Media Menu: December 2010

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Media Menu, December 25, 2010

History Channel

Science

Middle and High School

Thursday, December 30, 2010,
7-8 p.m. E/P

“The Universe: Mars: The Red Planet

Mars is the planet in our solar system most similar to Earth despite otherworldly features such as the
largest volcano in the Solar System. Rumors of life on Mars may be substantiated as NASA orbiters and
rovers discover new evidence of frozen water just beneath the rusty soil. Did alien life exist there? As
Earth reels with the effects of global warming, Mars becomes the most likely candidate for eventual human
habitation. In this documentary computer graphics are used to show what life would be like on Mars, and
to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres. TV-PG

Log on http://www.history.com/shows/the-universe

PBS

Arts

Elementary, Middle and High School

Friday, December 31, 2010,
8:30-10:30 p.m. E/P (check local listings)

“ LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER : New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve With Lang Lang”

This concert broadcast features NY Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert conducting Tchaikovsky’s
Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Lang Lang and the magical second act of The Nutcracker, airing from
Avery Fisher Hall. TV-G

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

Discovery Channel
Science and Technology
Middle and High School
Saturday, January 1, 2011,
9 a.m. New Year’s Day until 3 a.m.
January 2 E/P

“New Year’s Day Marathon: MythBusters”

This is an all-day marathon broadcast of the Emmy--nominated series that uses science to prove or
disprove myths and urban legends. The programs star special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie
Hyneman, who use their expertise to test the validity of various rumors and theories. They were recently
visited on-set by President Barak Obama who praised their work of promoting the study of science.
(See link below to see a video of the President’s visit. ) Hyneman and Savage often use their extensive
engineering and construction expertise to construct complex devices with which to perform experiments.
The tests are usually a two-step process. First, an attempt is made to recreate the myth to determine if
the circumstances, as described, achieve the alleged outcome. If that fails, they attempt to expand the
parameters as much as necessary – often to absurd lengths – until the desired results are duplicated. There
are some myths and urban legends the MythBusters refuse to test. Paranormal concepts, such as aliens or
ghosts, are not addressed because they cannot be tested by scientific methods. TV-PG

For summaries of episode contents log on http://mythbustersresults.com. For video showing President
Barak Obama’s visit with MythBusters hosts log on http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tvblog/2010/12/
president-obama-visits-discove.html

Friday, December 17, 2010

Media Menu, December 18, 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, December 18, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History and Government
Middle and High School

“The Naturalized“

Weaving together the lives of different people from different countries who all share a quest for citizenship by choice, not birthright, this documentary travels from a citizenship class in San Jose to a naturalization ceremony in Iraq. Along the way, there's unprecedented access to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, revealing the complex process up-close, including a marriage interview and the one-on-one Citizenship Exam. How many amendments are in the Constitution? To become an American, not knowing is not an option. Contemporary stories of struggle and success are combined with insightful interviews from notable naturalized citizens like Fareed Zakaria, Alan Cumming, David Rakoff and Isabel Allende. “Of the greatest values that America has,” says Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation, “the concept citizenship is the most important.”A deported Nigerian leaves behind his family in Minnesota while a Moroccan cook wins the green card lottery. An Uzbeki concert pianist settles in Kansas, as a Nicaraguan refugee votes for the first time. From the gritty streets of Queens to the lakes of Minnesota to the suburban sprawl of California, every year nearly one million immigrants choose to become American in hopes of realizing the American dream.TV-PG
Log on http://www.history.com/shows/classroom/interactives/citizenship-quiz

Sunday, December 19, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science and Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School

“NATURE: Christmas in Yellowstone”

As snow falls and Christmas lights glow in Jackson Hole, a holiday season of a different sort settles in just beyond the town, in the great winter world of Yellowstone. Breathtaking landscapes frame intimate scenes of wolves and coyotes, elk and bison, bears and otters as they make their way through their most challenging season of the year. This documentary journeys in the footsteps of the men who first explored the park, and travels with their modern-day counterpart on his own journey of discovery. From the unique crystals of individual snowflakes to the grand sweep of Yellowstone's Hayden Valley, this is a Christmas like no other. TV-G
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/christmas-in-yellowstone/introduction/4292/

