Social Studies
April 16, 2014 - April 22, 2014

Find the latest educational resources from Iowa Public Television.

American Master's Collection
Grades: 8-12

American Masters, public television's award-winning biography series, brings unique originality and perspective to exploring the lives and illuminating the creative journeys of our most enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists and filmmakers -- those who have left an indelible impression on our nation's cultural landscape. This collection offers you access to classroom-ready videos and articles drawn from the Series broadcasts and website.

Spring Forward with PBS TeacherLine Courses

Grades: Adult Learning

Check out the spring 2014 line-up of PBS TeacherLine courses to learn the skills you need to lead a winning class! PBS TeacherLine offers an assortment of online development courses trusted by thousands of PreK-12 educators from 15 to 45-hour facilitated courses to 1.5 to 3-hour self-paced courses that you can take on your own time.

NEW: Build your 21st-century classroom with new 1.5 hour self-paced courses designed to help you integrate digital media and technology in your classroom.

Controlling Water Run-Off

Grade Range: 4-12

This video shows how the environmentally friendly design of the Visitor Center at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest near Louisville, Kentucky, helps to control non-point-source water pollution, conserve water, and prevent erosion by slowing down and collecting water run-off. The video examines the sources of non-point-source water pollution, the structure and function of a green roof, using a reservoir to collect water, and the structure and function of a French drain and a cistern.

Stream Restoration

Grade Range: 4-12

This video explores how Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest near Louisville, Kentucky, restored a channelized stream to its original meandering path. In the past, farmers throughout Kentucky channelized or straightened streams to access the rich bottomland along the streambeds. Bernheim moved a stream that runs through the park back to its original path and replanted its banks with local plants appropriate for a riparian zone, the wetland area beside a stream. The video explains the environmental advantages of meandering streams: improved water quality, more diverse and healthier ecosystems, and reductions in flooding and soil erosion.

Climate Change Threatens Pacific Paradise

Grade Range: 6-12

Carteret Islanders (of Papua New Guinea) describe how climate change is destroying their home island of Han, in these two videos adapted from UNU-IAS Traditional Knowledge Initiative and Pacific Black Box, Inc. In the first video, Nicholas Hakata explains that flooding carries sand inland, creates mosquito breeding grounds, destroys property, and causes starvation. His fellow islanders discuss relocating the community. In the second video, teenager Jerryanne Hugo talks about the crop destruction and water shortage caused by sea level rise. Note: The first video, narrated by Hakata in his native language, is subtitled in English.

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