Library Journal
"Highly Recommends"
Classroom Encounters Series
(August, 2008)"utterly fascinating," "...elegant, succinct..."
The prestigious American Library Association published its positive review of "Hurricanes and Our Future: Missing Link in Earth's Climate System?" in its widely circulated magazine, Booklist.
Issue: December 1, 2009
Hurricanes and Our Future: Missing Link in Earth's Climate System?.
Jul 2009. Classroom Encounters, DVD, $50.00. (9780980172966).The Classroom Encounters with Global Change Scientists series brings noted scientists into high school classrooms to interact with bright students on weighty topics and to inspire them to consider science related careers. In this sixth title in the ongoing series, MIT meteorology professor and hurricane expert Kerry Emanuel visits a Massachusetts high school where he interacts with students for 60 minutes. The personable scientist fields such questions as, “Do hurricanes serve a useful purpose?” and “Can we control hurricanes?” Emanuel uses satellite photos and computer animated screens as visuals to accessibly explain complex theories. In two additional segments, students ask Emanuel about his job, motivation, and challenges and the teacher requests suggestions for motivating students and nurturing their interests. Frequent chapter breaks give the program welcome flexibility. Much like Freeze, Freeze, Fry (2007) from the same series, this is a useful classroom resource.
— Candace Smith
Library Journal, August, 2008
Freeze, Freeze, Fry: Climate, Past, Present and Future. 2 hrs. ISBN
978-0-9801729-2-8.
Unearthing Life: The Deep History of a Living Planet. 55 min. ISBN
978-0-9801729-3-5.
Unearthing Life on Mars? 70 min. ISBN 978-0-9801729-4-2.
ea. vol: color. Classroom Encounters(r), LLC,
DVD $50. Public performance. sciAn original classroom and community-friendly learning experience, this series profiles individual scientists who offer a unique vantage point and an elegant, succinct, and understandable real-world view of the converging forces of environmental and planetary change that challenge civilization as never before. Filmed at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts, the series begins with Freeze, Freeze, Fry, on Daniel P. Schrag, director for the Center for the Environment at Harvard. This two-hour segment is utterly fascinating, with Schrag in a live classroom, complete with inquiring high school students, graphs, field photos, satellite images, and more. Schrag's explanations of the history of climate change and global warming are surprisingly engaging and comprehensible.
Unearthing Life on Mars? presents an intimate portrait of Andrew Knoll, paleontologist and professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard. Here, he shares his experiences as a member of the Mars Exploration Rover Team. The interactive format includes 35 segments interspersed with scientific images, field photos, and Rover pictures. It packs a punch, with pertinent information on the Mars Rover exploration as well as future Mars projects.
In Unearthing Life (The Deep History of a Living Planet), Knoll illustrates how evolutionary biologists turn to geology to search for biological signatures of ancient life. Through these same techniques, astrobiologists are then able to search for signs of life on other planets. Using multiple cameras, satellite images, charts, maps, and photos from the field, interwoven with graphs, diagrams, original illustrations, and student art and music, this interactive DVD is methodically rich, meaningful, and a timely learning tool. An excellent addition to any academic or public library collection; highly recommended.
-LaRoi Lawton, Library & Learning, Resources Dept., Bronx Community Coll., CUNY
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Recommends the Classroom Encounters Series!
National Science Teacher Association Recommends: "This compact lecture series on DVD provides viewers with a flexible, quality presentation of topics related to climate change and its impact on our society... you can tailor it to your classroom needs rather than have a live lecturer come in, present, and leave."
The full review of Climate Change and Our Future was published on the NSTA Recommends website at http://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=16742.
National Science Teacher Association Recommends: “The excitement of the classroom environment is supported by objects, charts, and tools that enhance the value of this encounter between students and expert.”
The full review of Snowball Earth (updated as "Thin Ice - Earth in the Time of Climate Change") was published on the NSTA Recommends website at
http://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=16743."This video is easy to use and incorporate into the classroom. The DVD is clearly divided into chapters that can be used individually to augment the classroom discussion. It could also be used to help the teacher become more aware of current issues and discoveries in global change today."
The full review of Freeze, Freeze, Fry was published on the NSTA Recommends website at
http://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=18156
The prestigious American Library Association published its positive review of Freeze, Freeze, Fry in its widely circulated magazine, Booklist, in the Focus on Science and Technology December 2007 issue.
