Learn about the history and traditions of some the most celebrated holidays in these instructive videos.

We celebrate many holidays but have you ever wondered how the tradition began? Find out through a collection of short, fun and informative videos about Christmas, Columbus Day, Halloween, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, President's Day, Ramadan, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day.

This video [3:38] segment from American Masters' James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket illustrates the activist's intolerance for violence or racial hatred expressed by anyone, black or white. In the mid-1960s, Baldwin's principles put him in conflict with Eldridge Cleaver and a new black militant faction, who advocated a reciprocal response to the violence they often experienced. Baldwin struggled with the paradox of acknowledging the violent conditions facing many black Americans and his advocacy for the brotherhood of man. Baldwin could never truly join the black militants as he strongly believed that "the world is held together by the love and the passion of a very few people." Teaching materials are included.

In this Evolution Web feature, test your skills at judging who's who on the tree of life while you learn about the tools and methods of cladistics.

These images from the Smithsonian Institution depict Nancy Knowlton's work with snapping shrimp in Panama. Knowlton found that the closing of the isthmus -- dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean -- resulted in new species of shrimp.

These images from the Smithsonian Institution depict Nancy Knowlton's work with snapping shrimp in Panama. Knowlton found that the closing of the isthmus -- dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean -- resulted in new species of shrimp.

Alma contributes to her neighborhood in big ways! In creating a unique community mural, she reflects on her interests and her neighborhood. In this activity, students add to their school community by creating murals with bulletin board paper and art supplies. They will practice self-expression and social awareness as they showcase their interests, identity, or imagination.

ALMA'S WAY follows 6-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl who lives in the Bronx with her family among a diverse group of close-knit friends and community members. In every episode, It aims to model self-awareness, self-advocacy, social awareness, cultural competency and responsible decision-making -- encouraging kids to generate and value their own ideas and questions. It celebrates and explores the thinking process -- Alma's "way" is to think things through. As she shares her observations and feelings and works through challenges, she speaks directly to young viewers, offering them a window into her everyday life. This Collection includes: Video (10), Media Gallery (3), Webpage (2) for Grades PreK-K, K-2 , Resources in Spanish (3).

As Alma explores, she appreciates all the great things about her neighborhood. How can we make observations and celebrate our communities? Students will use a printable Alma's Way My Neighborhood Notebook to observe the people, places, things, and cultures that make their communities special.

As Alma learns about families, friendships, and communities, she discovers that sometimes challenges and conflicts arise. In those moments, Alma stops and "thinks through" the situation. Then, she knows what to do! Support critical thinking and problem-solving skills with this group discussion, video clips, and Alma's Way visual cards. Practice Alma's, "think through" strategy. This skill can be used throughout the school year in many different situations!

Students are asked to explain what needs to be considered if alternative energy sources are to be used. [0:32]

This video segment from the Secret of Life School Video: "Genetic Medicine: Tinkering with Our Genes" explores the potential for gene therapy to cure diseases like Alzheimer's.

This video segment from the Secret of Life School Video: "Genetic Medicine: Tinkering with Our Genes" explores the potential for gene therapy to cure diseases like Alzheimer's.

Through two primary source activities and a short video, students will learn about Earhart's passion for flying and determination to succeed as a female aviator.

Enhance your health, science, and environmental studies curriculum with this video which features a landfill in South Jersey and examines the state of food waste in America today. Then, use the accompanying lesson plan, "Making Mountains Out of Landfills: Telling a Visual Story of Waste," to prepare students to visually track and document different kinds of trash in their community. English and Spanish versions with closed captions. [5:26]

This annotated slideshow adapted from KET's Electronic Field Trip to the Forest illustrates how blight decimated the American chestnut tree and the methods scientists use to identify and pollinate the remaining trees to create blight-resistant trees.

President Franklin Roosevelt's second inaugural address delivered in 1937. In this speech FDR calls for the nation to accept and prepare to move forward.

Short AMERICAN EXPERIENCE video tells the story of how environmentalists, Alaska Native peoples, and engineers concerned about the effects of permafrost challenged plans for the Alaska oil pipeline. [5:19]

Find out why, decades after the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' exposed the unintended consequences of popular pesticides like DDT, some critics are connecting a renewed rise in malaria around the globe to Carson's controversial book, in this digital video from AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and Retro Report. While DDT was effective in killing insects, Carson warned against its widespread use, arguing that too little was known about its possible threat to human and animal health. Carson's work raised awareness about the issue, and prompted further research that ultimately led many countries to ban DDT for both agricultural uses and insect-borne disease control. As the fight against malaria continues in certain parts of the world, especially where mosquitoes have evolved an immunity to DDT, researchers are hoping to develop a multipronged strategy to fight the disease. [12:30]

This video segment adapted from American Experience: "Rachel Carson's Silent Spring" tells the story of how biologist Rachel Carson was driven to write Silent Spring, a book that questioned the safety of pesticide use in the United States. The most famous pesticide at the time was DDT, a chemical that had saved millions of lives in World War II from insect-borne disease and was thought to be safe. But Carson found evidence that DDT was poisoning birds and represented a real threat to humans as well. The video states that Carson was not against the use of chemicals altogether; rather, she thought the chemical industry was pushing their overuse for its economic gain, at the expense of health and the environment. Includes background essay and discussion questions. [4:48]