Product Details

• Actors: Eyewitness
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Penguin Group(USA) I
• VHS Release Date: September 10, 1996
• Run Time: 35 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304165307
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,338 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As Eyewitness: Shell proves, the shell is one evolutionary design that has stood the test of time. From crabs to seashells to tortoises and bird eggs, the shell has evolved into a magnificent example of nature protecting her own. This entertaining and informative video provides a dazzling array of creatures that use shells as a means of survival. It also shows many examples of how shells and shell creatures have inspired the human imagination, whether it be the lobsterlike design of a suit of armor or the influence of the chambered nautilus on the invention of the first submarine.

Did you know that gastropod means "belly-foot?" Or that ancient royalty used to wear lace collars spun from the golden filaments of mussel shells? Like most Eyewitness videos, this one is filled with many such interesting facts presented in a way that is both fun to watch and easy to follow. After seeing this video, your family's next beach-combing excursion will take on a whole new importance: that of a greater understanding of the world around us. --Michelle Riggen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Educators: Don't Overlook This SHELL, June 22, 2001

By 

Karen Koegler (Lexington, KY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eyewitness - Shell [VHS] (VHS Tape)

For those who are familiar with the excellent British "Eyewitness" non-fiction picture books, it will come as no surprise that the accompanying videos are also superb and even more visually dazzling. Among the series I would recommend the "Shell" video to educators teaching natural history, biology, geography, ecology, and, surprisingly, creative writing. The video uses an adorable bunny and gnarly tortoise (the tortoise & the hare, of course) to tie the segments together. While there is much excellent information on marine life and the picturesque variety of sea shells, additional sorts of "containers" in nature are also covered--from eggs to coconuts. What interested me, however, was how the video could be used for "prompts" for creative writing exercises in the classroom. Despite the age limits to which it is geared, I would not feel uncomfortable using this film in a college classroom. At several junctures, points are made that could be applied to the human experience. For example, while a shell offers protection, a portable home, it is also constraining. For a second example, one could devise a writing exercise connected to the carrier shell: with bits and pieces of its environment cemented to its shell, it carries its past experiences and contacts with it, visibly, everywhere. Don't overlook this great video: there's more than nature here, there are nuances of human nature.

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive footage., July 11, 2004

By 

J. Connor "film and book fanatic'." (Palm Desert, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eyewitness - Shell [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Eyewitness Shell is another success employed by this studio. The subject in this video is quite broad, covering land based shellfish and ocean dwelling ones. The ocean footage is nice, observing shellfish on the move, and filming much of the sea in the background. Crabs, snails, cone shells, tortoises, and many other shell wielders are mentioned in this video. Very recommended for the Eyewitness fan and lover of nature, particularly the ocean. Since the scope subject is much wider, it is to be enjoyed by fans of different types of nature. Also recommended: Eyewitness Shark, Seashore, and Fish.