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PBS Books: Filmmakers Talk of The American Revolution Series On-Demand


Join Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, Geoffrey C. Ward and Rick Atkinson for a powerful PBS Books Filmmaker Talk about The American Revolution — the groundbreaking series that examines how America’s founding struggle reshaped the world. Hosted by Lauren Smith, the conversation explores the themes and creative process behind this epic documentary series.

Check your local PBS listings or stream The American Revolution anytime on the PBS App.

Learn more at pbsbooks.org/theamericanrevolution

Watch the on-demand PBS Books interview from January 7, 2026

Educator Webinar On-Demand: Visualize History with Student-Created Documentaries

Description

History documentaries transform research into powerful films that bring the past to life and help make sense of complex topics. To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, join National History Day and PBS member station KQED, and PBS LearningMedia to explore how student-created history documentaries can help your students share their voice, knowledge, skills, and creativity.

When: Archived from Tuesday, December 9, 2025 7:00-9:00 PM EST Virtual Training via Webinar

What you’ll do:

  • Explore ready-to-use curriculum using National History Day’s 2026 theme of Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History and the Revolutionary Era as a case study
  • Practice video pre-production strategies
  • Start a sample mini-documentary you can use as a model with students

What you’ll get:

  • National History Day’s documentary projects
  • Modifiable curriculum and resources in English and Spanish for PBS LearningMedia’s The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge (hosted by KQED)
  • No-cost access to web-based video tools
  • A copy of the presentation deck to modify and use with students
  • A PDF letter of attendance–verifying 2 hours of attendance–to submit to your district or administration for approval towards professional development credit. (Requirements for professional development credits vary, so check with your district and/or state.)
  • Ongoing facilitator support for technical and classroom implementation questions, as needed

Designed by educators for educators, KQED’s well-paced workshops provide ready-to-use resources, instructional strategies, and genuine interaction with experienced and dynamic facilitators.

Speakers

  • KQED Education
  • National History Day
  • PBS LearningMedia

KQED is a nonprofit, public media station and NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco. As a leader in media innovation, KQED provides free standards-aligned classroom content and professional development that educators can trust. Our workshops and courses help educators in all roles, subjects and grades strengthen their media literacy skills, empower youth voices, and encourage civil discourse. Learn more at kqed.org/education.

National History Day®, a world leader in history and civics education, is a nonprofit education organization improving the teaching and learning of history. NHD reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year via its international student history contest and its wide range of teacher professional development programs, curriculum tools, and other educational activities.

PBS LearningMedia, a partnership of PBS and GBH, is an online destination that offers free access to thousands of resources from PBS stations and partners. These digital tools are designed to complement classroom instruction — from videos, images, and interactives to lesson plans, articles, and primary sources. Available for free to all educators PreK through 12th grade, PBS LearningMedia offers classroom-ready content aligned to state and national standards, compatible with the tools teachers use most, such as Google Classroom, and contextualized with supporting materials. Learn more at pbslearningmedia.org.

Questions about the event? Email education@kqed.org

Educator Webinar: Revolutionary Voices: Student Media-Making and The American Revolution

Description

Bring The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge to your classroom. Discover how your students can connect the foundational principles of the American Revolution to their lives today by amplifying their knowledge through media-making. 

In this interactive workshop for middle and high school teachers, we’ll explore the extensive, curriculum-aligned, multimedia resources from The American Revolution classroom collection on PBS LearningMedia, created with educators and drawing on content from the film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. Workshop participants will learn how to use the resources in the collection to inspire students to create a media project for The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge, focusing specifically on audio production, a media format that can be made accessible to all learners. Participants will learn how to create a podcast in the classroom setting — no special studio or equipment required – and they will leave with a pathway to empower and share student voice beyond the classroom.  

