Home Economics, Industrial Arts & Vo Tech
America's Highways
Number: VC1383 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
When a headlight manufacturer and a motorcar mogul joined forces to build America's first
highway in 1912, their goal was simple: to promote the use of private automobiles. For a fastgrowing, far-flung, car-crazy nation, that simple rock highway was the beginning of a revolution
and the country would never be the same. This video uses rare photographs, films and computer
re-creations to tell the whole story of American's 42,000-mile-long Interstate Highway System.
From the days of paving rocks to modern day "Bott's Dots," experts explain the ideas and
innovations that have gone into America's roads. Former officials recall the strange origins of
Eisenhower's "national defense highways" system, which was completed in 1984. Historians
explore how this sprawling, $125 billion lifeline has transformed America.
Architecture and Structural Engineering & Automotive Design
Number: VC814 Grade Level: J/H Length: 15 min. each part
Architecture and Structural Engineering:
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry teams up with Escalante to explain the relevance of
math to architecture. They meet the people who designed the Viper, a roller coaster ride at Six
Flags Magic Mountain. Ysreal Seinuk explains why the skyline of American cities are
monuments to math.
Automotive:
Indy 500 champion Danny Sullivan joins Escalante to demonstrate the math concept of velocity.
Then explore the world of auto design and engineering at General Motors.
Bank on It
Number: VC709 Grade Level: J/H Length: 14 min.
This video describes the workings of the American banking system and how it can help fulfill the
dreams, ambitions, needs, and responsibilities of young bank customers.
Basic Landscaping: Planning and Planting
Number: VC1352 Grade Level: J/H Length: 45 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Designing a landscape plan 2) Preparing new beds 3)
Planting bare-root shrubs 4) Planting balled and burlapped trees 5) Planting balled and burlapped
shrubs 6) Planting container shrubs 7) Mulching new beds
Brooklyn Bridge
Number: VC1384 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
No one had ever used steel for construction. No one had ever used cables of metal. No one had
ever build a suspension bridge so long. Until one man dared to try. In 19th-century New York,
where buildings were no more than five stories tall and transportation meant horse and buggy,
engineer John Roebling's soaring and majestic Brooklyn Bridge was nothing short of a
technological miracle. This video presents the complete story of the "eighth wonder of the
world," from the sinking of its immense foundations in the turbulent East River to the gala
centennial celebration. Experts explore Roebling's battles against the elements, corrupt
politicians, and scientists who claim the massive bridge would collapse in the first strong wind.
Moving firsthand accounts tell of the many trials and disasters that plagued Roebling's
masterpiece and ultimately cost him his life.
Building a New Home: Tape 1
Number: VC1353 Grade Level: J/H Length: 100 min.
This video follows the construction of a typical mid-priced home. Emphasis is on budgeting and
selecting cost-effective building materials.
Building a New Home: Tape 2
Number: VC1354 Grade Level: J/H Length: 100 min.
This video follows the construction of a typical mid-priced home. Emphasis is on budgeting and
selecting cost-effective building materials.
Cartography & Fashion
Number: VC815 Grade Level: J/H Length: 15 min. each part
Cartography:
Students learn the major math applications cartographers use, such as scale, ratios, points, and
coordinates, and computer applications in cartography.
Fashion:
Take your class on a tour of the fashion industry - from designers' drafting tables, to
manufacturing, buying and merchandising - to demonstrate how math is used.
Ceiling Framing
Number: VC1470 Grade Level: J/H length: 9 min.
Residential Carpentry Series:
a step-by-step "how-to" series of videos that will show your students how to build. Whether
working with floor, wall, ceiling or roof framing, viewers will get a first hand look at
construction procedures, safety issues and proper tools. A clear explanation of each step provides
in-depth information while viewers watch actual carpenters do the work.
Ceilings
Number: VC1355 Grade Level: J/H Length: 58 min.
Fix cracks, patch holes, and use joint compound to renovate a ceiling. Learn how to cover a
damaged ceiling with drywall, construct wood beams, install a suspended ceiling. Information is
also given about ceiling obstructions.
