WXXI

Go Public

Early Education

Ready Jet Go!: Videos, Games & Activities

Play games and watch full episodes of Ready Jet Go!: https://pbskids.org/readyjetgo

Curiosity about space starts very early. And who better to ask about space than someone who’s actually been there – an alien boy named Jet Propulsion! “Ready Jet Go!” a series for children ages 5 to 8, is a kid’s first introduction to space, earth science, and technology. It’s all presented in an entertaining and engaging way that will inspire a life-long interest. Jet and his Earth friends explore the solar system and how it affects our planet, all while learning about friendship and teamwork.

Where to Watch:

WXXI Education Favorites
Here are a some of our favorite Ready Jet Go! Activities: 

Ready Jet Go! Collections from PBS LearningMedia

Learn more at the PBS KIDS for Parents Ready Jet Go! Show Page

Watch Ready Jet Go! Compilation: Let’s Go To Space

Splash and Bubbles: Songs, Videos & Activities

Play games and watch full episodes of Splash and Bubbles: https://pbskids.org/splashandbubbles

Dive in and follow the adventures of Splash, a yellowback fusilier fish who has swum all over the ocean before settling in Reeftown in the preschool series “Splash and Bubbles!” There he befriends Bubbles, a Mandarin dragonet whose vivid coloring matches her personality. Together, Splash and Bubbles explore the world’s undersea habitats, make new friends, and learn about the many different ways life looks and lives in the ocean — celebrating the importance of diversity along the way.

WXXI Favorite Activities:

See Games, Activities and Videos from the Splash and Bubbles Series at PBS KIDS

Learn more about the series, articles, activities and games at PBS KIDS for Parents: Splash and Bubbles Show Page

Splash and Bubbles Videos Playlist

Nature Cat: Songs, Videos & Activities

Play games and watch full episodes of Nature Cat on https://pbskids.org/naturecat

“Nature Cat,” a series for children ages 3 to 7, follows Fred, a house cat who dreams of exploring the great outdoors. Once his family leaves for the day, Fred transforms into Nature Cat: “backyard explorer extraordinaire!” He can’t wait to get outside for a day of nature adventures and bravery! There’s just one problem: he’s still a house cat with no instincts for nature! With the help of his animal friends, Nature Cat goes on action-packed adventures full of nature investigation and humor, all while inspiring children to go outside and experience nature.

WXXI Favorite Activities:

See Games, Activities and Videos from the Nature Cat Series at PBS KIDS

Learn more about the series, articles, activities and games at PBS KIDS for Parents: Nature Cat Show Page

Nature Cat Videos Playlist

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™: Songs, Videos & Activities

Play games and watch full episodes of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ on https://pbskids.org/catinthehat

“The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™” is designed to spark a love of learning and an interest in science and engineering in preschoolers. The Cat in the Hat takes his friends Sally and Nick on a variety of science adventures in the Thinga-ma-jigger! Together, they explore the natural world, ask questions, make discoveries, create solutions, and work together!

WXXI Education Favorites
Here are a few of our favorite “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™” Activities

Create Leaf and Bark Art

Measure Things Without A Ruler

Make a Periscope with a Milk Carton

Find More Activities with Ready to Learn: “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™” PBS LearningMedia Collection

Find More Games, Articles and Hands-on Activities At PBS KIDS for Parents “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™” Page

Engineering & STEM Challenges

Are you sharing STEM challenges with your students? Creating maker or tinker days? Here’s a list of resources, by grade level, focused on engineering and STEM challenges. 

Engineering and STEM design challenges are great opportunities for students to shine – there are many roles for all different kinds of learners, there are lots of opportunity for problem solving, students can work independently and collaborate, and they work great with same-age and mulit-age groups.

Engineering is a process of developing solutions to problems. Engineers use creativity, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of technology, math, and science to design and build products, machines, and structures for a better world. They explore why and how things work, and try to figure out how to make things work even better. STEM & engineering design challenges do the same.

Engineering & STEM Challenges:

Preschool – 2nd Grade

3rd – 5th Grade

6-8th Grade 

9-12th Grade

What is the Engineering Design Process?

The Engineering Process: Crash Course Kids

The Engineering Design Process: A Taco Party

Engineering Design Process Explainers

The Design Process Explained on PBS LearningMedia

Engineering Resources

A project-based learning unit for middle school science classrooms focused on developing solutions for negative impacts of plastics on the environment. In this NGSS-aligned unit, students use the engineering design process to define a problem, brainstorm solutions, develop prototypes and iterate on their designs. The project culminates with students producing videos about their solutions to share with the community. Connect to Engineering for Good

A one-stop shop of STEM and digital making resources that focus on the problem, technology, or process behind object creation. Teachers can use the collection, which is categorized into design, how to (DIY), arts and crafts, robotics, and engineering subtopics, in conjunction with hands-on activities to further this initiative. Like the Maker Party, this collection is designed to encourage hands-on engagement in science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts.
Connect to Makers

Teaching Engineering in New York is a collection of resources that shows real-world applications of engineering concepts and practices and is correlated to New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS). These media-rich resources and accompanying support materials cover disciplinary core ideas from ecosystems to energy. Use the resources to help your students gain a stronger understanding of how the engineering design process seamlessly melds with science concepts from life, earth, and physical sciences. Connect to Teaching Engineering in NY

Scavenger Hunts with PBS KIDS

Here are some scavenger hunts from your favorite PBS KIDS friends to do while you’re out and about! Have fun with scavenger hunts to use outside, inside, or while playing pretend. We’ve created a few and shared some from your favorite PBS KIDS series. 

