Educational Programming Highlights
~ OCTOBER 2012 ~
Idaho Public Television offers these programming highlights and information to assist you in providing
a rich learning environment for your students. If you are not receiving this newsletter via email, send
us an email at learn@idahoptv.org and we will send it to you each month of the school year.
Be sure to explore Scout LearningMedia if you haven’t already. Thousands of web-based, classroomready videos and interactives are free and easy to use. Go to http://scout.lili.org to gain access.
ELECTION 2012
The PBS LearningMedia Election 2012 Collection offers resources for K-12 classrooms with a
primary focus on middle and high school. Visit http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/election to find out
more about:
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multimedia lesson plans from Frontline, Need to Know, POV and other PBS programs
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/election/lessonplans
a multimedia glossary of election-related key phrases and terms
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/election/glossary/
games and interactives, including “Inside the Voting Booth” for grades 3 – 8
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/election/games/
and more!
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PBS NEWSHOUR. Airs weeknights at 6:00 pm. The website http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra
features these great lesson plans and much more for your October curriculum.
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Presidential Election 2012: Who's Going to Win?
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/politics/vote2012/election_0917.html
Analyzing the Candidates in the 2012 Presidential Election
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/politics/vote2012/vote2012_candida
tes_08-10.html
Race to Watch: Campaign 2012. The Role of Technology and the Internet
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/politics/vote2012/vote2012_internet.
html
The programs listed below air on Idaho Public Television on our “Idaho” channel (subchannel 1), and
can be recorded for use in the classroom. Additional educational programming can also be found on
our “Learn/Create” channel (subchannel 3) if you receive our over-the-air digital signal or receive this
channel on your cable or satellite system. Most programs listed below are accompanied by teacher
guides on the accompanying websites. A calendar with additional programs, professional
development courses, telecourses and more can be found at
http://www.idahoptv.org/learn/toolbox.cfm. **Time zones are MT/PT where two times are shown.
FOR ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS
Math & Science:
D4K: SOUND. Airs Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 2:00/1:00 pm. Join Joan and her guests this month, Dr. Steve
Shropshire and Dr. Kathryn Devine, as they answer questions about sound. The guests will talk about
what this form of energy can do and how it fills our ears with sensations that can be both soothing
and enjoyable or annoying and painful. http://www.idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/ (30 min)
All D4K programs will now be taped, but Joan and her guest scientists will still take questions from
students via email, smart phones and webcams. The D4K topics for the 2012-13 school year and the
deadline to submit questions for each show are:
November 20: Dinosaurs (deadline has passed)
December 18: The Nervous System (deadline 10/1)
January 15: Electricity (deadline 11/1)
February 19: Nutrition (deadline 12/1)
March 19: Bears (deadline 1/1)
April 16: Light and Color (deadline 2/1)
May 21: Bees (deadline 3/1)
SCI GIRLS. Airs Oct. 3, 4 & 10 at 1:00/12:00 am. This program and its interactive website will
transform the way tween girls look at science, technology, engineering and math. The four topics
each day are: turtles, puppets, dolphins, archeology (10/3), horses, wind, fashion, cooking (10/4),
ocean reefs, robots, recycling, light pollution (10/10). http://pbskids.org/scigirls (4 x 30 min)
NASA “WHY” FILES/NASA SCIENCE FILES. Airs Tuesdays at 3:00/2:00 am. This program
emphasizes the integration of mathematics, science, and technology for young viewers. October
episodes: The Case of the Disappearing Dirt (10/2), The Case of the Prize-Winning Plants (10/9),
Case of the Radical Ride (10/16), The Case of the Great Space Exploration (10/23), The Case of the
Ocean Odyssey (10/30). http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/treehouse.html (60 min)
History:
HISTORY DETECTIVES KIDS. This companion website to the History Detectives program (see
below) is geared towards kids ages 8-12. It contains educational resources designed to help kids get
the most out of the program. Educator resources and additional age appropriate content can be found
at http://www.pbskids.org/historydetectives.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. The American Experience website includes a section with a format
designed especially for kids called WayBack: U.S. History for Kids. The web pages accompany many
of the American Experience programs airing each month, and include resources for parents and
teachers. Topics include civil rights, U.S. Presidents, the gold rush, and more. Check it out at
http://www.pbskids.org/wayback/
Music, Art & Literature:
THE ELECTRIC COMPANY. Airs weekdays at 3:00/2:00 pm. This program teaches children ages 6
to 9 crucial areas of literacy: decoding, vocabulary, comprehension of connected text, and motivation.
Check out the educator tools at http://www.pbs.org/parents/electriccompany/ (30 min)
WORDGIRL. Airs weekdays at 3:30/2:30 pm. WordGirl aims to enrich children’s vocabularies and
close the gap between those who don’t grow up in language rich environments and those who do.
