Films and Study Guides

Ocean Plastic - Episode 1 - Paradise Polluted (16 Min)

Plastic is everywhere... even in the paradise of the Hawaiian Islands. It is adversely impacting birds and wildlife in one of the most remote places on earth, Midway Atoll, isolated in the Pacific. Join Nico and the "Wild Kids" in their efforts to understand the impacts and to try and educate everyone to "Turn off the tap!" Meet the world's oldest banded wild bird, "Wisdom"... who may have life lessons to share with all of us. (First film in a three-part series!)

Ocean Plastic - Episode 2 - Seeking Solutions: (15:14 Min)

So what are ways forward out of this plastic mess that we’ve created? In California schools, students perform weekly trash audits, and learn how much waste they produce and what to do with it all. Scientists in London look at mycelium (fungi) as possible decomposers of plastic! And activist/entrepreneurs look to keep plastic and other trash from entering the oceans in the first place. But the real answer is to “turn off the tap”… coming next in “Making Waves”.

Ocean Plastic - Episode 3 - Making Waves (21:27 Min)

Join a group of pro-active high school students as they learn how to get their concerns about global plastics and their voices heard by policy makers and company CEOs. Learn about new grocery and retail stores that provide their products in bulk, and encourage consumers to come in with their own reusable containers to refill as needed, helping to eliminate the need for wasteful single-use packaging. There are things we all -each and every one of us- can do to make a real difference, from small lifestyle changes, to learning how to identify and address policy makers… and steps that really make a positive improvement in protecting our planet.

Plastic History- Animation (2:42 Min)

This short animated film looks at the history, business, and politics of plastic, and leaves us with the thought that any change that has ever happened in the world has started with a small group of motivated individuals. Could the time for change be right now?

To Midway And Beyond - Filming Pacific Plastic - Behind the Scenes (4 Min)

A "Behind the Scenes" look at the production and crew filming, "Paradise Polluted - Pacific Plastic" (from SchoolyardFilms.org) on Midway Atoll in the Pacific. Join Producers, Kate Raisz, Dragana Connaughton, and Tom Fitz for their inside take on their experience from Midway Atoll with the millions of amazing birds and of the increasing dangers of global plastics impacting these remote places... and effecting all of us.

Finding Palemahan (13:36 Min)

Finding Palemahan focuses on the story of Tangkas Village, a community in Bali, Indonesia found a solution to plastic pollution by uniting behind an ancient philosophy: Tri Hita Karana. The philosophy is depicted by a triangle representing a way of living harmoniously with gods, nature, and other human beings. Palemahan is the term that specifically defines the relationship between beings and the environment Tri-Hita-Karana.

While the Balinese traditional practices cultivate a harmonious relationship with nature, for example designating ceremonies to honor trees and rice goddesses, modern development has brought a new material: plastic. Now, plastic wrappers are found in offerings and plastic bottles are used by priests in ceremonies honoring Mother Nature.

Palemahan has been disrupted as Balinese and visitors continue to use more and more plastic in daily lives. In rural areas, plastic continues to be burned and thrown into rivers and the ocean. Unlike in Western countries, there has been a lack of environmental education surrounding this issue and many Balinese do not recognize the harm of plastic to the environment. Tangkas Village intends on preserving the cultural value of living in harmony with nature in the wake of waste.

In The Wild... with Bears (13 Minutes)

Alaskan Bears in the wild are the focus of wildlife filmmaker, Erin Ranney! Listen to her share her passion for the bears and the Alaskan wilderness in "In the wild... with Bears" from Schoolyard Films.

Gopher Tortoise - Secrets of the Burrow (13 Minutes)

Join Field Biologist, Amanda Hipps, on her research and discovery of the Secrets of the Gopher Tortoise Burrow! Habitat to the endangered Gopher Tortoise... and so much more. A safe haven in a fire, home to unique commensal insects, and maybe even a bear, or skunk, or snake! An important keystone species and closer to home than many might think. Can we all live together? Will "Gertrude" ever be a happy tortoise? Let's find out.

Octopus - Superhero of the Sea (9 Minutes)

Join High School student-explorers, Liam and Olivia, as they learn from Marine Biologist, Chelsea Bennice, PhD, about the amazing superpowers of her research subjects, the Octopus! These smart superheroes of the sea have incredible abilities and adaptations. Using camouflage, mimicry, and jet-power, they outwit their predators and learn new tricks to solve problems.

A Project for the Planet - Service Learning in your community (22 Minutes)

Students from four different schools in three different locations learn about local environmental issues and commit to making a difference in their community, and for their planet. Service Learning is much more than community service, it can influence the student's life in a substantial way, and maybe even change the world. High School students dive and collect data on an artificial reef to learn how to promote and protect corals, 4th graders help native Apple Snails and restore native trees in the wetlands of Florida’s amazing Everglades... and in New York, students are finding solutions to help repopulate ancient oyster beds and clean up the waterways around Manhattan. Amazing projects… for the Planet!

Clear Water, Clean Water ? - Exploring the Floridan Aquifer (20 Minutes)

Join our dive team and explore the massive hidden underground rivers, caverns, and waterways of the Floridan Aquifer. Quadrillions of gallons of crystal clear fresh water "spring" to the surface all over Florida and the southeast United States... but although it is clear water, is it clean water? Is it safe to drink? What are the impacts of generations of agriculture and urbanization? We follow technical diver, Jill Heinerth, and a team of explorers and scientists to find out. We talk to farmers and researchers about a sustainable future. Students learn how essential the Aquifer is for millions of people and how we must all work together to keep it safe.

