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Early Education

Talking with Kids About News & Emergencies

WXXI Education curated a list of resources to help adults (parents, caregivers, educators) discuss emergencies, news headlines and when tragedy strikes. 

Resources for: Younger Children | Older Students

Learn how to use discussion prompts, media, songs, books and activities to calm young people’s fears, stimulate their minds, and encourage them to think about their place in today’s world. This list includes the best in public media resources from PBS KIDS for Parents, Arthur, Mister Rogers, Sesame Street in Communities, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, PBS Newshour Extra and PBS LearningMedia to assist you. 

For Younger Children

These resources are appropriate for students PreK-5th grade.

Arthur and Daniel Tiger: When Something Scary Happens: Resources to Help Families in Your Community Cope in Emergencies and Other Challenging Times

PBS KIDS: When Something Scary Happens
These resources to help families cope in emergencies and other challenging times. The collection includes helpful items from Daniel Tiger and Arthur, such as:

  • How to make a family plan for emergencies
  • Video clips, songs and discussions when scary things happen
  • Activities and books to help with emotions and understanding.

PBS KIDS for Parents Talking with Kids About the News: 

Sesame Street in Communities Toolkits:

  • Community Violence: It’s hard to know how to help young children understand and cope with the effects of violence, but there are ways to help them feel safer and more secure… and build hope for a more peaceful, kinder future.
  • Handling Emergencies: Help parents and caregivers speak with children about emergencies and prepare in advance.
  • When Families Grieve: Presents families’ personal stories about coping with the death of a parent and difficult life transitions as well as strategies that have helped these families move forward.
  • Traumatic Experiences: Caring grown-ups can help lessen the effects of trauma and show children they’re not alone.
NPR

NPR
This list of resources includes articles and listening opportunities for adults that support children – focusing on how to approach talking about “terrible things” and strategies for having meaningful conversations about difficult topics. 

For Older Students

These resources are appropriate for middle and high school level students. 

PBS Newshour

PBS NewsHour Resources:

  • PBS NewsHour Classroom Collection on PBS LearningMedia: This collection of daily and weekly news helps teachers and students identify the who, what, when, where, and why-it-matters of major national and international news stories. Created for educators to use with students in grades 7-12, the Latest News Story takes the best of the PBS NewsHour news program and pairs it with discussion questions, lesson plans, and stories developed specifically for students. Topics such as Civics and Social Studies, Media Literacy, STEM, English, Arts & Culture, Lessons and Activities give you the toolkit you need. to work with students. 
Above the Noise: Cut Through The Hype

KQED’s Above the Noise Collection:

  • Above the Noise Collection: Cutting Through The Hype: A collection of video prompts to disucss current issues of interest with teens. Above the Noise host Myles Bess takes viewers along on his journey to cut through the hype surrounding controversial topics in the news to find out what’s really going on. Topics are updated regularly and address what teens are hearing about and give them ways to engage, think critically, and consider issues of the day that have meaning for them. 
Student Mental Health Matters A Toolkit for Educators

Pinkalicious and Peterrific: Videos, Games & Activities

Play games and watch full episodes of Pinkalicious and Peterrific: https://pbskids.org/pinkalicious

Pinkalicious Pinkerton is unique, one of a kind, and pinkatastic (an original word by an original kid)! Together with their friends and neighbors in Pinkville, Pinkalicious and her younger brother Peter get into all kinds of artful adventures. Based on Victoria Kann’s best-selling picture book series, “Pinkalicious and Peterrific,” for kids ages 3 to 6, models the power of teamwork and creative thinking to solve problems — and very cool, often unexpected things occur when these colorful characters join forces!

Where to Watch:

WXXI Education Favorites
Here are a some of our favorite Pinkalicious & Peterrific Activities: 

PBS LearningMedia Collections

Watch More Episodes

Learn more at the PBS Parents Pinkalicious and Peterrific Show Page

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

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