Product Description

See the world with the Standard Deviants! The award-winning Standard Deviants will be your tour guides as they study the diverse histories, cultures and physical characteristics of distant (and not-so-distant) regions of our world - from North America to Europe and Africa! This DVD includes: North America, Ho!!!, Russian Around Europe & Africa: Safari, So Good.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67271 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-06-25
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Amazon.com
The Standard Deviants troupe makes the daunting study of world geography fun and manageable in this 90-minute presentation. Three distinct programs explore the physical and human geography of North America, Europe and Russia, and Africa. The format is modern and fast paced, featuring young actors and comics, clear computer graphics, concise explanations, and a healthy dose of cornball humor. Hip young hosts present a basic overview of each geographical area followed by a deeper look at factors like climate, topography, historically significant events, and a glimpse at modern life. Fast facts are labeled "Geo-Neat-O's," seemingly old-time curmudgeons relate modern facts, and computer-generated classical philosophers add their own succinct wisdom. Each episode concludes with a nicely outlined, concise review of topics covered. Much like the Schoolhouse Rock! series popular in the 1970s, the Standard Deviants embrace popular culture as a significant educational tool. (Ages junior high school through college) --Tami Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

The Standard Deviants World Geography
This DVD is so mind-numbingly stupid that it makes me angry every time I remember that I actually paid money for it. It gets one star only because Zero was not an option. I bought it for my then 11 year old son. It seems public schools no longer teach geography, and I believe it's a national disgrace that Americans are so ignorant about most of the planet. This DVD does nothing to overcome that ignorance. Yes it has lots of quick, MTV style, scene changes and effects. Yes it has upbeat(if moronic) teenage hosts. But its content is so general as to actually teach nothing. And its content is also factually incorrect - it seems unconscionable to me that the editors missed the fact that Mexico is part of North America. The DVD tells us that North America consists of the U.S. and Canada. I'll grant you that as a forty-something I'm biased against the style over substance tv format, but even my son found its lack of content a borderline fraud.

Better than everything else I have found.
I bought this DVD to help teach the basics of World Geography to my middle school students. I was just as shocked as the previous reviewer that the DVD claims that Canada and the United States are the only countries in North America. They not only forgot Mexico, but they also failed to mention any Caribbean nations or Central American nations. While it can be pretty silly at times and the humor does not make you laugh at times and is more likely to make you wince, I still feel that it is the best video/DVD that I have found to quickly review World Geography. This DVD has 3 separate segments. North America Ho is not that great but the next 2 on Europe and Africa are much better and will be much more useful in the classroom. I will show this in class, but I will be sure to point out the mistakes about what nations make up North America.

Missing Mexico, but kids like it!
I have used this with my 6th grade students. They really enjoyed it. The repeatition is good for Special Education students. It may not be perfect, but it is interesting, which is more than can be said for many Geography videos.