Discover the Discovery Channel

The Discovery Channel is a very popular channel with popular culture today. It's a fun way to bring some new information into the home. The programs or so fun and entertaining that you often forget that you are actually learning something from watching the program. While there are many options on the Discovery Channel to explore the following are the top 10 most exciting, educating, interesting, and fun programs on the channel. Look to see if your favorite made the top 10.

Mythbusters

This show is a very popular fan favorite. Urban legends are tested by the hosts who are special effects experts, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman. In each episode they test three myths to see what is real and what is not. Fans are encouraged to submit myths for the hosts to test as well. Some important episodes are:

• (August 27) The hosts test the myth that many people believe the government shot the footage of the astronauts in a studio.

• (February 13) The hosts test myths submitted by viewers.

• (November 5) The hosts test what is really bulletproof. They also discuss the myth of escaping being buried alive inside a coffin.

This show is a fun show that appeals to all demographics. It's a great family show. Enjoy it with your family and discuss the myths and what's going to happen next, even your teenager will have something to say about the myths being busted.

Planet Earth

This is an eleven part miniseries event that is still being discovered and is a popular show. This show has numerous areas and habitats on the entire earth: Mountains, Deep Ocean, Deserts, Ice Worlds, Shallow Seas, Great Plains, Jungles, Freshwater, Forests, and Caves. This took five years to make. The initial episode was titled "Pole to Pole." It discussed how everything in the entire world is connected and how it works together. This series is an important learning tool and can be used for homeschoolers. It is also a great show to watch as a family or with your young children to learn more about the planet.

A Haunting

This is a scary show not meant for children. This is a show for those who like the unknown, paranormal, and scary stories. This series shows true stories of paranormal that are told by those who have actually experienced it. The episodes are each 1 hour long and dramatize some very scary stories from all over America in which tragedy, left psychic impressions so powerful that year's later people are still dealing with them. By the end of each episode you will be questioning what is true and not about life and death. Some notable episodes include:

• Dark Wrath-When Cindy moves to Caseyville IL she is tortured by nightmares that suddenly become reality. There is an evil entity in her house.

• Where Evil Lurks-The Shea's from Arkansas hear noises and voices in their home and over time it begins to escalate from pranks to terror and more sinister threats.

• Legend Trippers-Three Wisconsin teenagers learn about a cemetery legend and determine to test it out for themselves.

How Stuff Works

This show is for all those individuals who like to take things apart to put them together again just so they understand how they work. This show also shows the different products that can be made with the same ingredients. All scientifically, mechanical, and engineering inclined individuals will find this show fascinating. Some notable episodes include:

• How Wheat Works-Wheat isn't just food it has many more uses. This episode explored these uses.

• How Corn Works-Corn is used in so many things beyond just food and this episode explored the versatile uses of corn.

• How Water Works-The episode guide on dsc.discoverychannel.com states, "you could call water a liquid paradox." This episode will teach you about water and its unique properties and how those properties make water work.

Man vs. Wild

Bear Grylls is the host and adventurer on this show. He is a well traveled and experienced adventurer in addition to his special forces training where he specialized in survival. He travels to places that most people wouldn't think about going. During the show he strands himself out in wilderness destinations where individuals often find themselves stranded, lost, or in danger. While he finds his way back to civilization he demonstrates survival techniques that you should use should you ever find yourself in this situation. This show is perfect for the adventurer in the family; they will love the tips to use on their next adventure. This show is also perfect for individuals involved in Camping or Wilderness organizations. Some popular episodes include when Bear travelled to:

• The Ring of Fire (May 16, 2008)

• Siberia (May 30, 2008)

• Desert survivor (November 17, 2008)

Dirty Jobs

Host Mike Rowe finds the hardworking groups of men and women performing these hard tasks that can cause fear, be dangerous, stink, and just be gross. He investigates them, learns how to do them, and shows the audience all of it. This is not a show for individuals with a weak stomach because the dirty jobs can sometimes be really dirty. This is a perfect show for fathers and sons to watch together. Some memorable episodes include:

• The Diaper Cleaner-(February 3, 2009) Dirty Jobs are Olive Oil Presser and Diaper cleaner.