Monday, December 20, 2010,
9-11 p.m. E/P.
PBS
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School

“The Calling”

This is the initial two-hour episode of a four-hour documentary miniseries which provides a behind-the-scenes look at young Americans — Christian, Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim — preparing to become the nation’s next generation of religious leaders. It follows their transformation from idealistic students into ordained religious professionals. The program explores the forces that are drawing a new generation of young people to serve their communities and their faith. TV-PG ( The concluding two hours of the miniseries air in this time-slot Tuesday December 21.)
Log on http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/calling

Tuesday, December 21, 2010,
8-10 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
World History
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Living in the Time of Jesus: Making a Living / Living in the Time of Jesus: Making a Living “

Here are two documentaries about everyday life 2,000 years ago. Program One -Jesus is said to have overturned the tables of moneychangers in the Temple. But who were these people, and whose money were they changing? Using famous biblical stories as our guidebook, this documentary opens a window into how people made ends meet 2,000 years ago. With the help of archaeologists, biblical experts and mules, we'll get our hands dirty doing the jobs of ancient carpenters, shepherds and camel-riding merchants. See how the land was tilled, the taxes were collected and the Holy Temple was operated. Program Two - When you got sick in the first century, what did you do about it? It was the time of Jesus and his promise of healing miracles, but what did brain surgery look like? And, were there really any medical benefits to floating in the Dead Sea? NGC experts investigate the many sides of ancient health care to discover what people in Jesus’ time knew - and didn’t know - about medicine. Later, we’ll try it for ourselves - watch as our team has their "bad blood" extracted by sucking leaches and gets covered in mud to treat a muscular condition.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/mysteries-of-the-bible/4228/Overview and http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/mysteries-of-the-bible/4229/Overview

Tuesday, December 21, 2010,
9-10 p.m. ET, 6-7 p.m. PT
CNBC Channel
U.S. History and Economics
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Price of Admission: America's College Debt Crisis “

As millions of American families struggle to cope with college costs that are rising at twice the rate of inflation, this documentary investigates a system that encourages widespread borrowing—often with little regard to a student's ability to pay—leaving the average college graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. Unlike most forms of borrowing, student loans carry almost no consumer protections. The debt cannot be refinanced, nor can it be wiped out in bankruptcy. It can even outlive the student, leaving parents and surviving family members on the hook. With rising student loan debt comes rising defaults, but critics say colleges and universities—both non-profit and for-profit—as well as student loan companies are hiding the true default rates in order to keep the flow of government loan money going. How long can the system be sustained? Are student loans the next subprime mortgages? And if the bubble bursts, who will pay the price? The documentary includes interviews with borrowers, lenders, and school administrators to measure the real price of admission to the nation's higher education system.
Log on http://ori.cnbc.com/id/39911910

Wednesday, December 22, 2010,
9-11 p.m. E/P
PBS
World History
Elementary, Middle and High School

“The Buddha “

Two and a half millennia ago, a new religion was born in northern India, generated from the ideas of a single man, the Buddha, a mysterious Indian sage who famously gained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapely fig tree. The Buddha never claimed to be God or his emissary on earth. He said only that he was a human being who, in a world of unavoidable pain and suffering, had found a kind of serenity that others could find, too. This documentary by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin tells the story of his life, a journey especially relevant in our own bewildering times of violent change and spiritual confusion. The program features the work of some of the world’s greatest artists and sculptors, who across two millennia, have depicted the Buddha’s life in art rich in beauty and complexity. Hear insights into the ancient narrative by contemporary Buddhists, including Pulitzer Prize winning poet W.S. Merwin and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Richard Gere narrates.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha

Thursday, December 23, 2010,
10-11 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Naked Science: Lightning Chasers"

Have you ever seen lightning strike from the ground to the sky or float in midair? Spectacular and exotic forms of this natural phenomenon are slowed down on film to reveal minute detail. Luminous spheres that linger in airplanes are recreated. We will show you how rockets launched into storm clouds coax lightning down to earth. This documentary illuminates secrets of nature's most striking power.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/3625/Overview

