The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

For task 15-4 I'm going to read a science fiction book. I'm not sure what to watch for the film part of the task though... "Related To Science Or Scientific Discovery". Any ideas?

Would "March of the Penguins" work? How about "A Brief History of Time"?

Good thread. I've been wondering about this too.

I'm going to watch Disney's Nature Earth. Cynthia already said it was okay to use (so's Planet Earth for that matter)

Cynthia, I posted this on the Questions board too, but thought someone might see it here first.

Does the science movie need to be a theatrical release (played in movie theaters)? I'm hoping we can use TV movies because there are some great 'movies'/programs put out by Public Television, and the Discovery Channel, etc. that I'd like to use for this task.

For the book part, if you want to read a science fact book, I highly HIGHLY suggest anything by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He's an astrophysicist but quite possibly the coolest, most down to earth guy ever. His books are extremely readable. He's got Death by Black Hole And Other Cosmic Quandaries, my favorite. Plus The Pluto Files and The Sky is Not the Limit Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist. Also, he hosts the tv show Nova on PBS.

Would "An Inconvenient Truth" work for a science film?

Lindsey wrote: "For the book part, if you want to read a science fact book, I highly HIGHLY suggest anything by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He's an astrophysicist but quite possibly the coolest, most down ..."

I love Neil deGrasse Tyson!! You should check out his lecture series on Astrophysics from the Teaching Company (otherwise know as Great Courses). My husband and son are science nerds, but even I can get a lot out of his stuff.

I have enjoyed Stephen Jay Gould's books, especially Leonardo's Mountain of Clams and the Diet of Worms. Also like Neil Shubin's Your Inner Fish However, if you are not a believer in evolution, these might not be good choices for you.

I'm either going to watch a couple episodes of Planet Earth (we own it, and I think there are still a few I haven't seen), or re-watch Expelled, if that's okay. It's fascinating and you can watch it instantly on Netflix.

Lindsey wrote: "For the book part, if you want to read a science fact book, I highly HIGHLY suggest anything by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He's an astrophysicist but quite possibly the coolest, most down ..."

I also really enjoyed Death by Black Hole And Other Cosmic Quandaries! Neil deGrasse Tyson is a joy to watch, read or listen to.

Found this list:
http://www.imaginesciencefilms.com/fe...

I suppose I could peek at the Discovery Channel for a movie evening!

Lyn wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "For the book part, if you want to read a science fact book, I highly HIGHLY suggest anything by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He's an astrophysicist but quite possibly the coo..."

I think I have one episode of that, or something similar. Where would would I be able to find it/them?

would a book on forensics be okay

if that answer is yes..............

does it have to be non fiction?

I asked my husband if forensics would be considered a type of science and he said, "Yes, definitely! It's an applied science."

The task requires one fiction and one nonfiction item, so if your forensics book is fiction, you will need to watch a nonfiction science for the other part of the task. If the book is nonfiction, you will need to watch a science fiction show with it.

If we were to watch Planet Earth or something like that, how many would we need to watch? Isn't it more of a series than a film?

Also, I second the question about An Inconvenient Truth, although I cannot see why it would not count as a science movie.

Nicole wrote: "If we were to watch Planet Earth or something like that, how many would we need to watch? Isn't it more of a series than a film?

Also, I second the question about An Inconvenient Truth, although I..."

Nicole, I would think if they were hour-long episodes, you could probably watch 2 since most movies are an average of 2 hours in length. As far as An Inconvenient Truth, I think it classifies as a science movie. Especially since we're allowed to use Plant Earth or Disney's Nature Earth and they're both about the Earth too :)

Nicole wrote: "If we were to watch Planet Earth or something like that, how many would we need to watch? Isn't it more of a series than a film?"

Yeah, they're hour-long episodes. I was planning to watch 2.

Sara wrote: "Nicole wrote: "If we were to watch Planet Earth or something like that, how many would we need to watch? Isn't it more of a series than a film?"

Yeah, they're hour-long episodes. I was planning t..."

Discovery Channel is running the entire Planet Earth series a little later today. Starts as 7 on the East Coast.

Planet Green, Discovery's new channel offering, is also airing Planet Earth for a full week in November. They also have documentaries running on Saturday nights (like An Inconvenient Truth) which could work well for this challenge.

Sam wrote: "Discovery Channel is running the entire Planet Earth series a little later today. Starts as 7 on the East Coast."

Cool, I'll have to DVR them and save them for later when I do the task.

Rora wrote: "Sam wrote: "Discovery Channel is running the entire Planet Earth series a little later today. Starts as 7 on the East Coast."

Cool, I'll have to DVR them and save them for later when I do the task."

Actually, I think it's only part of the series tonight, but it does look like the whole thing will be on next Sunday.

I will be going to our local Science Museum to view the BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart. Could I use this instead of watching Planet Earth for the second part of this challenge? I am reading Farenhite 451 or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for my Sci-Fi book. You can go to www.buffscience.org to check out what the exhibit is about if that will help. It is actual human bodies that have been donated to science. They take the skin off and you see the actual workings of the human body. I know that some will think that is gross but I was a Biology major in college so I think it is way cool!!

Oh Stephanie, I saw the Body Worlds exhibition here in England a while ago - it is absolutely amazing! Fascinating stuff! Enjoy!!!

Janice wrote: "Would "An Inconvenient Truth" work for a science film?"

This is an excellent film!

SuzieR wrote: "Oh Stephanie, I saw the Body Worlds exhibition here in England a while ago - it is absolutely amazing! Fascinating stuff! Enjoy!!!"

Some of my coworkers have seen it and said the same thing. I really hope that it will count. If not I will watch my Planet Earth.

Stephanie wrote: "I will be going to our local Science Museum to view the BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart. Could I use this instead of watching Planet Earth for the second part of this challenge? I am reading F..."

Have you ever seen the tv show The Big Bang THeory? On the show, 2 of the characters go see this and the perverted one says something like "And those skinless ladies were hottttt" That's all I can think of whenever I hear about this show now. But I did see it before and it was interesting.