Booklist December 1, 2007, Page 62
Freeze, Freeze, Fry: Climate Past, Present, and Future
2007, 1.5 hr. Midwest Tape, DVD, $50 Gr. 9-12"In the first segment of a three-part program filmed at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts, Daniel P. Schrag, a professor at Harvard University, presents a lesson on global warming to a group of very bright high-school students. Schrag, a paleoclimatologist and geochemist, focuses on the history of climate change from the formation of the 3earth to present times. The graphs, field photos, satellite images, art-work, and terminology are sophisticated, yet his explanations are surprisingly accessible and easily grasped by the eager students. In a second section, students interview the professor about his career as a scientist and his memories of high-school science classes, and in the final segment, Schrag answers a teacher's request for tips on integrating science into lessons, stimulating students, and encouraging science as a career choice. Frequent chapter breaks allow teachers to zero in on pertinent segments and give flexibility to this program, which is a useful classroom resource." -- Candace Smith
School Library Journal Reviews Snowball Earth (updated as "Thin Ice - Earth in the Time of Climate Change"), February 2007 Issue
"...Paul Hoffman, professor and field geologist at Harvard University, visits a high school science class to share his knowledge of climate history and global climate change.... Maps, illustrations, photographs, props, and rock specimens are interjected at key points... Among the topics covered are radiation, the Ice Ages, sea currents, rising water levels, plate tectonics, how volcanoes control temperature, and the lasting effects of Snowball Earth... The students, who are well versed in the subject, ask questions. Students interview Dr. Hoffman about what inspired him to become a scientist. The on-screen teacher also interviews him seeking advice on how to keep students motivated. The DVD has chapter stops which make it classroom and student friendly."
School Library Journal Reviews
Freeze, Freeze, Fry, October, 2007 Issue"Dr. Daniel P. Schrag, geochemical oceanographer, paleoclimatologist, and Director of the Center for the Environment at Harvard University, presents the third program in the series. It is comprised of three segments which include the classroom encounter, the student interview, and the teacher interview… Thirty-nine topics covering planetary changes ranging from the greenhouse effect to coral reefs are presented. Earth's thermostat, ice ages, hurricanes, ocean cores, global winds, ocean conveyor belt, climate records, and alternative energy are among the topics discussed. Dr. Schrag includes the latest scientific discoveries and concerns related to global change in one to eight minute chapters which also can be accessed individually. The presentations are supplemented with photographs, graphs, charts, maps, satellite images, and original illustrations. The last two parts of the program feature two question-and-answer sessions with students, the classroom teacher, and the scientist. Students interview Dr. Schrag concerning his position on current science issues, and the teacher's interview is centered on ways to motivate curiosity in students and integrate the sciences"… -Linda Teel, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
School Library Journal Reviews
Unearthing Life: The Deep History of a Living Planet, June 2008 Issue"This is one of a series of science programs in which a research scientist directly interacts with school children.... The students ask solid questions, and the scientist provides simple, understandable answers. The DVD can be played in it's entirely or individual chapters can be accessed.... This fascinating production can be used to set the stage for junior high or high school Earth science or biology classes."
School Library Journal Reviews
Unearthing Life: On Mars?, June 2008 Issue"…foster students’ interest in science by introducing them to a brilliant scientist..."
Booklist, December 1, 2008 issue
Thin Ice: Earth in the Time of Climate Change.
Aug 2008. Midwest Tape, DVD, $50.00. (9780980172959).
Similar in format to Freeze, Freeze, Fry: Climate Past, Present, and Future (2007), this new entry in the Classroom Encounters with Gobal Change Scientists series features geologist and Harvard University professor Paul Hoffman visiting a class of high school students in Massachusetts. He presents welldocumented evidence concerning global warming and shrinking ice masses, enthusiastically describing extreme climate changes that previously affected the earth. Hoffman enlivens
the lessons with props (including an “earth beach ball”), photographs, maps, charts, and personal experiences. Students participate and interact with the personable instructor. In a second segment, two students interview Hoffman, asking questions about his choice of profession and other issues. Finally, a teacher talks to Hoffman about the importance of maintaining student interest and involvement. Frequent bookmarks allow viewers to zero in on appropriate sections, making this especially adaptable for both teachers and students.
— Candace Smith