The program is for everyone, but mainly ages 4 to 9. Teacher lesson plans and activities can be
found at http://www.pbs.org/parents/wordgirl/ (30 min)
FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS
Math & Science:
NOVA. Airs Wednesdays at 8:00 pm. NOVA is the highest rated science series on television, and the
most watched documentary series on public television. October topics:
elevators (10/3 @ 9:00 pm), Vikings’ swords (10/10), forensics (10/17), Otzi the Iceman (10/24),
Machu Picchu (10/31). Repeats Mondays at 1:00/12:00 am. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova (60 min)
NOVA scienceNOW. Airs Wednesdays at 9:00 pm. This science series features timely science and
technology stories in each episode. October topics: human traits (10/10), criminal minds (10/17),
intelligence (10/24), edible foods (10/31). http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow Repeats
Saturdays at 4:00/3:00 pm. Visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow for more information. (60
min)
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN FRONTIERS. Airs Tuesdays at 2:00/1:00 am. Host Alan Alda takes us from
the depths of the conscious mind to the outer reaches of the universe. Each program is accompanied
by an online teaching guide filled with science activities. October topics: hidden motives & secret
canyon (10/2), neuroplasticity (10/9), extraordinary human feats (10/16), big questions (10/23),
human heart (10/30). http://www.pbs.org/saf/index.html (60 min)
NATURE. Airs Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. NATURE brings the beauty and wonder of the natural world
into homes, and is the benchmark for natural history programs on American television. October
topics: Siberian tiger (10/10), wolverine (10/17), snowy owl (10/24), raccoons (10/31).
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature Repeats Sundays and Tuesdays at 1:00/12:00 am (60 min)
Social Studies, History and Economics:
HISTORY DETECTIVES. Airs Tuesdays, Oct. 2 & 9 at 8:00 pm. Investigative techniques give new
and sometimes shocking insights into our national history. The web site has information on how to
conduct your own historical investigations, video, lesson plans and much more.
http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives. (60 min)
BIZ KID$. Airs Mondays at 3:00/2:00 am. This program shows kids how to make and manage money.
The website http://www.bizkids.com has many resources for kids, parents and teachers. (2 x 30 min)
FREE RESOURCES FOR TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY. A special collection of educational
digital media resources for use in school and home learning environments to help students
understand complex economic concepts is now available. Access, Analyze, Act: From Economic
Theory to Financial Reality is available for free at http://www.pbs.org/teachers/access-analyze-acteconomy
PBS NEWSHOUR. Airs weeknights at 6:00 pm. The online NewsHour Extra provides unique current
events resources for busy teachers, news stories, pictures, maps, video, in-depth lesson plans,
stories written by students and more. http://www.pbs.org/newshour
Music, Art & Literature:
MASTERPIECE TEACHER GUIDES. A completely updated guide “Film in the Classroom”, created
for Masterpiece's 40th anniversary, offers fresh ideas and innovative activities for teaching film in
today's digital environment. Browse the entire selection of online teacher guides at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/teachers/index.html
FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS
THE PARENTS’ SURVIVAL GUIDE: CHILDHOOD OBESITY. Airs Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 1:00/12:00
am. This program addresses the multi-faceted solutions to this growing pediatric health problem,
specifically the role parents can play as the "first line of defense" in their children's nutrition and
fitness. http://parentssurvivalguide.org (60 min)
AUTISM: COMING OF AGE. Airs Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 2:00/1:00 am. In the next 10 to 15 years, an
estimated 800,000 children with autism will age out of the school system and transition into
adulthood. They will look to ill-prepared state and federal governments for the support services and
resources to meet their many needs. http://www.massmutual.com/comingofage (60 min)
DECODING AUTISM. Airs Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 2:00/1:00 am. Autism spectrum disorder is
diagnosed more than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. This special
looks at the devastating disorder that leaves families heartbroken, vulnerable and desperate for
answers. http://www.njn.net/television/specials/decodingautism (60 min)
LIVING WITH FRAGILE X. Airs Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 1:00/12:00 am. A rare and intimate look at the
lives of several families who live with a member affected by fragile X syndrome, the leading cause of
inherited mental disability and the leading known cause of autism. http://www.livingwithfragilex.com
(60 min)
AUTISM: MAKING IT WORK. Airs Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 2:00/1:00 am. This program explores the
growing needs of adolescents and young adults with autism. In 1991 the number of autism cases
began to increase sharply, and that population is now exiting the school system to enter the general
population. http://www.kvcr.org/TV/Initiatives/Autism_Initiative (60 min)
TEACHING CHANNEL. Airs Thursdays at 3:00/2:00 am. Teaching Channel takes you inside
America's K-12 classrooms with programs that showcase inspiring and effective teaching practices.
For detailed topic information and to subscribe to the newsletter, visit http://www.teachingchannel.org/
(30 min)
GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS. Media literacy experts have created a guide that simplifies the legalities
of using copyrighted materials in an academic setting. The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for
Media Literacy Education can be found online at
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/fair_use_and_teaching
WORKSHOPS BEGINNING THIS MONTH
SOCIAL STUDIES IN ACTION: A METHODOLOGY WORKSHOP, K-5. Airs Fridays, October 12 to
November 30 at 1:00/12:00 am. This video workshop provides a methodology framework for teaching
social studies, with a focus on creating effective citizens. The program features teachers exploring
ways to connect social studies to the world beyond the classroom.
http://www.learner.org/resources/series176.html (8 x 60 min)
Thanks for reading!
IDPTV Learning Services