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Public Media for Central Pennsylvania

Your Learning Neighborhood

Working with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the seven PBS stations across Pennsylvania joined together to create Your Learning Neighborhood, your connection to thousands of hours of education and entertaining videos, activities, lessons, and games to support you. You can find out more at pennsylvaniapbs.org, in addition to our resources below.

Teachers, parents and caregivers: please explore! We are in this #TogetherPennsylvania.

 

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Watch and Play

PBS Kids Activies Calendar

PBS KIDS Activities Calendar

Classroom Activities

Series Activities

Multicultural Children’s Festival

Make plans to bring your family to WPSU-TV and PBS KIDS’ Multicultural Children’s Festival and receive a PBS KIDS Passport booklet to visit the activity stations and learn about global cultures and people through art, music, crafts, activities, and food.

Saturday, April 6, from 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Solar Eclipse Glasses for Schools

WPSU Education is offering PreK-12 classrooms a set of solar eclipse glasses to use during the solar eclipse on April 8th! We have a limited number to giveaway and we will close the opportunity once our maximum number has been reached.

Reserve your FREE glasses by Friday, March 29

WPSU Education

illustration of master and apprentice

Career Readiness

In partnership with PA Department of Labor and Industry, WPSU has curated free content for parents, students, and educators that align to state career readiness standards. Here are top resources to help parents, students, and educators explore various careers.

2021 Humphrey Fellows with Lion Shrine

Explore the World with Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows

WPSU is delighted to have collaborated with the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows Office at Penn State to create a video series presented by the 2021 Humphrey Fellows. These educational videos, suited for classroom and community viewing, feature each fellow talking about their home country, its culture, history, and people.

Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings

“Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings” follows 13 young people in a genetics and genealogy camp as they explore their family history and DNA ancestry with techniques never before used in an educational setting.

Mapping the Pandemic

Geospatial Revolution

The Geospatial Revolution Project, from WPSU Penn State public broadcasting, provides schools with a look into GPS data gathering, which influences nearly everything. Explore these resources here!

young adult male behind tv camera

Media Production

WPSU creators share their tips and tricks on how to bring your story to life!

Mission: Materials Science

Materials science is the study of stuff— what it’s made of, how it can be used, and even how it can be changed to create new kinds of stuff. Your mission? To learn how materials science and engineering is at work all around you.

Science U at Home

Science-U@Home

Created by WPSU, Science-U@Home offers easy to advanced at-home science activities you can do with materials you have at home.

Big Sale Game

WPSU Games

Educational games by WPSU for all age levels.

WPSU Reads

The goal of WPSU Reads is to enrich our community through storytelling and sharing knowledge of Native American cultures through our network of community partners. Click continue to discover educational resources and find upcoming community events.

Virtual Summer Camp

WPSU Virtual Summer Camp

This summer your family can go on adventures to continents around the world and expeditions right in your backyard.

Classroom Activities

Arts: Music for Growing

Discover elements of music and explore sounds with Daniel Tiger! In this activity, children will observe different musical sounds by watching a clip from the Daniel Tiger episide “Katerina Gets Mad.” Then they can explore how music grows from low to high and use movement to relate it to how living things grow from small to large.

A black woman holding up a book titled "Small World."

English Language Arts: Let’s Share a Story – “Small World”

Read Small World with Darlene Thomas. This book, by Ishta Mercurio, is about a girl who becomes an astronaut. Students will explore the world through the experiences of the main character in the story.

A girl eating a sandwich.

Health & PE: The Morning Routine

Daniel nearly misses Trolley, but the morning song helps him remember what he needs to do: put on clothes, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes, and go to school! Teach kids the morning routine song so that they will not forget the essential steps to get ready for each day.

A black woman and girl holding a stack of blocks.

Math: Working with Patterns

Explore a variety of patterns with Trinette Carruthers and her daughter. Students will learn how to duplicate and extend patterns.

