Browse Exhibits (21 total)

1958, 26 episodes, WCET (Cincinnati)

From WNET:

"Uncle Wonder makes the principles of the sciences simple for the pre-school child. Glenn Ryle, as Uncle Wonder, participates with children in their own world to help them discover some of the “truths” of the world. The series emphasizes power and includes simple demonstrates of natural phenomena such as gravity, sound, light, etc. Uncle Wonder operates in a three-part workshop: workbench for woodworking and demonstrating; nursery section for planting and plant demonstrations; and a laboratory setting for work with water, chemicals, and other liquids. Uncle Wonder makes the principles of the sciences simple for the pre-school child. He uses domestic objects, such as a milk bottle or a bar of soap, to illustrate how rain is formed or how surface tension works. Many of his TV experiments can be duplicated in the home with materials normally at hand. Uncle Wonder in each program invites his viewers into his workshop where he answers many of the questions of wonderment that fill the minds of little folk."

13 episodes, 1958, KQED (San Francisco)

From WNET:

"In “Scientific Methods” Dr. Joel Hildebrand, of the University of California, reveals to the adult layman and the high school student the excitement and the discipline involved in the scientific investigation of any problem concerning man. He demonstrates that science is neither book learning nor technical manipulation and shows what scientists actually do and how they do it. The series will explain the scientific approach as an antidote to prejudice, superstition and emotional thinking. It will demonstrate the influence of scientific findings upon social and ethical evaluations."

13 episodes, 1959, META

From WNET:

"This series of programs is designed for the adult layman who has a curiosity about the skies and the makeup of the universe in which we live.  The terms used during the series are fully explained and materials from a number of great observatories and institutions of learning are used for visual illustration.  The series begins with the solar system and works outward, stimulating interest in this area and awakening a desire for further study and investigation."

39 episodes, 1957, WGBH (Boston)

From WNET:

"'Discovery' produced by WGBH-TV aims to make learning about the world in which we live an adventure for young people -- an advantage that opens the doors to many fields of scientific knowledge.  Living animals and plants and other visuals become the illustrations for what the producers of “Discovery” call “how learning” -- how something causes something else, how change in one situation is related to another, how animals are adapted to live in their specific environments, and how plants, animals and man are related to one another.  Airing not only to stimulate intellectual curiosity about the world around us, but hoping also to encourage creative activity on the part of young viewers, emphasis is placed on what the child can do at home.  Guest on the programs include scientific experts as well as boys and girls with science hobbies.  The presentations are straightforward and the demonstrations interesting and unusual enough to command the attention of upper elementary grade students, junior high, and even high school biology classes.

Featured Personality: Mary Lela Grimes

The producer, writer and narrator of the “Discovery” series is a young woman from North Carolina: Mary Lela Grimes.  All of her life she has had nature hobbies such as collecting butterflies, keeping wild pets, naming plants, studying minerals, and watching birds.  After her graduation as a Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina, she became director of the Durham Children’s Museum and wrote a daily column on nature for the Durham Herald Sun.  When she and her husband moved to Boston, she joined the staff of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, working in the elementary science teaching program.  She also did newspaper, radio and TV work for the Society and helped organize and direct the Society’s Wildwood Nature Camp at Camp Barre, North Carolina.  In 1954, Mrs. Grimes was awarded a fellowship to study communications by the National Wildlife Federation.  she spent a year at Boston University (where she received her MS) and there began working with WGBH-TV in planning science programs for children.  It was here that the idea of “Discovery” was born."

13 episodes, 1958, KUHT (Houston)

From WNET:

"This timely series explores what is now known about flight into space and resultant medical problems and includes the latest scientific developments in space medicine.  Much stock footage from US Air Force films is included, and experts in missile development and space medicine appear on the programs.  (Biographical information of the special guests is included in the description of each individual programs.)  The basic aim of the series is to inform the public about the advances made in space flight, the problems encountered there, and the medical research going on to enable man to fly in space.  In this age of dog-bearing satellites, National Educational Television viewers will be interested to learn of the possibilities of trips by human beings into outer space.  Produced by KUHT, Houston in co-operation with the US Armed Forces, “Doctors in Space” has been cleared by the Department of Defense."