• Maggot Farmer-(December 2, 2008) Dirty Jobs are Cactus Mover and Maggot Farmer.

• The Bologna Maker-(January 6, 2009) Dirty Jobs are Bologna Maker and Turd Burner Technician.

Into the Unknown with Josh Bernstein

Josh Bernstein is an international explorer and he takes viewers on a ride along as he explores foreign lands and the entire globe while he investigates great ancient mysteries and stories that have fascinated us for years. Some stories he has investigated include whether Timbuktu was truly a city of gold or if life existed on Mars before coming to Earth and things of this nature. His inspiration is the unknown and no location is too far to travel to obtain an answer and resolve a mystery. This show is appropriate for everyone. College students would especially like it as it would spark a nice debate or conversation after the show is over. This show can be used with homeschooled children too. Watch the show and use it as an introduction for a research project or an opener to a new topic to be taught. The most beneficial thing about this show is the conversations that it will start. Some notable episodes include:

• Elephants-Josh Bernstein investigates why elephants are attacking and killing humans in record numbers in Africa.

• Gladiators-Josh Bernstein discusses reality of how gladiators really fought and how it compares to the Hollywood portrayal.

• Noah's Ark-This is a Biblical story. Josh sets out to see if he can find proof that this event really took place. His investigation did find a new theory that supports the Christians and the Noah's Ark belief.

Storm Chasers

This show is for the adventurer in all of us; however, if you are afraid of bad weather this show is not the one for you. This show is about teams of people who literally chase storms. They record the storm visually using camcorders and others such tools to get scientific data. The most important tool that is used is an 8 ton, 10 wheel, TIV2 which is used to obtain IMAX quality images. Some notable episodes include:

• No Place Like Kansas-The team is competing with a different storm chasing team and there are tornadoes forming all over western Kansas which appears to be a big day for the Storm Chasers.

• Nightmare on Dow Street-The team heads to Oklahoma then to Arkansas. On the way there are constant hail downpours and tornadoes begin to touch down all around. They finally get to Stuttgart, Arkansas and find wonderful tornado specimen to examine; they in turn were chased by a tornado through the streets in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Deadliest Catch

This is an Emmy nominated series on The Discovery Channel. The series takes viewers on trips to the Bering Sea and the Alaskan waters with the crew as they crab fish. The weather is awful and the working conditions are very dangerous but the pay is really good. For the current season there are even underwater cameras in place. This is a show that is family friendly. Since it is adventure and danger it tends to appeal more to men than to women. This would make a good show to watch and have father and son bonding time. Each episode is going to show the same basic job but with all the conditions that is what really changes. Even if you haven't been watching from the start you have not missed any storyline, only a few adventures so jump on and watch it.

One Way Out

Jonathan Goodwin is an escapologist and he uses this show to demonstrate to viewers his attempts to break out of unique and extreme situations. Each unique situation had a theory that he was trying to prove, for example, to see what the body can do with minimal movement he locked himself in a box on top of a shaking washing machine with his body covered in 200,000 agitated bees. Some notable episodes include:

• Buried Alive-(February 16, 2009) Limited oxygen and crushing weight are the dangers he faces in this challenge.

• Bee Sting Brit-(January 26, 2009) Jonathan tests the minimal movement theory by holding a scorpion in his mouth and being inside a trapped box with 200,000 agitated bees, his mission, to free himself.

The Discovery Channel has many more shows then listed in this article. The channel is always family friendly so parents can allow children to watch it with now problems. It's also a wonderful tool for homeschooled children because any show can start a research project or a new unit. The shows on the Discovery Channel will cause an interest in something and always a discussion. It is a wonderful resource to bring your family closer.

Resources:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/tv-shows.html