Bill Nye the Science Guy: Fluids

Bill Nye the Science Guy: Fluids. By Bill Nye and Darrell Suto. Disney Educational Productions, National Science Foundation, KCTS & Rabbit Ears Productions, 2004. DVD. $29.95

Series: Bill Nye the Science Guy

Summary: In Bill Nye the Science Guy: Fluids, Bill Nye clearly defines the term fluids and provides multiple demonstrations to support the concept. This DVD is a new format of a production originally shown as a television episode and follows the straightforward formula used in all of the Bill Nye productions. Mr. Nye introduces the “big idea,” (fluids), shows a student demonstration, performs his own “big demo,” asks viewers to “consider the following,” and shows a music video to wrap up the subject. The content covers the fluid nature of liquids and gases and compares fluids to solids. Multiple examples of fluids and the properties of fluids are provided and the concept of convection is explained. The DVD includes a teacher guide, Internet links on the subject and a list of educational standards supported by the show.

Standard(s): California Science 6.3.c: students know heat flows in solids by conduction (which involves no flow of matter) and in fluids by conduction and by convection (which involves flow of matter); 8.3.e: students know that in solids the atoms are closely locked in position and can only vibrate; in liquids the atoms and molecules are more loosely connected and can collide with and move past one another, and in gases the atoms and molecules are free to move independently, colliding frequently.

Suggested age range: 9-13 years

Annotation: Bill Nye is an entertaining guy who shares his knowledge about science in an appealing format that students in grades 6-8^th will enjoy and understand. Nye’s explanation of fluids is comprehensive enough to support education standards for fluids in both grades six and eight and the demonstrations provide students with excellent visuals. The pace of this DVD is fast and will keep students entertained; the repetition of the material will ensure that students don’t miss the concept. Nye won multiple Emmy Awards for his series when it was originally televised and the DVD format of the same show is a great resource for the classroom. Nye offers clear and concise coverage of the topic and backs it up with strong resources for teachers to use in the classroom when the DVD ends. The Bill Nye the Science Guy series is heavy on entertainment value and science content.

Subjects/themes: liquids, fluids, science experiments

Awards:

=Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Children’s Series, 1994-1999. Note: these awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Science were awarded to the Bill Nye the Science Guy television series. The DVD version of this program is a DVD format of the same production and the content is the same.

Reviews:

=School Library Journal (March 1, 2000). Note: this review is for the VHS version of this item. The DVD version released in both 1999 and 2004 is the same in terms of content; only the format has been changed.

High interest annotation: Bill Nye the Science Guy Classroom Series DVDs are an excellent resource for elementary and middle school teachers. Science lessons are presented in a highly accessible format for students.