Science: How People Make Crayons

Viewers learn about the basic steps in making crayons in this live-action visit to a crayon factory. See crayons go from liquid wax into a mold that shapes them into the crayons children use at home and at school.

A cartoon girl on the beach collecting seashells.

Social Studies: Trades and Services

Rosie is making a seashell museum at the beach, but she needs to find a service to trade for Crystal’s purple seashell. By trying to get Crystal’s seashell Rosie learns that trading isn’t just swapping things; you can trade by doing actions, called services, too.

A cartoon dog standing on a bone over the words "feliz/happy."

World Language: Word of the Week

The word of the week is “feliz”! Use these resources for Spanish and English words presented by PBS KIDS Dot’s Spot.

Arts: Music & Pitch

Explore the question, “How do instruments make music?” with the help of Christopher Vivas from the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Then, use these video clips and accompanying lesson plan with students to learn about music and pitch.

Three cartoon characters stand in front of a picture of Zora Neale Hurston.

English Language Arts: Zora Neale Hurston

Brad has a problem: he is nervous about sharing a story he wrote. He travels back in time to meet Zora Neale Hurston, a famous writer, to learn how she shared her stories.

Three cartoon characters in front of a yellow background.

Health & PE: The Health Kids Project

The Healthy Kids Project uses song, movement, and animation in ten engaging lessons that support healthy choices and attitudes–teaching not only successful actions (limiting refined sugar, choosing water as a beverage, choosing fresh foods over processed foods), but also successful strategies (valuing the body, not letting past mistakes impede future success, taking one step at a time toward a goal, helping others to make good choices.)

Math: Chicken Dance Digital Game

Your child will learn to recognize and continue patterns in this digital game from Peg + Cat. The chickens want to get their groove on, but one of them keeps getting confused. After seeing the dance moves of the other chickens, use the pattern to help them figure out the missing move!

Science: Butterfly Life Cycle

Students explore how butterflies change and grow throughout their life cycle in this interactive lesson from NATURE. Through captivating video content and interactive activities, students will discover the amazing transformation process from a tiny caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.

Three cartoon characters stand in front of a picture of Helen Keller.

Social Studies: Helen Keller

Yadina has a problem: she’s having a hard time reading a book with a lot of words. So, Yadina and her friends travel back in time to meet Helen Keller.

A cartoon boy on water skiis.

World Languages: ¡Puedo! – I Can!

In this lesson, children will watch the webisode, play a fun “¡Puedo!: I can!” game and do other hands-on activities to learn new Spanish vocabulary.

Calder Kamin

Arts: Playing and Experimenting with Recycled Materials

Students will investigate the work of Calder Kamin, who infuses her artistic practice with playfulness. After viewing the video and engaging in discussion, students will plan imaginative creatures using ideas of hybrids as a theme. Students will review why the artist uses recycled materials in her work. Then students will play and experiment with recycled materials to further visualize features for their creatures. Finally, students will consider presenting a surprise in the manner of display of their artworks in school.

English Language Arts: Say What?!

Say What?! is a clever new digital series about animal expressions. The eight short videos and accompanying support materials below shed light on the funny backstories and meanings of idioms.

A white woman in a black top overlayed on a picture of female athletes.

Health & PE: Fierce Female Athletes

Mary shares about Ohio’s early female athletes, including Annie Oakley and our World War II softball team. Plus, she explains how Title IX opened the door for females to compete in all sorts of sports!

Math: Relationship of Division and Fractions

Explore the connection between division and fractions while dividing up cookies. This video focuses on recognizing patterns when modeling dividing up cookies to share with people.

Science: Why Do We Have Seasons?

Explore what causes seasons on Earth in this interactive adapted from NASA materials that features four cities at different latitudes. Use this resource to view how Earth’s axial tilt causes seasons from different perspectives and to develop and use models of sunlight received at Earth’s surface.

Social Studies: The Legend of the Lost Emerald – Searching for Shipwrecks in the Great Lakes

Take a deep dive into maritime mysteries in The Legend of the Lost Emerald adventure game! In the game, learners will use the same critical thinking and historical inquiry skills that maritime archaeologists use to recover the real treasure—the stories of shipwrecks inspired by real Great Lakes history.

