts to kids ages 8 - 12 in a fun way they can understand. Packed with mystery, humor, and action, the TV show features a team of curious kids who outwit, outsmart, and outlast the bad guys in their adventurous quest to save Cyberspace. This three-episode disc includes "Ecohaven CSE," "A Crinkle in Time," "The Creech Who Would Be Crowned." Grades 2 - 6.
Cyberchase: The Snelfu Snafu (80 min. PBS) The Emmy Award-winning series CYBERCHASE teaches math concepts to kids ages 8 - 12 in a fun way they can understand. Packed with mystery, humor, and action, the TV show features a team of curious kids who outwit, outsmart, and outlast the bad guys in their adventurous quest to save Cyberspace. This three-episode disc includes "The Snelfu Snafu Parts 1 and 2" and "The Wedding Scammer." Grades 2 - 6.
Cyberchase: Starlight Night (80 min. PBS) The Emmy Award-winning series CYBERCHASE teaches math concepts to kids ages 8 - 12 in a fun way they can understand. Packed with mystery, humor, and action, the TV show features a team of curious kids who outwit, outsmart, and outlast the bad guys in their adventurous quest to save Cyberspace. This three-episode disc includes "Starlight Night," "Snow Day to Be Exact," "A Time to Cook." Grades 2 - 6.
Cyberchase: Totally Rad (80 min. PBS) The Emmy Award-winning series CYBERCHASE teaches math concepts to kids ages 8 - 12 in a fun way they can understand. Packed with mystery, humor, and action, the TV show features a team of curious kids who outwit, outsmart, and outlast the bad guys in their adventurous quest to save Cyberspace. This three-episode disc includes "Totally Rad," "The Borg of the Ring," and "Fortress of Attitude." Grades 2 - 6.
Donald in Mathmagic Land (26 min. Disney) Donald Duck learns the importance of mathematics from the early Greeks who discovered its basic principles. Sequences show how these principles relate to music, art, architecture, sports, and other phases of daily life. Grades 4 - 12.
Fantastic World of M.C. Escher (50 min. Acorn Media) Who was M.C. Escher? The Dutch graphic artist has intrigued and delighted patrons for generations, but what inspired his works? What are the mathematical principles behind the pieces? Viewers are welcome to view the accounts of Escher's friends and mathematicians as the answer the questions about who MC Escher was. Grades 9 and up.
Geometry (75 min. Cerebellum Corporation) Proofs and theorems and all those angles aren't exactly material for entertainment, but the Standard Deviants are, as ever, undaunted as they happily tackle "The Many Sided World of Geometry." The approach of taking serious academic subjects and presenting them in a lighthearted but purposely memorable manner is employed here with such diversions as a cartoon rendition of the great pioneer of geometry, Euclid, and animations showing the differences between inductive and deductive reasoning. Grades 9 - 12.
Geometry: Part 2 (67 min. Cerebellum Corporation) Geometry Part 2 goes into detail on perimeter, circumference, and area for two-dimensional and three-dimensional figures. This DVD is also helpful for students who need extra help understanding the Pythagorean Theorem. Difficult concepts are made crystal clear with easy-to-follow examples and graphic presentations. With the Standard Deviants by your side, you'll be calculating the surface of a sphere or the volume of a cylinder in no time! Grades 9 - College.
Life by the Numbers: Seeing is Believing, Vol. 1 (57 min. Monterey Media) From the smallest micro organism to the planets and the stars, life can be a wondrous journey of discovery where almost everywhere and everything is affected by numbers. This series hosted by Danny Glover includes interviews with experts who explain the crucial role mathematics plays in sports, work, education, exploration, chance, virtual reality, and life in general. This episode focuses on the role mathematics plays in producing special effects. Grades 7 - 12.
Life by the Numbers: Numbers Game, Vol. 2 (57 min. Monterey Media) This episode focuses on how mathematics can be used as a tool to improve athletic accomplishment. Grades 7 - 12.
Life by the Numbers: Patterns of Nature, Vol. 3 (57 min. Monterey Media) This episode focuses on the role of mathematics in biology. Grades 7 - 12.
Life by the Numbers: Chances of a Lifetime, Vol. 4 (57 min. Monterey Media) This episode focuses on the role probability and statistics play in making sense of our lives. Grades 7 - 12.
Life by the Numbers: Shape of the World, Vol. 5 (57 min. Monterey Media) This episode focuses on the role mathematics plays in exploration and mapmaking. Grades 7 - 12.
Life by the Numbers: A New Age, Vol. 6 (57 min. Monterey Media) This episode focuses on the role mathematics plays in computers and the information age. Grades 7 - 12.
Life by the Numbers: Making a Difference, Vol.7 (57 min. Monterey Media) This episode focuses on the role mathematics plays in computer science and the information age. Grades 7 - 12.
Probability (26 min. Disney) There is a good chance this will be one of Bill's best episodes! Watch Bill make this complicated concept very simple to understand, while showing how it allows us to predict events. Grades 4 and up.
The Story of 1 (60 min. PBS) Terry Jones embarks on a humor-filled journey to discover the amazing tale that lies behind the simplest number we have. Using computer graphics, 1 is brought to life for the program, in all his various guises. 1's story reveals how the most celebrated civilizations in history were achieved, where our modern numbers came from, and how the invention of zero changed the world forever and saved us from having to use Roman numerals today. Grades 6 and up.
People
China: The Panda Adventure (49 min. IMAX Corporation) Experience the world of the magnificent and rare giant panda as you travel back in time on an exciting expedition through the breathtaking splendor of 1936 China. Inspired by the true-life story of widowed New York socialite Ruth Harkness, a fiercely independent woman who dared to take up her late husband's expedition, journeying deep into the forests of China to study the giant panda. Grades 2 and up.
Da Vinci and The Code He Lived By (91 min. The History Channel) Explore the world of Leonardo Da Vinci, from his great artistic masterpieces to his visionary inventions. Grade: Adult.
The Discoverers (72 min. IMAX Corporation) From the earliest voyages that mapped the Earth to today's launches into space, The Discoverers reverberates with the passion to explore our universe. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by Dr. Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers examines our desire to expand the boundaries of knowledge. The stories presented in this film span space and time, taking us around the world to participate in the act of discovery. Grades 4 and up.
Einstein's Big Idea (112 min. NOVA / WGBH) Everyone's heard of it but what does E=mc2 -- the world s most famous equation -- really mean? And why did it change the world? With brilliant period recreations, NOVA dramatizes how an obscure young patent clerk (Albert Einstein) came up with his shattering 1905 discovery that the realms of matter and energy are inescapably linked. An accessible, suspenseful epic, Einstein's Big Idea reveals the roots of his astonishing breakthrough in the human stories of men and women whose innovative thinking across four centuries helped lead to E=mc2 and ultimately unleashed the power of the atom. Grades 9 and up.
Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition (97 min. Sony Pictures) Originally presented as a PBS Nova special and narrated by Liam Neeson, this excellent film --based on Caroline Alexander's acclaimed book, also titled after the ironic name of Shackleton's doomed ship -- chronicles the astonishing events of 1914 - 16, when Shackleton and 27 crewmen survived against all odds after their ship was crushed in the polar ice floes. Grades 6 and up.
