What Is Cavalcade of Chemistry?

What Is Cavalcade of Chemistry?At first glance, Cavalcade of Chemistry may seem to be a goofy cartoon aimed at children. What on earth could possibly be humorous about chemistry? But upon closer inspection, this science show offers a much more serious message - that science is every bit as fascinating and intriguing as the more 'serious' subjects we take our children to school to learn about.The premise of the show is that as a child and his classmates are put through the paces in a formal, yet silly - for young kids - chemistry classroom, they begin to understand the workings of the universe and how the different elements and compounds interact with one another. In other words, the show follows in the footsteps of many older shows, such as 'Space: Above and Beyond'MythBusters', which illustrate the complexities of science with little, silly character moments.Just as the other shows rely on their cast of heavy-set adults to take the weight off the shoulders of their younger participa nts, 'Cavalcade of Chemistry' will focus its attention on its children's casts. On the surface, it might seem like the show is an odd fit for a children's TV show, but it really isn't. In fact, with the show's creators, Jeff Chanel and Rosemary Parelli, combining their in-depth knowledge of chemistry with the interactive playfulness of modern children's TV, it seems to be the perfect recipe for success.One of the primary contributions of 'Cavalcade of Chemistry' is how it seeks to make the science involved in the series not only interesting but approachable. While children do need to be shown why the different elements should be in their homes, and why they should be grouped together in a periodic table, these concepts are hardly new to them. It's simply a matter of showing that these concepts are simple enough to grasp by a small child, who doesn't seem to have much trouble grasping the concept of, say, a silicon atom (which is in the cadmium/antimony group). In addition, Chanel an d Parelli have found clever ways to use animation and video clips to illustrate their stories, making the whole thing seem both familiar and fresh.While Cavalcade of Chemistry tries to use bright, colorful animation to illustrate its stories, it is also careful to include enough information to ensure that the viewer knows enough to have the appropriate amount of curiosity to pursue the series further. For example, a clip shows a demonstration of how gas molecules can get trapped in a narrow ring in a small vial. In another, a light blue line explains how you get light from water by walking under a beautiful blue bridge.Of course, one of the most important parts of any science show is learning new facts and concepts, and the same is true of Cavalcade of Chemistry. For example, during a scene where two guys are trying to get a metal sphere to move, Chanel and Parelli intersperse a demonstration of the periodic table, using what is often called the 'pile driver' to demonstrate each ele ment's relative density. Learning these concepts are not only entertaining but educational as well.However, while this learning process may be entertaining for some, there are others who might find it a bit overwhelming. That's where the educational elements come in. A teacher guide, meant to be played along with the television show, is included with the DVD release of the show and is available separately.There's nothing wrong with watching a show to learn about a subject that seems easy to you, but there is always a limit to the amount of information you can get out of a well-known story. The show may be entertaining, but you still need to learn something new if you are going to feel satisfied.