| Plants - Exploring the garden, Kate shows Jeffrey the four parts of a plant: the root, stem, leaf, and flower, and their functions. We see what a plant needs to live by visiting a greenhouse, and by trying some experiments at home. Flowers and Seeds - Jeffrey discovers why flowers have more to do than just look pretty, because of their role in creating new plants. Taking a close look at a flower, we identify the different parts, and watch as flowers bloom in spring. Growing Things - We find out how some plants grow without seeds, springing from rhizomes, runners, and bulbs. We also see some unusual ways that seeds travel to new places, and how to grow an avocado plant from a seed. 07DR PI 30 min. |
| Rocks - When Jeffrey starts a rock collection he identifies three types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous, and learns about their origins; also we see how pottery is made by visiting a china factory. Fossils - Jeffrey and Kate study fossils, some of them millions of years old, to discover how they were made. We learn how the scientific study of fossils can provide clues to Earth's history. Crystals - Kate and Jeffrey take a close look at the shapes of some common crystals, and make their own sugar crystals. We trace the progress of diamond crystals from the mine to their final forms in jewelry and machines. 07DR PI 30 min. |
| Birds - Kate and Jeffrey examine the special shape of birds' beaks, and find out how they are suited to diet. We see how to make two simple bird feeders. Flight - Jeffrey learns more about bird's bones, feathers, and wings, and how they are designed for flight; also, how to build a high-flying kite. Insects - While visiting a beekeeping farm, Kate and Jeffrey see how honey is made; then identify the three kinds of bees in the hive. Children demonstrate how to catch and study insects. 07DR PI 30 min. |
| Friction - While they oil a lawn mower and then tune up an old bicycle, Kate tells Jamie about friction: how it can create problems, how it can be useful, and how it can be reduced. Viewers discover how friction plays a part in common winter sports. Heat - While Jamie helps Kate prepare hot and cold drinks for a cookout, he learns about heat, insulators, and conductors. In the workshop, Kate shows Jamie how a thermos bottle works, and different experiments reveal what happens when liquids and solids are heated, and how heat travels along a copper wire. Electricity - When Jamie asks Kate to help him solve an electrical problem with his train set, he learns about broken circuits and how electricity travels. Different ways of producing electrical energy are explored, and suggested activities include making a toy lighthouse. 07DR Closed-Captioned PI 30 min. |
| The Sun and Other Stars - Jeffrey learns about the sun and its relationship to other stars, as well as the sun's effects on the earth. Kate explains how a sundial works and how to build your own. The Moon - Kate and Jeffrey study the four phases of the moon, and make a calendar to chart the moon's progress. We watch astronauts exploring the moon to learn more about its surface. Gravity and Balance - Kate and Jeffrey mix fun and science while learning about gravity and balance points at the playground; also we see how to make a mobile from string and straws. 07DR PI 30 min. |
| Matter - Kate defines matter for Jamie and then shows him how it can take the form of a solid, liquid, or gas. To demonstrate how liquids and gases take up space and have mass, Kate fills a glass with lemonade and blows up a balloon. Mixtures - Kate shows Jeffrey the difference between two types of mixtures, the suspension and the solution, and ways to experiment with them at home. A visit to a soda pop factory reveals how a popular solution is made. Why Boats Float - Simple backyard experiments show why some objects float and some sink. We look at many different types of boats and see how to make a sailboat. 07DR PI 30 min. |
| Energy - Kate uses moving toys to show Jeffrey the basic principles of energy, the different forms it can take, and how energy is found everywhere. Two simple toys are made to experiment with energy. Wind - Kate makes a weather vane and shows Jeffrey how the wind creates weather. She conducts some experiments to simulate the movement of air currents, explaining how storms can start. Air Pressure - Kate explains to Jamie how air pressure affects weather. This leads to some simple experiments showing how we use air pressure when we drink with a straw and when we use a siphon. 07DR PI 30 min. |
| Dairy Farm - Kate visits Jamie at his uncle's dairy farm when a new calf is born, and she learns how the cows are fed, milked, and cared for. Viewers follow the route that milk takes from the cow to the consumer. Eggs - Jeffrey learns about the parts of an egg by taking a close look inside one, and Kate's egg chart shows what each part does. Experiments with eggs show how strong they are, and how weak they can be! Waste (and Recycling) - Jeffrey sees how garbage is part of the life cycle; then plants a "reverse garden" to watch how things decay. Kate emphasizes the value of recycling and tells how to recycle old paper to make new. 07DR PI 30 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. Covers three related biology and
earth science topics, offering short animated sections to reinforce
concepts. The evolution of trees is discussed against a background of
beautiful scenes of the Rockies; "Seasons" is a visual delight, featuring a
marshland in the summer and winter; then the water cycle is discussed in
'Rain.'" -School Library Journal Trees - After they plant a tree together, Kate shows Jamie how to judge a tree's age; then they discuss the importance of trees and how all living things depend on each other. They also demonstrate how to put a terrarium together. Seasons - Visits to a marsh on a summer morning and a winter day show Jeffrey and Kate the changes that the seasons bring. Rain - Although rain dampens Jeffrey's day, he finds out why the water cycle is important for all living things. He learns how evaporation and condensation can create rain indoors! 07DR PI 30 min. |
| Sound - By examining things in nature, Kate explains to Jamie what sound is and how it travels to our ears. Back home, they look at how an oscilloscope measures sound waves, and several experiments with sound are demonstrated. Time - Jamie learns the basic principles of the pendulum through some experiments, and Kate explains how the pendulum in a clock measures time. Other time-measuring devices are explored, and viewers learn how to make a water clock and an hourglass. Magnets - Kate and Jamie explore basic principles of magnetism when they test a variety of materials to discover whether or not they are magnetic. A mini-documentary shows that magnetism is all around us, and some creative games using magnets are demonstrated. 07DR Closed-Captioned PI 30 min. |