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.<