Tuesday, Jan. 24
10-11 p.m. E/P

PBS

Subjects: American History

Middle and High School

"Maid in America"

Edie Falco ("The Sopranos") hosts this documentary about three of the thousands of Latina immigrants working as nannies and housekeepers in Los Angeles. Judith, Telma and Eva have all left family and friends behind to come to America. The program reveals the challenges these women face as they pursue the American Dream, their significant roles in American households and the globalization of motherhood. TV-PG

Log on: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens

Wednesday, January 25
5-6 p.m. ET, 2-3 p.m. PT

National Geographic Channel

Subjects: Science and World History

Elementary, Middle and High School

"Explorer: Last Days of the Maya"

This documentary about the rise and fall of ancient civilizations should be compared with the program about Peru airing Thursday, January 26 (description below). Deep in the rain forest of Guatemala, archeologists have recently discovered skeletons in the depths of an ancient cistern. It's one of the most significant finds in Maya archeology; and the ultimate cold case. More than 2,000 years ago, the Maya created a fabulous civilization in the Central American jungle. Then, at the height of their glory, they fled from their fantastic cities and no one knows why. These newly discovered bones may hold the answers to one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world.

Wednesday, January 25
8-9 p.m. E/P

History Channel

Subjects: Science

Elementary, Middle and High School

"Modern Marvels: Nature Tech - Lightning"

Only in recent years that science has begun to unlock the secrets behind the phenomenon of lightning. This documentary is a high-tech look at how man has tried to control nature throughout history. Lightning kills nearly 100 people yearly in the United States and injures hundreds of others. The program introduces some men and women who are looking for new ways of detection, prevention, and how to save lives when lightning. TVPG.

Thursday, January 26
10-11 p.m. E/P

PBS

Subjects: American History

Middle and High School

"Guns, Germs and Steel"

This episode in the documentary miniseries based on Jared Diamond's bestselling history book is entitled "The Clash of Civilizations." It travels to South America and the site of the Spanish conquistadors' near extermination of the Inca culture in the early 1500s. Brought to life through vivid re-enactments, the episode dramatically depicts conquistador Francisco Pizarro's epic battle with the Inca king Atahualpa. The Inca people quickly proved no match for the conquistadors' formidable arsenal of technologically advanced weaponry and killer germs. The sheer domination of the conquistadors over the Inca served as yet another powerful example of the impact that geography, weapons and disease had in shaping the course of human history. TV-PG

Log on: http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/index.html

Friday, January 27
8-9 p.m. E/P

A&E Channel

Subjects: World History

High School

"Osama Bin Laden"

The subject of this documentary has surfaced in the headlines again this month. Osama Bin Laden is the Saudi terrorist who has been linked to a number of deadly attacks against U.S. troops and citizens and who has called on Muslims to kill Americans everywhere in the world. The program follows his trail from his privileged childhood as the son of a wealthy oil businessman to his battle against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and his suspected involvement in the infamous 2001 World Trade Center bombing. Rated TV-PG.

Friday, January 26
9-9:30 p.m. E/P

PBS

Subjects: Science

Middle and High School

"Scientific American Frontiers: Cars That Think"

In this science series host Alan Alda explores the latest trends in science, medicine, technology and the environment. The fully automatic car may be down the road a ways, but cars that do your thinking for you are just around the corner - they watch out for hazards, they listen to you, they read your lips, they even know when you???re distracted.

Log on http://www.pbs.org/saf

Saturday, January 28
4-7 p.m. E/P

History Channel

Subjects: American History

Middle and High School

"Lincoln"

This new documentary about Abraham Lincoln focuses on his troubled personal life. Through his eyes it shows his last day as he is deeply troubled by memory, premonition, and regret. His entire life was a continuing battle to contain and overcome his depressions, suicidal urges, tragic family life, and a history of political opportunism -- a battle he fought with his powerful innate wit and charm and his developing idealism. In this special, leading Lincoln biographers Gore Vidal, Jan Morris, and Harold Holzer, among others, as well as with Andrew Solomon, author of "The Noonday Demon" provide, for a fresh look at Lincoln. TVPG V.

Sunday, January 29
9-11 p.m. ET, 4-5 p.m. PT

Discovery Channel

Subjects: World History

Middle and High School

"First Emperor: The Man Who Made China"

One of the most powerful men who ever lived, Qin Shi Huangdi commanded millions, united China and designed the Great Wall. The enormous scale of this leader's achievements was matched only by the legacy he left.

Sunday, January 29
9-11 p.m. E/P

A&E Channel

Subjects: American History

Middle and High School

"The Anatomy of September 11th"

This documentary provides a detailed account of the final 102 minutes of the World Trade Center. Working with reporters from The New York Times, it tell the stories of the men and women trapped above the impact points as well as those who narrowly escaped as the buildings weakened. Rated TV-PG

Monday, January 30
7-8 p.m. E/P

History Channel

Subjects: Science

Elementary, Middle and High School

"Modern Marvels: Gasoline"

This documentary traces the history and evolution of the world's most important fossil fuel. Without gasoline, modern life would grind to a halt. Americans use about 360-million gallons of gas every day. And though most of us could not function without gas, very few understand what it really is, how it is made, what all those different octane numbers really mean, and how researchers developed cleaner-burning gasoline.

Monday, January 30
9-10 p.m. E/P

PBS

Subjects: American History

Middle and High School

"American Experience: The Nuremberg Trial"

On November 20, 1945, the 22 surviving representatives of the Nazi elite stood before an international military tribunal at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany; they were charged with the systematic murder of millions of people. This is a documentary about the ensuing trial which pitted U.S. Chief Prosecutor and Supreme Court Judge Robert Jackson against Hermann Goering, the former head of the Nazi air force. For Jackson, this trial would make the statement that crimes against humanity would never again go unpunished. TV-14.

Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex

Tuesday, January 31
8-9 p.m. E/P

PBS

Subjects: Science and Archaeology

Elementary, Middle and High School

"NOVA Special: Roman Baths"

This archaeology special follows a team of people as they struggle to duplicate the technological feats of ancient civilizations, using only the tools and materials available in antiquity. Many of ancient Rome's engineering innovations originated in one of its most important institutions: the bath. A place of leisure and social life, the public bathhouse incorporated intricate systems for plumbing and heating, sophisticated vaulted ceilings and a revolutionary new building material now known as concrete. Just what recipe of sand, lime, water and rubble did the Roman builders use to make their watertight concrete? How did they design and cast the domes and vaults that resulted in such graceful, airy interior spaces? And how did they create the ingenious plumbing and heating that accounted for the baths??? vaunted comfort? In Sardis, Turkey, a NOVA team set out to recreate an authentic working Roman bath, complete with hot tubs, cold plunges and underfloor heating. TV-PG.

Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova