These brief video segments can be used alone or in combination, to introduce a topic or to spark discussion among your students. The video segments can be adapted for any grade level. Stream the video segments from the players below, or scroll to the bottom of the page to find downloadable QuickTime versions of the videos. These videos are also used in the lesson plan Being Human (Grades 5-8).
Human Spark: So Human, So Chimp & Brain Matters, Selected Segments
Human vs. Chimp Thinking
A discussion about how human thought differs from that of chimpanzees.
Beyond the Present
A look at humans’ unique ability to reflect upon events that have happened in the past and think about things that could possibly happen in the future.
Thinking about Thinking
A discussion about the ability of humans to think about others’ thoughts.
Insight and Imagination
An overview of how insight and imagination distinguish humans from others.
Additional segments which students can use in their research for Learning Activity 2:
A Matter of Size
A look at the brains of a rat, monkey, chimp and human and why some brains are bigger than others.
Cooperation
A brief look at the cooperative and social nature of humans.
Human Language
A look at the difference between human language and other species’ communication systems.
The Art Spark
An exploration of early cave art and what it tells us about our ancestors.
Downloadable QuickTime versions of the video segments:
(Note: To download a video, right click on the video title and click “Save Link As…’ or “Save Target As…”. On a Mac, press the CTRL key and simultaneously click the mouse, then save the link.)