Contracting a Home: Vol. 1
Number: VC1356 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Planning and design 2) Digging, pouring and insulation
the foundation 3) Framing the floor and walls 4) Framing the roof 5) Heating rough-in 6)
Plumbing rough-in 7)Electrical rough-in
Contracting a Home: Vol. 2
Number: VC1357 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Installing windows and doors 2) Roofing 3) Installing
siding 4) Insulating and installing drywall 5) Finish carpentry 6) Installing ceramic tile 7)
Installing cabinets 8) Staining and painting 9) Installing flooring 10) Trim-outs 11) Installing
hardware
Decks: Layout and Construction
Number: VC1358 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Installing ledger board 2) Laying out, digging and pouring
concrete footings 3) Setting deck posts 4) Installing beams and joists 5) Installing deck boards
and stairs 6) Building railings
Domed Stadiums
Number: VC1385 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
The dome was the first form of shelter built by primitive man. Now it has reemerged in one of
the most advanced engineering constructs ever conceived: The domed sports stadium. Huston's
groundbreaking Astrodome was the "eighth wonder of the world." its problems rivaled its
massive size. While New Orleans' Superdome and Seattle's Kingdome were improvements, one
key problem remained: fans enjoyed watching the games outdoors. With ingenuity and
technology, engineers attempted to create the best of both worlds with the Toronto Skydome.
More than just a stadium, the Skydome incorporates a hotel and other features into a state-of-theart entertainment complex, highlighted by its astonishing pushbutton retractable roof. Here is the
fascinating history of these stupendous structures, of the ingenuity and hardships behind their
creation, and the awe they inspire.
Drywall: Installation & Finish
Number: VC1359 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Hanging drywall on ceilings 2) Hanging drywall on walls
3) Special hanging situations 4) Installing cornerbead and taping the joints 5) Applying ceiling
textures 6) Sanding 7) Repairing drywall
The Eiffel Tower
Number: VC1386 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
It is called the Tower of Towers, symbol not only of a city and a nation, but of the self-assurance
and promise of an entire age. Yet when it was built, just over a century ago, the Eiffel Tower
provoked ire and outrage. Here is the fascinating and surprising story of this engineering marvel
and the towering genius who built it, Gustave Eiffel. It's a monumental tale of a graceful steel
sculpture almost 1,000 feet tall, and of the technological challenges and breakthroughs its
construction entailed. From the immense inclined buttresses at its base to Eiffel's personal
apartment and aerodynamics laboratory at its pinnacle, it's an unforgettable historical tour of the
world's most famous and fabled tower.
Empire State Building
Number: VC1387 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
The Empire State Building rose to become the world's tallest man-made structure at a time when
dreams were in short supply. Planned during the 1920's, construction was almost grounded by
the Depression until the "Cathedral of Dreams' came to symbolize the indomitable American
spirit. "Two stories-a-day!" became the mission. Up went the rivets, the steel, and the fearless
men. In just two years the miracle of engineering was finished, glorifying a nation's belief in
itself. Here is the colorful history of this beloved building, including the innovation and
mythology behind its construction, and the sentiment it still evokes today.
Fences & Gates: Planning & Construction
Number: VC1360 Grade Level: J/H Length: 45 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Planning and design 2) Laying out the fence 3) Digging
post holes 4) Setting wood posts 5) Installing stringers and rails 6) Finish a wood fence 7)
Installing a chain-link fence
Finishing a Basement: Planning & Construction
Number: VC1361 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Planning and design 2) Framing 3) Roughing-in the
mechanical systems 4) Installing insulation and drywall 5) Finish carpentry 6) Installing ceramic
tile 7) Installing flooring 8) Trim-outs and hardware
Floor Framing
Number: VC1471 Grade Level: J/H Length: 10 min.
Residential Carpentry Series:
a step-by-step "how-to" series of videos that will show your students how to build. Whether
working with floor, wall, ceiling or roof framing, viewers will get a first hand look at
construction procedures, safety issues and proper tools. A clear explanation of each step provides
in-depth information while viewers watch actual carpenters do the work.
Flower Gardening: Preparing & Planting
Number: VC1362 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Preparing your garden - layout, fertilizing and selecting
flowers 2) Starting flowers indoors 3) Planting perennials and annuals 4) Preparing rose beds 5)
Planting roses 6) Maintaining your garden 7) Planting bulbs 8) Preparing roses for winter.
Framing: Layout and Construction
Number: VC1363 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Framing the floor system 2) Framing and sheathing walls
3) Framing new openings in old walls 4) Installing rood trusses 5) Hand-framing roofs 6) Special
framing situations
The Golden Gate Bridge
Number: VC1388 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
The golden Gate Bridge is one of the foremost man-made tourist attractions in the United States.
But at one time, critics said it could never be built. From the start, the project looked impossible.
