'Tis the season to sit with the family in front of the TV, digesting a large meal and enjoying some football. You just might be able to sneak some science discussions with your children into the commercial breaks. NBC Learn, in partnership with the National Science Foundation and National Football League, has produced a 10-part Web video series that uses the professional football to illustrate key scientific ideas. Videos address concepts such as Newton's first law of motion, the Pythagorean theorum, and projectile motion.

For example, in a video about kinematics, NBC's Lester Holt and former NFL running back Deuce McAllister, along with scientists Tony Schmitz from the University of Florida and John Ziegert of Clemson University, explain concepts of position, velocity, and acceleration.

Check out the videos at http://www.nbclearn.com/nfl

Teachers and homeschoolers, you can find formal lesson plans at http://www.lessonopoly.org/nfl

Related articles available at Scientific American.