Friday, December 24, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
World History and Economics
Middle and High School

“Explorer: Secret History of Gold“

Gold's appeal and value span time and cultures, but there is a little-known secret to the story of gold. Most of the gold mined throughout history remains in circulation today -- even the gold closest to your heart may have dark origins. From the Amazon jungle to the markets of Dubai, This documentary examines the underbelly of the modern gold trade with a treasure hunter and an illegal miner to expose its volatile history.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/3822/Overview

Saturday, December 25, 2010,
5-8 p.m. ET, 3-5 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
World History
Middle and High School

“The King Of Kings“

This movie is a retelling of Christ's life and the effects of his teachings on those around him. Cast: Jeffrey Hunter, Siobhan McKenna, Robert Ryan. Dir: Nicholas Ray TV-PG
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=253

Saturday, December 25, 2010,
4-9 p.m. E/P
Animal Planet Channel
Science
Middle and High School

“DOGS 101: SEASON 3 Marathon“

What would the holidays be like if we couldn’t share it with man’s best friend?! The most comprehensive and most endearing dog encyclopedia on television is back for a marathon stack this Christmas day. With more than 150 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, these programs spotlight the adorable, the feisty and the unexpected. A wide-ranging rundown of everyone's favorite dog breeds-from the Dalmatian to Xoloitzcuintli. This is holiday fun for everyone as select episodes survey a variety of breeds for their behavioral quirks, genetic history, most famous examples and wildest trivia. Learn which dogs are best for urban living and which ones are the most family friendly. Using a mix of animal experts, pop-culture footage and stylized dog photography, DOGS 101 is an unprecedented look at man's best friend and a gives us many reasons to be merry! TV-PG
Log on http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-season-3

Friday, December 10, 2010

Media Menu, December 11, 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, December 11, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
Science Channel
Science
High School

“Speed Science”

Mastering speed means understanding the science behind it. This documentary follows Fall-Line Motorsports' three Grand-Am race cars as they use physics, engineering, chemistry and a perfect partnership of man and machine to probe the limits of speed.
Log on http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/motion.htm

Sunday, December 12, 2010,
7-8 p.m. E/P
CBS
U.S. and World History
Middle and High School

“60 Minutes”

The first report in this newsmagazine is: “The Next Speaker” - Rep. John Boehner will become the speaker of the House next month, but few know this Ohio republican beyond his life in Washington. Lesley Stahl profiles the man whose new role will place him at the top of the Republican Party and third in line for the presidency. The second story is “Brazil” - As the U.S. and most of the world’s countries limp along after the crippling recession, Brazil is off and running with jobs, industry, and resources. The economic juggernaut is poised to become the fifth largest economy in the world. Steve Kroft reports.
Log on http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/08/60minutes/main13502.shtml?tag=hdr;cnav

Monday, December 13, 2010,
5-6 p.m. E/P
Animal Planet Channel
U.S. History and Geography
Middle and High School

“Last American Cowboy : Renewal"

In this documentary the epic tradition of the American West comes alive when the cowboys drive their cattle to the open range. Horses, dogs, trucks, lassos and helicopters all come into play as the cowboys ride, rope and rustle their way to nature's bounty. TV-14
Log on http://animal.discovery.com/tv/last-american-cowboy

Tuesday, December 14, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science and Math
Middle and High School

“NOVA: Hunting The Hidden Dimension"

A revolutionary new branch of math called fractals has changed the way we see the world and opened up a vast new territory to scientific analysis and understanding. What do movie special effects, the stock market, heart attacks and the rings of Saturn have in common? This documentary explains that and tells the story of a group of pioneering mathematicians who developed fractals from a curiosity that few took seriously to an approach that is touching nearly every branch of understanding — including what happened after the Big Bang and the ultimate fate of our universe. TV-PG
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/hunting-hidden-dimension.html

Wednesday, December 15, 2010,
9-10 p.m. E/P
CNBC Channel
U.S. History and Economics
Middle and High School

“CNBC’S Behind The Counter: The Untold Story Of Franchising"

