Building Big: Dams

Starring:Building Big
Studio: Wgbh Boston
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Changing the course of rivers has changed the course of history. Award-winning author-illustratorand captivating storytellerDavid Macaulay (The Way Things Work) goes to extremes to bring you an unprecedented look at the power of dams. From the banks of the Nile to the top of the Hoover Dam, you'll meet the courageous and ambitious builders, relive the deadly disasters, and discover the little-known personal triumphs and tragedies behind the greatest dams ever built.

- Meet Frank "Hurry Up" Crowe, the Hoover Dam's chief engineer who pushed his workers to unprecedented heights in the infernal desert heat

- See how Egypt's Nubian society was radically transformed by the Aswan Dam

- Find out what structural and physical forces led to 2200 deaths in the Johnstown Flood of 1889

- Bonus activity! Build your own mini-dam with Kenny and Caroline from the PBS kids' show ZOOM using only some popsicle sticks, sand and gravel

David Macaulay hosts Building Big, the five-part series that brings you the amazing truth behind the greatest manmade wonders of the world. From the top of the Golden Gate Bridge to inside the Hoover Dam, Building Big travels the world exploring Bridges, Tunnels, Dams, Skyscrapers and Domes in unforgettable, really big adventures.

Description

Award-winning author-illustrator—and captivating storyteller—David Macaulay (The Way Things Work) goes to extremes with five really big adventures that explore the greatest manmade wonders of the world. The series introduces the courageous creators and builders and reveals the deadly disasters and personal triumphs behind these breathtaking structures. Spectacular film footage, dramatic recreations and David's unique illustrations excite, explain and entertain in a big way. • Tower above the clouds on the Golden Gate; build the Brooklyn Bridge; and explore Europe's groundbreaking spans in • See how dams change not only the course of rivers, but the course of history as well, in an adventure that reaches from the top of the Hoover Dam to the banks of the Nile in Dams; Discover 2000 years of architectural wonders as Domes explores the Houston Astrodome, St. Peter's Cathedral, the geodesic domes of Buckminster Fuller, and more • Go to the top of the skyline for tall tales about Skyscrapers including Chicago's Sears Tower, New York's Empire State Building and Malaysia's record-setting Petronas Towers • Be a "mole" in Boston's "Big Dig;" explore the "Chunnel;" and go deep under New York's Hudson River for a wild look at Tunnels • Bonus Activities! Join Kenny and Caroline from the PBS kids' show ZOOM and other kids and their parents as they build five scaled-down structures using only common household items like straws, masking tape, and newspaper

Customer Reviews:

Good and informative.......2007-01-10

The videos kept my attention and that of my gifted middle school students. Good explanations and visuals to help make material comprehensible.

Brain-building entertainment.......2004-09-02

This set of five videos by artist/architect David Macaulay provides many hours of insightful entertainment and a great introduction to science and technology on a practical level. Each themed film - Bridges, Skyscrapers, Tunnels Domes and Dams - provides an in-depth historical treatment of the particular structure, interesting stories and overviews from famous structures and basic scientific principles involved in each project.

The set features lots of great location shoots with David Macaulay narrating interesting stories and pointing out details of each site.

To give you an idea, "Tunnels" covers aqueducts and water-carrying tunnels of Ancient Rome, early canal and train tunnels of the 19th century (particularly in England and the U.S.), archaic and modern methods of tunnel digging (particularly under rivers), issues involving tunnel safety (both during the project and during use afterwards) with a special emphasis (in all areas) on the building of the Channel Tunnel in the 1990s between England and France. Each video also includes a "Building Small" segment and pamphlet so that families can tackle simple science projects at home that demonstrate principles of architecture.

Our family has really enjoyed these movies - from the four year old all the way up to Mom and Dad. The material is substantial, but easy to understand (particularly with the excellent use of computer graphics and artistic sketches).

My only caution would be that there were a few photos from an airplane crash into the Empire state Building in the 1940s that are a little graphic for young children. I was very excited to learn that these are coming out on DVD this fall.

Average customer rating:

Building Big: Dams
Starring: David Macaulay , and Frank Crowe
Director: Judith Dwan Hallet
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Science & Technology | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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WGBH Boston | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Building Big: Bridges
Building Big: Skyscrapers
Building Big: Tunnels
Building Big: Domes
Building Big

ASIN: B0002XVSDS
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Description

Changing the course of rivers has changed the course of history. Award-winning author-illustrator—and captivating storyteller—David Macaulay (The Way Things Work) goes to extremes to bring you an unprecedented look at the power of dams. From the banks of the Nile to the top of the Hoover Dam, you'll meet the courageous and ambitious builders, relive the deadly disasters, and discover the little-known personal triumphs and tragedies behind the greatest dams ever built.

- Meet Frank "Hurry Up" Crowe, the Hoover Dam's chief engineer who pushed his workers to unprecedented heights in the infernal desert heat

- See how Egypt's Nubian society was radically transformed by the Aswan Dam

- Find out what structural and physical forces led to 2200 deaths in the Johnstown Flood of 1889

- Bonus activity! Build your own mini-dam with Kenny and Caroline from the PBS kids' show ZOOM using only some popsicle sticks, sand and gravel

Includes bonus hands-on building activity designed for kids.

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