Bill Nye the Science Guy: Probability/Time; Space Science for Children: All About the Planets

I'll never forget my 8th grade biology teacher's tongue-in-cheek suggestion that if I was truly worried about a receding hair line--a worry brought on by a) his lectures on Mendel's pea plant experiments, b) the fact that characteristics can skip generations, and c) recalling that my grandfather was bald--I should probably "consider castration." Not that I didn't deserve it (the remark, not the ballsectomy), since my interest in science at the time rarely extended beyond the often scatological, and wholly unnecessary, smart-aleck observation. Fortunately (for the sake of my children, in this case), I chose progeny over vanity, and while I've long since forgotten the periodic table of elements, I've also learned that if you want someone to remember something, you need to make it interesting.If anyone can make science interesting, it's Bill Nye, who is, like, the coolest science teacher in the known universe. In Probability/Time, the latest two-episode video from one of the best television programs ever created for kids, period (not to mention science-minded adults), viewers will learn some interesting facts about probability, bell curves and predictions (including a demo of why the lottery is pretty much a losing proposition, an explanation of why "7" is statistically the most likely number to turn up when rolling dice, and a fun look at a huge coin flipper--made by the famous cartoon manufacturer, Acme Co.). In addition, young science enthusiasts will have a great time with the show's signature skits and songs (such as a very handsomely mounted Wizard of Odds and a rockin' tune entitled "50/Fifty" by Steven Odd). In the second episode, Time, viewers will see one of the best encapsulations of Einstein's Theory of Relativity I've ever witnessed, while also learning about how time is measured, the instruments we've used to determine time throughout history and the direction time moves (always clockwise; at this point). The accompanying teacher's guide includes questions, activities, a bibliography and suggested web resources. With this entry, this ambitious series now boasts 40 titles (80 programs), available at a series price of $1,247. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: K, E, I, P.Speaking of ambitious: The Schlessinger Science Library, a comprehensive new video library (a projected 162 titles in 19 series!) supporting the K-8 science curriculum, is being rolled out from Schlessinger Media. Watching All About the Planets, one of five titles in the new Space Science for Children series, I learned that gravity is the force which keeps Uranus (pronounced: "your anus") from spinning off into space. Offering an excellent overview for younger viewers of the planets in our solar system, the program uses a framing device of a children-manned (or "personed") space shuttle Columbia traveling from the closest planet to the sun (Mercury) to the furthest away (Pluto), mixing NASA footage with computer animation to teach kids basic facts about the climate, topology, moon systems, and history of exploration of the planets. In addition to the solid educational content, the program also adds a bit of humor (besides remarks about Uranus: "a huge gaseous planet") in the form of an astronaut dog named Fido who weighs in with various facts. The teacher's guide includes vocabulary, follow-up questions and activities and related web sites. The other titles in the Space Science for Children series are: All About Stars, All About the Earth, All About the Moon, and All About the Sun. For all 162 titles, parent company Library Video Company is offering a prepaid price of $4,261.90 (about $26.30 per title). Strong educational content, entertainingly presented, at exceptionally affordable prices, the Space Science for Children series is highly recommended. Aud: K, E, I, P. (R. Pitman)