The span of the bay was too wide. The shore was too unstable, the tides too turbulent. Storms
battered workers, fog shrouded construction. Yet engineer Joseph B. Strauss' plans proved to be
a masterpiece of design and function. In four years the longest, highest, most spectacular
suspension bridge on Earth opened to the public, and became one of the greatest symbols of
American ingenuity.
Home Improvement: Basic Carpentry
Number: VC690 Grade Level: J/H Length: 44 min.
This video covers: using measuring tools, combination square, level, drill, sander, metal
fasteners, using power tools, framing a wall, paneling at irregular corners, using an air
compressor and accessories.
Home Improvement: Building Cabinets
Number: VC689 Grade Level: J/H Length: 35 min.
This video covers: tools and materials, design and plans, cutting the pieces, building cabinet
shell, building face frame, attaching face frame, building doors, hanging doors, tips on cabinet
installation.
Home Improvement: Drywall
Number: VC693 Grade Level: J/H Length: 30 min.
This video covers: tools and materials, types and sizes of drywall, applying drywall to ceilings
and walls, measuring and cutting, taping and mudding seams, covering nailheads, sanding and
finishing, money and time saving tips.
Home Improvement: Easy Woodworking Projects
Number: VC695 Grade Level: J/H Length: 30 min.
Projects shown in this video include: butcherblock cutting board, towel rack, bandsaw box,
cassette rack, and turning bowls.
Home Improvement: Electrical
Number: VC692 Grade Level: J/H Length: 45 min.
This video covers new electrical installation: tools, materials and safety, planning electrical
boxes, running the wire, connecting switches, outlets, fixtures, wiring the circuit breakers, adding
an outlet on an existing wall. Also shown are repairs of old switches, light fixtures, and lamp
socket.
Home Improvement: Garages
Number: VC694 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
This video covers: wall framing, roof framing, sheathing, installation of windows, doors, shingle
the roof, install siding, finish trim, and install garage door openers.
Home Improvement: Plumbing
Number: VC688 Grade Level: J/H Length: 52 min.
This video covers: New installation: tools and materials, plumbing overview and plan, installing
new toilet, waste and vent pipes, copper supply pipes, sink, tub, shower, and washer/dryer - the
replacement of existing faucet, toilet and shower head unclogging drains, caulking around
bathtubs, and repairing leaky faucets.
Home Improvement: Walls
Number: VC691 Grade Level: J/H Length: 30 min.
This video covers removing an existing wall: bracing and support, removing existing wall
covering, cutting an opening, framing, finishing. Building a wall: planning, laying out the wall,
assembling studs, plates and trimmers, raising, leveling and bracing.
Home of the Future
Number: VC1364 Grade Level: J/H Length: 126 min.
Look at a home built with the most advanced technology available to meet the real needs of a
family in the future. It shows probable home construction techniques and materials and tends in
decoration and design.
House With Character: Tape 1
Number: VC1365 Grade Level: J/H Length: 120 min.
What gives a home character? Follow the construction of a high-end home from start to finish.
Emphasis is placed on design, products, and rich architectural details.
House With Character: Tape 2
Number: VC1366 Grade Level: J/H Length: 120 min.
What gives a home character? Follow the construction of a high-end home from start to finish.
Emphasis is placed on design, products, and rich architectural details.
Lawn Care: Planting and Maintaining
Number: VC1367 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in the video include:
Existing lawns: 1) Evaluating your existing lawn 2) Fertilizing 3) Mowing and watering 4)
Repairing trouble spots 5) Aerating
New lawns: 6) Planning your new lawn 7) Tilling and finishing grade 8) Seeding 9) Sodding 10)
Maintaining
Log Cabin: Assembling and Finishing
Number: VC1368 Grade Level: J/H Length: 140 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Assembling log shell 2) Staining logs & framing floors 3)
Windows, wiring & doors 4) Chinking logs & framing floors 5) Framing slip-jointed walls 6)
Mechanicals & roof tiles 7) Knotty pine paneling & tile beds 8) Installing "log-style" sauna 9)
Setting tile & hanging cabinets 10) Installing log trim and fixtures 11) Interior chinking &
kitchen finishes 12) Log maintenance & finishes
Managing Home Construction: Tape 1
Number: VC1369 Grade level: J/H Length: 95 min.
This video shows the entire process for self-contracting a home. Steps include selecting the plan;
arranging financing; choosing products; maintaining orderly schedule flow; and scheduling
inspections. It also shows how to supervise subcontractors through phases of mechanical rough
ins; exterior finishes; drywall; millwork; interior trim outs and final inspections.