When: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 7:00-9:00 PM ET Virtual Training for Teachers via Webinar

Register

What you’ll do:

  • Learn about PBS LearningMedia’s free, curriculum-aligned resources from The American Revolution classroom collection and The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge
  • Get hands-on experience with the basics of audio production and start your own short podcast
  • Discover how to guide the creation of audio projects in your classroom setting

    What you’ll get:

    • A pathway to empower and share student voice beyond the classroom
    • Modifiable resources in English and Spanish
    • No-cost access to web-based audio tools
    • A copy of the presentation deck to modify and use when implementing the project in your classroom
    • A PDF letter of attendance–verifying two hours of attendance–to submit to your district or administration for approval towards professional development credit. (Requirements for professional development credits vary, so check with your district and/or state.)
    • Ongoing facilitator support for technical and classroom implementation questions, as needed

    Designed by educators for educators, KQED’s well-paced workshops provide ready-to-use resources, instructional strategies, and genuine interaction with experienced and dynamic facilitators.

    Speakers

    • KQED Education
    • PBS LearningMedia

    KQED is a nonprofit, public media station and NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco. As a leader in media innovation, KQED provides free standards-aligned classroom content and professional development that educators can trust. Our workshops and courses help educators in all roles, subjects and grades strengthen their media literacy skills, empower youth voices, and encourage civil discourse. Learn more at kqed.org/education.

    National History Day®, a world leader in history and civics education, is a nonprofit education organization improving the teaching and learning of history. NHD reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year via its international student history contest and its wide range of teacher professional development programs, curriculum tools, and other educational activities.

    PBS LearningMedia, a partnership of PBS and GBH, is an online destination that offers free access to thousands of resources from PBS stations and partners. These digital tools are designed to complement classroom instruction — from videos, images, and interactives to lesson plans, articles, and primary sources. Available for free to all educators PreK through 12th grade, PBS LearningMedia offers classroom-ready content aligned to state and national standards, compatible with the tools teachers use most, such as Google Classroom, and contextualized with supporting materials. Learn more at pbslearningmedia.org.

    Questions about the event? Email education@kqed.org

    Family Resources To Talk with Kids About Inclusion

    Families appreciate resources to talk with children about disability and inclusion. These are important to conversations and experiences which help kids to accept their own differences and be more accepting of others’ differences. They begin to appreciate what makes them and their friends unique. This can promote self-esteem, kindness and inclusion. WXXI & PBS KIDS have programs and resources to introduce these topics through characters and activities that help friends to work and play together.

    Talking with Kids About Disabilities:

    How do you get started with these discussions? How do you help your curious child to engage with others and be inclusive? How can you set an example? And more.

    Download PDF in Color or PDF in Black & White

    PBS KIDS Characters with Disabilities


    Explore PBS KIDS shows with characters that have disabilities and see who you know.
    Download the PDF of character cards.
    Download: All Kinds of Friends Coloring Pages with PBS KIDS characters
    Get to know characters when you watch the connected shows on PBSKIDS.org

    PBS KIDS Apps & Games Accessibility Features

    Everyone can be included with PBS KIDS Apps & Games. Explore the accessibility tools.
    Download PDF of PBS KIDS Accessibility Features

    Carl the Collector Social Stories

    Social stories help kids understand something that could happen and plan what to do in a variety of situations. Here are some helpful stories to explore in your conversations about inclusion and making friends.

    Download Social Story PDFs:

    Thinking Through Pros & Cons of a Decision

    How To Let Go of Special Things

    How To Tell Someone About Yourself

    How To Learn What Other People Like

    What To Do When Someone Teases You

    Educator Webinar: Visualize History with Student-Created Documentaries

    Description

    History documentaries transform research into powerful films that bring the past to life and help make sense of complex topics. To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, join National History Day and PBS member station KQED, and PBS LearningMedia to explore how student-created history documentaries can help your students share their voice, knowledge, skills, and creativity.