This documentary takes an inside look at franchising and reveals the surprising realities –good and bad-- of joining a chain. We’ll peel back the curtain on Five Guys’ amazing success and see how it’s filtered down the supply chain to the one businessman, Rick Miles, who supplies all the potatoes that go into its famous fries. We will meet pet lovers who want a piece of the $35 billion pet care business and hope that Heidi Ganahl, founder of the Camp Bow Wow doggie day care model, will show them the way. We will explore why Proctor & Gamble is dipping its giant toes into franchising waters and hoping that a new chain of TIDE-branded dry cleaners will increase its $79 billion annual revenues. And we’ll look at how franchisees build up some muscle of their own, whether it’s through franchisee organizations or strong immigrant alliances. In the Midwest region 90% of the Dunkin’ Donuts owners are of Southeast Asian descent. In the MidAtlantic it is similarly high. We'll take a look at how Dunkin' Donuts helped this immigrant group follow its American Dream. In the franchise business, there’s no doubt that dreams can also become nightmares. We’ll talk to Don Sniegowski of Blue MauMau, the foremost franchise journalist in the country, who says that many franchise buyers don't realize that when they buy into the business they can lose more than their initial investment. Finally, we will talk to the FTC to find out why they aren't doing more to protect the unfortunate people who get taken for a ride into franchise hell.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/15837856

Wednesday, December 15, 2010,
9-11 p.m. E/P
PBS
World History and Arts
Middle and High School

“Paris: the Luminous Years“

In the early decades of the 20th century, a storm of modernism swept through the art worlds of the West, uprooting centuries of tradition in the visual arts, music, literature, dance, theater and beyond. The epicenter of this storm was Paris, France. This documentary tells the story of Paris from an unprecedented point of view, not as the familiar, glamorous backdrop for the revolutions that exploded there, but as active protagonist, catalyst and midwife to modernity. The film spotlights now-famous key figures in the art world’s first international avant-garde, including Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Igor Stravinsky, Ernest Hemingway, Serge Diaghilev, Jean Cocteau, Gertrude Stein, Aaron Copland, Josephine Baker, Marcel Duchamp, Langston Hughes, Sylvia Beach, Janet Flanner and many more, as they recount their individual stories of why they came to Paris, whom they met, what they made there, and how being in Paris transformed them and their work. Directed by Perry Miller Adato.TV-PG
Log on http://www.shemadeit.org/meet/biography.aspx?m=160

Thursday, December 16, 2010,
5:45-6:30 p.m. E/P
Sundance Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School

“The Return Of The War Room“

Revealing and irreverent, Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker's 1993 Oscar®-nominated documentary THE WAR ROOM exposed the inner workings of presidential campaign politics like no film before. Sixteen years later, Hegedus and Pennebaker reconnect with many of the leading players in the earlier film - including James Carville, George Stephanopolous, Paul Begala and Dee Dee Myers - for a thought-provoking look at how the political and media landscapes have changed since the Clinton election. A Sundance Channel original documentary production. TV-PG
Log on http://www.arp.tv/production.html?production=warroomreturn

Thursday, December 16, 2010,
10-11 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science and Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Naked Science: Great Lakes"

They are the world's largest freshwater lake system and one of science's greatest geological mysteries. Were the Great Lakes formed by the grinding powers of a giant glacier or a result of a comet exploding onto the Earth? This documentary follows a team of experts as they explore the theories behind the formation of lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior. Scientists piece together mysterious geological clues and baffling evidence as they reveal new insight into the Great Lakes' watery history. Then, viewers take an inside look into the future of their changing landscape. From the imminent erosion of Niagara Falls one of the world's most iconic natural wonders to new evidence of an ancient underwater forest, the future of the lakes could reshape North America as we know it.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/3837/Overview

Friday, December 17, 2010,
9-10 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History and Economics
Middle and High School

“Modern Marvels: Made in the USA"

Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, the United States has stamped, carved, cut, built and assembled its way into becoming the super power of product production. However, in the last 20 years, the "Made in America" tag began to fade, as the manufacturing landscape of industry went overseas. So what is still Made in the USA? This documentary visits the world's biggest and oldest flag manufacturer, which has made some of the most famous flags in history. Go inside the factories that produce the last athletic shoe made in the US. See the strangest form of alternate transportation known to man--completely assembled in 30 minutes. Check out a hot toy company that believes it's imperative to keep their work here at home. Top it all off with some great food--some American success stories that may seem foreign at first glance. It's not just a label. It's a proud and important tradition. TV-PG
Log on http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels

Saturday, December 18, 2010,
8-10 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History and Government
Middle and High School

“The Naturalized“

Weaving together the lives of different people from different countries who all share a quest for citizenship by choice, not birthright, this documentary travels from a citizenship class in San Jose to a naturalization ceremony in Iraq. Along the way, there's unprecedented access to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, revealing the complex process up-close, including a marriage interview and the one-on-one Citizenship Exam. How many amendments are in the Constitution? To become an American, not knowing is not an option. Contemporary stories of struggle and success are combined with insightful interviews from notable naturalized citizens like Fareed Zakaria, Alan Cumming, David Rakoff and Isabel Allende. “Of the greatest values that America has,” says Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation, “the concept citizenship is the most important.”A deported Nigerian leaves behind his family in Minnesota while a Moroccan cook wins the green card lottery. An Uzbeki concert pianist settles in Kansas, as a Nicaraguan refugee votes for the first time. From the gritty streets of Queens to the lakes of Minnesota to the suburban sprawl of California, every year nearly one million immigrants choose to become American in hopes of realizing the American dream.TV-PG
Log on http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1481577/

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Media Menu, December 4, 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, December 4, 2010,
6-8 p.m. E/P
Discovery Channel
U.S. History
High School

“The Kennedy Detail”

It was their duty to prevent one of the greatest tragedies in U.S. history and they failed, a fact that has haunted them ever since. For years, the men of President John F. Kennedy's Secret Service detail have kept silent about that terrible day in Dallas, but now they've gathered together back at the scene of the assassination and are speaking out about their experiences there for the first time. Revealing, gut-wrenching and heartbreaking, this documentary is their story told through their eyes for the very first time. TV-PG
Log on http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/the-kennedy-detail

Sunday, December 5, 2010,
7-8 p.m. E/P
CBS
U.S. History and Economics
High School

“60 Minutes”

The reports in this newsmagazine include: “The Chairman” - The Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke gives a rare interview to Scott Pelley in which he discusses pressing economic issues, including the unemployment rate, the deficit and the Fed’s controversial $600 billion U.S. Treasury Bill purchase. And “Facebook”- Mark Zuckerberg, the 26-yr.-old founder and CEO of mega-social media site Facebook, talks to Lesley Stahl about his life and his business, now worth an estimated $35 billion.
Log on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml?tag=hdr;snav

Sunday, December 5, 2010,
9-9:30 p.m. E/P
Nickelodeon Channel
Science
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Good Dog - Kids And Their Service Dogs”

Under ordinary circumstances, dogs can make us feel happy, less stressed, even healthier. But these dogs also help kids feel less alone, more confident, more independent. They can act as a kid’s eyes, legs or hands; they can turn on the lights, open the door, warn someone about food they’re allergic to — or even calm them down when they are anxious. They’re called service dogs. This discussion program profiles kids who have these unique dogs in their lives. “Today, the number and kinds of dogs that can be trained and are being used in such a great variety of ways to help people, many of them children, is truly astounding,” said Ellerbee. “These are dogs raised to perform remarkable tasks. And often they’re raised by a kid, too.
Log on http://news.nick.com/11/2010/19/good-dog

Monday, December 6, 2010,
8-10 p.m. ET, 5-7 p.m. PT
Ovation Channel
Arts
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker”

In this production of the beloved Christmas classic, members of the Royal Opera Ballet inhabit their roles with a fluid elegance that brings this lush production to life. Miyako Yoshida is a standout, playing the Sugarplum Fairy with finesse. Sets and costumes are sweeping in scope. Viewers will enjoy the spectacle as they watch Clara find her Prince in this dazzling imagination-land of sights and sounds.
Log on http://ovationtv.com/programs/211-bolshoi-ballet-the-nutcracker for information about another “Nutcracker” airing December 9.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P (check local listings)
PBS
Science
Middle and High School

