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The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Common Sense says
- PBS
- Educational
- 2009
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a stunning historical look at America’s national parks from award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns. It's an excellent pick for families. More than just a collection of awe-inspiring sights, the series is also a gripping history lesson that touches on the economic, political, sociological, and geological forces at play during the formative years of America’s past. While its content is mostly appropriate for any age, it will be best appreciated by tweens and teens who already have some knowledge of American history.
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Perfect for children of school age.
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What's the story?
Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Everglades. The names evoke visions of awesome natural splendor, but for all their fame, the tales of how they achieved their landmark standing are rarely told. THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA -- a beautiful documentary series from award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns and writer Dayton Duncan -- explores the history of America’s national parks, from the controversial infancy of the unique concept in the mid-1800s to the vast modern treasure that now belongs to everyone in the United States. The stories of the land are interwoven with tales of visionaries from all walks of life who helped preserve the sites that shape our modern parks system.
Is it any good?
This documentary series simultaneously entertains, teaches, and inspires, offering a whole new perspective on an American institution that most of us likely take for granted. If you’ve never visited one of these historic sites and felt a surge of pride, you will after you see them through the eyes of the people who fought for the parks’ existence and consequently added an important new chapter to U.S. history.
Once in a while a series comes along that reminds us of all the positive qualities of the media -- The National Parks is exactly that. Apart from rare instances of salty language ("hell," mostly in historic accounts), The National Parks: America's Best Idea is well suited for family viewing. Kids probably won’t absorb too much besides the breathtaking scenery from, but parents, tweens, and teens may be inspired to discuss everything from politics to conservation.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how the media can be used as a teaching tool. Kids: What did you learn from The National Parks: America's Best Idea? How has the media changed how we learn? In what ways does your school incorporate it in education?
Does this series change your view of conservation? If so, how? What responsibility do we have toward future generations when it comes to land use?
What aspects of our nation -- past and present -- reflect the philosophy that "all men are created equal"? How does this series illustrate the idea of democracy?
How does The National Parks: America's Best Idea promote curiosity? Why is this an important character strength?
TV details
- Premiere date: September 27, 2009
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- TV rating: TV-G
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.