Click on the name of the scavenger hunt or the image to open the full activity. Feel free to save, print, or use on your mobile device!

Daniel Tiger’s Color Hunt
Daniel Tiger loves learning about his neighborhood and looking for colors! Go on a walk in your neighborhood with Daniel Tiger and look for the colors below. Make up your own color walk on the back!

Peg + Cat’s Count & Seek
Peg + Cat have a REALLY BIG PROBLEM! They need YOUR help to find things outside…like A LOT of things! Can you help them by finding the items on their list?

Daniel Tiger’s I Spy
Play “I Spy” with your kiddos while you’re out and about. A simple activity like this can help build vocabulary and promote curiosity! What do you spy?

I Spy with Daniel Tiger

Wild Kratts Wild & Seek
The Kratt Brothers love learning about animals and nature! How many of these animal friends and nature items can you find?

More Scavenger Hunts from PBS KIDS

Take A Family Break Videos, Activities & Songs

Sometimes you need to take a quick break to help calm down and give your brain an opportunity to reset. That’s exactly what WXXI’s Family Breaks are!

WXXI partnered with University of Rochester Medical Center’s Dr. Elizabeth Murray to create this series of Family Breaks – short, brain breaks that show grownups and kids how to de-stress and play quick games inside (or outside!). 

These special Family Breaks can be seen on WXXI-TV and WXXI KIDS 24/7 channels, as well as right here. WXXI Education has also pulled together some additional resources (below each video) in case you’d like to try some more connected activities. Check them out!

Stretching:

More resources:

Belly Breathing:

More resources:

Go on a Color Hunt:

More resources:

Counting Game: 

More resources:

Play Freeze Dance:

More resources:

Play I Spy:

More resources:

Storytelling: 

More resources:

Build a Fort:

More resources:

Watch the Full Playlist Here

Bright By Text: For Parents of 0-11 year olds

Parents and caregivers can join Bright by Text to get custom age specific texts for  their child (0-11 years old) Bright by Text, a national parent texting program, to put expert tips, games, activities, child development and media use information directly into the hands of parents and caregivers based on their children’s ages.  

This unique resource supports children and families.The texting service includes topics like brain development, games and activities, health and wellness, STEM, safety and more. Bright by Text partners with experts like PBS KIDS, Vroom, Sesame Street, CDC, and others to develop content for families with children aged prenatal to age eleven. 

What: FREE texting service with activities, videos, and resources to support children. Receive 2 to 4 text messages per week, and each message includes a link to a landing page with more detail, short videos, and related resources.

Who: Parents and caregivers with children prenatal to 11 years old. 

Where: Families in WXXI’s viewing area in Rochester and across the Finger Lakes.

* * * SIGN UP * *

 To sign up, text the word PBSKIDS to 274448

More Information About Bright by Text

Bright by Text helps parents and caregivers make the most out of time at home with their children by illustrating fun and easy activities, providing positive parenting tips and resources, and even video content to guide a child’s development. The program is proven to build nurturing caregiver-child relationships, and positively impact a child’s healthy development and school readiness. Innovative services like Bright by Text help provide equitable solutions to early education while schools remain closed. 

  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Developmental tips based on the due date or age of a child
  • Curated content from partners such as PBS, Vroom, and Sesame Street in Communities
  • Timely information about local resources and events from community organizations
  • Extended learning materials, short modeling videos, and related resources
  • Help parents (including expectant parents), grandparents, babysitters, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends, teachers and anyone else supporting young children
  • Provide developmental tips based on a child’s age (families may sign up multiple kids!)
  • Link to more online learning materials, including videos you can access on any smartphone
  • Deliver info on challenging behaviors (sleep, eating, potty training, tantrums) when you need it most
  • Give you encouragement! Caring for little ones is hard. Sometimes a “you got this” goes a long way.
  • Build confidence. More than 95% of Bright by Text subscribers indicate they feel more confident and informed about their child’s development as a result of our messages.

¿Estás cuidando a un niño pequeño?

Bright by Text es para cualquier persona que cuide y ame a un niño, desde la etapa prenatal hasta los 11 años de edad: padres, futuros padres, abuelos, niñeras, tías, tíos, vecinos, amigos, profesores y más.

Bright by Text puede ayudar!

Enviamos mensajes de texto gratis con consejos y actividades fáciles y prácticas directamente a tu teléfono móvil. Nuestro contenido es de colaboradores de confianza como PBS y Barrio Sésamo. Los mensajes están orientados a la edad de tu hijo e incluyen información sobre el desarrollo, el lenguaje y la alfabetización temprana, la salud y la seguridad, consejos para el comportamiento y mucho más.

Inscríbete aquí:

Sólo te pedimos la fecha de nacimiento y el código postal de tu hijo. De este modo, recibirás mensajes adaptados a su edad exacta e información sobre eventos y recursos locales. Nunca compartiremos tus datos. Bright by Text es completamente gratuito, pero pueden aplicarse tarifas de mensajes y datos.

Keep informed about what’s happening in your community and WXXI by signing up for our newsletters.

Sign Up