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Greetings, TV viewers!
Here are this week's home viewing suggestions selected from online advanced program listings and aligned with state and national K-12 academic standards available online.
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Sunday, Oct. 26
7-8: p.m. E/P
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CBS
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Subjects: US History, Math and Science
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Middle and High School
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"60 Minutes"
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"Credit Default Swaps" is the title of the first report in this newsmagazine. Reporter Steve Kroft examines these complicated financial instruments and the central role they are playing in the unfolding economic crisis. The second report is about T. Boone Pickens, the oil and gas tycoon who is on a mission to lessen America's dependence on foreign oil. Charlie Rose reports. Finally, American businessman Greg Carr is using his great wealth to try to help some of the poorest people in Africa by attracting more tourists to their neighborhood -- the beautiful national park of Gorongosa in Mozambique. Scott Pelley reports.
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Sunday, Oct. 26
9-10 p.m. E/P
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Discovery Science Channel
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Subjects: Science
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Elementary, Middle and High School
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"SciFi Science"
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This is the initial episode in a documentary miniseries which pits scientists, engineers and particle physicists against the most bizarre tabloid accounts of the supernatural to learn the real science behind the crazy headlines. Unreal Stories, Real Science. Rated TV-G.
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Monday, Oct. 27
6:30-8:30 p.m. E/P
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HBO
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Subjects: World History
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High School
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"Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
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Cate Blanchett returns to the role that made her famous when she played the young Queen Elizabeth I. This new epic chronicles the middle years of Elizabeth's reign. Set in the year 1585 -- her 27th year as the monarch of England-- the film details the threats to her rule by Mary, Queen of Scots, and King Philip II of Spain . . . while also following her relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh. The all-star cast included Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Rhys Ifans, Jordi Molla, Abbie Cornish and Samantha Morton.. Directed by Shekhar Kapur; written by Michael Hirst and William Nicholson. Rated PG -13, BN, V (brief nudity, violence)
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For further information log on http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414055/
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Tuesday, Oct. 28
8-9 p.m. E/P
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PBS
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Subjects: Math and Science
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High School
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"NOVA: Hunting the Hidden Dimension"
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What do movie special effects, the stock market, heart attacks, and the rings of Saturn have in common? They're all connected by a revolutionary branch of math called fractal geometry. Invented by mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot in the 1960s and 1970s, fractals have changed the way we see the world and opened up a vast new territory to scientific analysis and understanding. Mandelbrot coined the term fractals to suggest "fractured" and "fractional," a nod to the new geometry's focus on broken, wrinkled, and otherwise "rough" shapes. This documentary tells the dramatic story of a group of pioneering mathematicians who took Mandelbrot's invention from a mathematical curiosity that few took seriously to an approach that is touching nearly every branch of science and technology today, from cell phones to cardiac medicine to the study of tropical forests.
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For further information log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fractals
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Tuesday, Oct. 28
9:35-11 p.m. E/P
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Sundance Channel
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Subjects: Science and Geography
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High School
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"Escape From Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream"
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Half a century ago, suburbia was hailed as the solution to urban decay. Now, in the light of diminishing oil supplies, economic woes and unsustainable lifestyles, many concerned citizens are rethinking their options. This documentary follows the journeys of people who alter their lives in light of our addiction to fossil fuels. Rated TV-PG because of mild violence, adult language, adult content.
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Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/six-degrees-could-change-the-world-3188/Overview
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Wednesday, Oct. 29
8-9 p.m. E/P
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PBS
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Subjects: US History and Geography
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Elementary, Middle and High School
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"A Ride Along The Lincoln Highway"
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The host of this documentary, Rick Sebak, travels across America's first transcontinental highway, checking out the changing landscape along the route from Times Square to San Francisco. The program incorporates American culture, history, food, family, traditions and the changing way of the automobile.
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Thursday, Oct. 30
7-8 p.m. E/P
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History Science Channel
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Subjects: World History
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Elementary, Middle and High School
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"Modern Marvels: Castles & Dungeon"
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Airing on the eve of Halloween, this is a documentary about some the most imposing structures ever built - medieval castles which have withstood both bloody assaults and the test of time. Designed like machines with nearly every architectural detail devoted to defense, castles represented the perfect fusion of form and function. The program examines the complexity of their construction and the multipurpose they served -- homes to kings and nobles, economic centers, courthouses, treasuries, prisons, and torture chambers.
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Thursday, Oct. 30
8-9 p.m. E/P
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Discovery Science Channel
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Subjects: Science
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Middle and High School
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"Human Body - Pushing the Limits: Sight"
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Sight is the king of the senses. More than 80% of what we know of the world comes through our eyes - without it we're lost. This documentary shows our vision system in living color from the inside out. Rated TV-14
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Thursday, Oct. 30
10-11:30 p.m. E/P (check local listings)
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PBS
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Subjects: US History and Arts
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High School
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"AMERICAN MASTERS: Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens"
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Annie Leibovitz has produced some of the most iconic images of the last 30 years and is, arguably, America's most influential woman photographer. She has shot the rich and famous, the profound and powerful, the exceptional and notorious.
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For further information log on http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters
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Friday, Oct. 31
8-9 p.m. E/P
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History Channel
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Subjects: Science and Technology
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Middle and High School
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"Modern Marvels: Halloween Tech"
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Halloween has become a six billion dollar industry. This documentary goes behind-the-scenes at Knott's Berry Farm's 35th annual Halloween Haunt. Also, viewers learn how to apply Hollywood grade monster make-up, watch scary latex masks cranked out by the thousands and discover which costumes are past and present winners. Also seen are the most extreme jack-o-lanterns ever made, and how hundreds of gallons of fake blood are manufactured. Also shown is a haunted house with an annual attendance of over 50,000.
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Saturday, Nov. 1
8 p.m.0 midnight E/P
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History Channel
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Subjects: US History
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High School
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"The Presidents ? 4 Episodes"
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This is marathon broadcast of the first 4 episodes of a documentary miniseries based on the book ? To the Best of My Ability?, by James McPherson. It provides an insightful look at the exclusive group of men from all walks of life and parts of the country who have led America from the Oval Office in the White House. The 8 p.m. episode covers 1789-1825. At 9 p.m. it's 1825-1849. The period 1865-1885 is at 10 p.m. and, skipping a couple of decades, episode at 11 p.m. covers 1913-1945.
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Available on DVD at http://www.amazon.com/History-Channel-Presents-Presidents/dp/B0007VY3ZK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1224803917&sr=8-6
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