Ernest Shackleton: To the End of the Earth (50 min. Kultur Video) This is the incredible story of explorer Ernest Shackleton's heroic attempt to lead the first expedition across the last unknown continent of Antarctica in 1914 - 16. During this voyage, his ship, the Endurance, became locked in sea ice, and for nine months Shackleton fought a losing battle with the harsh elements before the drifting ship was crushed and his crew marooned. With historical photos and rare film footage, this astonishing story explores the limits of unparalleled human courage, and ranks Ernest Shackleton's voyage among history's greatest adventures. New location footage, specially commissioned filmed reconstructions and expert authorities bring historical background and provide modern perspective to this unique film. Grades 6 and up.
The Films of Charles and Ray Eames, Vol. 1 (46 min. Pyramid Film and Video) "Powers of Ten" illustrates a picnic in Chicago and then begins moving ten times farther out every ten seconds, until our own galaxy is visible only as a speck of light. Then we move inward into the hand of a sleeping picnicker with ten times more magnification every ten seconds. Grades 7 and up.
The Films of Charles and Ray Eames, Vol. 2 (46 min. Pyramid Film and Video) This volume contains a variety of short films from the Eames design duo's library. Toy trains, Eames chairs, wet asphalt, and more are included. Grades 7 and up.
The Films of Charles and Ray Eames, Vol. 3 (46 min. Pyramid Film and Video) The films contained on this volume all stem from the exhibition "The World of Franklin and Jefferson," which was designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the celebration of America's bicentennial. The films display the historic contributions of these two founding fathers, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at how the exhibit was put together. Grades 7 and up.
The Films of Charles and Ray Eames, Vol. 4 (46 min. Pyramid Film and Video) This volume contains a variety of short films from the Eames design duo's film library. Mathematical concepts, design philosophy, fiberglass chairs, and more are included. Grades 7 and up.
The Films of Charles and Ray Eames, vol. 5 (46 min. Pyramid Film and Video) This volume contains a variety of films from the Eames design duo's film library. Spinning tops, airport history, lounge chairs, World's Fair memories, and more are included. Grades 7 and up.
The Films of Charles and Ray Eames, Vol. 6 (46 min. Pyramid Film and Video) This volume contains films from the Eames design duo's film library. Mathematical concepts, Day of the Dead celebrations, Solar-Do-Nothing machines, and much more is included. Grades 7 and up.
History's Mysteries: The True Story of Marco Polo (50 min. The History Channel) Initially circulated in the 14th century, "The Travels of Marco Polo" gave Europeans a glimpse into Far Eastern mysteries. But if Polo was an emissary to Kublai Khan, why isn't he mentioned, as are other foreigners, in the Khan's meticulous records? We'll delve into the ongoing dispute over the Venetian's veracity and very existence. Grades 9 and up.
Jane Goodall's Return to Gombe (50 min. Discovery) World-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall makes her annual return to Gombe Stream National Park in this exciting and somewhat heartbreaking visit to the chimpanzee research station she made famous. It seems a revolution has broken out among her favorite group of chimps and its brutal and bullying leader, Frodo, has been overthrown. With a power struggle imminent among the other chimps, Jane searches for Frodo and reminisces about the groundbreaking research, thoughts, beliefs, and emotions she has invested in these wild chimpanzees and protecting primates around the world. Return to Gombe makes for a fascinating and unforgettable journey. Grades 4 and up.
Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West (40 min. National Geographic) Re-live one of the greatest tales of adventure and exploration in history, as National Geographic brings to life the epic journey of Lewis, Clark, their guide Sacagawea and the brave Corps of Discovery across the land that would become the United States. Grades 6 and up.
Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery (2 discs, 240 min. PBS) This extraordinary film (directed by Ken Burns) tells the remarkable story of the entire Corps of Discovery -- not just the two famous captains, but the young army men, French-Canadian boatmen, Clark's African-American slave, and the Shoshone woman named Sacagawea, who brought along her infant son. Journey with them all, across a breath-taking landscape in an unforgettable experience that explores both the history -- and promise -- of America. Grades 6 and up.
Navajo Code Talkers (50 min. History Channel) In this documentary, historians and several Navajo veterans relate how a mere handful of WWII marines devised the only unbreakable code in modern military history. Grades 9 and up.
Shackleton's Antartic Adventure (41 min. Image Entertainment) Recounts the true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914-1916 British Imperial Trans-Antartic Expedition. Grades 6 and up.
Wings of Madness: The Daring Flights of Alberto Santos-Dumont (56 min. NOVA/WGBH) A century ago, Europe's most acclaimed celebrity was a fashionable, frail, Brazilian-born aviator named Alberto Santos-Dumont. Based on the acclaimed biography by Paul Hoffman, Wings of Madness tells the colorful and tragic life of this neglected pioneer and brilliant technical improviser, who cut a dashing figure in turn-of-the-century Paris. Grades 7 and up.
Physics
Chirp Flies (60 min. WGBH) Take to the air in six fun-filled adventures as Chirp tries to fly — with a little help from Peep, Quack, and some of other feathered friends. Grade Pre-K.
Balance (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye is the center of attention when he talks about the center of gravity and its effect on balance. Grades 4 and up.
Buoyancy (26 min. Disney) Bill takes to the sky in a hot-air balloon, and goes scuba diving in the Seattle Aquarium to explain why things like boats, helium, and balloons are buoyant. Grades 4 and up.
Color and Light (18 min. TMW Media Group) Where do colors come from and how are they made? Learn about primary colors. How do light and color affect how we see the world around us? What is color? Artificial light is explained; both incandescent and fluorescent. Learn fascinating facts about light. Grades 4 - 9.
Electrical Current (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye gets a charge explaining "watts up" with electricity. Learn how electricity makes the world a brighter place. Grades 4 and up.
The Elegant Universe (180 min. WGBH) Illuminating one of the most revolutionary theories in physics today, known as string theory or superstring theory. Grades 7 and up.
Energy (26 min. Disney) This episode is sure to rev things up when it covers water, muscles, heat, light, and sound, and discusses types of energy that make things go, run, or happen. See how to transform potential energy into kinetic energy and use falling water to make energy. Grades 4 and up.
Energy in Action: Electromagnetic Energy (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers learn about different forms and uses of electromagnetic energy including radios, microwave ovens, and X-ray machines. Grades 5 - 8.
Energy in Action – Energy: Potential and Kinetic (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In Energy: Potential and Kinetic, students discover that kinetic energy is related to objects in motion while potential energy is stored, just waiting to be put to use. Explore how increasing potential energy translates to more kinetic energy with compelling, real-life examples. Grades 5 - 8.
Energy for Children: All About Heat (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In All About Heat, kids will learn that all objects have heat energy, it's just that some have more than others. Kids will discover what heat energy is and how we use it, while the host's humorous antics help kids understand how heat moves through conduction, convection, and radiation. Grades K - 4.
Energy for Children: All About the Transfer of Energy (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In All About the Transfer of Energy, kids learn about potential and kinetic energy and how energy transfers between these two states. Bowling balls and rubber bands are used to demonstrate the transfer of energy, while divers and snowboarders provide exciting real-life examples. Also included is a fun, hands-on activity that shows students how increasing the height of an object increases its potential energy. Grades K - 4.
Energy for Children: What is Energy? (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In What Is Energy? humorous characters and engaging demonstrations combine to give kids a solid overview of what energy is and how we use it. See how a spinning pinwheel, a strumming guitar, and a crackling fire all serve as great examples of energy at work. Dynamic graphics and fun examples teach kids how heat energy moves and how it affects atoms. Young viewers find out that the Sun is the ultimate source of the Earth's chemical energy and that sound is a form of mechanical energy. The program also introduces other forms of energy, including electromagnetic and nuclear. Grades K - 4.
