Science at the movies
The story
A story making its way around the web at the moment is that NASA has compiled a list of the best and worst science movies ever made. There is, however, some debate over the authenticity of this story and many people are upset about news websites jumping on the bandwagon and reporting this story without first checking out the primary source.
Well, just for the record. I do not know if the story is true or not and I don’t really care. It just gives me a really good excuse to talk about how you can use movies in the science classroom. How’s that for top class investigative journalism?*
So, here is the list:
Worst sci-fi movies
1. 2012 (2009)
2. The Core (2003)
3. Armageddon (1998)
4. Volcano (1997)
5. Chain Reaction (1996)
6. The 6th Day (2000)
7. What the #$*! Do We Know? (2004)
Most realistic films
1. Gattaca (1997)
2. Contact (1997)
3. Metropolis (1927)
4. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
5. Woman in the Moon (1929)
6. The Thing from Another World (1951)
7. Jurassic Park (1993)
Teaching ideas
Sometimes a clip from a movie is a great way of engaging a class and inspiring discussion. Here of some of the movies I have used:
Gattaca – An excellent film about a possible future world where designer babies are the norm and anyone who has not been genetically engineered is seen as a member of a new underclass. I have used clips from the start in KS4 lessons about genetic engineering in order to show students what it may be used for in the future. The clips are useful as a platform to discuss the ethics invloved. Also be sure to ask the students the significance of the name of the movie (answers on a postcard in the comments section below please!)
Contact – The first few minutes of the movie show a journey away from Earth, through our Solar System and galaxy. The graphics are amazing enough but what really makes this come alive is the soundtrack, which starts off with modern music, through to the first radio transmissions and then into an eerie silence depicting how far our radio waves have travelled into space. This clip would make a great addition to a lesson space or EM waves.
The second clip I use shows the main character detecting an alien signal for the first time and can be used when teaching about the search for extraterrestrial life. It is truly exciting and I have had the unruliest of classes sitting on the edges of their seats in anticipation of what the message will be. (unfortunately this bit is missing from the clip I found in the weblinks below so you will just have to buy the DVD to find out what it is!).
Jurrasic park – I have used the cartoon from the film where Mr DNA explains how the dinosaurs were created in KS3 classes when teaching about cloning. Students can go on the debate whether scientists should try and use this technique to clone extinct animals like the woolly mammoth. What would be the purpose? Would the animal be able to survive in an environment that has changed since its extinction?
Other films that I have used in lessons include:
Outbreak – to show the different ways a virus can be transmitted.
Supersize me – The opening is great forthe start of a lesson on the health risks of eating too much fast food.
It’s not just the ‘good’ movies that are useful. Why not show the students a clip which has very obvious scientific inaccuracies in it and let them pull it apart?
Have you used movies in the classroom? Please post a comment below to share your ideas.
Weblinks
Gattaca clip
Contact – opening clip
Contact – where SETI intercept a message
Supersize me opening
*Disclaimer: I have never, and will never, claim to be a journalist.
Hi
Nice post — Gattaca and Jurassic Park both get used in class when I’m teaching something relevant. Over the years I keep coming back to http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/ – I love getting students to see if they agree with the reviews.
Take care.
Glen Gilchrist
http://glengilchrist.co.uk
Hi Glen,
Thanks for the comment. Agree – that website is a great resource. Are there any movie clips you use in particular?
Just thought of another I used – the end of the Italian Job when the coach is balancing on the edge of the cliff – can the students use moments to predict what will happen? (also made a ppt to use in the lesson – if you or anyone else wants a copy then feel free to contact me).
Its surprising how often I will be just watching TV and I’ll see something that can be used in a lesson. I also find the Simpsons and Fururama sometimes have nice little clips that can be used. The Futarama global warming video is one of my favourites.
Also this post caught my eye. The physics looks a bit much for most GCSE classes but there are some nice bits that could be used.
I’m sure other teachers have their favourites as well… that’s a hint all you lurkers by the way:)
I use the clip from October sky about their flight fails. It’s perfect to show redesign process. And I use the Apollo clip about the square peg in a round hole as and example of starting with a problem.