MEDIA ALERT – New broadcast programming from PBS KIDS offers the opportunity for educators to tie shows that interest students with engaging academic and life skills lessons in and out of the classroom. This fall PBS KIDS debuts new broadcast series and new episodes of existing popular programs. Accompanying the programming are online educational resources such as videos, classroom activities, and interactive games that enable teachers, librarians, homeschooling families, and others to use digital media to provide students with rich learning experiences.

Beginning this fall, the new digital learning resources will be available through PBS Teachers^® (pbsteachers.org), the Web portal designed for preK-12 educators to access PBS’ educational services and a searchable library of more than 9,000 free local and national standards-based teaching activities, lesson plans, on-demand video assets, and interactive games and simulations. Fall and winter PBS Teacher LIVE! webinars will also feature the latest PBS KIDS programming and learning materials to show educators innovative ways to incorporate multimedia into instruction. Teachers can participate in the webinars after signing up for free PBS Teachers membership, which includes access to an online community where educators can discuss digital media and technology integration and share best practices and tips. Here are highlights from the fall line-up of PBS KIDS programs (check local listings for details; educational resources will be available on the PBS Teachers site):

Dinosaur Train (pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain)
Created by The Jim Henson Company, “Dinosaur Train” premieres on Sept. 7. “Dinosaur Train” is set in a whimsically realistic, prehistoric world of jungles, swamps, active volcanoes, and oceans. Each day, “Dinosaur Train” will help kids ages 3 to 6 apply scientific thinking as they discover new types of dinosaur species, compare and contrast dinosaurs to today's creatures, and embrace the living sciences of paleontology and natural science. The half-hour shows feature two animated episodes; each followed by short live action segments with a real paleontologist interacting with kids who love to explore the world around them. Based on input from paleontologists, science educators and early childhood education experts, “Dinosaur Train” promotes critical thinking skills for children based on an engaging and creative curriculum.

Sid the Science Kid (pbskids.org/sid)
“Sid the Science Kid” is an educational animated television series developed by The Jim Henson Company that uses comedy to promote exploration, discovery and science readiness among preschoolers. “Sid the Science Kid,” features a practical in-school science curriculum, and uses music and humor to celebrate children's natural curiosity about science in everyday life. The energetic and inquisitive Sid starts each episode with a new question (e.g., “Why are my shoes shrinking?” “Why do bananas get mushy?”) and embarks on a fun-filled day of finding answers with the help of family, friends, and his teacher.

Martha Speaks (pbskids.org/martha)
“Martha Speaks” is an animated series aimed at 4 to 7 year-old children to teach then new words. Based on the children's book series by Susan Meddaugh and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the series stars Martha, a beloved family dog. She is accidentally fed alphabet soup, which gives her the power of speech and the chance to speak her mind to anyone that will listen. The goal of “Martha Speaks” is to increase oral vocabulary, the words people use when they talk. The shows are designed to help kids understand what words mean when they hear them; words like retrieve, sprout, and crave. Vocabulary is one factor that predicts if children will be good readers.

The Electric Company (pbskids.org/electriccompany)
Over 30 years ago, “The Electric Company” turned on the power of possibility for kids by showing them that learning to read can be fun. This year, the all-new “The Electric Company,” produced by Sesame Workshop, showcases a cool cast of characters, amazing literacy superpowers, side-splitting cartoons, and songs that kids will love to dance along with. “The Electric Company” aims to entertain 6 to 9 year-old children while simultaneously teaching four crucial areas of literacy that are challenging for struggling readers: decoding, vocabulary, comprehension, and motivation. Like the original series, the new show filters these educational goals through pop culture—music, comedy, technology, and celebrities—to create a playful, hip, multimedia experience.

Fetch! (pbskids.org/fetch)
Part game show, part reality TV, and part spoof, “Fetch!” features real kids, real challenges, real science, and an unreal host named Ruff Ruffman (he's an animated dog). Targeting 6 to 10 year-old children, “Fetch!” offers a venue for kids to have fun while learning problem-solving skills and teamwork. The series also offers viewers an important perspective on competition by letting them know that the value of an experience isn't just determined by winning or losing, but by what happens along the way. Funded in large part by the National Science Foundation, the series focuses on real-world science, featuring kids as they pursue questions, conduct experiments, and actively investigate the world around them.

About PBS Teachers

PBS Teachers (www.pbs.org/teachers) provides preK-12 educators a central Web destination to access PBS’ educational services, including a searchable library of more than 9,000 local and national multimedia resources, and an online professional learning community where teachers can share ideas, collaborate, and discuss effective technology integration. Within the online community, educators can search for digital instructional resources, then easily bookmark, annotate, share and manage their tagged content. PBS Teachers is also home to the popular education blog Media Infusion (pbs.org/mediainfusion), which focuses on practical ways to integrate multimedia resources and technology into the classroom. Teachers can sign up for free membership in PBS Teachers to enjoy access to the PBS Teachers community and monthly webinars, and to receive discounts to ShopPBS for Teachers.

About PBS

PBS, with its 356 member stations, offers all Americans – from every walk of life – the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each week, PBS reaches more than 115 million people and invites them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and Web site, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children.

Contacts

PBS
Kevin Dando
703-739-5073
kdando at pbs dot org
www.pbs.org

C. Blohm & Associates, Inc.
Kristen Plemon
608-839-9805
kristen at cblohm dot com
www.cblohm.com

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