Fluids (26 min. Disney) What do syrup, milkshakes, and air all have in common? In Fluids, you'll discover that they're all fluids, or stuff that can bend, squish, flow, move, dodge, or mosey out of the way without breaking or separating. Grades 4 and up.
Force and Work: Energy in Action (26 min. AIMS Multimedia)Viewers are introduced to everyday mechanical forces and the mysteries of field forces like gravity and electromagnetism. The concepts of work, pressure, potential, and kinetic energy, and power and efficiency are also explored. Grades 9 - 12.
Friction (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye illustrates how various types of transportation utilize friction, from traction in trains to the "roll" of ball bearings in skateboards and automobiles. Grades 4 and up.
Getting Charged: Understanding Static Electricity (15 min. TMW Media Group) Learn the principles of electrostatics and explore how electrons really move. Live action activities include: balloons, ping-pong balls, wool, producing static charges, conductivity, and non-conductivity. Grades: 4 – 8.
Gravity (26 min. Disney) Have you ever wondered what holds the ocean on the Earth? Or what makes the Earth round? Perhaps you've thought about what holds humans to the ground? Host Bill Nye provides the explanation for these and other questions about the Earth's gravity. Grades 4 and up.
Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Physics (45 min. Disney) Bill Nye tells us that all interactions in the universe are the result of gravity, electromagnetism, the force between protons and neutrons, and the force causing radioactive decay. Grades 6 - 12.
Heat (26 min. Disney) Way Cool Scientist Bill Nye really radiates in this sizzling episode. Learn all about heat and its three forms: conduction, convection, and radiation. Grades 4 and up.
In Force: Gravity, Friction, & Work, Squibs Vol. 3 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD presents the laws of motion in all their glory. Grades 4 - 6.
In Motion: Light, Heat, & Energy, Squibs, Vol. 7 (60 min. Ignite!) This DVD illuminates the concept of energy. Grades 4 - 6.
Learning Physics (105 min. Standard Deviants) Learn how to explain everything in terms of matter and force! First, you will learn about scientific notation and potential energy. Then you will follow the Standard Deviants as they explore momentum, acceleration, Hooke's Law, Newton's Laws, power and much more. (Formerly titled Physics 1 DVD). Grades: 9 - 12.
Lenses and Mirrors (18 min. TMW Media Group) Learn how different types of lenses and mirrors work. See how the reflecting or refracting of light can affect us in our everyday life. How do mirrors reflect? How do lenses work? How do lenses and mirrors differ in the way they deflect light? Learn the importance of lenses and mirrors in our everyday lives. Grades: 4 – 9.
Light Optics (26 min. Disney) You won't believe your eyes when Bill Nye the Science Guy reflects, refracts, bends, bounces, absorbs, and pulls light waves to show how things can be seen in different ways. Using lenses, mirrors, and water, Bill's optical illusions are sights to behold. Grades 4 and up.
Measurement (26 min. Disney) See some of our most important tools used for measuring. Telescopes, spectroscopes, microscopes, stethoscopes, radar, thermometers, scales, barometers -- not to mention the humble ruler -- are all used to compare stuff in our universe and make observations. Grades 4 and up.
Momentum (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye shows how weight and speed affect momentum. Explore how much crash test dummies know about momentum in a car and the importance of wearing a safety belt. Grades 4 and up.
Motion (26 min. Disney) Did you know that nothing can move or stop by itself? In Motion, Bill Nye shows how everything needs a push or pull -- force -- to make it move or stop. Sometimes an object might seem to be at rest even when it is actually in motion. Confused? It's all relative -- relative motion, that is. Grades 4 and up.
Peep Figures it Out (60 min. WGBH) Join Peep, Chirp and Quack on six exciting, new adventures! Find out what a "whatchamacallit" is. Discover where the Sun goes at night. Figure out how to un-flip a turtle. And learn why a step, a squirm, and a hop are very different measurements. There's a big wide world out there and it's waiting for YOU! Then join real kids as they experiment and play in their OWN "big wide worlds." Grade Pre-K.
Peep Explores (60 min. WGBH) Join Peep, Chirp, and Quack as they explore the big wide world. Find out why Peep lives in a can, discover some dark secrets about the night, follow "duck prints" in the snow as Peep tracks Quack, and chase the perfect leaf on a wonderfully windy fall day. Kids are invited to explore in their big wide worlds too by investigating ice, building a house, making tracks, and exploring the sky at night. Grade Pre-K.
Peep Floats (60 min. WGBH) Join Peep, Chirp, and Quack as they learn about sinking and floating. Sail a toy boat to Green Island. See "the power of duck feet!" in action. Help fish understand the big, wide world "up there." Then join the real kids as they experiment and play in their own "big wide worlds." Grade Pre-K.
Peep's New Friend (60 min. WGBH) Join Peep, Chirp, and Quack as they explore the big wide world of animals! Meet an eager beaver, three shy bunnies, a frisky cat, a colorful butterfly, and Hoot the owl. Watch as Quack teaches his new fish friends about the greatest animal of all: ducks. Grade Pre-K.
Peep Finds (60 min. WGBH) Visit Peep's big wide world and join in the search. Discover a flashlight, a bouncing weasel, a stand-offish duck, and the very last flower of the summer. Explore the wonders of a mirror -- and enjoy the comic spell it casts on a certain duck. Grade Pre-K.
Physical Science in Action: Friction (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers discover the characteristics of light and learn how light travels in waves; they also learn about wavelength, amplitude, and frequency. Grades 5 - 8.
Physical Science in Action: Gravity (23 min. Schlessinger) Gravity uses exciting visuals and clear, colorful graphics to take students beyond the basics to explain that gravity is really a force of attraction between objects. Grades 5 - 8.
Physical Science: The Basics K - 2 (180 min. Discovery) From electricity and magnetism to light and sound, this video introduces young students to a wide variety of physical science topics with these segments drawn from Discovery Channel School's award-winning series. Along with the 12 student video segments, this video includes six scientific literacy segments to aid classroom teachers. Grades K - 2.
Physical Science for Children: All About Motion and Balance (23 min. Schlessinger Media) All About Motion and Balance explores these two concepts and how they are related. Kids will learn that motion is movement caused by unbalanced forces, while gravity and friction are introduced as forces that affect motion. They will also learn why all objects resist any change in their motion. Also included are simple explanations of key concepts such as momentum and equal and opposite reactions, as well as an introduction to the idea of center of gravity. Grades K - 4.
Physical Science for Children: All About Properties of Matter (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Most children know how to describe an object -- by color, size and shape. Here they'll learn that all objects are made of matter and that all matter can be described with basic scientific properties -- mass, weight, volume and density. Each of these properties is described using fun, real-life examples. Grades K - 4.
Physics: Part 2 (114 min. Standard Deviants) Since you already know the basics of physics, you're probably itching to learn more advanced concepts. Physics Part 2 covers Joules, the law of universal gravitation, Kepler's laws of planetary motion, the second law of thermodynamics, and much more. The Standard Deviants make it fun and easy to learn about physics! Grades 9 - 12.
Pressure (60 min. WGBH) (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye visits the Hoover Dam and takes to jack hammering concrete blocks to explore different types of pressure, while special equipment enables him to scuba dive and explain the effects of pressure underwater. Grades 4 and up.
