Media Menu, May 22, 2010

Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online. Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in the “Log on“ box below the tv listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.


Saturday, May 22, 2010,

4-5 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

U.S. History and Geography

Middle and High School

"30 Days: Muslims And America "

This is a repeat of a still-timely documentary aired last week. Viewers follow David Stacy, a 33-year-old Christian man from West Virginia, who agrees to make a drastic life change for 30 days when he moves to the largely Muslim community of Dearborn, Michigan. David struggles with his feelings and previous prejudices against a religion that does not believe in Christ and in the minds of many Americans is associated with the September 11 terror attacks, as he befriends his new host family and adopts their customs. What is it like to be a Muslim in America today? Will David’s experience break all his prejudices or just break him? Documentarian Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me”) directs. TV-14



Series info at http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/30-days/american-muslims.html


Sunday, May 23, 2010,

7-8 p.m. E/P

CBS

Science and Technology

Middle and High School

"60 MINUTES”

The lead story in this newsmagazine is “Are They Safe?”- Chemicals called phthalates found in soft plastic products we use everyday are so ubiquitous, that traces of them can be found in everybody. The government has banned some of them in children’s toys for fear they may be harmful, but are they? Lesley Stahl investigates. The second report, “Marty’s Big Idea” is the story of the invention of the cell phone from the man whose team came up with it at Motorola. The inventor, Martin Cooper, is still at it, improving the gadget he came up with 37 years ago. Morley Safer reports. The final report , “ The Seed School” is about a unique school that’s giving kids from an inner-city neighborhood that only graduates 33 percent of its high school students a shot at college they never had before. Byron Pitts reports on Seed School, the first urban, public boarding school.



Log on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml


Sunday, May 23, 2010,

8-11p.m. E/P

National Geographic Channel

U.S. and World History

Middle and High School

“Inside the Vietnam War “



This documentary takes viewers inside covert operations, offering a seat at the military strategy table and witness the emotional toll of war through the eyes of the soldiers who had their boots on the ground and the pilots who undertook dozens of dangerous missions. Woven together with testimonials from more than 50 Vietnam veterans, archival audio and video footage, and never-before-seen photos, the special features the harrowing firsthand accounts of the brave men and women who lived through the war and will always live with it.


Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/inside-the-vietnam-war-3891/Overview?source=email_channel#tab-Overview#ixzz0oD6WHVjw

Sunday, May 23, 2010,

9-11p.m. E/P

History Channel

U.S. History

Middle and High School

“America The Story of Us: Rise of a Superpower “



As shown in this documentary economic boom turns to economic bust when the stock market crashes in the 1930’s. The Great Depression and the dust bowl blanket the nation in darkness. Roosevelt's New Deal signals recovery. Hope for the American future collides with world conflict; the attack on Pearl Harbor brings war. American innovation and manufacturing might invigorate the Allies in Europe. In the Pacific, the ultimate piece of technology ends the war; a new global superpower takes the stage. TV-PG



Log on http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us


Monday, May 24, 2010, 9-10p.m. E/P

PBS

U.S. History

Middle and High School

“AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Riding The Rails “



At the height of the Great Depression, more than a quarter million teenagers were living on the road in America, many criss-crossing the country by illegally hopping freight trains. This documentary tells the story of ten of these teenage hobos -- from the reasons they left home to what they experienced -- all within the context of depression-era America Richard Thomas narrates. TV-PG



Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/rails


Tuesday, May 25, 2010,

7-8 p.m. E/P

Science Channel

Science

Elementary, Middle and High School

“The Planets: Different Worlds “



Where did the planets come from and how were they formed? Clues to the birth and evolution of the planets lie scattered throughout the solar system. Distance, time, and technology handicap the search for answers, but, as shown in this documentary, scientists are making progress.




