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The Story of Seeds

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Copies: 6

The world's seeds are in crisis.

Of 12,000 plant species used for human food, only about 150 are being grown for sale, only eight grains are traded throughout the world, and half of our calories come from just three: rice, wheat, and maize.

This means that our food diversity is diminishing at a shocking rate. More than on in five plants on earth are threatened with extinction. Our lives depend on all kinds of seeds, but they are facing many threats: war-torn countries, damaged habitats, and climate change, to name a few.

Author:

Nancy F. Castaldo

Lexile:

1110L

Cinco de Mayo (2004)

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Each year on the 5th of May, Cinco de Mayo celebrations are held in cities throughout the United States. And yet, few people outside of Mexico are fully aware of the holiday's true significance.

Grade Level:

Primary

Elementary

Middle

High

Length:

00:50

Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad

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From one of the most troubled and dramatic periods in American history comes a story of courage and true love that transcends the ages. Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad chronicles the dangerous flight of four determined slaves from a cotton plantation in America to the "Promised Land" in Canada. It is the story of heroic fugitives, bold conductors, and a candle in the window; the story of those who risked their lives by taking charge of their destiny, all for the chance to be free.

Director:

Don McBrearty

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

01:35

Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad

The Mexican Celebration of The Days of the Dead: Food for the Ancestors (1999)

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Each fall, Mexicans celebrate a weeklong holiday called Days of the Dead. The festival honors the memories of loved ones who have died. No celebration describes the Mexican culture as this one: sad, joyful, and satirical all at the same time. FOOD FOR THE ANCESTORS explores this fabulous festival as it is done in the culturally rich state of Puebla.

Grade Level:

Primary

Elementary

Middle

High

Length:

01:00

The Mexican Celebration of The Days of the Dead: Food for the Ancestors

The Good Lie

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Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon joins an incredible ensemble cast of Sudanese actors in the film critics are calling "a deeply touching story about survival, perseverance and hope."

Director:

Philippe Falardeau

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

01:50

Tour du monde en 80 jours (French)

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This travel adventure novel by Jules Verne was published serially in 1872 and in book form in 1873 The lively and amusing narrative recounts the journey pursued by a sedentary London gentleman named Phileas Fogg and his valet, Passepartout, to win a wager with Fogg's fellow club members. Pursued by Fix, a private detective who believes Fogg to be a bank robber, the duo cross three continents and two oceans on trains, steamers, an elephant, and a sail-sledge.

Pythagoras and the Ratios

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Pythagoras and his cousins want to win a music contest, but first they must figure out how to play their instruments in tune, something that's never been done before.

While trying to fix the problem, Pythagoras makes an important discovery--notes that sound pleasant together have a certain mathematical relationship. When Pythagoras applies this ratio to his cousins' pipes and lyres, the result is music to the ears.

Very Improbable Story, A

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Ethan wakes up one morning to find a very strange cat stuck on his head. The cat, Odds, refuses to budge until Ethan wins a game of probability. Without looking, Ethan must pick out a dime from his coin collection or two matching socks from his dresser, or do something else improbable. If he doesn't, Odds is there to stay, and Ethan has a 100% chance of missing his big soccer game.

Postcards from Washington, D.C.

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Join Anna in a travel adventure to the capital of the United States - Washington, DC. Points of interest are described through cheery postcards to friends and family. Historical monuments, famous sights and fascinating facts about destinations are included to learn more about the location.

Champion: The Story of Muhammad Ali

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Muhammad Ali faced the obstacles in his life the way he faced his opponents in the ring, brashly and with all the force at his command. In his private life, he was also deeply spiritual, committed to standing up against social injustice, and steadfast in his beliefs.

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Cinco de Mayo (2004)

The Mexican Celebration of The Days of the Dead: Food for the Ancestors (1999)

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