Arthur Stands Up To Bullying

ARTHUR, television’s longest-running children’s animated series, kicks off its spring season with a week of all-new episodes, including two devoted to the issue of bullying. The week begins with “The Last Tough Customer” on Monday, May 6. In this episode, the Tough Customers realize it’s time to quit bullying and set out to find a new hobby – but can Molly ever truly change her ways? Watch a sneak preview!

Then on Friday, May 10, in “So Funny I Forgot to Laugh,” Arthur thinks his jokes about Sue Ellen’s new sweater are all in good fun, but Sue Ellen’s feelings are hurt. Has Arthur become…a bully?

Visit ARTHUR’S parents and teachers’ site for more resources, including lesson plans like Arthur’s World Neighborhood with activities, resources, and tips to help kids explore cultural diversity within their own community and around the world. The curriculum was developed especially for students in grades 2-3 but activities can easily be adapted for younger or older audiences.

To also help raise students’ awareness on bullying and tolerance, you’ll find preK-3 resources on bullying as well as those for older grades at PBS LearningMedia.

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Explore the Outdoors with PBS KIDS

Spring is finally here!  PBS KIDS is celebrating the outdoors with some of your favorite PBS KIDS series.  Find fun activities, games and TV schedules that encourage a love of nature at Explore the Outdoors.  On this specialized section of the PBS KIDS website, you’ll find dozens of games that related to learning from the environment and the animals that live there.  Here’s just a sampling of the activities you’ll find there:

• In the Park with Skits from Martha Speaks
• Wilson and Ditch’s Junior Ranger Game
• The Cat In the Hat Knows A lot About That’s Huff-Puff-a-Tron

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The Wisdom of Fred Rogers During Times of Tragedy

Just as adults struggle to understand the devastating explosions at the Boston Marathon, children also need help to deal with the frightening news they see and hear from various sources.  Fred Rogers long ago understood the best ways to nurture healthy young people during good times and bad , and he left a legacy that supports educators and parents today.   Thanks in part to the assistance of UNC-TV, North Carolina’s public television network, and public television station WTVI Charlotte, a  booklet entitled  Helping Children Deal with Tragic Events in the News:  Timeless wisdom from Fred Rogers for parents, caregivers and teachers is available to you.

In it you’ll find information about what children fear at times such as these, how to make them feel more secure, how to talk and listen to them as well as other helpful hints.  The booklet also shares the story Fred Rogers often told about his mother’s words to him as a boy when he watched frightening news:  “My mother would say to me, ’Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’  Teachers have always been among the world’s helpers, and we hope you’ll find this wisdom from Fred Rogers helpful.

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Lesson Plan Feature: PBS Teachers Activity Packs

Explore educational resources and activities from PBS with their library of Activity Packs. Each one focuses on a curricular theme and includes links to great PBS resources and supplemental activities.  Packs are available for The Arts, Health & Fitness, Reading & Language Arts, Science & Technology, and Social Studies.

Check out this list of packs in the Science & Technology unit:

• Breakthroughs in Medical Research
• Development & the Environment
• Earth Day
• Forensic Science
• How’s the weather?
• Innovation & Invention
• Oceans
• Technology & Ethics

Check them out today!

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Continue the winter fun with OH NOAH!

Coats, gloves, and hats are essential for any snowy adventure! Gear up for a visit to the Arctic with Noah and learn the Spanish words for winter apparel. View the webisode Breaking the Ice and then dress your own Noah Paper Doll! What should he wear today? Color and design Noah’s clothing with vibrant colors and cool patterns.

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Science in the Snow with Sid the Science Kid

Winter may be in full force but the science learning continues with Sid the Science Kid.  Sid offers online games with a winter theme and a science focus.  Play with snowflakes and learn about symmetry.  Explore temperature by sorting plants, animals, and objects into their proper climates.  You can even extend the learning with the Temperature Investigation by learning how to use a thermometer to measure the temperature of hot and cold items.

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Cyber-Bullying, Communication and Cultural Diversity

Help students to recognize bullying and respond to conflict thoughtfully by integrating any of the following featured resources into your lesson plans:

In the Mix: Conflict Resolution
Grades 7-13+ | Video | Communication Skills
Observe a group of high school students as they discuss ways in which they deal with conflict. Consider using this resource as a class conversation starter.

Cyber-Bullying
Grades 7-12 | Video | Types of Bullying
Show students how bullies use text messages and the Internet to threaten others, and discuss the steps that they can take to address this form of harassment.

The Teenage Brain
Grades 6-8 | Video | Biology & Behavior
Gain insight into the development of the teenage brain. Ask students to consider how natural changes in the brain play a role in the way teens relate to one another.

Succeeding in School
Grades 5-12 | Video | Story of Success
Inspire students with the personal story of Omarina, a student who faced overwhelming odds but was able to succeed with support from her school community and a supportive learning environment.

Martha Speaks: Martha Walks the Dog
Grades K-1, 4-5 | Video
There’s a new, mean dog in town. Use this resource to show young students that first impressions can sometimes be deceiving.

If you’ve yet to take advantage of free PBS TeacherLine enrollment, you can register today for additional content.

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Celebrating 50 Years of Clifford and His Big Ideas

To celebrate Clifford the Big Red Dog’s 50^th anniversary, WGBY held a January birthday party for 80 Clifford fans at the YMCA of Greater Springfield.  Before the celebration, children helped to make a BIG Clifford birthday card that you can view for a while on WGBY’s website.  Among the party festivities, children wore red Clifford ears that they made, listened to a story about Clifford and his owner, Emily Elizabeth, and danced to his lively theme song.  The pre-schoolers also viewed an episode of the big, red, loveable dog that helped them learn the importance of how to “Work Together,” one of Clifford’s 10 Big Ideas.

At Clifford’s parent and educator site, you’ll find lots of activities, many built around his big ideas, such as a Heart Stamp to learn how to “Be a Good Friend,” a Handy Reminder to remember to “Be Responsible,”and Share-a-Sock Puppets to practice how to  “Share.”  In addition, a Guide to Online Activities provides printable hints for each activity and game on the Clifford site to help you help a child get the most from the experience!

All children can celebrate Clifford’s birthday with their families by watching “Clifford’s Really Big Movie,” which will air on WGBY in February!

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New PBS KIDS App: Fizzy’s Lunch Lab: Hectic Harvest

The new Fizzy’s Lunch Lab app, Hectic Harvest, aims to stock the Lunch Lab with the freshest veggies. But there’s one problem: Fizzy’s too busy running the Lunch Lab to work on his new farm! He needs Mixie to help him out. In this time-management simulation game, help Mixie plant, water and harvest the crops. Luckily, Mixie comes equipped with helpful gadgets to make farming fun. Earn enough money and you can visit the upgrade store to purchase even more gadgets to speed up farming.

This app’s goals are to communicate the processes of farming and to connect children with the process of farming healthy food.  The app is available now on iTunes, Amazon App Store for Android, Google Play and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Store.

Check out a demo of the game below:

Is your child a fan of Fizzy’s Lunch Lab already?  Check out these great family activities.  New to the series?  Check it out online at PBS Kids.

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Grant: Leavey Awards from the Freedom Foundation

The Leavey Awards for Excellence In Private Enterprise Education honor outstanding educators who excite a commitment in their students to the free enterprise system and unleash the entrepreneurial skills of their students at the elementary, junior high school, high school and college level.

Maximum award: $15,000.

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents employed full-time as an educator at an accredited American school (grades K-12), college or university.

Deadline: November 1, 2012.
Note: WGBY is not affiliated with this grant program.  Please address all inquiries to the funding agency.

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