Wednesday, May 26, 2010,

4-5 p.m. E/P

Discovery Channel

Science and Economics

Middle and High School

“Deadliest Catch: Unsafe and Unsound “



In this episode of Discovery Channel’s documentary miniseries about the fishing industry novice crew members, veteran, skippers, and family fishing dynasties begin to crack under the strain of their work. On the ship Northwestern, there’s a "last man standing" contest to see who can fish the longest without sleep. On the ship Time Bandit, Captain Johnathan has a brush with death. TV-14 –L (strong language)



Log on http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/deadliest-catch


Thursday, May 27, 2010,

9-10 p.m. E/P

History Channel

Science

Middle and High School

" Modern Marvels: Supersteam "

This documentary about the scientific aspects of steam drops in at Jay Leno's garage as Jay fires up two of his classic steam cars and takes viewers for a couple of rides. Jay also shows off his 11-ton steam engine built in 1860, back when pigs had to be slaughtered to keep it lubricated. In northern Nevada, watch technicians fire up a coal burning boiler and get a 100-year-old steam locomotive chugging across the rugged landscape. In New Orleans, board an authentic paddlewheel steamboat. Trek to the Southern California desert where geothermal steam rushes up from the ground and drives electricity producing turbines, powering over 300,000 homes. In New York City, find out why manmade steam surges into some of the world's most famous skyscrapers. Steam clean some very dirty machines, and do a little laundry, too. And ride a steam-driven carousel and play with some strange, steam-powered robots that are part of a movement called - what else - "steampunk."





Thursday, May 27, 2010,

10-11, p.m. E/P



PBS

Science and Technology

Middle and High School

“Most Honorable Son “



This documentary covers the first Japanese-American war hero’s remarkable journey through World War II, providing context to two seemingly disparate histories — the U.S. air war and the Japanese-American experience. Focus is on the personal odyssey of this Nebraska-born Nisei whose sense of shame over the bombing as a Japanese American and sense of loyalty to his country as a native-born American which drove him to enlist to fight the Axis powers. The story is told through rare and little-seen footage, as well as emotional recollections from Kuroki and his fellow airmen of the 8th and 20th Army Air Forces. The program follows Kuroki from his childhood through his distinguished military career and on to his long-overdue honoring with the Distinguished Service Medal in an August 2005 ceremony.




Log on http://www.pbs.org/mosthonorableson



Thursday, May 27, 2010,

10-11, 2010,



National Geographic Channel

Science and Technology

Middle and High School

“Gulf Oil Spill “



It's one of America's biggest environmental disasters and the largest oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico since 1979. Now, as experts scramble to stop the oil leak, This documentary reveals what happened to the Deepwater Horizon as a blowout tore it apart, killing 11 of the 126 men on board, sending oil toward the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The special contains never-before-seen video shot by salvage crews as they battled to get close to the burning rig.



Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/gulf-oil-spill-5488/Overview#ixzz0oPNnOrlP


Friday, May 28, 2010,

10-11 p.m. E/P

CNBC Channel

Science and Economics

Middle and High School

“Total Recall: The Toyota Story “



Toyota is the blueprint for modern manufacturing, with a philosophy widely studied and imitated, but it is now engulfed in a perfect storm with 8.5 million cars recalled worldwide. For many, the Toyota story is an old-fashioned tale of greed. It began with a small company whose goal was simple: to make the best products it possibly could using a method so streamlined that the "Toyota Way" became synonymous with efficiency and was emulated by manufacturers around the globe. But as the company grew and expanded, profit and the bottom line took over. Can the company cope with the challenges it faces? It may take more than the "Toyota Way" to get the world's biggest auto maker back on track. This documentary, first aired on BBC, includes interviews with the victims of alleged 'sudden unintended acceleration', insiders, experts, Sir Richard Branson, the CEO of Interbrand and Japanese industry leaders, as well as one of the key Toyota executives at the center of the storm.





Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/36939747


Saturday, May 29, 2010,

7-8 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

Science
Economics

Middle and High School

" Planet Mechanics: Water War "

In this episode of one of Planet Green’s environmental science series, eco-engineers Dick Strawbridge and Jem Stansfield must make England's most remote youth hostel energy self-sufficient, using only natural resources. Dick looks to generate energy from a stream while Jem aims to create a wind turbine. TV-PG



Log on http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/planet-mechanics/episode-water-wars.html