“NOVA: Absolute Zero - The Race for Absolute Zero”

This is the initial episode of a 2-part documentary miniseries which re-creates groundbreaking discoveries across four centuries that expanded our knowledge of low temperatures and led ultimately to today's cutting edge "cold technologies." The experimenters range from a 17th-century court magician who rigged a primitive form of air conditioning in Westminster Abbey to the original Captain Birdseye, who invented frozen food. The program also tells the story of the decades-long scientific race between two leading chemists to liquefy helium and nitrogen, which opened the door to the modern era of refrigeration and modern air conditioning. The story climaxes in a recent Nobel-winning breakthrough, the production of a new form of matter that Albert Einstein predicted would exist within a few billionths of a degree above absolute zero. Part Two airs in this timeslot December 14. Check local listings. TV-PG
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/zero

Tuesday, December 7, 2010,
10 p.m. – midnight E/P
PBS
Science and Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Dirt! The Movie”

Industrial farming, mining and urban development have endangered soil and resulted in cataclysmic droughts, starvation, floods and climate change. How can humans reconnect to dirt — the living skin of the Earth? Floods, drought, climate change, and even war are all directly related to the fate of humble dirt. Made from the same elements as stars, plants, and human beings, dirt is very much alive. One teaspoon of dirt contains a billion organisms working in balance to sustain a series of complex, thriving communities that are invisibly a part of our daily lives. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis and inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, this documentary introduces viewers to dirt’s fascinating history. Four billion years of evolution have created the dirt that recycles our water, gives us food, and provides us with shelter. But humanity has endangered this vital living resource with destructive methods of agriculture, mining practices, and urban development, with catastrophic results: mass starvation, drought, and global warming. The filmmakers travel around the world to capture the stories of global visionaries who are discovering new ways to repair humanity’s relationship with soil, checking in with Dr. Vandana Shiva to discuss her fight to prevent world hunger by preserving biodiversity in India, and documenting the tree planting work of renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado and his wife Lélia in Brazil. From farmers rediscovering sustainable agriculture and scientists discovering connections with soil to inmates learning job skills in a prison horticulture program and children eating from edible schoolyards, the movie brings to life the environmental, economic, social, and political importance of soil and suggests ways we can create new possibilities for all life on Earth.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/dirt-the-movie

Wednesday, December 8, 2010. 6-8 p.m. ET, 3-5 p.m. PT
Ovation Channel
English
Elementary, Middle and High School

“The Little Prince ”

Based on the beloved classic children's book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, this movie stars Richard Kiley as a pilot who's forced down in the Sahara Desert and listens to a little boy's (Steven Warner) magical stories about distant planets and strange people and animals. Before long, the pilot realizes that his life will be forever altered by his encounter with the mesmerizing little prince.
Log on http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/littleprince/

Thursday, December 9, 2010,
10-11 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History and Science
Elementary, Middle and High School

“Brad Meltzer’s Decoded: Secret Presidential Codes”

This documentary investigates the secret presidential codes of Thomas Jefferson and how they may be partially responsible for the death of one of the world’s greatest explorers, Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame. Host Brad Meltzer discovers that although the Lewis family has been working for 15 years to exhume his body, the National Parks is preventing the exhumation. The program attempts to answer why the federal government would want to keep the body buried against the family’s wishes and what really happened to the man who more than 200 years after his death remains our most iconic explorer. TV-G
Log on http://www.history.com/shows/brad-meltzers-decoded

Friday, December 10, 2010 ,
8-9:30 p.m. ET, 5-6:30 p.m. PT
TCM-Turner Classic Movie Channel
English
Elementary, Middle and High School

“A Christmas Carol”

In this movie adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel, an elderly miser learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve. TV-G
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=70898

Saturday, December 11, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
Science Channel
Science
High School

“Speed Science”

Mastering speed means understanding the science behind it. This documentary follows Fall-Line Motorsports' three Grand-Am race cars as they use physics, engineering, chemistry and a perfect partnership of man and machine to probe the limits of speed.
Log on http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/motion.htm

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