    When: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 7:00-9:00 PM EST Virtual Training via Webinar

    Register

    What you’ll do:

    • Explore ready-to-use curriculum using National History Day’s 2026 theme of Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History and the Revolutionary Era as a case study
    • Practice video pre-production strategies
    • Start a sample mini-documentary you can use as a model with students

    What you’ll get:

    • National History Day’s documentary projects
    • Modifiable curriculum and resources in English and Spanish for PBS LearningMedia’s The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge (hosted by KQED)
    • No-cost access to web-based video tools
    • A copy of the presentation deck to modify and use with students
    • A PDF letter of attendance–verifying 2 hours of attendance–to submit to your district or administration for approval towards professional development credit. (Requirements for professional development credits vary, so check with your district and/or state.)
    • Ongoing facilitator support for technical and classroom implementation questions, as needed

    Designed by educators for educators, KQED’s well-paced workshops provide ready-to-use resources, instructional strategies, and genuine interaction with experienced and dynamic facilitators.

    Speakers

    • KQED Education
    • National History Day
    • PBS LearningMedia

    KQED is a nonprofit, public media station and NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco. As a leader in media innovation, KQED provides free standards-aligned classroom content and professional development that educators can trust. Our workshops and courses help educators in all roles, subjects and grades strengthen their media literacy skills, empower youth voices, and encourage civil discourse. Learn more at kqed.org/education.

    National History Day®, a world leader in history and civics education, is a nonprofit education organization improving the teaching and learning of history. NHD reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year via its international student history contest and its wide range of teacher professional development programs, curriculum tools, and other educational activities.

    PBS LearningMedia, a partnership of PBS and GBH, is an online destination that offers free access to thousands of resources from PBS stations and partners. These digital tools are designed to complement classroom instruction — from videos, images, and interactives to lesson plans, articles, and primary sources. Available for free to all educators PreK through 12th grade, PBS LearningMedia offers classroom-ready content aligned to state and national standards, compatible with the tools teachers use most, such as Google Classroom, and contextualized with supporting materials. Learn more at pbslearningmedia.org.

    Questions about the event? Email education@kqed.org

    Summer Bucket List 2025!

    Time for a summer full of PBS KIDS adventures! Our WXXI Early Learning Team created a special checklist of summer activities to bring even more fun to your family this summer. Have fun exploring your local community and using PBS KIDS to spark joy with your kids.

    Adventure Begins at Your Library! Visit your local public library and join in on summer learning fun. See the full calendars of summer reading programming at your local libraries: Rochester Public Libraries, Monroe County Library System, and OWWL Library System.

    Go on a “Rough and Smooth Scavenger Hunt” with Ruff Ruffman! Search for textured treasures! From a prickly pinecone to a soft sweater, everything we touch has texture. How many textures can you find inside or outside of your house? Download the Scavenger Hunt here.

    Design your own vest, just like Carl the Collector. Carl and his friends appreciate what makes each of them special and unique. An argyle vest is something Carl likes wearing every day because it makes him feel comfortable and stylish. Encourage your child to express their individuality by designing their own argyle vest. Your child will love creating this vest to dress up and pretend to be just like their favorite character, Carl! Find the directions here.

    Observe the moon using Ready Jet Go’s Moon Observation Journal. A moon journal, or phases of the moon worksheet, is a fun way to get young kids interested in observing the sky and encourage scientific curiosity. By charting the moon’s phases with your child, you will help them develop observation skills. Your child will also learn how to record what they notice and practice sharing their research with you and others. Keeping a moon journal is also a great way for children to learn more about space! Download the Moon Journal here.

    Learn the steps of the Carrot Cake Dance with the Loops Family! Lyla wants to learn a popular clap and dance sequence that everyone in her family can do…except for her. Watch the full episode and learn the dance with Lyla:

    Make a Summer Souvenir Box like Alma. Alma creates a lot of new memories with her family when she visits Puerto Rico — like finding shells on the beach, visiting the El Yunque National Rainforest, eating alcapurias and pasteles, and learning a new poem. One way to remember fun summer days with your family is by creating a souvenir box. The box can be a place to collect items that spark memories. Learn how to make your own souvenir box here.

