Reviewed and
Award-Winning Products
Classic Telly Gold Award in Education 2004
Platinum Award in the 2002 Houston International Film Festival, educational film
School Library Journal, Stunning videography portrays all facets of desert life … All school science departments and public libraries with non-print ecology collections should purchase this well-designed teaching tool.
Exploring the Diversity of Life
Classic Telly Gold Award in Education 2004
2003 Aurora Awards Platinum Best of Show, Sciences Instruction
Tallgrass Prairie 2003 Aurora Awards Gold Award, Sciences Instruction
NSTA Recommends 5/2003, The combination of a historical perspective, good basic information, and clear visuals makes this series an excellent choice to illustrate a study of ecosystems. The short length of each videos supports a lesson plan that combines passive viewing with active exploration, observation or data analysis. The content is appropriate for a detailed study of biomes or habitats in middle or secondary schools and provides a nice integration of science and social studies.
Booklist, Dec. 2002, This six-part series uses excellent nature photography and straightforward voice-over narration to showcase distinctive grasslands regions. Close-up nature footage of animals and plants underscores the diversity and unusual adaptations necessary for continued survival in the featured grasslands. These programs make a fine addition to science collections.
Video Librarian 01/03, Introducing students to the importance of preserving the grasslands...the series features great photography and solid narration, and the short program lengths allow time for discussion and follow up activities.
The New York Festivals 12/2002, Bronze World Medal Award in the Sciences
Classic Telly Gold Award in Education 2004
Winner of the 1998 Aegis Award for Training/Education
Winner NY Film Festivals Bronze Worldmedal — non-broadcast science series
Winner CINE Golden Eagle Award
Winner Gold CINDY in K - 12, International CINDY Competition Spring, 1999
Editor’s Choice, Booklist
Stunning nature footage, genial narrator, and snappy electronic editing make these 10 stand-alone lessons into an excellent science series.Video Librarian
Excellent wildlife footage, very good graphics and music and the occasional Bill Nye style sound effect make these programs enjoyable and fun for viewers of all ages. To watch . . . [Exploring the Diversity of Life] offers a whole world of thought-provoking facts about the nature around us.
Winner of the 1999 Aegis Award for Training/Education
2003 Worldfest Houston Gold Award, in Educational/Instructional - Children
2002 International Film & Video Festival, 'Certificate for Creative Excellence', 3rd place educational film
School Library Journal, Jan 2002, The videos explain the need for conservation of the ecosystems. The live-action visuals include excellent underwater footage as well as microscopic looks at plant life. Group viewing with teacher guidance is recommended.
Video Librarian, Jan 2002, Beautiful cinematography enhances this informative overview of North America's freshwater wetlands. Presented in easily digestible 10-minute programs, backed by a solid teacher's guide, the Freshwater Wetlands series is recommended.
Booklist 11/2001, "Fine nature photography and well scripted voice-over narration aid students in understanding the origins, characteristics and benefits of each type of wetland. A strong conservation message is an added benefit."
NSTA Recommends, March 2003, Nature Neighborhood is a book and video set that will help teachers design their own outdoor habitats for learning. Because developing school habitats requires the support of members of the community, teachers might want to begin with the 30-minute video, which contains a general introduction appropriate for parent groups, school boards, or groups of teachers. Once teachers have lined up support from the community, they will find detailed instructions for planning, designing, and constructing each wildlife observation habitat in the teacher's manual.
These materials are clear, well organized, and easy to use. I would recommend this resource to teachers, school groups, or community youth organizations interested in creating wild places to replace vanishing native habitats.
SB&F, September 2001, “… a great tool for educators setting up natural habitats in their schools – great technical information about the natural environments. Over all, this is a solid resource.”
Booklist, April 2001,"Watching students and educators building and using nature centers illustrates the vast possibilities for integrating outdoor nature projects into the school curriculum. In step-by-step fashion, this video presents an action plan for designing and building accessible nature learning centers within school boundaries. The program highlights three nature sites: a butterfly garden, minipond and bird observation station. An included guide provides additional planning and teaching tips."
School Library Journal – 12/2000, There are fewer natural areas for children to explore and opportunities to enjoy wildlife habitats are decreasing….This well-organized program gives enough information to motivate viewers to develop a habitat in their area. It would be very useful for those planning school projects.
North American Biomes
2002 Notable Children's Video, Using an entertaining and informative style, sixteen 15-minute programs explore concepts for understanding ecology and environmental issues. Snappy photography, exciting natural footage, animation, and a lively soundtrack make this an engaging experience for children.
Winner of the 2001 International Film and Video Festival Silver Screen Award
Winner of the 2001 Parents' Choice Home Video Group Recommended WinnerWinner of the 2001 Gold International CINDY Award
School Library Journal 04/01,"This well organized, interesting series would be a valuable addition to nature study units and provides an excellent introduction to the scientific method. An excellent purchase for school libraries, science curriculums and public libraries with collections for home school patrons."
Science Books & Films 08/01, "...highest recommendation goes to NatureWorks. Colorful graphics, illustrating scientific principles and important vocabulary words accent an excellent presentation."
"Included on the SB&F Best Films List of 2002"
12/01 Review by NSTA Recommends,"...NatureWorks is aligned with the National Science Education Standards and could be used as a curriculum supplement or as a science lesson in itself for grades 3 - 6. This video can help your students learn how nature works and the importance of minimizing the effects of human changes to the environment."
2004 New York Festivals Film and Video Award for the Sciences (Award is for the Seashore and Forests video)
Booklist 07/03, "By contrasting scenes of plant and animal life in forests, grasslands, deserts, seashores, rivers and wetlands, students get a sense of the breadth of habitats as well as the defining characteristics of each. ... this well-constructed series is a useful classroom resource."
2003 Aegis Awards, Finalist in Training/Education. (Award is for the Introduction to North American Biomes video)
2003 Aurora Gold Award, Sciences Instruction
Video Librarian, September 2003, Review is for the Introduction to NA Biomes video. Combining excellent nature photography, maps and statistics, this opening volume provides a solid context for viewing the other sever titles that provide more depth on their respective subjects: Forests, Grasslands, Deserts, Seashore, Rivers and Streams, Wetlands, and Conserving NA Biomes.
2003 Finalist Telly Awards, Schools/Libraries
Classic Telly Gold Award in Education 2004
Silver Award in the 2002 Houston International Film Festival, educational film
NSTA Recommends 9/2001, "The strong photography, slow pace and short length make this video an ideal starter for activity-based lessons on landforms or habitats. There are high-quality interdisciplinary ties, including music and thoughtful quotes from Emily dickinson, Rachel Carson and John Muir. The format, clarity and accuracy of this video make it a good buy."
Booklist, “Beautifully shot images of ocean waterways and indigenous wildlife and plants dominate this lovely introduction to shorelines.”
Aegis Award 12/2002, Award in Training and Education
Video Librarian 03/2002, This collection of 30 five-minute programs ...offer viewers an up-close look at such wildlife as mountain lions and scorpions along with such bizarre plants as the Joshua Tree and cactus. In addition, viewers are introduced to the geology of the region, learn why it is a hotbed for fossil hunters and get a glimpse of local Native American customs. This beautifully photographed program would make a terrific supplement to a life science curriculum.