specialmama Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 I was thinking about watching Lorenzo's Oil with my 10yr old. Her brother has a disability, and although there is no cure for autism right now, I think she'll relate quite well to this movie. It's been 10+ yrs since I've seen it though. From what I recall it seems appropriate for around grade 5 and up, right? Is anyone aware of any discussion questions or material available to go with this movie? Any other movies that would encourage a love for science? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 How about those 80s movies starring teens, like....Real Genius (with Val Kilmer), anyone? Manhattan Project (with Cynthia Nixon)? Project X (with Matthew Broderick)? ....Er maybe that wasn't quite what you were looking for. Most of the inspiring science movies tend to be about medicine, I think. However, I really like the movie Swades: We, the People, a movie from India. The main character is a NASA engineer who returns home for a visit to bring his childhood nanny back with him to the US and ... things happen where he is able to use his skills to benefit others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Even though these films are very old, some of the science is "dated", and there is a charming "hokeyness" to them -- we (my family) are far from alone in our love for the old Bell Science films, some of which were directed by Frank Capra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 We like October Sky--it's about Homer Hickam and the Rocket Boys. There's one small "boy talk about girls" scene, and a little drinking or talk of drinking, but otherwise appropriate and wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_io Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I'm going to have my 8yo watch Apollo 13 to show her that math can get you all the way to the moon and back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 We like October Sky--it's about Homer Hickam and the Rocket Boys. There's one small "boy talk about girls" scene, and a little drinking or talk of drinking, but otherwise appropriate and wonderful. Wonderful movie, we love it. There is quite a bit of foul language in some scenes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I'm going to have my 8yo watch Apollo 13 to show her that math can get you all the way to the moon and back. :) Yes!! Great movie! :) To OP, I really loved the movie Contact with Jodi Foster, but it might have too much adult content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Even though these films are very old, some of the science is "dated", and there is a charming "hokeyness" to them -- we (my family) are far from alone in our love for the old Bell Science films, some of which were directed by Frank Capra. The best disc is Hemo the Magnificent and Unchained Goddess, available at Amazon. Hemo is about blood, esp. red blood cells, and the other is about the weather. There is some old Earth creationism and brief smoking!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Not *exactly* what you're looking for perhaps, but at that age, our boys loved: - Bill Nye the Science Guy series - Amazing Planet (short series by National Geographic) - Building Big series by David Macauley - Popular Mechanics for Kids series - various NOVA episodes (see PBS online -- some you can watch online!) Other interesting science series to consider: - The Animated Hero Classics (Florence Nightingale, Louis Pasteur, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, etc.) - Connections series hosted by Allen Burke - Mythbusters series And what about the old just-for-fun Flubber movies starring Fred McMurray: "The Absent Minded Professor" and "Son of Flubber"? Other older films: - Madame Curie (1943) - The Story of Louie Pasteur (1935) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Feature films for Families made a series called The Inventors' Specials. There is one on Einstein, Edison, Gallileo and probably others. That is all I know of offhand. They are really well done. Woolybear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdolphingirl Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Awhile back PBS did a series (not movies though) called Rough Science. While the DVDs are hard to find and expensive Netflix has some of the episodes and my boys (6,8,11) have really enjoyed them. ~Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in WI Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 We just watched Gorillas in the Mist with our boys. They're earning their wildlife conservation beltloops for Cub Scouts and it just happened to be on PBS this weekend. The language was more than we were completely comfortable with *and* we had to have a talk about adultery (ahem!), but I think the strengths of the movie far outweighed the negatives on the subject of endangered animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamee Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Not a movie, but kids have found a new love of science with They Might be Giants, Here Comes Science songs and videos. TONS of info in these, catchy songs. They're going around singing about cells, photosynthesis and the "blood mobile" all the time. (DS even made the blood mobile for his pinewood derby car this year!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorbackmama Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Medicine Man? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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