Managing Home Construction: Tape 2
Number: VC1370 Grade level: J/H Length: 95 min.
This video shows the entire process for self-contracting a home. Steps include selecting the plan;
arranging financing; choosing products; maintaining orderly schedule flow; and scheduling
inspections. It also shows how to supervise subcontractors through phases of mechanical rough
ins; exterior finishes; drywall; millwork; interior trim outs and final inspections.
Panama Canal
Number: VC1390 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
Part of Teddy Roosevelet's dream of making America a global power was realized through the
construction of the Panama Canal. The French began construction in 1880 but nine years and
20,000 lives later they realized their plans were flawed and abandoned the project. Enter the
bully Yanks! First they controlled the diseases that had claimed so many construction worker's
lives. Then they developed an innovative design for a series of locks. Finally, their dogged
determination paid off when they united the oceans on January 7, 1914. Here is the exciting
history of this formidable wonder, including the ingenuity and enterprise behind its construction,
and the admiration it still merits to this day.
Patio Furniture
Number: VC1371 Grade Level: J/H Length: 30 min.
Learn how to build 2 Adirondack chairs, a table, and a foot stool
Patios and Walkways
Number: VC1372 Grade Level: J/H Length: 45 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Planning and designing paver projects 2) Laying out the
site 3) Excavating and compacting the base 4) Leveling the bedding sand 5) Laying the pavers
and installing the edging 6) Leveling and finishing the pavers 7) Making forms for poured
concrete 8) Pouring concrete
Recreational Decks: Planning & Installation
Number: VC1373 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
This video helps you create a stylish deck with a unique pattern. It shows a practical U-shaped
staircase with landing, built in benches and planters, and custom railings and privacy screens.
Install a ledger board. Lay out, dig and pour concrete footings. Set desk posts. Install beams and
joists. Install decking, stairs, and railings.
Residential Carpentry Series:
a step-by-step "how-to" series of videos that will show your students how to build. Whether
working with floor, wall, ceiling or roof framing, viewers will get a first hand look at
construction procedures, safety issues and proper tools. A clear explanation of each step provides
in-depth information while viewers watch actual carpenters do the work.
Ceiling Framing
Number: VC1470 Grade Level: J/H length: 9 min.
Floor Framing
Number: VC1471 Grade Level: J/H Length: 10 min.
Roof Framing
Number: VC1472 Grade Level: J/H Length: 10 min.
Wall Framing
Number: VC1473 Grade Level: J/H Length: 13 min.
Retaining Walls: Layout and Installation
Number: VC1374 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Creating a tree ring 2) Installing simple terraced walls 3)
Building advanced projects
Rollercoasters: The Search for the Ultimate Thrill Ride
Number: VC1389 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
This video documents the evolution of rollercoasters from their beginnings in Russia to the ones
we have today.
Roof Framing
Number: VC1472 Grade Level: J/H Length: 10 min.
Residential Carpentry Series:
a step-by-step "how-to" series of videos that will show your students how to build. Whether
working with floor, wall, ceiling or roof framing, viewers will get a first hand look at
construction procedures, safety issues and proper tools. A clear explanation of each step provides
in-depth information while viewers watch actual carpenters do the work.
Roofing: Preparation & Installation
Number: VC1375 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Tearing off old roofing and preparing for new roofing 2)
laying out and installing shingles 3) Shingling around chimneys, valleys, ridges and plumbing
vents 4) Back shingling 5) Installing attic and soffit vents 6) "Roofing-over" 7) Flashing against
a sidewall
Safety Factor, The
Number: VC148A and B Grade Level: J/H Length: 32 min.
Workers have a personal responsibility to consider their safety and the safety of others. Whether
working with power tools, electrical equipment, or a kitchen knife, principles of safety should be
followed. Training for proper use of equipment and safety gear are essential. This video shows
the many factors involved in developing safety as an attitude and a habit in the work place.
Siding
Number: VC1376 Grade Level: J/H Length: 44 min.
Tear off old siding and repair/replace existing sheathing. Estimate materials requirements. Apply
house wrap for weatherization. Put on flashing. Installation of siding. Caulk the finished job.
Safely deal with heights.
Television: Window to the World
Number: VC1468 Grade Level: J/H length: 50 min.
