Earth Science

Earth Science Cover

Want an exciting way to learn important facts and get ready for an earth science test? Marko the Pencil and his friend Terra take learners on a fascinating journey to Marko’s Super Science Station where it’s easy and fun to understand science concepts and boost test scores. This science DVD covers the Solar System, weather and the water cycle, types of rocks, properties of minerals, volcanoes and plate tectonics, weathering, and alternative energy. Meets the National Science Education Standards.

Grades 3rd - 8th. Approx. 61 minutes

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Item

DVD Video

Price

$19.99

Product #

RL205

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Kevin is a fifth-grader who actually enjoys taking science tests because he knows the perfect way to become well prepared. Even difficult science concepts can be easy to grasp with clear explanations and animations. Marko, a humanoid pencil, has just the right tips to help Kevin understand science, have fun, and get ready for tests.

Kevin is already waiting at Marko’s Super Science Station when he is joined by Marko and Terra, an animated globe who “knows a thing or two about Earth science.” As Terra explains, “Earth science has a lot to do with understanding astronomy, geology, meteorology, and more.” Kevin begins his science test preparation with the solar system, learning about the sun and the eight planets that orbit the sun. Marko and Terra show Kevin an easy and entertaining way to remember the planets.

But that’s not all. Kevin soon learns all about the asteroid belt, dwarf planets, and comets. What happens in space affects things on earth. Kevin gets a good grasp of how Earth and the sun interact to create day and night and cause the seasons.

Kevin and his friends have lots more to explore, including exactly how the water cycle influences weather. He learns a catchy song about evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and accumulation. He finds out how changes in air pressure cause wind.

In the Geology Learning Center, Kevin discovers different kinds of rocks and how they were formed. He learns that fossils give clues as to what the environment was like. Plus, he attends a cool “rock concert” performed by animated rocks: Sedimentary Sandstone, Igneous Granite, and Metamorphic Marble. After “rocking out,” Kevin is ready for an experiment involving mineralogy: he uses properties such as color, luster, hardness, and streak to identify an unknown mineral sample.

Kevin next blasts off, compliments of a volcano, to the Topographic Learning Center. There, he finds out what caused changes in the Earth’s surface throughout time and learns about plate tectonics and the development of shield volcanoes, cinder cones, and stratovolcanoes. He also experiences weathering and erosion. Lots of humor keeps students laughing as they get a good foundation for the types of material they will find on an earth science test. Animated examples help students understand sediment, erosion, glaciers, and deposition.

Any Earth science adventure would be incomplete without a visit to the Energy and Resource Learning Center, where Kevin explores different kinds of perpetual resources, including the sun, the wind, geothermal energy, and the ocean. He learns about renewable and nonrenewable resources, along with the latest ways to conserve energy and use energy more efficiently.

After the main portion of the DVD, students can go back whenever they want to review any section. The DVD menu makes this easy. Finally, when students are ready, they can join Kevin, Marko, and Terra to take a practice Earth Science test in the Bonus Section of this DVD. Marko and Terra coach Kevin on how to remember what he has learned and apply his knowledge to scoring high on earth science tests. It’s a great review for all that’s been learned. Marko even shares his secret website where students can download free study material to complement this DVD.

Earth Science DVD is useful for parents or grandparents to purchase for kids who love science and want to learn more. It’s fun for any age, even kids much younger than fifth grade wanting to get an advanced understanding of science concepts. It’s also perfect for parents looking to help their students get prepared for standardized science tests, around the fifth grade level and beyond. Good test preparation helps ease anxiety.

Along with our other DVDs, Physical Science and Life Science, students will have a complete and highly entertaining approach to science test preparation. Teachers love these DVDs for classroom use. They may use certain segments to help explain or introduce concepts that students have trouble grasping. These programs can be an important part of boosting science knowledge and preparing for state-mandated standardized science tests in any state.

Marko the Pencil is played by actor Vic Mignogna, Best Actor 2007 American Anime Awards and the voice for many popular video games.

Get started immediately by helping your child or your students brush up on earth science knowledge and learn some really great test-taking skills.

Contents

Earth Science includes:

  • The Solar System
  • How Earth’s Orbit Causes the Seasons
  • The Water Cycle
  • What Causes Weather?
  • Sedimentary Rocks and Fossils
  • Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
  • Color, Luster, Hardness, and Streak
  • Topography and Volcanoes
  • Plate Tectonics
  • Energy and Resources
  • Alternative Energy and Conservation

Special Bonus Section: Practice scoring high on a multiple-choice earth science test!

