Science 2 - Matter Videos

Duration: 3:04

Synopsis: This is arguably the simplest of these three videos, is it walks through the basic processes required to create cotton that can be put to use to create the many products we have that are made of cotton.

Duration: 6:04

Synopsis: This video certainly animates the processes involved in the creation of cotton better than any other simple videos, so this component of the video might be of use for you in your class. At the same time, this video could also be used to bring up the discussions regarding the environmental impacts of creating cotton.

Duration: 2:59

Synopsis: While the first minute has almost an overabundance of numbers and stats regarding cotton, the last two minutes do give a really nice, graphic overview in the farming, harvesting, and processing of cotton.

Duration: 4:08

Synopsis: As a collection of photos and video clips, this narrator discusses the basics in the process of moving from flax to linen. Overall, this video is one that takes a nice simple approach to how flax is transformed into linen.

Duration: 2:14

Synopsis: Narrated by a young Scot, this video does a great job of placing an emphasis on all the vocabulary associated with the process of turning flax into linen. Though all the information in this video almost seems rushed into two minutes, the simple, yet linear fashion that this story is told makes the process seem easiesr to understand.

Duration: 2:25

Synopsis: Even though there isn't a spoken word in this video, this video is so abundant with various clips of linen being made from flax that showing it would be a great way to review this process if you have already talked about it with students.

Duration: 5:25

Synopsis: This is a great video where students not only learn the science behind silk and silkworms, but they are also told the narrative of the stories behind silk. Near the end, it is mentioned that silk is often used for stitching, as it has good strength, but will naturally be broken down by the body; this makes for good emphasis on the "natural" component of the fiber.

Duration: 4:36

Synopsis: This video give a very thorough (yet short) overview of the procedure in creating silk fabric. Though the narrator of the video does use a couple words frequently that might be above grade two vocabulary (eg. meticulously and epitome), the visual portion is incredibly engaging to keep your students not too worried if they don't know a word or two. 

Duration: 5:13

Synopsis: Looking for that video with extended clips that are significantly magnified, making you feel you are as big as a silkworm? This is the video for you. In addition to this, it brings up the fact that the moths that silkworms grow into can no longer fly; this is a great fact to discuss with your students, to really have them chase after the rationale of this evolutionary tale.

Duration: 4:32

Synopsis: This video does a great job of going over the very basics of what wool is, where it comes from, and manages to put it some interesting trivia such as the amount of wool that an average sheep produces per year, and that there are rabbits who can be sheared for wool.

Duration: 8:23

Synopsis: Though this video may look a little bit longer, you may want to show a chapter of this video alongside one of the others. The one piece that this video has that is somewhat absent from the other videos here is a chapter on the history of wool, and over the course of roughly three minutes, give a very brief history of humankind's use of wool.

Duration: 6:01

Synopsis: With Australia as the world's leading producer/exporter of wool, where better to find a video made on the running of a sheep farm? In this video, an emphasis is placed on just what takes place on a sheep farm to have them sheared, and then what takes place in a processing factory to turn it into a usable product. The host of this video can also keep your students engaged with his short songs!

Duration: 5:00

Synopsis: This video (which it should be noted, certainly doesn't have HD resolution) shows the basic process in the creation of fleece. It points out why fleece is a unique type of polyester that emulates wool. It finishes the video by showing a collection of tests that are often done on the fleece to test it prior to selling it to make clothes. 

Duration: 9:25

Synopsis: Though this video might be a little long, it is nicely broken up into chapters. By just viewing the chapters titled "What It It," 'How Is It Made," and "Benefits of Fleece," your students will get a good introduction to help them understand fleece. The reason this video was chosen over many other shorter ones is its simplicity; this person does not elaborate on too much.

Duration: 1:05

Synopsis: This is a nice and short video that really does highlight some of the key traits of fleece, and what makes fleece a common fabric. If you are looking for a really quick overview of fleece, this is a good video to use.

Duration: 6:46

Synopsis: Although it could be argued that this video seems to trying to sell to all viewers that polyester is the best fabric ever made, it is a good video for understanding the basics of polyester. One note is that all of the questions are written on the screen, but never asked aloud; you may want to pause the video at each of these questions to ensure your students know what is being asked.

Duration: 5:30

Synopsis: Just like its name suggests, this video takes the viewers through the process of taking recycled plastic bottles to the creation of polyester fabrics. This can also be used as a great example when talking about the recycling process.

Duration: 4:58

Synopsis: Though this video is arguably a little too technical for grade two, there are many simplified animations showing how polyester is created that have this video seeming less in-depth in the first two videos.

Duration: 1:51

Synopsis: This video focuses on how participants in the Tour de France went from wool to silk to spandex across the decades of the 20th century. It has a nice animation showing how the word "spandex" is an anagram of "expands," and discusses the dangerous side of spandex--its flammability.

Duration: 1:10

Synopsis: Though this video is somewhat analogous to students watching a video between "The Difference Between a Tap and a Faucet" or "The Difference Between Three Pairs and Half-a-Dozen," sometimes seeing a person in a video might give clarity that they are the exact same thing.

Duration: 4:15

Synopsis: Though this video may be a little lacking in visual stimulation (as most of it is Joe Schwarcz seated behind a desk), in the course of four minutes Schwarcz manages to really cover the creation, the uses, the chemistry, and more--all about spandex.

Duration: 22:08

Synopsis: While this video may seem a little long for this age, some of these chapters in the video have some excellent (and succinct) teachings of how versatile birch bark is. The chapters titled "Intro," "Making A Moose Call," and "Art" all show the incredible ways in which birch bark can be used.  

Duration: 5:54

Synopsis: With birch bark baskets one key piece that can be build from birch bark, this video highlights the many different creations that a person skilled with birchbark can build. 

Duration: 1:56

Synopsis: Showing some incredible birch bark canoes built by this husband and wife team throughout, this video discusses the building of birch bark canoes, and all of the artistic components that can be placed within the creation of a birch bark canoe.

Duration: 2:00

Synopsis: Though very brief, this video quickly discusses many of the key roles that the Red River Cart played in the lives of the Métis. Backed with Métis music, there is much information about the Red River Cart packed into two minutes.

Duration: 1:00

Synopsis: Even briefer than the previous video, this video nicely touches on a few points that are missing from the first video. Like the previous video, this one really plays tribute to Métis music that is played in the background throughout. 

Duration: 3:07

Synopsis: What better way to both learn and review the history of the Red River Cart than with a catchy song that seems to fit into the genre of Métis music? This short song goes through all sorts of ways that the cart could be put to use, and introduces the students to a bit of vocabulary that might be new to them. 

Duration: 7:43

Synopsis: At first glimpse, this may seem like a slightly Americanized video with its title seeming to focus on Alaska, but upon watching this video, you will see the host does a really good job of talking about how ulus were found across the Arctic, and he makes mention of how to ulu belonged to women, and was used by women.

Duration: 2:17

Synopsis: This video is a combination of an interview with a demonstration as to how the "Fastest Woman with an Ulu" can demonstrate her skills, and promotes that Inuit children take pride in their Inuit heritage. It should be noted that she does use the terms "Eskimo" and "Indian" in her interview; if you are not wanting your students to her the use of these terms, avoid the beginning (or all) of this video.

Duration: 9:44

Synopsis: Why simply teach about the ulu when you can have a combination of the modern genre of reality TV combined with a tool that dates back for millennia? This is a clip of a reality TV show in which four contestants compete to create the best possible ulu. Parameters for a good ulu are discussed throughout. If really looking for some integration with key ideas within science, this is a great video.