Ancient Skies

My first course in physics was my high school Project Physics corse. Project Physics was Harvard's post-Sputnik physics curriculum. The more prominent post-Sputnik physics curriculum was developed by the Physical Science Study Committee (PSSC). 

PSSC was a mathematically rigorous curriculum intended to foster a generation of scientists and engineers capable of competing with the Soviet Union's scientists and engineers. Project Physics took more of a humanities-based approach, steeped in history and personalities.

Through a bit of trickery that I shouldn't have been able to get away with, I managed to take Project Physics in 11th grade and PSSC Physics (at another campus) in 12th grade. (Physics had sunk its hooks into me early.)

I loved both courses, but preferred Project Physics. As I watched Ancient Skies, I was reminded of my fascination with the history of science that was a feature of Project Physics. And my Close Personal Friend® Phil Plait is featured throughout the series. Phil was a classmate at The University of Michigan (a proud employee of Parcheesi's Pizza while I worked at Wazoo Records), and a fellow traveler in the James Randi Educational Foundation's Amazing Meetings and the Amazing Adventure in the Galápagos.

ANCIENT SKIES at TPT

With breath-taking CGI, beautiful landscape footage and some of the world's most important astronomical artifacts, Ancient Skies looks at the cosmos through the eyes of our ancestors, and our changing views of the cosmos throughout history.

The American Revolution

In 1990, Ken Burns made a name for himself with his series, The Civil War. Since then, he has created many celebrated historical documentaries. In 2025, he (and his team) released The American Revolution.

I appreciate that the Civil War gets more attention than the Revolutionary War. But the Revolutionary War seemed a bit too marginalized in my own recollection of US History coursework. And too simplistic in my memory. So I was grateful to see this 12-hour documentation produced by Team Burns.

So of course, I have questions. As each episode runs well over 100 minutes, I have about 100 questions for each episode. This might seem like a heavy load for students watching each episode, but it is not. 

Each question requires a response that takes very few seconds to complete. Students can relax and listen for most of the screening time, but the questions will help maintain their focus. Most quickly become adept at pre-reading the next question up, and are ready to pounce when the answer comes up.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Complete at TPT

Thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence, and establish a new form of government that would inspire democratic movements at home and around the globe. What begins as a political clash between colonists and the British government grows into a bloody struggle that will engage more than two dozen nations and forever change the world.