Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Review and Giveaway: Janet's Planet


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.


I've had the chance here lately to review a really great kids' science DVD.  Janet's Planet has a DVD called Exploring Microgravity.  Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

Well, if you are my geek family, it does.  But even if you aren't a family of geeks, this DVD is fun. 

This 37-minute DVD is meant for elementary aged children, but I think it could be interesting to middle-schoolers as well, especially if they are in the middle of studying gravity in their physical science course!  They might roll their eyes a wee bit, but the information presented is certainly not beneath them.

Here is the description I received from FlyBy Promotions:
By focusing on science, technology, engineering, art and math, Janet's Planet travels at the "speed of thought" and is designed to fuel S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). Gravity’s phenomena and effects are explained and the audience gets to meet Galileo, Newton and Cavendish and find out how they built on the ideas of scientists before them and formed a shared picture of how the universe works! You’ll also get a chance to see Janet onboard the Zero G plane experiencing microgravity!
My third and first graders absolutely loved this DVD, and my sixth grader even admitted to learning a thing or two.  Janet is energetic, enthusiastic, and a bit silly.  But there is a LOT of great scientific information packed into a half-hour, and watching Janet onboard doing parabolic flight patterns was a lot of fun.

We had a conversation about how my cousin has done that, and I went looking for some of the pictures.  I have to get in touch with her.

My youngest kids, after watching this DVD once, started having their imaginative play completely dominated by issues relating to gravity and especially microgravity situations.  They've made lego models of various planets, drawn flight paths for the Zero-G plane, role-played all kinds of scenarios, and created a model of the solar system in Minecraft.  I'd say that this video fired their imaginations!

Gravity, microgravity, Newton, space travel, parabolas... like I said, there is a lot packed into this DVD.

I highly recommend it ... and you could have one too, as I have a copy to give away!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



4 comments:

Walking Fruitfully said...

No (at least not until I Swag-searched it. ;) But now I do!)

Wendi said...

Actually, I don't know the difference :)

Debra said...

See, now I couldn't have defined microgravity before watching this DVD either. And we're total science geeks. As soon as I heard it defined, it made sense.

Essentially, microgravity is the 'more accurate' term for Zero G... because in space (within space people can get to anyway), you aren't exactly experiencing NO gravity. You are experiencing very, very, verrrrr-y little gravity. Microgravity.

Tess said...

I do not know the difference but I think I'll swagbuck it like Hillary!