Quack Knows It All (60 min. WGBH) Explore the power of duck feet as Quack, Peep, and Chirp take six web-footed adventures. Then join real kids as they experiment with ice, make instruments out of household items, and create their own treasure maps. Narrated by Joan Cusack. Also includes episodes in Spanish. Grade Pre-K.
The Science of Music (26 min. Disney) Each musical note and every tone of each instrument is, in fact, a unique sound wave. Getting the exact sound waves in the pattern you want -- now that's way cool science! Grades 4 and up.
Simple Machines (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye careens around on a roller coaster and furiously pedals his bike on the Tour de France to show that simple machines doing complicated things can be found everywhere. Grades 4 and up.
Sound (26 min. Disney) (26 min. Disney) Bill's pickin' up good vibrations when he joins rock group Soundgarden in the recording studio. Bill and pals unleash the power of sound as they tap, sing, and band sound waves to eardrums everywhere. Grades 4 and up.
Spinning Things (26 min. Disney) In Spinning Things, Bill Nye the Science Guy tells us what the Earth, a big storm, and a rolling ball have in common. Discover why some things spin and others don't. Grades 4 and up.
Static Electricity (26 min. Disney) Why do socks stick together when taken from the dryer? Learn the shocking truth in this program on static electricity. Grades 4 and up.
Time (26 min. Disney) Bill shows how humans measure time with the help of Beverly Hills 90210 heartthrob Ian Ziering and comedian Ellen Cleghorne. When he's not demonstrating how to make a water clock, Bill is explaining Einstein's theory of relativity. Grades 4 and up.
Waves (23 min. Disney) Bill Nye explores sound waves, light waves, seismic waves, energy waves, and even "the wave" that is so popular with stadium crowds. Grades 4 and up.
Waves: Energy In Motion (25 min. AIMS Multimedia) Quality animation illustrates how waves transfer energy, but not matter, from one point to another. Reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, the Doppler effect, wavelength, amplitude, and frequency are also explained. Grades: 6 – 12.
Wetlands (26 min. Disney) Bill Nye sloshes across American wetlands and gets a little bit muddy while he shows us how these swamps, bogs, and marshes help control floods, naturally filter water, and provide a good home to lots of living things, especially wildlife. Grades 4 and up.
What the Bleep!? Down the Rabbit Hole (152 min. Fox) This film plunges you into a world where quantum uncertainty is demonstrated; where neurological processes and perceptual shifts are engaged and lived by its protagonist; where everything is alive; and where reality is changed by every thought. Grades: Adult.
Places
1421: The Year China Discovered America? (120 min. PBS) This special examines the theories outlined by Gavin Menzies in his best-selling book. An amateur historian and former submarine commander in the British Navy, Menzies poses an argument that could change the way we perceive global history forever -- that Chinese admirals discovered America and Chinese junks first circled the Earth. Traveling across the continent, the film combines history, science and technology with adventure and exploration. Grades 9 and up.
The Alps (45 min. IMAX Corporation) In the air above Switzerland, on the sheer rock-and-ice wall known as the Eiger, an American climber is about to embark on the most perilous and meaningful ascent he has ever undertaken: an attempt to scale the legendary mountain that took his renowned fathers life. Against a backdrop of overwhelming natural beauty, The Alps is a true-life story of extraordinary courage. It's the intensely personal journey of a man who has every reason not to climb the deadly Eiger North Face, yet climb it he must. Narrated by Michael Gambon. Grades 4 and up.
Amazon (39 min. IMAX Corporation) Explore the mysterious Amazon through the amazing IMAX experience and celebrate the beauty, vitality, and wonder of this magical rain forest, which is disappearing at an alarming rate. Filmmakers overcame many difficulties to photograph this rarely seen tropical landscape and present it with all the visual power associated with IMAX. Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Linda Hunt, this unique collaboration between an American scientist and a tribal shaman on a mission to find rare medicinal plants will amaze and astound you. Grades 4 and up.
Australia: Land Before Time (75 min. IMAX Corporation) Australia, the world's largest island and smallest continent, is an exotic, intriguing land shaped by its isolation from all other lands. With thousand of miles of red desert sand dunes that characterize its famous Outback and lush coastal rainforests rich with unique wild life, Australia is a place of extremes. Australia: Land Beyond Time takes viewers on a breathtaking journey back in time to witness the birth and evolution of a mysterious land that harbors remnants of Earth s earliest life and many of its strangest creatures that exist nowhere else on the planet. Grades 4 and up.
Deadly Ascent (56 min. WGBH / NOVA) Alaska's Mount McKinley, commonly referred to as Denali, is the highest and coldest peak in North America, and one of the deadliest mountains on Earth. Each year more than 1,000 people attempt to summit it; many never to return alive. While some climbers die in accidents sliding off of icy cliffs, crushing bones against rocks, falling into hidden crevices, or losing their way and succumbing to the cold, others, often in top physical condition, die from a strange disease that strikes at extreme altitudes. Now, as a new season dawns on the mountain, a team of doctors, rescuers, world-class mountaineers, military special forces and an astronaut return to save lives, and using themselves as subjects, decipher the deaths on Denali. Grades 7 and up.
Descent into the Ice (60 min. WGBH / NOVA) Mont Blanc, western Europe's highest peak, rises majestically in the Alps. But deep inside its massive glaciers lurks a hidden danger: killer lakes with the potential to burst free just as they did in 1892 when a mid-summer torrent of cascading mud and water claimed 200 lives. Armed with high-tech gear and boundless courage, a Nova team goes where no one has gone before, deep inside the sub-freezing waters of Mont Blanc's 1000-foot-thick Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice). Grades 7 and up.
Everest (45 min. IMAX) Relive a breathtaking journey to the top of the world with Everest, the spectacular giant-screen motion picture for IMAX theatres! Filmed during the infamous 1996 storm that claimed eight lives, Everestdocuments the filmmakers' harrowing rescue efforts to help surviving members of the ill-fated group. Join an international team of climbers as they scale the world's tallest peak. Witness the perils of skin-blistering cold, violent blizzards that drop the wind chill to minus-100 degrees, and air so thin it numbs the mind. Grades 6 and up.
Everest: 50 Years on the Mountain (90 min. National Geographic) Fifty years later, three sons of Everest's most celebrated climbers return to the mountain to challenge it again. Join their journey as they brave the elements and face death to climb 29,000 feet of wind-blasted rock and ice. Grades 7 and up.
Everest: The Death Zone (60 min. WGBH / NOVA) In the wake of the 1996 disaster that took eight climbers in a single day, scientists follow a team of hikers to measure, for the first time ever, the toll high-altitude climbing takes on the heart, lungs, blood, and brain. Why do seemingly rational people make poor, sometimes fatal decisions as they approach the peak? And the danger doesn't end there—as Nova discovers during the descent, when one climber's respiratory illness takes a terrifying turn on the isolated mountainside. ''Even with the best technology, the best training,'' says team member, producer and director David Breashears, ''you can still end up frozen to death at 27,500 feet. That's what makes Everest Everest.'' Grades 7 and up.
Everest: The Mystery of Mallory and Irvine (60 min. NOVA) Did George Mallory reach the top of Mount Everest in 1924, nearly 30 years before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? More than just a spellbinding Everest saga, the story of Mallory and Irvine evokes memories of an era of exploration and heroic idealism when one could still "walk off the map." Grades 7 and up.
