The Air Around Us

Gr 2–5—This simple introduction to the Earth's atmosphere features stunning photography that illustrates the dramatic variety of life on our planet. Viewers learn about what comprises air, air pressure, and the atmospheric layers. Students are invited to decide, observe, and compare during three different segments of the program. After a brief review, a five-question quiz concludes the film. Answers are given in an accompanying teacher's guide that, unfortunately, recommends literature connections that include titles from 1945 and 1993. The guide also includes a word search, a glossary, and reproducible assessments. The daunting vocabulary would need to be previewed if used with younger students. The narration is clear, but the clipped, jazz-like musical interludes don't match the majestic photographic images. A supplementary purchase.—Lonna Pierce, MacArthur Elementary School, Binghamton, NY