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Science Documentaries for Youngsters?

Posted by Soulskill on from the billions-and-billions dept.

An anonymous reader writes "My 7-year-old daughter is asking some interesting questions, such as, 'How did everything get created?' I've explained, in general terms, our family's non-religious views on the subject of creation and the Big Bang. I'd like to find some documentary videos geared to this age level that may explain better these concepts and theories. I've found a few PBS specials online - Stephen Hawking stuff - but they seem to be geared for young adults and older. Does anyone have recommended titles that might be better geared to children of this age bracket?"

10 of 383 comments (clear)

  1. Symmetry by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's not a video, but if you have a science-oriented child in your household, Symmetry magazine is a very good choice. It's published by Fermilab and discusses all sorts of things related to scientific discovery, from particle physics to the daily routine of scientists at Fermilab. It's a regular publication and it costs nothing, so it's only a positive for your kid.

    http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/

  2. Wonders of Life Series by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Frank Capra did a series of science documentaries in the 50's that are quite amazing. Adults might find them a bit over the top, but for a seven year old they can be really mind bending. I know they had a big impact on me as a child.

    Our Mr. Sun
    Hemo the Magnificent
    Unchained Goddess
    The Strange Case of Cosmic Rays

    are available on DVD. The whole series had nine films, but I haven't been able to find the others.

    Winged Migration is also quite good.

  3. "The Universe" on the History Channel by RAM_Doubler · · Score: 4, Informative

    "The Universe" series on the history channel has some quality episodes about the origins of the solar system and the Universe. (http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Episodes&content_type_id=54042&display_order=7&mini_id=54036)

  4. Cosmos by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's old, but its wonderful. It's truly Carl Sagan at his best. And when she's old enough, there's the companion book. And the whole thing is available on Netflix.

    1. Re:Cosmos by Geno+Z+Heinlein · · Score: 4, Informative

      Absolutely seconded, Cosmos is just brilliant. Even without the science, even just as some visual tone poem, it would be a fascinating show. I remember a "thought spaceship" -- it might not have been that exact name -- where Sagan introduced the idea that we might picture in our minds what could exist literally "billions" of light years away. Cosmos also was my introduction to the composer Shostakovich and his 11th symphony.

      But with the science? Cosmos is of profound educational and inspirational value. It's been something like 30 years since it came out -- I tend to think of Cosmos in one mental breath with the specials about relativity that came out in 1979 for the centennial of Einstein's birth -- but I remember feeling like this was something special. Sagan was a guy who really had a sense of just how damn cool the universe is.

      --
      Five percent of one year's DoD budget puts us on Mars.
  5. Look at PBS again. by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    Search for "magic school bus" and they have an episode on the big bang.

    in fact that tv show is good for chemistry, molecular physics, biology, etc....

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  6. Re:www how things work dot com of course by 2TecTom · · Score: 4, Informative

    well, let's see what googles, shall we ...

    Wikipedia for Kids:
    http://schools-wikipedia.org/
    Article on Wikipedia for Kids:
    http://www.marrowbones.com/commons/technosocial/2007/12/wikipedia_for_kids_teaching_a.html
    NASA for Kids:
    http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

    and yes, if you want kids books, ask a librarian at the library, imho

    --
    Words to men, as air to birds.
  7. http://richarddawkins.net/growingupintheuniverse by SolitaryAnt · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Growning up in the universe" is for children. It is available free online at the above adress and you can order dvds if you like.

  8. Old, but brilliant... by PinkyDead · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Life on Earth series from the BBC.

    I know it's fairly local (i.e. our planet) - but it is inspiring.

    --
    Genesis 1:32 And God typed :wq!
  9. Re:Observe your daugher carefully by PDAllen · · Score: 4, Informative

    You're not too far off in terms of general development - but you really cannot assign ages like this.

    Some kids develop faster, others slower. If you look more closely, it's usually even more of a mixture: some kids learn some things faster and other things slower. I still remember my first primary school teacher insisting that at age 5 I could not possibly have learnt to read yet, and not allowing me to have books beyond 'A is for Apple' when I wanted to have something more like 'Thomas the Tank Engine' (not so much more advanced, maybe, but there are complete sentences in the latter even if they're short). Three weeks of boredom seems like a lot when you're five (that being about how long it took her to understand that I could read simple sentences without sounding out the words).

    (incidentally - sibling = (brother or sister), not child)