Watch Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City since 1996, talk about his new book, Death by Black Hole, a collection of essays about the cosmos. It's insightfully useful for an 11 year old, you know, the student in each of our classes who's marking time while thinking beyond what the teacher knows.

Loyal readers of the monthly Universe essays in Natural History magazine have long recognized Neil deGrasse Tyson's talent for guiding them through the mysteries of the cosmos with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. ... The title essay introduces readers to the physics of black holes by explaining the gory details of what would happen to your body if you fell into one. Holy Wars examines the needless friction between science and religion in the context of historical conflicts. The Search for Life in the Universe explores astral life from the frontiers of astrobiology. And Hollywood Nights assails the movie industry's feeble efforts to get its night skies right.

My former fifth grade students and most of my special education students would understand Neil's straight forward descriptions of black holes and other aspects of thinking about the cosmos. He's an engaging speaker, stimulating insightful questions from eight and nine year olds in the audience.

I'd put watching this C-SPAN episode ahead of most classroom science assignments, if for no other reason than for a teacher to show how much is known beyond what's in an assigned textbook. And the content of this episode contains more than just "to show ..."

Let us know what your students gain from reviewing this episode.

Hmm, maybe this would be a good homework assignment.

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