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PBS KIDS Across America

PBS KIDS invites kids and families to come along on an unforgettable cross-country road trip with the PBS KIDS Across America initiative. From May through July 2026 and beyond, PBS KIDS will showcase amazing places and real kids throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as some of the American figures who have had an impact on the nation’s history to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Leading the way on May 1 is WOWSABOUT, a new special from The Jim Henson Company, followed by the launch of AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS, a series of live-action shorts from GBH KIDS on May 22. June will bring CITY ISLAND: USA!, a miniseries of shorts from Future Brain Media, and XAVIER RIDDLE CELEBRATES AMERICAN HEROES, four specials from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films. Additional new content from MOLLY OF DENALI and ALMA’S WAY, as well as videos and games from fan-favorites such as ARTHUR, CYBERCHASE, SESAME STREET and more, are also on the way to help boost civics and broader social studies learning. 

Explore PBS KIDS Across America
  • America’s Awesome Kids
  • Explore America’s Amazing Places
  • Our History, Our Stories
  • Wild Kratts: North American Animals
  • Civics in Your Community
  • And More Related Episodes

Watch the Full Playlist

New York at 250: A Resource Guide for Public Libraries and Partners

New York at 250: A Resource Guide for Public Libraries and Partners’ provides a practical framework, offering information and support materials for libraries and cultural institutions interested in developing public programs for the 250th commemoration.

Organized into three sections, the guide provides best practices, showcases examples of programs aligned to each of the six interpretive themes, and offers ways to stay connected. Turnkey event ideas are categorized by time commitment, making it easy for organizations of all sizes to find options that fit their capacity.

The guide is available as a downloadable PDF on the NYS Library’s website ➡️: Download the guide. Click on the image of the guide to get to the download option.

Civics Collection

Democracy depends on informed citizens who have the knowledge and skills to engage in their government. Empower your student citizens with this collection that teaches civic knowledge and understanding through applied examples from U.S. history and skills such as analyzing civic engagement and engaging in civil discourse. Focusing on multiple perspectives and diverse stories, these resources enable all students to see themselves as civic actors and prepare them to engage in civic political life. Explore by topic, skills and grade levels 3-12.

This collection is available through PBS LearningMedia

Explore the Collection

U.S. History Collection

Expand students’ understanding of U.S. History with engaging resources that bring the major people, events, and trends in history alive, while integrating often untold stories into the curriculum. Curated clips of trusted PBS programs and a diverse array of other media and interactive resources develop students’ historical thinking skills while broadening their appreciation of history’s multiple perspectives and complexity. Explore by historic era, skills and grade levels 3-12.

This collection is available through PBS LearningMedia

Explore the US History Collection

The American Revolution: A Local Lens Collection

Explore local and regional perspectives on the American Revolution and its legacies — from the Mid-Atlantics’s role to New England and all regions of the country local historians and residents providing their perspectives on how the ideals of the American Revolution live on today. This curated collection of resources includes video clips, interactives, and other resources created by PBS member stations, showcasing moments, themes, and ideals of the Revolutionary era from across the United States. This collection is inspired by and connected to the core themes of The American Revolution Classroom Collection, based on the film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.

More resources will be added through the summer of 2026, as new content is created to commemorate America at 250. This collection is available through PBS LearningMedia

Explore the Local Lens Collection

History of the United States and New York

History of the United States and New York is a collection of resources designed to complement the New York State Social Studies Framework for Grades 4, 7, and 8.  These media-rich resources and accompanying support materials are aligned with the key ideas for each grade level as outlined in the Framework. Each topic contains video-based resources you can use to bring history to life for your students. This collection is available through PBS LearningMedia

Explore the Collection

Consider the Source

Consider The Source from the NYS Archives provides opportunities and resources to teach with historic documents. Special collections by topic and era provide activities and primary documents to use with every grade level of students. A special collections with activities is available for the 250th. Additionally other special collections with related content are available.

250th Featured Collection
Other Featured Collections in NYS History

Independent Lens “The Librarians” • On-Demand

“The Librarians” examines how library collection standards are shaping communities and the struggle of librarians when caught in the political battle around book bans.

Independent Lens “The Librarians” is available on-demand and on the WXXI & PBS apps through 5/9/2026.

The award-winning documentary, “The Librarians,” offers a gripping, human look at the escalating wave of book bans unfolding across the United States. The film follows a courageous network of besieged librarians as they unite to examine how book restriction policies are shaping library collections.

From Oscar-nominated Director/Producer Kim A. Snyder (“Death By Numbers,” “Newtown,” “Us Kids”) and Executive Producer Sarah Jessica Parker through her Pretty Matches Productions banner, “The Librarians”takes viewers from Texas to Florida and beyond, where local libraries have become unexpected battlegrounds in a national struggle over parental control, intellectual freedom, and democracy itself. Sparked by the controversial “Krause List” in Texas, which targets 850 books centered on race and LGBTQIA+ stories, the film takes a deep investigative dive into the escalating movement against book banning. The film captures the courage and resilience of the everyday heroes, librarians, as well as concerned parents and students flanking them, who have become first responders in the fight for the freedom to read, standing defiantly against censorship at all costs.

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