Grades: 3-5
Length: 8/15 Minute
Rights: Annual Lease

This 8-part elementary science series teaches the essentials of science to children in grades 3 - 5. A video quiz follows each program. A teacher and student guide with math, reading, and writing activities, entry-level and summative assessments, skill development lessons, and video script accompanies each 15-minute program. All programs cover the major topics outlined in, and are correlated to, the National Science Education Standards, and Virginia’s science standards.

Block Feeds 

Tuesday  2/3/09 2:00-4:00 a.m.  #1-8

1. What are Plants?  This video explores the diversity of plants and introduces the important characteristics plants have in common: photosynthesis, cell walls, and reproducing by seeds or spores. The importance of plants in everyday life is stressed. Terminology includes: oxygen, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and spores.  Modules: Plants Everywhere What is a Plant?, Plants Everywhere!, Why Are Plants Important?, Different Groups of Plants.

2. Plant Parts.  Students will explore the basic parts of a plant including the stem, roots, and leaves. The video describes the functions of each of these plant parts using many real-world examples that students will recognize easily. Important terminology includes: tap roots, fibrous root, stem, sap, nutrients and leaf.  Modules: What Do Plants Need?, Roots, Stems, Leaves, Transpiration.

3. Activities of Plants.  Several important plant activities including photosynthesis, reproduction, growth, and germination are investigated in this video. Students will learn how these processes are related to the structure of plants. Important terminology includes: flower, pistil, stamen, pollen, pollination, and reproduction.  Modules:  How Do Plants Eat?, The Process of Photosynthesis, Where Does Photosynthesis Occur?, Flowers, Pollination and Fertilization, Birth of a Plant.

4. Water, Water Everywhere.  This video explores some of the important characteristics of water, and describes properties of saltwater and freshwater environments. The water cycle is explored in detail. Live-action footage from throughout the world illustrates a wide diversity of water environments. Terminology includes: a water cycle, evaporation, condensation, precipitation, oceans, lakes, river, saltwater, freshwater, and groundwater.  Modules:  Why is Water Important?, What is Water?, The Water Cycle, Freshwater, Saltwater.

5. Things In Motion.  Students learn about force and the effects of force on objects. Visual examples and real-life demonstrations promote an understanding of how things move. Important terminology includes: force, work, friction, gravity, mass, and acceleration.  Modules:  Things on the Move Force, The Force of Gravity, Friction, Inertia, Speed and Velocity, Acceleration.

6. Light, Light, Light.  The way light is described, and is measured are all introduced in this video. Visual diagrams and hands-on experiments help students understand how light works. Important terminology includes: wave, electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength, energy, reflection, lens, and prism. Modules: Light and Us, What is Light?, Speed of Light, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Electromagnetic Waves, Visible Light, Mirrors and Lenses.

7. Heat & Energy.  Students will be introduced to some of the different forms of energy, including heat energy. Students will explore how molecular movement is related to temperature, and how temperature can be measured. Important terminology includes: temperature, thermometer, thermal energy, molecules and heat. Modules:  What is Energy?, Energy and Motion, Forms of Energy, Energy Conversion, Temperature and Heat.

8. Classifying Living Things.  This video discusses the importance of classifying living things and some of the criteria scientists use when classifying. The six major kingdoms are explored including Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Protist, Fungi, Plants and Animals. Terminology and concepts include: classification, scientific name, genus, species, characteristics, kingdom, bacteria, protist, algae, fungi, plants, photosynthesis, ferns, confiers, flowering plants, animal, vertabrae, and invertebrae.  Modules:  Grouping Things, Scientific Classification, Classification Today, Classifying Living Things, Classification Levels, The Bacteria Kingdoms, Protists and Fungi, The Plant Kingdom, The Animal Kingdom.