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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 8:19pm | IP Logged
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Science has been sorely neglected in our home for years. I got a bright idea today, inspired by reading about Elizabeth's kids watching Magic School Bus and then narrating what they saw. I want to start getting science videos/tv shows from Netflix.
I already added a number of Bill Nye videos and Magic School Bus. How about some more kid-friendly suggestions? I am always worried to just blindly pick some out because you can never be sure if it is appropriate for kids or if it has some special interest slant to it. 
Thanks!
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 8:34pm | IP Logged
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We like all the Eyewitness videos (they look just like the books, only they move! Very cool effects), though I have not seen them on Netflix. Crocodile Hunter is also a favorite  Any of the Blue Planet series are excellent,love National Geographic videos, NOVA makes some really good stuff (you can pick and choose to avoid topics you are not comfortable with), and also the "Nature" series. Most of the IMAX stuff is good. Visually appealing even on the small screen, but not as heavy on the science. We also just watched "If We HAd No Moon" (NOVA, I think) which was very cool.
I will try to think of more. But Bill Nye is my all time favorite. 
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 8:41pm | IP Logged
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Winged Migration, March of the Penguins.
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Theresa
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ElizLeone
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We are big fans of Nat'l Geo, IMAX, & NOVA videos. We get them through Netflix, and we've finally stopped paying library overdue fines!  I do keep an eye on the science videos the kids are viewing to make sure they are child-appropriate.
Oh, and Tales from the Hive is a neat video on bees and beekeeping.
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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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If you are starting with Magic School Bus and Bill Nye, you can't lose. These two series (there are several different Bill Nye series, some only on VHS) are really great. Solid science. Totally kid friendly. My children really, really learned from them.
We have watched many Eyewitness DVDs and videotapes...they're interesting but lack the solid scientific foundation of MSB and Bill Nye. They're more of an overview.
For younger children, you can also use Zoboomafoo (spelling???) for life science. We have used several IMAX films (either seen in an IMAX theater or rented from Netflix). (If you watch the IMAX International Space Station film, my dad's atmospheric sampling instrument appears for a nanosecond in the lower left corner...starring as a white rectangular object...shameless plug...!!!)
We also own several of the older Microsoft Magic School Bus science computer games. They're excellent.
For younger children, Magic School Bus is the way to go. You can also get books from the MSB series from most libraries. The science is great, really. Most kids love the cartoonish approach of the books, and the video/DVD programs are great.
Bill Nye is hysterically funny (my kids quote him all the time..."Magma Oven Of Science!") and bases everything on scientific fact. We're getting ready to start his Science Discoveries DVD series via Netflix, so I'll have more to add in a few days.
He did a Disney DVD series, but it's hard to find here in MD (libraries or otherwise). Our Indiana friends have the whole series in their library's collection, and the DVD's we've borrowed while out there (including architecture...the Dollhouse of Science...) have been great.
I highly recommend this approach to elementary school science. Easy. Fun. Kids like it. AND...they remember it.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Kelly
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"Chased by Dinosaurs" series. Fabulous.
Kelly in FL
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 5:21pm | IP Logged
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We just re-watched 2 episodes of Blue Planet, last night and today. Man, they are good. Going back to add some more to our queue.
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Theresa
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vmalott
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Videos and science shows on TV (we have Direct TV satellite) are essentially how our kids have learned what they know about science. For this reason, science is perhaps our most enjoyable subject as a family, especially when you lump nature study in there! 
Like everyone else who has commented, we've done really great with the NOVA, Nat'l Geographic (though this sometimes has a "humans are evil" flavor to it), and IMAX movies. Check out my blog for our recent views for the earth science/astronomy topics. And, of course, Bill Nye rocks.
We also watch the Mythbusters program on Discovery channel. Mythbusters has that extreme science appeal, with lots of physics and chemistry going on. And heck, it's just kind of fun to watch a couple of cool geeks blow stuff up. 
Really, we do very few books around here for science (oldest is 12) and try to pull in hands-on activities whenever possible. We're eagerly waiting to try the Mentos and Diet Coke thing they did on Mythbusters the other night. Check the original thing out here.
Valerie
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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We did that! It was quite literally a "blast"!
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Theresa
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Donna Marie
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Hi Molly!
We love science here. We often use the computer and videos and such to learn new science-ey things. We had lots of fun with the David Macaulay Building Big series that we rented from Netflix. They had extras at the end of the DVD that had the kids from ZOOM showing my kids how to make their own Dome using simple materials. The Dome that the kids built after the Building Big Domes DVD was built with newspapers tied up into triangles and then attached to each other...it was able to hold my youngest kiddoes.
If you like using the computer Ck out Steve Spangler...
as a matter of fact I just got done blogging about my ds's love of his online experiments. We learn by osmosis here...haha!
Here is a link to my post...
HTH!
God Love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc
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DianaC
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 1:29pm | IP Logged
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As I work on my plans for the coming year, I've decided we would benefit by using movies to teach science. I searched the forum and found this thread with lots of great recommendations.
I just wanted to bump it up and ask if anyone has any other must-sees to add.
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Mackfam
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I wanted to bump this thread and add a really great animation (with links) that shows the assembly of the International Space Station from beginning to current day. The right sidebar has links that detail the individual components of the space station.
Very interesting!
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Jen Mackintosh
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Favorite science videos/shows
