WGBY/PBS and
other PBS stations in New England continue to produce programs related
to the history, geology and ecology of the Connecticut River and its
watershed. Used effectively in the classroom, these programs can be
a resource to encourage and support the study of the river environs.
A
Natural Focus with Laurie Sanders
(Connecticut
River Snapshots)
A Natural Focus is an instructional television series of short
guided tours of the Connecticut River Valley, showing its natural
history. Naturalist Laurie Sanders explores the banks of the river
from a geological and ecological perspective, discovering a variety
of land formations, plants and animal species, and habitiats. These
22 short programs provide a resource for incorporating the Connecticut
River environment into interdisciplinary curriula.Online
Teacher Guides for Program Videos. Programs are
available from the WGBY
Lending Library.
Beneath
the River
Beneath
the River: An Underwater Exploration of the Connecticut River
takes you on a journey through time to explore the origins of the
Connecticut River and the Connecticut River Valley. Led by Professor
of Biology and scuba diver Ed Klekowski and a team of University of
Massachusetts graduate students, the video delves below the river's
surface to reveal its natural and human history; an unusual plant
and animal life, catastrophic bridge wrecks, ancient waterfalls, and
mysterious caverns. Running time: 16 minutes
For more information on the Connecticut River:
www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/.
Produced
by Hometown Productions and the University of Massachusetts.
The program is available from the WGBY
Lending Library.
Under
Quabbin
Beneath the billions of gallons of water that flow into homes across
eastern MA is a story of buried history, scientific discovery, and
individual hopes and dreams destroyed in the name of progress. Ed
Klekowski, a UMass Amherst biology professor with a passion for scuba
diving, brings the fascinating details to light. Aided by the Massachusetts
State Police Underwater Recovery Team, Klekowski led the first group
of divers ever to go Under Quabbin in search of the remains of four
towns permanently erased from the map to make way for the reservoir
60 years ago.
Archival
photos of the lost towns in their heyday and the recollections of
former residents complement the documentary's haunting underwater
footage. Produced by WGBY and co-producers Libby Klekowski, Jonathon
Williams and Michael Volmar, the program is available from the WGBY
Lending Library.
Urban
Naturalist
Naturalist Laurie Sanders explores the city of Springfield, MA, for
plant and animal life, discovering a variety of plants, birds, hidden
insects, and a swamp all within city limits. Produced by WGBY, this
program is available from the WGBY
Lending Library
The
Connecticut River: A Journey Through Time
The
Connecticut River: Journey Through Time is a CPTV Original that
tells the dramatic stories of the people who drew their livelihoods,
dreams, and hopes from the river. From their struggles, as much as
from the pounding waters of the Connecticut River, the shape of New
England history was formed.
The special reveals
the changing patterns of human life along the river from the original
Native Americans inhabitants of the valley to the early European pioneers
and commercial settlers. Sailing on a replica of Adrian Block's ship,
the special highlights the Dutch discovery of the river in 1614 and
the subsequent settlement of the area by European settlers, who developed
logging, fishing and farming industries. WithYankee ingenuity, access
to capital, and river transportation, trade and commerce flourished.
The Connecticut River was the lifeblood of an emerging nation and
its waters powered the industries that manufactured arms for the Revolution,
took ships, goods, and troops to the Civil War, and brought wealth
to New England.
Tapes can be
purchased for $29.95 (includes shipping and handling) by check or
money order. Contact::
- Joanne Whitehead
- Programming
Department
- Connecticut
Public Television
- 240 New
Britain Avenue
- Hartford,
CT 06106
- (860) 278-5310,
extension 1270
CREI
/ www.wgby.org