The theme of the 1939 World's Fair was the "World of Tomorrow." It was there the NBC
announced the advent of scheduled, broadcast television. TV ultimately transformed
entertainment and revolutionized the way we see the world. In the beginning, people were slow
to accept it. This video chronicles the incredible story of television, from the vision of Philo
Farnsworth, a Utah farmboy who developed the first working system in 1925, to the latest
technological breakthroughs that are transforming the medium. Interview with media moguls and
TV personalities, including Walter Cronkite, provide an insider's look at the huge industry TV
has become. Broadcast pioneers recall the patent battles and competing systems that defined the
early years of television.
Towers: The Space Needle to the Stratosphere
Number: VC1391 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
They are the tallest, most innovative, most thrilling structures on earth. From the Space Needle in
Seattle to the recently constructed Stratosphere in Las Vegas, each of history's great towers
shattered the architectural boundaries of its day. indeed, Toronto's astonishing CN Tower, six
times as tall as the Statue of Liberty, is still the earth's tallest building, 20 years after its
construction. In this fascinating program, architects and historians tell the behind-the-scenes
stories of the guest to push buildings higher and higher into the heavens. Rare film footage offers
a dizzying look at these towers' death-defying construction. A special camera provides a front
tow seat onboard the Stratosphere's incredible 900-foot-high roller coaster.
Trees & shrubs: Planting and Maintaining
Number: VC1377 Grade Level: J/H Length:60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Choosing plants 2) Laying out beds 3) Planting 4) Pruning
trees 5) Pruning shrubs 6) Transplanting shrubs
Tunnels
Number: VC1392 Grade Level: J/H Length: 50 min.
An engineering feat first attempted in Babylonian times, tunnels are an integral part of twentieth
century society. Yet they remain among the most dangerous projects ever undertaken. Here are
the stories of the world's great tunnels, of the genius of men and the marvels of machinery. From
Brunel and Greathead's ingenious shield which allowed them to borrow under the Thames, to
Clifford Holland, who overcame nature with technology to excavate his 8,463 foot path below
the Hudson, few of the great architects lived to see their dreams completed. Perishing in greater
numbers were 'sandhogs,' workers who labored beneath unforgiving waters to forge these
indispensable subterranean arteries. Finally, witness the construction of New York's new water
tunnel, inching forward even as the death toll climbs.
Underground Sprinklers: Planning & Installation
Number: VC1378 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Mapping your property 2) Designing the system 3)
Tapping into the water supply 4) Installing PVC pipe 5) Installing sprinkler heads 6) Using
polyethylene pipe 7) Installing the controller 8) Blowing out the system
Using Simple Machines
Number: VC474 Grade Level: P/I Length: 14 min.
Introduce youngsters to basic concepts of Mechanical physics with this graphic, easy-tounderstand presentation. This film illustrates various kinds of simple machines (levers, pulleys,
inclined planes), describes their functions, and shows their practical uses in the context of daily
life.
Vegetable Gardening: Planting and Harvesting
Number: VC1379 Grade Level: J/H Length: 60 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Preparing your garden: Layout, soil testing and fertilizing
2) Planting cool-season vegetables 3) Starting seeds indoors 4) Planting warm-season vegetable
5) Harvesting first vegetables 6) Fertilizing and more harvesting 7) Composting and final
harvesting 8) Getting ready for winter
Wall Framing
Number: VC1473 Grade Level: J/H Length: 13 min.
Residential Carpentry Series:
a step-by-step "how-to" series of videos that will show your students how to build. Whether
working with floor, wall, ceiling or roof framing, viewers will get a first hand look at
construction procedures, safety issues and proper tools. A clear explanation of each step provides
in-depth information while viewers watch actual carpenters do the work.
Water Gardens: Planning & Installation
Number: VC1380 Grade Level: J/H Length: 35 min.
Learn how to install a 1,000 gallon pond with waterfall; excavating and installing a flexible or
ridged liner. Install edge stones, pump, and filter. Treat the water, plant aquatic plants, and
release/care for fish. It will give you maintenance and winterizing ideas.
Weatherization & Insulation
Number: VC1381 Grade Level: J/H Length: 45 min.
Steps covered in this video include: Caulk, weatherstrip, install pulley seals, threshold, and
fireplace plug. Find and seal bypasses. Attic, sidewall, and rim joist insulation will be discussed.
Windows & Doors: Installation & Repairs
Number: VC1382 Grade Level: J/H Length: 45 min.
Steps covered in this video include: 1) Installing windows in new construction 2) Installing a
new window in an existing wall 3) Installing new sashes and jamb liners in an existing frame 4)
Installing French, entrance and sliding glass doors 5) Installing door hardware 6) Installing
interior passage, bi-fold and pocket doors.