Modern Marvels Nature Tech: Tsunamis
Thursday, January 27th at 7PM/6c
The devastation wrought by the recent tsunami has
attracted the attention and humanitarian focus of the
world. The shocking enormity of this disaster has
prompted many of us to explore the natural dynamics
underlying the momentum of these gigantic waves.
Tsunamis, among the deadliest and most mysterious of
all natural disasters, are large ocean waves typically
generated by offshore earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and landslides. This seismic activity creates a
large-scale underwater displacement of sediment on the
seabed and produces a massive underwater wave - or
series of waves known as a “wave train.”
Scientists are beginning to understand more and
more about these killer waves as technology has enabled them
to predict more with more accuracy when a tsunami
might strike. Computerized buoys, wave simulation
machines, satellites, shake tables and 3-D models are
among the technologies scientists rely upon, but even
these do not allow for definite forewarning.
Traveling to locations in Hawaii, Japan, Oregon,
Seattle and California, this program highlights the
latest state-of-the-art technology scientists use to
predict and study the tsunami. This episode in the
Modern Marvels series introduces students to the
natural forces behind these phenomena and traces the
social costs of their proliferation. It is an
excellent opportunity for students to learn more about
the enormous waves which have captured the
international world with their incredible force.
Curriculum Links:
Modern Marvels, Nature Tech: Tsunamis would be useful
for Science and Technology, Geography, and Current
Events courses.
This program fulfills the following
guidelines outlined by the National Council for
History Education: Human Interaction with the
Environment.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why has it been so hard for scientists to predict
tsunamis in the past? What are some of the new
methods they have developed to predict them?
2. Why are tsunamis more likely to emerge in some
geographic locations than others?
Special Presentation: The French Revolution
Saturday, January 29th at 9AM/8c
A dethroned king, a flamboyant queen, the storming of
a fortress prison and the terror of the guillotine—the
French Revolution has all of the ingredients of an
engrossing drama. Yet to delve beneath the surface of
these characters and symbols is to discover the
complexity of this transformative era. The events of
the French Revolution, transpiring over the span of a
decade, were part of a grander Age of Revolutions. At
the same time they were comprised of a series of
smaller stories of individual French citizens becoming
politically engaged amidst tremendous poverty,
intellectual transformation, and—ultimately, violence.
A combination of factors including rising
expectations spurred by the Enlightenment, massive
starvation, and frustration with the mismanagement of
an inept monarchy pushed the Revolution’s initial
aims. These aims were worn down as political
conflicts splintered Revolutionary groups and led to a
frenzy of executions by guillotine. This special
two-hour presentation, The French Revolution, peels
through the layers of these remarkable years, from
1789 through the turn of a new century, to reveal an
era of intense and lasting political and intellectual
change.
The French Revolution provides a captivating
introduction to these events, leading students from
the grandeur of Versailles as King Louis XVI wed the
teenaged wonder Marie Antoinette through the dramatic
culmination of the Revolutionary period as thousands
of dead were left in its wake. This guide will supply
teachers with suggestions for using this
thought-provoking program to help students grasp the
significance of the French Revolution and the broader
political era in which these events occurred. This
program is an excellent resource for understanding how
political ideas develop, the causes and consequences
of Revolution, and how the French Revolution altered
the course of European history. With compelling
commentary from historians, fascinating tidbits about
the fall of the monarchy, and colorful descriptions of
the Revolution’s key players, this program will engage
students and prompt them to further investigate these
vivid and often shocking years.
Curriculum Links:
The French Revolution would be useful for World
History, European History, World Civilization, and
Global History courses. Due to some sensitive and
mature content, we would recommend it for high school
students. We would also recommend that teachers view
the program in its entirety before screening it for
students. This program fulfills the following
guidelines outlined by the National Council for
History Education: Patterns of Social and Political
Interaction, Civilization, Cultural Diffusion and
Innovation and Comparative History of Major
Developments.
Teacher’s Guide Available:
historychannel.com/classroom/
Time Machine, First Invasion: The War of 1812
Saturday, January 29th at 11 AM/10c
The American Revolution delivered to the world not
only a new nation but the firm promise that the United
States would provide an example of independence,
freedom, equality, and sovereignty. The depth of this
promise was declared boldly in the founding documents,
but the proof that this nation could succeed in
securing these ideals emerged more fully over time.
Just thirty years after independence from Great
Britain was won, the War of 1812 signaled that the
tests the United States would face, both internally
and externally, were severe. Tension between the
United States and England persisted in the years after
the revolution, even as the British were engaged in
war with France. A complex set of concerns thrust the
United States and Great Britain into war, including
the impressments of American citizens into the British
navy and the on-going efforts among the British to
control commerce on the high seas. These infractions
reached a breaking point, and what has been termed
America’s “the second war of Independence” was
authorized by Congress in June of 1812 in response to
the pleas of a reluctant yet determined President
James Madison.
In what would become a three year odyssey fought on
many fronts, these two nations challenged each other
in Canada, at sea, and in the heart of the nation’s
capital. First Invasion: The War of 1812 is a
dramatic and engaging introduction to the many phases
of this war, from its declaration through the
climactic Battle of New Orleans in 1815. First
Invasion is an excellent resource for classroom use,
providing students with a framework for understanding
the path from the American Revolution to
industrialization. This compelling program invites
students to consider the War of 1812 as part of an
on-going process of American identity formation as the
nation turned inward to define itself anew.
Curriculum Links:
First Invasion: The War of 1812 would be useful for
classes on American history, American culture, and
social studies courses. It is appropriate for middle
school and high school students. It fulfills the
following standards as outlined by the National
Council for History Education: Values, Beliefs,
Political Ideas and Institutions, Patterns of Social
and Political Interaction, and Comparative History of
Major Developments.
Discussion Questions:
1. What were the 3 most important issues which led to
the War of 1812?
2. How did Dolley Madison help save our nation’s
history during the War of 1812?
3. Why do you think the War of 1812 should be studied?
What was its legacy?
VISIT HISTORY NOW, free on the Web at
historynow.org
This exciting new online journal mixes essays
by top scholars with extensive resources and
suggestions for history fans, history teachers and
history students. Don't miss our second issue
examining slavery in the U.S. through primary sources.
Visit the site for lesson plans, printable documents,
maps, and other resources.
THE HISTORY CHANNEL CLUB – Now teachers can join at a
discounted price!!
Try The History Channel Club FREE for 30 Days! If you
like it, you can join at a discounted annual price of
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price.
Join and you’ll receive:
THE HISTORY CHANNEL CLUB MAGAZINE
One of the most in-depth, information rich magazines
on the market, it’s great to share with students and
available to members of The Club six times per year.
The History Channel Club magazine is full of amazing
historical photos and fascinating articles on U.S.
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THE GUIDE TO HISTORIC AMERICA
A terrific resource for field trips, this guide lists
museums, monuments, historic homes and sites across
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Thank you!
The History Channel Education Department
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