Quotes

"This well-done video is colorful and full of animation. The mnemonic clues incorporated into the information will help trigger your student's memory when they try to recall the facts. Children who need a multisensory approach will definitely benefit from learning earth science this way with the information being taught is shown on the screen. For the auditory learner, there are a number of catchy phrases, songs, and rhythmic chants used throughout the video. It is definitely a fun way to learn about earth science and how to prepare for a standardized test. However, I would not limit it to just children who take standardized tests. Many homeschool students who are not required or do not take standardized tests would still benefit greatly from all the facts, tips, and memory tricks this video has to offer." —Heidi Miller-Ford, Eclectichomeschool.org

The most positive characteristic of this DVD is that it provides an entertaining way to learn basic concepts of Earth Science. It covers many topics and the practice tests included reinforce the subjects taught on the DVD as well. The DVD is visually pleasing, has great sound quality, is well organized and the animation adds to the appeal. The menu allows you to choose a subject or topic of study. There is information included on additional products, as well as a website to download earth science tests. The tests available on the web are available in GIF and PDF formats, which both open easily. There is also an answer sheet like the one shown for the practice tests on the DVD, as well as an answer key to check your answers. I am very impressed with the content of this DVD and think it is a valuable learning tool for students. —Reviewer from the iParenting Media Awards 2009 Best Product of 2009

This product is "kid appealing" and keeps children interested. The dvd is exceptionally well planned and is amazingly informative without the children losing interest. The dvd was so interesting, not only to the children, but to the parents as well. It was fun to sit and get involved with the dvd and test our knowledge of what we knew now and what we never knew before. It was helpful and easy to understand for children of all ages. —Reviewer from iParenting Media Awards Best Products of 2009

This product was correlated to the National Science Education Standards. It is engaging to children and gave them great ideas for remembering science facts. Additional features such as the special bonus section to scoring high on multiple choice questions and the free study materials that could be found at the website given are great added features.—Reviewer from iParenting Media Awards Best Products of 2009

If you have a pre-teen child who is studying Earth Science in school you will positively be amazed at how helpful, reinforcing and supportive this DVD is. The same topics that they are spending their days learning in school: astronomy, geology, mineralogy, weather, soil erosion, etc. are all here with visually appealing, colorful animations. What made it more fun than school was a certain sense of fun that Rock 'N Learn sprinkles liberally throughout the DVD. Whether it is the fun characters or some silly banter it clearly worked. The use of rhyme and rhythm to memorize planet names and other scientific facts was not only viewed by parents as ingenious but exceptionally effective as well. —Review from The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval Spring 2009

The latest in a series of Test Preparation DVDs for young people, Earth Science takes viewers on an amazing, computer-animated journey sure to capture the imagination as well as educate. Designed specifically to prepare viewers for standardized tests at grade five, Earth Science hosted by the cheerful Marko the Pencil, and covers topics ranging from how Earth's orbit causes the seasons to the water cycle, what causes weather, sedimentary rocks and fossils, topography and volcanoes, plate tectonics, energy and resources, and much more. A welcome addition to public and especially grade school libraries, and the perfect gift for any child with a blossoming interest in science.— James Cox, Midwest Book Review Child Bookwatch DVD Shelf November 2008

“The creative and educational team at Rock ’N Learn has gone to extraordinary lengths to make this DVD useful and fun for students who want to learn about science and get ready for science tests.” — Amber S., fifth grade science teacher and consultant

I teach 4th and 5th grade science to a group of urban and multicultural students. This is the first DVD I have seen that effectively addresses Earth Science content that will appeal to the age group and to English learners. The program has chapters on all of the key ES concepts and provides a quiz to test knowledge which includes some test taking tips. The characters are funny and add songs to aid in understanding. They have Italian and New York accents (my background) so I can introduce my California kids to East Coast style. After this review, I'm writing the company to request a similar program for 4th/5th Life and Physical Science. It must have been designed by middle school science teachers, because it hits the mark perfectly. — G. Guarino

“This DVD provides an entertaining way to learn basic concepts of Earth Science. The DVD starts with a familiar character in the series, Marko the Pencil, working with the student to teach the concepts. There are many topics covered on this DVD, which is another positive feature. The practice tests included reinforce the subjects taught on the DVD as well. The DVD is visually pleasing, and the animation adds to the appeal. The sound quality is also great, and the disc is well organized. The menu allows you to choose a subject or topic of study. There is information included on additional products, as well as a website to download earth science tests. The tests available on the web are in GIF and PDF formats, which both open easily. There is also an answer sheet like the one shown for the practice tests on the DVD, as well as an answer key to check your answers. I am very impressed with the content of this DVD and think it is a valuable learning tool for students.” — reviewer, iParenting Media Awards, 2008

“The most positive characteristics of this product were that it was “kid appealing” and kept the children interested. The dvd was exceptionally well planned and was amazingly informative without the children losing interest. The adults enjoyed the tests at the end of the lessons. They even learned to cross out the incorrect answers and narrow it down to the last two possible correct ones. How long have we gone to school and no one taught us that? Great advice. Also, the suggestions of getting a good night’s sleep, eating correctly, etc. were a great reinforcement of what children should be taught. The DVD was so interesting, not only to the children but to the parents as well. It was fun to sit and get involved with the dvd and test our knowledge of what we knew now and what we never knew before. It was helpful and easy to understand for children of all ages. Very good product.” — reviewer, iParenting Media Awards, 2008

“This product was correlated to the National Science Education Standards. It was engaging to the children and gave them great ideas for remembering science facts. Additional features such as a special bonus section to scoring high on multiple choice questions and the free study materials that could be found at the website given were great added features.” — reviewer, iParenting Media Awards, 2008