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Teachers have the opportunity to select among several films for their students to view when visiting the Museum.  This special "Teacher's Choice" opportunity is available Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.  Please, be sure to let the Museum know of your choice prior to your school group visiting.  For more information, please contact the Museum by calling  276-634-4185 or e-mail us at discover@vmnh.virginia.gov .  For information about our general admission screenings, please click here.

Wild New World: Land of the Mammoth
Duration: 35 minutes

Step back 14,000 years to a time when woolly mammoths and short-faced bears roamed North America alongside caribou, muskoxen and humans. This movie brings the past to life using advanced digital effects and the latest scientific research.

A BBC/Discovery Channel co-production.

Wild Secrets - Galapagos: Evolution at the Speed of Life
Duration: 26 minutes

The effect of El Nino weather patterns on wildlife has been documented worldwide for years, but scientists are now uncovering some startling new facts. On the Galapagos Islands lack of food has caused a colony of marine iguanas to physically shrink. In the hunt for food, these iguanas are forced to venture ashore, and some are beginning to breed with their land-based cousins. View a video clip (Windows Media) An NHK Production.

Wild Secrets - Evolution of the Super Snail
Duration: 30 minutes

Beneath the ocean depths along Australia's east coast live large numbers of small squids and octopuses that protect themselves by rapidly changing colors, body shape, emitting lights or multiplying. Such versatile abilities are the result of squid adapting to different environments over a long period of time, including these ancient molluscs turning into octopuses. An astonishing glimpse into the enigma of evolution.

View a video clip (Windows Media)

An NHK Production.

Space - Are We Alone?
Duration: 30 minutes

Sam Neill travels the cosmos in search of alien life. We seek out planets around distant stars, and dive into the oceans of other worlds—all in search of the answer to the ultimate question: is there anybody out there?

A BBC/TLC co-production.

Walking with Prehistoric Beasts - Sabre Tooth
Duration: 30 minutes

Paraguay, one million years ago. The vast, grassy plains of South America are ruled by the mightiest sabre-tooth yet: Smilodon, a devastating hunter that can tear the throat out of even the largest herbivore. Except, that is, for the Doedicurus. A giant relative of the armadillo, the Doedicurus is the most heavily armored mammal ever. Yet it can be a fragile existence even for him.

View a video clip (Windows Media)

A BBC/Discovery Channel/TV & BS Asahi/ ProSieben co-production.

The Blue Planet - Seas of Life - Ocean World
Duration: 50 minutes

Oceans support an enormous range of life, from the largest whales to the smallest plankton, from hordes of seabirds to lonely deep-sea fish, all governed by a complex system of biological and physical forces. This episode demonstrates the sheer scale, power and complexity of our Blue Planet.  

View a video clip (Windows Media)

A BBC/Discovery Channel co-production.

Walking with Dinosaurs - A Time of Titans
Duration: 30 minutes

This episode is set 152 million years ago and follows the life of a new-born Diplodocus female who survives an attack by the vicious Allosaurus, to reach her mature weight of 25 tons, and mate for the first time, completing her cycle of life.  Virginia Science Standards of Learning: K.6; K.9; 1.5; 1.7; 2.5; 2.7; 3.4; 3.5; 3.10; 5.7; LS.9; LS.14; BIO.8

A BBC/Discovery/TV Asahi co-production in association with ProSieben Media and France 3.

Weird Nature - Devious Defenses
Duration: 30 minutes

Animals have astonishing natural defenses: camouflage, armor, smoke screens and even noxious sprays. Dressing crabs adorn themselves with treasures from the sea floor for camouflage. Fulmar chicks project vomit so foul it destroys the feather waterproofing of its predators. Hagfish smother their prey in a suffocating slime.  Virginia Science Standards of Learning: 1.5; 3.4; LS.8; LS.9

View a video clip (Windows Media)

A John Downer production for BBC and Discovery Channel.

Nature Scopers - Amazing! The Transformation of Caterpillars
Duration: 15 minutes

Nature Scopers is a science series for very young audiences. The animated hosts encourage children to explore nature through hi-def nature footage, often using extreme high-magnification or slow-motion techniques. In this episode, we look at different species of butterflies and discover their amazing life cycle.  Virginia Science Standards of Learning:  K.6; K.8; 1.5; 1.7; 2.4; 3.4

An NHK Production

Nature Scopers - I see! Plants’ Medical Checkup
Duration: 15 minutes

Nature Scopers is a science series for very young audiences. The animated hosts encourage children to explore nature through hi-def nature footage, often using extreme high-magnification or slow-motion techniques. Here, we check on how the seeds we planted in episode 2 are developing and compare their roots and stems to those of other plants.  Virginia Science Standards of Learning:  K.6; K.8; 1.4; 1.7; 2.4; 2.8

An NHK Production