Media Menu June 5, 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, June 5, 2010,

6-7:30 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

Natural Science

Middle and High  School

"Stranger Among Bears”

For some people bears appear in their dreams.  For tv host Charlie Vandergaw they appear in his yard. This is a broadcast of three episodes of his “Stranger Among Bears” natural science miniseries.  Episode 1, “The Grizzlies Are Coming” - Several weeks into bear season,  Vandergaw still hasn't seen any grizzly bears around Bear Haven. Their eventual arrival changes the atmosphere, increasing the danger as the bears stake their claim to the territory surrounding Charlie's cabin. Episode 2,  “Feeding Controversy “ -
A recent change in the law has made feeding bears a serious offense, and if Charlie continues to defy the authorities he could end up in jail. A loophole may allow him to avoid prosecution, but it also raises the ire of those who seek to shut him down. Episode 3 , “Man vs Bear “ - Living side by side with black and grizzly bears is becoming more and more difficult for 70 year-old  Vandergaw. As the bears start tearing apart his cabin, Charlie faces the unthinkable - is he getting too old for life among the bears?  TV-PG



Series information at  http://animal.discovery.com/tv/stranger-among-bears



Sunday, June 6, 2010,

7-9:30 p.m. E/P

Ovation Channel

Arts And English

Middle and High  School

"Cats”

Based on T.S.  Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats’’, this is a 1998 film version of a musical, “Cats” composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Cast of this London production includes Elaine Paige and John Mills.  When it ran 18-years in New York, “Cats” became one of Broadway's all-time greats. What was it that made it production so spectacular? The intricate costumes and makeup? The memorable music and dancing? The truth is, there is no one factor that made the show so special.



Log on  http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/cats/about-cats-1



Sunday, June 6, 2010,

9-10 p.m. E/P

National Geographic Channel

Science

Middle and High  School

“Expedition Great White: Feeding Frenzy”

In this documentary series science and sport fishing join forces 160 miles off Baja California for a never-before attempted research effort to study massive great white sharks in the wild.  It chronicles the savvy, salt and sweat-covered crew as they lift SUV-sized sharks out of the water with a specially-modified hydraulic cradle, then descend on it like a NASCAR pit crew to mount a long-lasting tracking tag, take measurements and DNA samples while pumping water into the shark’s mouth to keep it alive, and release it unharmed…in less than 20 minutes.  In this premiere episode it looks like it’s going to be a tough day on the Ocean when the Mexican authorities arrive. But the team’s paperwork is in order so they return to big fishing. They\ load the hook for a big one but a smaller male steals the bait and is hooked. Its Skid - hes a fighter and comes in bumpy.  TV- PG



Log on  http://www.natgeotv.com/greatwhite



Monday, June 7, 2010,

10-11 p.m. E/P

Animal Planet Channel

Economics and Geography

Middle and High  School

" Last American Cowboy: New Beginnings”  ”
Set against the majestic backdrop of Montana, this is an episode from a documentary series which follows three family ownedand operated ranches through a season of calving, weaning, cattle drives and auction.  Shown are a traditional rancher who does everything by hand and on horseback , and a  modern rancher who uses high-tech equipment, all-terrain vehicles and even a helicopter. Facing unpredictable weather, disease and injuries, thousands of new births and hungry predators waiting for an easy meal, these families have extraordinary and compelling stories of grit and determination as they struggle against Mother Nature topreserve their way of life for future generations. This premiere episode of the series covers the start of Montana’s calving season, three families brace for the hard work, stress and pressure of their eight-month-long struggle to raise herds of new-born cattle. Each ranch fights to shepherd new calves into the world and keep them alive as the long, brutal winter seeks to bring the season to an end before it can begin. Life, death, tradition and legacy all come into play as the cowboys are driven to exhaustion.  TV-PG


Series information at http://animal.discovery.com/tv/last-american-cowboy/



Tuesday June 8, 2010,

9-10 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

Technology and Economics

Middle and High  School

" American Chopper: Siemens Electric Bike  ”

This is an episode from a documentary series about Paul Teutul and his son Paul Jr. of Orange County Choppers, the shop known for turning out some of the world's most original custom motorcycles. The series follows the Teutuls and their colleagues as they struggle to keep seemingly impossible deadlines from compromising the creativity of their design and fabrication work.  At the time of this episode the Teutul dynasty is crumbling and the guys are struggling in the face of an uncertain future. OCC takes on a one of a kind electric chopper build for Siemens Corporation. Meanwhile, Junior continues to work on building his new company.  TV-PG



Series information at http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/american-chopper/episode/episode.html



Wednesday, June 9, 2010,

9-10 p.m. E/P

Ovation Channel

Arts

Middle and High  School

" Broadway Babies  ”

In this documentary young musical hopefuls compete for the once in a lifetime chance to win a professional recording contract. They'll perform classic songs from Broadway's greatest musicals and be judged by legends of the stage.

Log on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aISD_sv47A8


Thursday, June 10, 2010,

9-10 p.m. E/P

History Channel

U.S. and World History

Middle and High  School

" Modern Marvels: The Real National Treasure ”

Where in Washington D.C. is the nation's most incredible treasure chest? It's a library unlike any other in the world--the U.S. Library of Congress. Explode the myth that this 200-year-old institution is simply "where members of Congress borrow books."  This documentary takes viewers  beyond the magnificent Jefferson Building Great Hall into the secret vaults where more than 600 miles of shelves hold 130 million items, many of them priceless treasures--from George Washington's hand-written diaries to Galileo's first images of the moon to the original camera film of the movie Frankenstein. See how a staff of 4,000 catalogues protects and preserves these treasures and distributes them globally via a new World Digital Library.  TV-PG

Log on   HTTP://WWW.WDL.ORG/EN/ and http://www.history.com/topics/library-of-congress-treasures



Friday, June 11, 2010,

10-11 p.m. E/P

National Geographic Channel

Science

Middle and High  School

" Anaconda: Queen of the Serpents ”

The anaconda is known as terrifying killer snake. Now, imagine trying to capture one using our bare feet to wade through a murky marsh in search of the predator. This documentary follows a husband-and-wife research team, Dr. Jesus Rivas and Dr. Sarah Corey, on an expedition deep into the Venezuelan wetlands to study this misunderstood predator. With the species threatened, the duo hopes to collect data and DNA samples that will provide significant insight into their behavior and long-term viability. To get the samples they must first catch some snakes, and we'll join them using a “touch and feel” technique to track their research subjects.

Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/nature-untamed/4318/Overview


Saturday, June 11, 2010,

8 a.m. – 4 p.m. E/P

History Channel

U.S. History and Geography

Middle and High  School

" The States”

This is a marathon telecast, recommended for recording and later use, of eight documentaries about the 50 States of the USA. States are groups together in the hour – for example – as in Episode One - California, North Carolina, Kansas, New Hampshire, West Virginia. Each program is a history lesson filled with surprising facts, figures and stories from five American states. Episode One -  In California, see how the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, in 1848 started the largest migration in US history, and then learn how scientists are currently trying to predict the next big earthquake. Next it's off to North Carolina's tobacco fields and the mystery of Roanoke--the lost colony. Wichita, Kansas is the "Aviation Capital of America" and Wyatt Earp put Dodge City on the map. New Hampshire is the state where the first act of open rebellion in America's Revolutionary War took place and the first presidential primary each election season is held. Finally, learn about The Battle of Blair Mountain, West Virginia, where in 1921, over 10,000 unionizing coal miners faced off with state and federal troops in what was one of the largest armed uprisings in America since the Civil War.  TV-PG

Log on http://www.history.com/topics/states