Underground, Underwater, and in the Dark - Filming in the Floridan Aquifer (5 Minutes)

A short "Behind the Scenes" for Schoolyard Films’, "Clear Water, Clean Water? - Exploring the Floridan Aquifer." Technical diving and underwater filming with Director Commentary from Tom Fitz about the Floridan Aquifer. A cave diving film about fresh water resources, geology, hydrodynamics, exploration and team work.

Coral Reef Rescue (16 Minutes)

… takes an upbeat look at a downbeat topic - coral reefs. Home to 25% of all marine species, coral reefs protect the coastlines of more than 100 countries and provide 500 million people with jobs. They are also taking a huge hit from climate change, ocean acidification, and other pressures, but there IS hope! Join us as we team up with Mote Tropical Research Lab and the Coral Restoration Foundation, both in the Florida Keys. Their ground breaking work with accelerating coral growth in the lab, creating nurseries in the ocean, and replanting back to the reefs is nothing less than fantastic. Their efforts creates hope for the future of sustainable coral reefs around the globe.

Middle School Study Guide — Middle School

Polar Bears Unplugged (17 Minutes)

Global Climate Change is impacting all of us, but the images of receding ice and its devastating effects on Polar Bears may seem far away. What can anyone do to help? High School student, Kylee Sipowski, has an idea! She shares her passion for collective action in the fight against Global Warming. We talk “Live” with researchers working in the high Arctic and learn from them what problems we face and what we can do to help. Kylee networks with students, her local community, and international organizations to put a conservation message into action. Working together, we can make a change for the better… and help the Polar Bears in the process!

Phoebe's Humpback Whale Adventure (15 Minutes)

Join high school student, Phoebe Fitz, in her quest to learn about humpback whales. She teams up with scientists who study the whales in Hawaii, and learns first-hand what it takes to work on the high seas with these magnificent animals. In Lahaina, she visits a local high school and meets students who are actively involved in the humpback studies.

Horseshoe Crabs - Prehistoric Paramedics (15 Minutes)

...is the remarkable exploration of a prehistoric animal and a modern medical marvel. Middle School students in South Carolina investigate the crabs, their life cycle, habitats and the threats that affect them. One of nature’s puzzle pieces, they fit into place as an important partner with humans.

Invasion of the Alien Fish (14 Minutes)

...is the story of Indo-Pacific Lionfish invading the Atlantic and Caribbean with catastrophic results. This non-native species has no local predators and is propagating at a rate that adversely impacts the coral reef habitats of the Eastern United States, Caribbean, and South America. Scientists monitor the situation, laypeople learn to manage the invasion, if only temporarily, and high school marine biology students take a close look at the feeding behavior of this voracious predator. This is a story of communities banding together for environmental protection and of proactive advocacy for sustainable habitats.

Middle School / High School Activity — Activity

A Day on the River (13 Minutes)

In Central Florida a spring-fed river spills millions of gallons of fresh water every day towards the sea. The Rainbow River is a haven for wildlife, and a turtle paradise. We follow two turtle scientists who study these ancient creatures and use their status as indicators of the river’s health.

A Dolphin's Return (13 Minutes)

In a captivating account of rescue and rehabilitation, "A Dolphin's Return" introduces Cutter, a young Atlantic spotted dolphin found in a busy harbor in Key West, FL -alone, dehydrated, and malnourished. Join us as we follow Cutter's journey from the ocean to captivity and back to the ocean again. You will get a glimpse into the world of wildlife conservation and the role of science, partnerships, and technology in the everyday work of scientists and conservationists.

Back to the Wild… in Florida (12 Minutes)

The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, Florida gets all the action: hospital calls when a bobcat is hit by a truck and needs stitches, and then panicky airport employees dialing to say someone’s trying to ship threatened Florida panthers. It's all in a day's work for David Hitzig, animal caregiver with a heart of gold and a sanctuary to run.

A Summer on Golden Pond (10 Minutes)

The 1981 ﬁlm "On Golden Pond" shows us a place of sublime beauty and tranquility. But where is this - or is it simply another creation of Hollywood magic? Our ﬁlm looks at the real Golden Pond and its wildlife–loons, deer, beavers, porcupines, and more–and our story is told through the eyes of an avid hiker and biologist who has been summering here on Squam Lake for the past 35 years.

Against the Current (19 Minutes)

...tells the story of competing water interests between agriculture and wildlife, and how one group finds a sustainable solution for all. Set on the Ox Yoke Ranch in Paradise Valley, Montana, this film highlights a successful collaboration between the Murphy Family, Trout Unlimited, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, and the State of Montana, to restore the connection of Fridley Creek. As students learn about the restoration of this small creek, they will develop a broader understanding of connections between land, water, fish, and humans. As Montana biologist Pat Byorth eloquently states, "Our fate is tied to the fate of the rivers."

Bat Women of Panama (10 Minutes)

There are more types of bats living on one tiny island in Panama than can be found in all the USA. How can this be? An international team of women scientists brave the tick-infested night forest to find out just how 72 bat species coexist in such a small place.

Florida's Wild Side (30 Minutes)

There’s more to Florida than just theme parks and Miami Beach. "Florida’s Wild Side" takes a look at this southern state’s iconic wildlife, told through the eyes of local residents–artists, scientists, and laypeople–all of whom share one thing in common: a passion for Florida’s wildlife.

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Photos: Fitz Productions, Open Ocean Productions, and Glenn Allen