Galapagos (45 min. IMAX) Shot on the famed archipelago and in its surrounding waters, this IMAX film follows marine biologist Dr. Carole Baldwin as she makes her initial venture into the island world first chronicled for science 160 years earlier by Charles Darwin. Grades 6 and up.
Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets (60 min. Slingshot) Explore the Grand Canyon's beauty and majesty. Grades 4 and up.
The Greatest Places (40 min. IMAX Corporation) Witness the greatest collection of diversity ever produced. The Greatest Places is a large-format film that takes you on a journey to seven of the most geographically dynamic locations on Earth: the Amazon, Greenland, Iguazu Fall, Namib Desert, Okavango Delta, Madagascar, and Tibet. Grades 4 and up.
The Hidden World of Africa (50 min. Exploration Films) This film reveals some of the hundreds of invertebrates in the bush and savannas of Africa. These creatures thrive and support lives far larger than their own. Grades 6 and up.
Journey into Amazing Caves (40 min. MacGillivray Freeman) This is a visceral, suspenseful expedition with a new breed of scientists who boldly explore places once thought off-limits to human presence, let alone IMAX cameras. Join Dr. Hazel Barton and Nancy Aulenbach as they travel to unique and forbidding ice caves in Greenland, underwater caves in the Yucatan, terrestrial caves in the Grand Canyon and other spectacular locations. Grades 4 and up.
Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa (70 min. Sling Shot) Follow five trekkers and their Chagga Mountain guide up the largest freestanding mountain in the world. Grades 6 and up.
Lost On Everest (60 min. NOVA) Join the historic search for the body of mountain-climbing legend George Mallory atop Mount Everest. Climb the daunting slopes that challenged Mallory's mind, body and archaic equipment. And take part in mountaineering history as Nova brings you an up-close look at this headline-making quest. Grades 7 and up.
Mountain of Ice: Antarctica's Vinson Massif (56 min. WGBH / NOVA) In this high-altitude adventure, Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air, world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker, and their team of climbers, scientists, and filmmakers take a trailblazing expedition to the top of Antarctica's tallest peak Vinson Massif. Along the way, their experiences are contrasted with those of Norwegian adventurer Roald Amundsen and British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, who in 1911 raced to be the first to reach the South Pole. Grades 7 and up.
Tropical Rain Forest (40 min. Finley Holiday Films) This film takes the viewer on a 400-million-year journey to illustrate the diversity and beauty of life in the forests. Grades 4 and up.
Yellowstone: Everything Else is Just a Movie (32 min. IMAX) Yellowstone National Park is a land of constant contrast. Lush, flourishing forests stand next to cracked, gasping landscapes. Half-frozen rivers run beside boiling patches of earth. Packs of wolves breeze by a group of filmmakers. Enter this amazing land, and follow our crew as they employ ground-breaking film techniques to create a totally unique experience. Grades K and up.
Plants
Eyewitness: Plant (35 min. Dorling Kindersley) Plant is a colorful tour of the world's most dazzling flora, from the most magical to the most bizarre. Watch buds burst, flowers bloom, and discover the myriad ways plants struggle to survive. Grades 2 - 6.
Flowers (26 min. Disney) The Science Guy, with the help of guest Drew Barrymore, shows that flowers are more than just pretty faces. They make seeds, play a key role in pollination, and help plants to reproduce. Grades 4 and up.
Forests (26 min. Disney) Follow Bill Nye in Forests, when he goes swinging through the trees in Washington, Florida, Texas, and California to bring viewers close to the tallest and possibly oldest living things in the world. Examine a real forest fire to see what it does to help a forest's ecosystem. Grades 4 and up.
Plant Life in Action: Photosynthesis (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers explore what makes plants so unique by studying the chemical process of photosynthesis. Diagrams and microscopic photography illustrate the parts of a leaf that are involved in photosynthesis. Grades 4 and up.
Plant Life for Children: All About Plant Adaptation (23 min. Schlessinger Media) In All About Plant Adaptation, join young plant lovers as they uncover some of the amazing ways that plants have adapted over millions of years, enabling them to survive almost anywhere on Earth. Grades K - 4.
Plant Life for Children: All About Plant and Animal Interdependency (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers discover how plants and animals interrelate and learn about the constant exchange of gases in the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle. In a hands-on experiment, viewers learn how animals transport a seed to new locations. Grades K - 4.
Plant Life for Children: All About Plant Pollination – Fruits, Flowers and Seeds (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers discover how plants and animals interrelate, and learn about the constant exchange of gases in the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle. In a hands-on experiment, viewers learn how animals transport a seed to new locations. Grades K - 4.
Plant Life for Children: All About Plant Structure and Growth (23 min. Schlessinger Media) Viewers discover the vital role that roots, stems, and leaves play in a plant's role as an energy producer; how a plant manufactures sugar in its leaves and transfers it to the rest of the plant; how a plant's root system functions; and how to identify different types of leaves. Grades K - 4.
Plants (26 min. Disney) Science guy Bill Nye branches out and gets to the root of the matter to explain wild things about plants, such as how they breathe, make food, defend themselves, and move their seeds around. Grades 4 and up.
Robotics
Great Robot Race: The Darpa Grand Challenge (56 min. WGBH) Join NOVA for an exclusive backstage pass to the DARPA Grand Challenge -- a raucous race for robotic, driverless vehicles sponsored by the Pentagon, which awards a $2 million purse to the winning team. Armed with artificial intelligence, laser-guided vision, GPS navigation, and 3-D mapping systems, the contenders are some of the world's most advanced robots. Yet even their formidable technology and mechanical prowess may not be enough to overcome the grueling 130-mile course through Nevada's desert terrain. Grades 7 and up.
Robots: A Look into the Future (16 min. Cambridge Educational) This DVD examines robots created for a wide range of purposes, from six-legged computerized lumberjacks that help protect forest habitat to molecular-sized automatons that might someday search out and destroy disease inside the human body. Grades 8 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Cars That Think (27 min. PBS) The fully automatic car may be down the road a ways, but cars that do your thinking for you are just around the corner -- they watch out for hazards, they listen to you, they read your lips, and they even know when you're distracted. Grades 7 and up.
Scientific American Frontiers: Robot Pals (27 min. PBS) Viewers meet three robots, including a future member of an astronaut team. Grades 7 and up.
Ships
Last voyage of the Lusitania (60 min. National Geographic) The date is May 7, 1915, just nine months into World War I. A German U-boat torpedoes the Lusitania -- one of the largest and fastest luxury liners in the world. Why did Germany torpedo a civilian vessel? And why did such an enormous ship sink so fast? Now, take a high-tech plunge beneath the Irish Channel and relive one of the century's most mysterious maritime tragedies. Grades 9 and up.
Lost Subs: Disaster at Sea (60 min. National Geographic) Lost Subs tells four stories of disaster and heroism in the face of almost-certain death. What brings these awesome machines down, to be catastrophically crushed at the bottom of the sea? What lessons have been learned from investigating the wreckage of downed subs? The United States and the former Soviet Union have both lost subs to the dark waters of chance and tragedy, and the stories from both sides - of K-19, the Kursk, the USS Thresher and USS Squalus-- will be told by the submariners themselves, by their surviving family members, and sometimes by the corpse of the downed submarine itself. Grades 7 and up.
