Media Menu for March 5, 2011

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, March 5, 2011,
6-8 p.m. E/P
Planet Green Channel
Science and Geography
Middle and High School

"Tuna Wranglers " (where food comes from)

This is a broadcast of the initial two episodes of a documentary miniseries about an important food source and where it comes from. Hundreds of miles offshore, a crew of brave men battle the elements and predators for the ultimate catch that could be worth millions of dollars. It takes a certain kind of person to willingly jump into a tuna pen 120 miles offshore and wrestle deadly sharks out with their bare hands. For South Australia's tuna fishermen, though, it's all in a day's work. TV-PG

Sunday, March 6, 2011,
8-10 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science and Geography
Middle and High School

“Earth: Making of a Planet ” (earth science)

This documentary covers the history of our planet from its birth out of cosmic rubble to the unique complex of land, sea, atmosphere and life we know now. See how water was transported to Earth's surface inside millions of meteors. Through CGI re-creations, meet the inhabitants of Earth over the ages, from slimy mats of algae to the great dinosaurs and the ancestors of mammals and humans.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/earth-making-of-a-planet-4920/Overview

Monday, March 7, 2011,
9:30-11 p.m. E/P (check local listings)
PBS
U.S. History
Middle and High School

“DuSable To Obama: Chicago’s Black Metropolis ” (growth of cities)

This documentary traces the history of African Americans in Chicago from the arrival of its first settler, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, through the historic election of Barack Obama to the U.S. Presidency. Since DuSable established a trading outpost during the 1780s and is considered the “Father of Chicago,” African Americans have had a long history in Chicago. There is the legendary Chicago that emerged from hardship and misfortune on the prairie to attain world-class status. There is also a less known, but remarkable aspect of Chicago’s history – the essential contributions of African Americans to the city’s vitality – covered in four distinct periods: from DuSable to the World Columbian Exposition; Post Reconstruction to the Eve of WWII; WWII to the Civil Rights Movement; and Post Civil Rights Movement to the election of President Obama. Within these sections, this compelling documentary reveals the lives of the celebrated and the unsung—from the establishment of the first black community in the 1840s by freedmen and fugitive slaves to the election of the nation’s first black president. TV-PG
Log on http://pressroom.pbs.org/Home/Programs/d/DUSABLE%20TO%20OBAMA%20CHICAGOS%20BLACK%20METROPOLIS.aspx

Tuesday, March 8, 2011,
9-10 p.m. E/P
CNBC Channel
U.S. History and Economics.
Middle and High School

“60 Minutes on CNBC” (job tips, good and bad)

This program takes viewers a step further into investigative reports, interviews, profiles, and feature stories initially aired by CBS on its "60 Minutes" newsprogram. Here, the CNBC cable channel brings the latest developments in these classic stories with updates and never before seen footage. The reports are on the theme,” The Working Life”. First, “Whose Life Is It Anyway?”: More and more that cigarette, or drink at home, that political candidate you supported, even your eating habits, are coming under the scrutiny of your boss. Second, “Working 24/7” : Is the 40-hour work week history? The digital revolution now enables people to work from just about any location and at nearly every waking hour. Finally, “Endless Vacation”: Where in the world can you find a job with at least 5 weeks’ vacation, a dozen public holidays, and a maximum 35-hour work week? In France.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/40795923

Wednesday, March 9, 2011,
7-8 p.m. E/P
History
Science
Middle and High School

“Modern Marvels: Corrosion &Decomposition ” (chemistry outside the laboratory)

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the aging U.S. infrastructure is in danger of collapse. Learn about a company in Missouri that uses a trench-less technology to rebuild corroded sewer pipes from the inside out while engineers at General Motors Proving Grounds lead the battle against corrosive road de-icing salts. See how a bioreactor in Florida turns mountains of garbage methane gas. Finally, discover how the tiny termite is teaching us how to turn agricultural waste into ethanol at a fraction of the current cost. TVPG

Thursday, March 10, 2011,
6-8 p.m. E/P
Planet Green Channel
World History
Middle and High School

“The Seven Wonders Of Egypt” (main sites in ancient Egypt)

This documentary explores key architectural landmarks of ancient Egypt through on-site visits and virtual reality reconstructions to reveal the stories behind its seven wonders and the people they immortalize. Dr. Gaballa Ali Gaballa, from Cairo University, and Charles Van Sicien III, from the Franco-Egyptian Centre, Egypt, among other Egyptologists, discuss the highly advanced construction techniques used to create the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, Karnak Temple Complex, the Temple of Ramses at Abu Simbel, the Sphinx, the Great Pyramid, and the 4,000 steps of repentance along Mount Sinai.

Friday, March 11, 2011,
8-9 p.m.
History Channel
Science and Technology
Middle and High School

“Modern Marvels: Grease” ( the real stuff, not the movie musical version)

In our lifelong battle to fight friction, Grease--in all its forms--is the unsung hero. This documentary takes viewers into places few people ever get to see, to discover the "hidden" uses of one of our most slippery products inside giant machines. We'll also investigate how it's made in a factory in New York, as well as what new advances some are working towards for grease of the future. But in the meantime, we'll witness how it is currently used inside a US Navy aircraft carrier, San Francisco's famous cable cars, elevators and escalators, assembly lines, huge excavators, amusement park rides, and even the Panama Canal. From pig fat to nano-particles... amazing Grease keeps everything rolling along--smooth and fast. TV-PG

Saturday, March 12, 2011,
4-5 p.m. E/P
History Channel
US. History and Geography
Middle and High School

“How the States Got Their Shapes “ (reasons why state borders are where they are)

We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? Every shape on the map tells a great story about our past. Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. This documentary examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America. TV-PG