Saturday, June 27, 2009,

8-9  p.m. E/P

Science Channel

Science and Arts

Middle and High  School

“Science of the Movies: Motion Control”

This episode of a Science Channel’s science documentary series explores the motion control technology behind cloning and the famous Spidey-sense from Spider-Man, rides a CG elephant created by the creature effects team behind 300 and embarks on a chase scene using wireless camera mounts. Rated TV-G

Log on http://science.discovery.com/tv/science-movies/episode-guide/episode-guide.html

Sunday, June 28, 2009,

7-8 p.m.  E/P

CBS

Science and History

Middle and High  School

“60 Minutes ” 

The first story in this newsmagazine is about how online poker players who  suspected cheating were forced to successfully ferret out the cheaters themselves.  That’s because managers of the mostly-unregulated $18 billion Internet gambling industry failed to respond to their complaints  The second report is about how neuroscience has learned so much about how we think and the brain activity linked to certain thoughts that it is now possible – on a very basic scale -- to read a person’s mind Finally, American 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.

Sunday, June 28, 2009,

8-9  p.m. E/P

PBS

Science

Middle and High  School

“NATURE: Encountering Sea Monsters”

Science fiction writers have come up with strange depictions of alien life, but nothing to rival a creature with a beak like a parrot, no bones in its body, three hearts, blue blood, skin that can change colors and arms growing out of its lips. Scientists call them cephalopods. In the world of squid and octopus, cannibalism is practiced daily, mating can involve amputation, trickery is everywhere and size means everything and nothing. This documentary follows an extreme cameraman into the abyss and shares his ultimate adventures with the planet’s most cryptic and clever monsters. TV-PG

Log on http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature

Monday, June 29, 2009,

 9-10:30 p.m. E/P

HBO

U.S. History

Middle and High  School

“Shouting Fire: Stories From The Edge Of Free Speech”

Most Americans believe the First Amendment is sacred and inviolate. But not since the 1950s has it been under such attack. This documentary explores the social and political trends that have shaped our attitudes about free speech--and which now threaten the very tenets upon which our country was built--through four case studies: an Arab-American educator who lost her job over a word; a high-school teen suspended for wearing a Bible-quoting T-shirt; a college professor fired for provocative essays written in the wake of 9/11; and two war protesters who were arrested and later made a shocking discovery. TV14 – adult content and adult language.

Log on http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/shoutingfire/index.html

Tuesday, June 30, 2009,

8-9  p.m. E/P

PBS

Science and Arts

Middle and High  School

“NOVA: Musical Minds”

Through the case studies in neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks’ latest book, Musicophilia,  this documentary investigates the extraordinary impact music can have on the human brain, traveling around the globe to meet people like Tony Cicoria, who was struck by lightning and was suddenly inspired to become a pianist, and Matt Giordano, who uses drumming to alleviate his severe Tourette syndrome. The program even peers deep into the brain of Dr. Sacks himself for a rare glimpse of what makes minds musical.    TV-PG.

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

Tuesday, June 30, 2009,

9-10 p.m. E/P

PBS

Science

Middle and High  School

“NOVAScienceNow”

This is the season premiere of a PBS science magazine. Stories:  “Making Synthetic Diamonds” - Blindfolded  Host Tyson is led to a top-secret "diamond farm" to investigate breakthroughs in the engineering of artificial diamonds. Indistinguishable from the real thing, these glittering creations may one day adorn more than ring fingers. They could replace silicon transistors in everything from super-computers to high-speed electric trains. “Auto-Tune: Computer Pitch Correction” - Tyson talks to the engineers behind Auto-Tune, the pitch correction software that turns sour notes into sweet ones--and which is used by everyone from Madonna to Snoop Dogg. But can Auto-Tune turn host Tyson into a singing star? “Anthrax Investigation: On Terror's Trail” -Using an ingenious technique that highlights key mutations in a strain of anthrax, researchers can use genetic "fingerprinting" to trace the source of the strain. This revolutionary technique also has the potential to find the source microbe responsible for anything from food-borne poisonings to deadly health epidemics. “Profile--Luis von Ahn” - From growing up in Guatemala, where his family owned a candy factory, human computation expert Luis von Ahn, 30, went on to become a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, where he works to combine the best skills of both humans and computers, capitalizing on the countless hours that humans waste at computers, furthering the intelligence of computers, and hopefully benefiting humankind.

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

Wednesday, July 1, 2009,

10-11 p.m. E/P

PBS

World History

Middle and High  School

“WIDE ANGLE: Crossing Heaven’s Border”

North Korean defectors take life-threatening journeys, some traveling thousands of miles from their homeland through China and Laos , in the hope of settling as free citizens in South Korea . Intrepid South Korean journalists with hidden cameras risk their own lives capturing the action and emotion. Hosted by Aaron Brown. TV-PG

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

Thursday, July 2, 2009,

7-8 p.m. ET, 4-5 p.m. PT

TCM – Turner Classic Movie Channel

Arts and U.S. History

Elementary, Middle and High  School

“Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The: 50 Years of Magic”

This documentary tells the story of how MGM created one of the most beloved family films of all time. TV-G

Log on http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=72510

Thursday, July 2, 2009,

8-10 p.m. ET, 5-7 p.m. PT

TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel

Arts

Elementary, Middle and High  School

“The Wizard of Oz”

This is the classic movie based on Frank L. Baum’s novel  about the Kansas farm girl dreams herself into a magical land where she must fight a wicked witch to escape. TV-G

Log on http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=97624

Friday, June 3, 2009,

8-9 p.m.  E/P

Science Channel

Science and Geography

Middle and High  School

“Megaworld: United States West ” 

Focusing on the western half of the country, this documentary special takes a closer look at how American scientists and engineers are leading the way in aviation, shipbuilding and civil engineering.  TV-PG

Saturday, July 4, 2009, 8-9 p.m. E/P ( Note: check local listings)

PBS

U.S. History and Arts

Elementary, Middle and High  School

“A Capitol Fourth”

Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning film, theater and television actor Jimmy Smits   hosts the 28th annual broadcast of America’s biggest and best-loved 4th of July concert , featuring musical performances from some of the country’s best known and award-winning artists, as well as a spectacular fireworks display on the National Mall over the Washington Monument. The July 4th concert finale includes Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" – an audience favorite and now A Capitol Fourth tradition – featuring the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army.

Log on http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/concert.html