Search for Battleship Bismarck (60 min. National Geographic) National Geographic looks back at the first, and last, mission of the Bismarck and talks with survivors of the notorious World War II battle. Then, in its climatic chapter, the story reveals exclusive footage of this remarkable undersea exploration. Grades 7 and up.
Secrets of the Titanic (51 min. National Geographic) Join researcher Dr. Robert Ballard as he locates and investigates the ill-fated R.M.S Titanic. Grades 7 and up.
Titanic: The Complete Story (300 min. A&E) Of all the many documentaries that have been made about the Titanic disaster, this two-part, 192-minute film, produced in 1994 for the Arts & Entertainment network, remains the most thorough, authoritative, and fascinating chronicle of the Titanic tragedy. From blueprint design and construction in Ireland, to the ill-fated maiden voyage and the lasting legacy of Titanic's fateful sinking, no detail has been neglected in the film's meticulous description of events. Grades 9 and up.
Titanic Revealed (60 min. Genius Productions LLC) Join Dr. Robert Ballard as he returns to the RMS Titanic, and learn how the lost liner is once again threatened with disaster. Grades 9 and up.
Sports
Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk (37 min. IMAX Corporation) With breathtaking views of skydiving over the Florida Keys, the Mojave Desert, and the magnificent Fjords of Norway, this giant-screen experience explores the psychological and physiological forces behind risk-tasking and the physics involved in high-risk activities. The film follows two top risk-takers Adrian Nicholas and Katarina Ollikainen as they try to fly the first parachute ever designed as imagined in 1485 by Leonardo da Vinci. Grades 4 and up.
Baseball (10 discs, 1380 min. PBS) Ken Burns tops himself with this epic of American history, told in "nine innings," with a skilled narration by John Chancellor and the voices of Paul Newman, Jason Robards, Billy Crystal, and other stars. The series spans 150 years, starting with the myth-debunking tale of baseball's true beginnings -- when it was a game "one degree above mayhem." Then follow the growth of America's national pastime through the decades of glory and record-setting achievements, as well as the scandals, the bigotry, and the big money. The series portrays the game as a mirror of America itself -- the passions, prejudices, and ambitions that have shape the country. Grades 2 and up.
Modern Marvels: Baseball Parks (50 min. The History Channel) Modern Marvels® traces the development of the old ballpark from the days of sandlots and bleachers to the retro stadiums with up-to-the-minute features that are bringing fans back to the game. Visit some of baseball's greatest shrines, including Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium, and Camden Yards, and see how the years have changed the way they were conceived and built. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how they work and tour areas off-limits to the public. Hear from the men who built them and play in them, and get an early glimpse of what the 21st century stadium may look like. Grades 7 and up.
The Magic School Bus: Super Sports Fun! (80 min. Scholastic) Put your game face on and race into these three pumped-up adventures with Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus! From a "frictionless" baseball game to an up-close look at the muscles that make us move, the Friz and her students jump into action to solve the mysteries of everyday life. Grades Pre-K - 2.
Popular Mechanics for Kids: X-treme Sports and Other Action Adventures (92 min. Hearst Entertainment) Four episodes of the program Popular Mechanics for Kids are included on this one disc. Join the cast as they hit the mountains to meet some Olympic snowboarders and gear up for some off road racing, desert style! Grades K - 6.
Sports: Science in Action (27 min. Disney) Learn about the physics behind sports, take a look at the mental aspects that world-class athletes bring to their efforts, and explore why people play and watch sports. Grades 9 – 12.
Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France (50 min. Partners Healthcare System) Discover what elite athletes have on their minds before, during, and after a competition. "Wired to Win" takes a look at the human brain and what it goes through as athletes gear up for the Tour de France. Grades 9 and up.
Technology and Engineering
2057: The Body. The City. The World (2 discs, 129 min. Discovery Channel) Experience the world 50 years in the future in this unique three-part series that examines the world of tomorrow. Supported by the world's leading scientists and research institutes, embark on a quest to answer some of society's most fundamental questions while revealing the dramas of tomorrow's world along the way. Bonus episode focuses on the cars of the future. Grades 9 and up.
Building Big: Tunnels (67 min. WGBH) Get an amazing look at tunnels from ancient Rome to the remarkable Channel tunnel that connects France and England. Grades 4 and up.
Computers (26 min. Disney) Former Vice President Al Gore helps Bill Nye trace the evolution of these amazing machines, from early models that took up entire rooms to the personal laptop that fits in your briefcase. Grades 4 and up.
Engineers Can Do Anything! An Inspirational Guide into the World of Engineering Careers (Engineering Education Service Center) Everyone interested in becoming an engineer should take a look at the facts presented in this DVD to understand how engineers are involved in every segment of society. Grades 4 and up.
Engineering an Empire, Vol. 1 (141 min. The History Channel) Engineering an Empire initiates its architectural investigations with mighty Greece, the empire that gave rise to Western civilization and produced some of antiquity's greatest treasures. Next, discover how Alexander saved the Greek Empire from its period of civil unrest, then voyage to Central America to unlock the mysterious and magical world of the ancient Aztecs. Grades 9 and up.
Engineering an Empire, Vol. 2 (141 min. The History Channel) Engineering an Empire continues its quest to unearth the framework of the ancient world in volume 2. Witness the sophistication and defense techniques of the Carthaginian engineers, learn about the unparalleled feats of ancient China, and trace the brutal rise and fall of the Russian empire. Grades 9 and up.
Engineering an Empire, Vol. 3 (141 min. The History Channel) The incredible displays of technological prowess continue in the third column of Engineering an Empire. Watch the mighty rise of the British empire as it paves the way for the modern world and explore the incredible engineering feats of the Persian empire. Learn about Mayan ingenuity from 250 to 900 AD and search for clues regarding the civilization's strange disappearance. Grades 9 and up.
Engineering an Empire, Vol. 4 (141 min. The History Channel) Engineering an Empire culminates as it follows the rise of one of the greatest military strategists in history, examines one who spurred on some of the world's most iconic masterpieces, and uncovers the brilliant gem of the Dark Ages: the Byzantine Empire. Finally, watch Italy magnificently reawaken and build on a scale not witnessed since the ascent of Rome. Grades 9 and up.
Engineering the Impossible (100 min. Discovery Communications) Just how feasible are such extraordinary ventures as a Europe-to-Africa bridge, a tunnel across the Straight of Gibraltar, a 170-story skyscraper or, amazingly, floating ocean cities? Find out with the aid of remarkable state of the art graphics and technology. Grades 10 and up.