    Listen to the Molly of Denali Podcast. Join Molly Mabray on brand-new adventures in the Molly of Denali podcast! Check out each of the three seasons of storytelling from Molly and her friends and family. Listen to the Molly of Denali Podcast here and check out these tips from PBS KIDS for Parents on “Listening to Podcasts with Kids”.

    Create your own t-shirt design and listen to the Jamming on the Job podcast episode about online merchants. This activity will help your child think about some of their favorite things and then create a T-shirt design based off of it. Download the t-shirt here outline and listen to the Jamming on the Job “Online Merchant” episode here.

    Look outside or take a walk, and draw a map of your neighborhood. Together with your child, explore your local neighborhood by taking a walk, riding a bike, or riding the bus from home to school. Encourage your child to talk about what they notice along the way. Then, work with them to draw a map of their route from home to school. Find the directions for this activity here.

    Watch the cross-over event of the year – Daniel Tiger visits Donkey Hodie in Someplace Else on August 11. More tune-in details soon!

    Find WXXI & PBS KIDS in the Community!

    Our WXXI Education Early Learning Team’s calendar is filled with community events, activities, and fun things happening in our region. We’ll be out and about in lots of places and spaces where families spend time (or want to!). Check out our calendar of community events below and stop by to see us!

    Rochester Children & Teens’ Book Festival – Saturday, November 8
    Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Location: Monroe Community College, R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center – 1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York 14623
    Free Parking in Lot M
    More details: https://www.wxxi.org/highlights/roc-childrens-book-festival/

    Finger Lakes Early Childhood Career & Resource Fair – Tuesday, November 18
    Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    Location: MCC Downtown Campus – 321 State St., Rochester, NY
    More details: https://rochesterworks.org/event/finger-lakes-early-childhood-career-resources-fair/
    This event is designed to connect early childhood professionals, job seekers, students and families with career opportunities and community resources focused on early childhood development and education.

    Rochester Toy Library Open House – Saturday, November 22
    Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    Location: Lincoln Branch Library – 851 Joseph Ave, Rochester, NY 14621
    More details: https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/15625848
    For early learning professionals, such as preschool teachers, child care providers, family support workers, family navigators, children’s librarians, etc. to learn about the resources available at the Toy Library and community partners.

    If you’re interested in having WXXI’s Early Learning Team attend, table or participate in a community event, please contact: Cara Rager at CRager@wxxi.org.

    Protect PBS KIDS & Public Media — Your Voice Still Matters

    Earlier this month, I reached out about the growing pressures facing public media. Since then, the situation in Washington has only intensified, and the challenges we face are becoming even clearer. 

    At WXXI, we know that for families, PBS and PBS KIDS are more than just television channels—they are a trusted source of education, inspiration, and learning. Whether it’s Sesame Street helping young children build early literacy skills, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood teaching social-emotional learning, or Carl the Collector celebrating our differences and commonalities, these programs play a vital role in your child’s development. 

    But here’s something many people don’t realize: PBS and PBS KIDS programs are made available to your family through local public media stations like WXXI.  We are the bridge that brings these award-winning programs into local families’ lives – on televisions or tablets, in classrooms and care settings, and in our community. 

    Now, the future of public media is being debated in Washington, and decisions made in the coming weeks could threaten funding for these essential services. Cuts to federal funding don’t just affect WXXI—they impact your family’s access to high-quality, free educational programming and resources. 

    That’s why we need you to speak up. If PBS, PBS KIDS, and public media matter to your family, now is the time to act. 

    📢 Take Action Now: bit.ly/ProtectWXXI 

    Every message sent, every story shared, and every show of support makes a difference. Decisions made in the coming weeks could impact public media for years to come. Let’s make sure our community’s voice is heard loud and clear. 

    A message from you—can make a difference – whether it’s sharing your family’s experience, telling your representatives why PBS KIDS matters, or spreading the word on social media. Public media has been a trusted resource for generations, and with your support, we can ensure it remains strong for the next generation. 

    Thank you for being part of the WXXI family. Your voice, your advocacy, and your support mean everything. 

    Warm Regards

    Chris Hastings 
    President & CEO
    WXXI Public Media 

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