Forces of Nature

Gr 8 Up—This collection of four programs explores the forces that make up our planet. "Elements" considers the building blocks of life and the chemistry that pulls those components together. The understanding of underwater thermal vents, the places where life likely began, leads scientists to believe in life on other water-rich planets. "Shape" looks at gravity and its effects on everything on Earth. The height of mountains is restricted by it, and it squeezes everything inward, making the planet spherical. "Color" discusses how photons from the sun create all the colors we see: the blue of the oceans, the green of plant life, the vivid hues of animals and flowers. Finally, "Motion" examines the rotation of the planet, its journey around the sun, the moon's orbit around the earth, and how all this motion impacts weather, the tides, seasons, and the sense of time. This is a typical PBS nature documentary: sumptuously shot footage, clear explanations of complex concepts, and eye-opening educational moments. But the topics are very broad, and sometimes it seems as though the filmmakers are stretching to connect the subject matter to the footage. At the end, students will certainly have learned something, but whether they will connect what they have watched to the concepts the programs are trying to convey is iffy.