Extreme Engineering: Biggest War Ships (50 min. Discovery Communications) Watch as work continues on the $4.5 billion USS George Bush aircraft carrier, midway through its four-year construction at Newport News, Virginia. While huge cranes -- each capable of hoisting 900 tons -- carefully lift 160 massive sections of the completed flight deck into place with metronomic accuracy, the pressure mounts as workers race to avoid any delays. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Big Easy Rebuild (50 min. Discovery Communications) The recovery of New Orleans from the devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina will take years, if not decades. But before long-term solutions can be implemented, immediate repairs are needed to protect New Orleans from the 2006 hurricane season. Join host Danny Forster as he works alongside the dawn-to-dusk team from the Army Corps of Engineers to repair two critical levees and install the region's first new floodgate. From the 17th Street Canal to the 9th Street Ward Levee to the massive, $40 million floodgate, it's a race against the forces of nature to keep one of America's most culturally rich cities afloat. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Boston's Big Dig (50 min. Discovery Communications) Engineers put the final touches on a super highway buried 120 feet below downtown. But will this be the answer to the city's transit troubles, or will it drive motorists to seek higher ground? Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Bridging the Bering Strait (50 min. Discovery Communications) A massive bridge joining North America and Asia — following the same intercontinental route as the ancient Bering Strait land bridge — holds the promise of unprecedented economic growth. That is, if it can be built. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Container Ships (50 min. Discovery Communications) Watch as a group of ambitious Danish shipbuilders set out to blow the rudders off the worldwide cargo shipping industry by building the most colossal, powerful cargo ship ever conceived. With its designers determined to push the outer limits of what is possible with today's materials and technology, this ship will look more like a skyscraper than a sea-going vessel. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Cooper River Bridge (50 min. Discovery Communications) Builders in Charleston, South Carolina are hard at work on a record-breaker: a 500-foot, eight-lane link between the city of Charleston and the town of Mount Pleasant that, when complete, will become the longest cable-stay bridge in America. The trouble is, they're operating on shaky ground -- smack in the middle of hurricane alley, on the most earthquake-prone piece of real estate on the East Coast and right in the path of the world's largest, heaviest container ships. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Gotthard Tunnel (50 min. Discovery Communications) The cutting edge of technological infrastructure, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is set to become the world's longest rail tunnel, creating a flat rail link for future travel through the Alps. Trains will be able to race at speeds exceeding 250 km/h, and passengers will be able to travel the length and breadth of the mighty Alps with ease. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Holland's Barriers to the Sea (50 min. Discovery Communications) Watch as engineers reveal the inner-workings of a stunningly sophisticated series of barriers designed to keep the Dutch safe — and dry. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Iceland Tunnels (50 min. Discovery Communications) Hundreds of feet below the Eastern Highlands on a vast ice plateau 200 miles northeast of Reykjavik, Iceland and just 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle, a determined group of engineers and diggers have taken on the task of a lifetime: They're trying to carve more than 45 miles of connected tunnels through solid rock. It's all part of an audacious plan by the Icelandic government to turn ice into electricity. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Mega Tunnel (50 min. Discovery Communications) Fed up with devastating damage caused by a spate of recent floods, the Malaysian government has given the go-ahead for an unprecedented solution: construction of a six-mile long, 20-foot high storm drain directly under Kuala Lumpur -- the country's capital city -- that will siphon water from the city's airport to a holding pond out of town. To offset the cost of the $525 million dollar project, engineers have devised a way to enable the tunnel to serve double duty as a toll road for commuters, creating the only fast way into and out of the city. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Oakland Bay Bridge (50 min. Discovery Communications) Follow some of the top bridge builders and engineers in the country as they try to tackle the biggest construction project in California history -- the new Oakland Bay Bridge. Expected to be the most heavily trafficked bridge in the nation, this $2.8 billion monster will span the East Bay, connecting San Francisco and Oakland. The project was due to be finished in 2003. But now, it's looking more like 2007. While there's enormous pressure to stay on schedule, the daily, unexpected difficulties associated with building a two-mile, earthquake-proof road over 300 feet of water are tough to beat. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Offshore Oil Platforms (50 min. Discovery Communications) One-third of all oil used in America is pumped from wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico. But with hurricanes becoming more prevalent in that part of the world, engineers have been forced to redesign the traditional oil rig to withstand the high winds and killer waves that dominate the Gulf. Weighing over 15,000 tons, Tarzan class rigs are the only ones capable of safely enduring nature's punishment. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Sakhalin Oil and Ice (50 min. Discovery Communications) Visit one of the world's largest, most involved construction projects -- the sprawling Sakhalin oil and gas complex, located on a remote island off the eastern coast of Russia. The Russians are pouring billions into this city-sized operation -- designed to suck fossil fuel from a frigid corner of the Pacific Ocean -- with the hope that it will provide a needed boost to the region's economy. Join host Danny Forster as he explores the enormous work site, even helping bolt down a huge gas tank that's suspended from a 1,000-foot crane. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Subways in America (50 min. Discovery Communications) After decades of neglect, New York's subway is nearing collapse. Join structural engineers as they attempt the grandest renovation project the Big Apple has ever seen. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Tunneling Under the Alps (50 min. Discovery Communications) To most of the world, the majestic Alps present a scene of wonder. But to European merchants and truckers, they present a troublesome and costly roadblock. Enter the ambitious AlpTransit Tunnel. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Venice Flood Gates (50 min. Discovery Communications) The clock is ticking in Venice, Italy as designers and engineers battle the elements to keep the canal-laden city from becoming the next Atlantis. The enormous undertaking calls for 79 steel floodgates -- each bigger than a football field and weighing over 300 tons -- to close off the encroaching Adriatic Sea at the three inlets to the Venice lagoon during times of high tide. But before the gates can go in, massive barrier walls must be built. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Widening the Panama Canal (50 min. Discovery Communication) Readily accessible passage for decades, the canal has begun to turn ships away because they're simply too wide. Now, it's time for the Panama Canal to loosen up. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering: Woodrow Wilson Bridge (50 min. Discovery Communications) One of America's most ambitious construction projects is currently underway on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. The 40-year-old Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which carries drivers over the Potomac River while allowing boats to safely use the heavily trafficked water below, has proven inadequate for the demands of the 21st century. But, engineers have devised a solution: an updated, draw-span design that will accommodate increased traffic both above and below. Grades 10 - 12.
Extreme Engineering, Collection One (2 discs. 348 min. Discovery) On every part of the planet, men and women are achieving the impossible. Mountains of earth are drilled, blasted and moved while massive structures are erected to tame and traverse great bodies of water. Join us for a globe-spanning look at some of the most astounding feats of extreme engineering as mankind soars to new heights of imagination and ingenuity in the struggle to meet the challenges of the modern world. Grades 10 - 12.
The Great Transatlantic Cable (60 min. PBS) This program tells the story behind the laying of the transatlantic cable. The physical challenges to laying the cable were enormous. The project would require the production of a 2,000 mile long cable that would have to be laid three miles beneath the Atlantic. Cyrus Field, an energetic young New Yorker wasn't deterred, and since its completion in 1866, nothing has broken his communications link with Europe -- not storms, earthquakes, or war. Grades 7 and up.
Growing Up Online (60 min. PBS/Frontline) Nearly every teen in America is on the Internet every day, socializing with friends and strangers alike, "trying on" identities, and building a virtual profile of themselves -- one that many kids insist is a more honest depiction of who they really are than the person they portray at home or in school. Growing Up Online peers inside the world of this cyber-savvy generation through the eyes of teens and their parents, who often find themselves on opposite sides of a new digital divide. A generation with a radically different notion of privacy and personal space, today's adolescents are grappling with issues their parents never had to deal with: from cyber bullying to instant "Internet fame," to the specter of online sexual predators. Frontline investigates the risks, realities, and misconceptions of teenage self-expression on the World Wide Web. Grades 10 and up.
In the Name of Science (50 min. Discovery Communications) Join a team of top mechanical minds (structural engineers, architects and heavy construction experts) as they battle the clock (and each other) to build the world's largest trebuchet in only seven days. Grades 10 and up.
Innovation: Life Inspired (PBS) Innovation tells the dramatic stories behind some of today's most exciting breakthroughs, delving beyond the "wow" of technology and into the personalities, politics, inspirations, and serendipity that take them from concept to reality. Grades 2 - 12.
Mega Structures: Vol. 1-2 (2 discs, 200 min. National Geographic) Mega Structures takes an eye-popping look at some of the greatest structures and machines ever created. Get inside these superstructures, and uncover the cogs, gears, bells, and whistles that make them work. Go behind the scenes with National Geographic, and learn about all the stops and starts that went into creating these engineering triumphs and the seemingly simple construction materials that take them from idea to incredible. Volume 1 episodes include: "Mega Plane," "Inside a Super Casino." Volume 2 episodes include: "Ekati Diamond Mine," and "Super Port." Grades 9 and up.
Microengineering and Nanotechnology (17 min. Cambridge Educational) This edition of Science Screen Report shows how microengineering and nanotechnology are being applied to environmental science, medicine, and engineering. In this video, students will see how a complete water-testing laboratory on a single microchip analyzes a sample, how grooved bandages channel connective-tissue cells, speeding up healing and minimizing scarring, and how microscopic beads act as medicinal magic bullets during experiments. Grades College and up.
Modern Marvels: The Creation of the Computer (50 min. The History Channel) Join Modern Marvels for a fascinating look at the history of the computer. See Charles Babbage's Victorian "counting machine" a mechanical computer that produced perfect results for any mathematical problem of six figures or less. Discover how IBM was launched with a punch-card counting machine built to speed the 1890 census. Trace the technological advancements that led to the first true modern "computers" and the rapid progress that saw computers shrink from room-sized monsters to the desktop units that revolutionized life in the '90s. Grades 7 and up.
Modern Marvels: Computers (50 min. The History Channel) This detailed look at the evolution of computers traces their development from the days of the ENIAC to IBM's awesome ASCI White, which can perform 12 trillion calculations per second. We'll see how Apple turned the computer into a household accessory, and examine the advances that might lay ahead, such as computers integrated into our clothing or even embedded in fingernail polish! Among the experts adding their unique insights are Steve Wozniak, the inventor of the original Apple, and futurist Ray Kurzweil. Grades 7 and up.
Modern Marvels: Engineering Disasters – New Orleans (50 min. The History Channel) When Hurricane Katrina assailed the city of New Orleans in August of 2005, it precipitated one of the greatest failures of civil engineering in U.S. history. Beyond the breaking of the levees, find out about the other engineering flaws that added to the disaster. Learn about the 100-year-old pump system that could not keep up with the water and more about why the levee system was not equipped to deal with the hurricane's onslaught. Beyond the water, see the design flaws in the escape routes of the city and why the Superdome became another horror story amidst the tragedy. Grades 7 and up.
Nanotechnology (30 min. Discovery) Nanotechnology is the science of building electronic circuits and devices from single atoms and molecules. This program explores a digital camera that gives doctors the up-close and personal view of their patients' intestines. Learn about tiny computers in electronic devices that will help run households and businesses in the near future. And zoom into the world of nanotechnology to take a close look at atoms. Correlations to national education standards are included. Grades 6 - 12.
The Statue of Liberty (60 min. PBS) A symbol of freedom and democracy towering above the New York Harbor, she has welcomed the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses into America for over 100 years. The first half of this hour-long program examines the design and construction of the Statue of Liberty using drawings, photographs, and readings (Jeremy Irons gives voice to French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the statue). Grades 4 and up.
Structure (26 min. Disney) From the "Bungee Zone" in British Columbia to New York Harbor's Verrazano Narrows Bridge (one of the longest suspension bridges in the world), our daredevil host, Bill Nye, goes to any length to prove the structural principals of tension and compression. Grades 4 and up.
We Built this City: New York (50 min. Discovery) The quintessential urban oasis, New York is home to millions and stands today as the very definition of America. But, how did New York grow from a humble Dutch settlement called New Amsterdam to the home of the world's first suspension bridge and the very center of the immigration wave of the early 20th century? Watch as the latest computer animation techniques trace the topographic history of New York "growing" from the barren shelter of Five Points to today's Manhattan. Grades 9 and up.
We Built this City: Paris (50 min. Discovery) Paris -- the city of lights, the world capital of romance and glamour. But it hasn't always been this way. Established during the time of Julius Caesar, Paris was once known as Lutetia, a lowly Roman trading hub. It wasn't until the 12th century that the city we know as Paris truly evolved. But how did that come to be? Follow the rise of the great cathedrals, museums, royal palaces, and the fashion districts for which the city is renowned -- and experience the glory that is Paris. Grades 9 and up.
When Things Get Small (28 min. UCTV) What could a stadium-sized bowl of peanuts, a shrinking elephant, and a crazed hockey player have to do with nanoscience? Those are just a few of the goofy excursions that await you when witty host Adam Smith and wacky physicist Ivan Schuller take you on an irreverent, madcap, comically corny romp into the real-life quest to create the smallest magnet ever known. Grades 4 and up.
Why the Towers Fell (60 min. WGBH) An exclusive investigation into the collapse of the World Trade Center. Grades 7 and up.
World Trade Center: In Memoriam (50 min; The History Channel) For a time, its towers were the tallest buildings on Earth, and the World Trade Center -- an engineering marvel -- came to symbolize American prosperity and strength. Recalling a more innocent era, this new production from the History Channel was filmed just months before the towers' tragic demise and subsequently enriched with heartfelt reflection from host Harry Smith. World Trade Center: In Memoriam charts the history of the towers' construction, revealing the controversies, decisions, and innovations that surrounded the project, and -- through interviews with those who proudly and ambitiously dreamt, designed and built the complex -- examines the monument as both architectural achievement and cultural icon. What emerges is not only a tribute to a building, but an inspiring and intimate story of the birth and growth of an American symbol. Grades 7 and up.
Professional Development for Educators
Beyond the Solar System: Expanding the Universe in the Classroom (135 min. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) Produced for NASA, Beyond the Solar System is an educator resource for helping students (as well as professionals) better understand the universe. Also includes print and online resources. Best for educators grades 8 - 12.
Building an Engineer: How to Help Your Students (New Jersey Institute of Technology) Through this two-sided DVD, middle- and high school educators will be introduced to experts in the field of engineering and engineering education. These experts discuss topics that include types of engineering, entering the industry, parent and community involvement, and gender issues. Grades 7 - 12.
Building an Engineer: Women in Engineering (New Jersey Institute of Technology) Through this DVD, middle- and-high school educators will be introduced to experts in the field who will discuss gender issues in engineering education and engineering careers.
Building an Engineer: Project Lead The Way (New Jersey Institute of Technology) Through this DVD, middle- and high-school educators will be introduced to Project Lead the Way, their services, and learn how to get involved in this initiative in New Jersey and nationally. Grades 7 - 12.
Call of the Sea: Engineering in a Marine Environment (The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers [SNAME]) This DVD aims to educate young people about careers in naval architecture, marine engineering, naval engineering, and ocean engineering. Grades 7 - 12.
Engineering is Elementary, Industrial Engineering: Making Work Easier (15 min. Museum of Science, Boston) Short, live-action dramatization of the storybook Aisha Makes Work Easier, that includes footage of famous Boston landmarks, the Museum of Science, and the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory. Also includes an interview with an Industrial Engineer at the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory and footage of children and adults participating in an engineering design challenge: improving part of a "Potato Chip Factory" using simple machines to make work more comfortable for factory employees. Grades 7 - 12.
Interactions in Physical Science, Content Videos (It's About Time) This five-disc DVD set accompanies the "Interactions in Physical Science" curriculum. Grades 7 - 12.