A woman standing in front of a stone fireplace pointing her finger out.

World Languages: Why the Rooster Crows in the Morning (Porque el gallo canta en la mañana)

Storyteller Carrie Sue Ayvar tells a traditional Latino story that explains why roosters crow in the morning. The story is told in a combination of English and Spanish.

Arts: Sound Field

Sound Field is hosted by LA Buckner and Nahre Sol, accomplished musicians and music teachers exploring the music theory, production, history and culture behind our favorite songs and musical styles. Pop, classical, rap, jazz, electronic music, folk, country and indigenous music are covered with highlights on the connections between genres.

English Language Arts: Why Is Fake News So Effective?

This interactive lesson, based on the series Breaking Views, frames the controversial issues of fake news and trust in the media with the historical context of yellow journalism and sensationalist reporting. In addition to learning more about how fake news has evolved over the years, students will learn strategies for improving their media literacy and will be able to identify both credible and non-credible news sources. After they complete the lesson students will be better prepared to critically analyze media using the Five Key Questions of media literacy, which will become a point of enduring understanding that young people need in order to be better 21st century digital citizens in an era saturated by information.

A photograph of a black baseball player, William Hoy.

Health & PE: William Hoy, Deaf Major League Baseball Player

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources related to William Hoy’s baseball career. Discuss with students what problems William Hoy had playing baseball because he was deaf.

Math: Cryptology Files

Learners take on the role of cryptologists to decode clues using pre-algebraic substitution and order of operations. Can you crack the code and stop an international smuggling ring? The activity integrates geography and mathematics, and is best for grades 8 – 12.

Math: STEAM on Stage & Screen

Mounted in a 20,000 square foot retail store, Showstoppers! featured more than 100 of the entertainment industry’s most beautiful garments, while putting a spotlight on the makers and suppliers who create costumes seen around the world. It gives a unique look at the costume creation process through a STEM lens, creating a lot of STEAM!

Science: Why Do We Have Seasons?

Explore what causes seasons on Earth in this interactive adapted from NASA materials that features four cities at different latitudes. Use this resource to view how Earth’s axial tilt causes seasons from different perspectives and to develop and use models of sunlight received at Earth’s surface.

Social Studies: Belle da Costa Greene, Gilded Age Trailblazer

Learn about Belle da Costa Greene, the first private librarian and director of the JP Morgan Library, in this clip from the “Morgan Library and Museum” episode of Treasures of New York. Green defied sexist and racist expectations to become one of the most prominent librarians in history.

A woman standing in front of a stone fireplace pointing her finger out.

World Languages: Why the Rooster Crows in the Morning (Porque el gallo canta en la mañana)

Storyteller Carrie Sue Ayvar tells a traditional Latino story that explains why roosters crow in the morning. The story is told in a combination of English and Spanish.

Arts: Sound Field

Sound Field is hosted by LA Buckner and Nahre Sol, accomplished musicians and music teachers exploring the music theory, production, history and culture behind our favorite songs and musical styles. Pop, classical, rap, jazz, electronic music, folk, country and indigenous music are covered with highlights on the connections between genres.

English Language Arts: Why Is Fake News So Effective?

This interactive lesson, based on the series Breaking Views, frames the controversial issues of fake news and trust in the media with the historical context of yellow journalism and sensationalist reporting. In addition to learning more about how fake news has evolved over the years, students will learn strategies for improving their media literacy and will be able to identify both credible and non-credible news sources. After they complete the lesson students will be better prepared to critically analyze media using the Five Key Questions of media literacy, which will become a point of enduring understanding that young people need in order to be better 21st century digital citizens in an era saturated by information.

Health & PE: Shape Your Understanding of Vapes

Debunk myths about vaping with Idaho students. How much nicotine is in one vape pod? What is the effect of vaping on your blood pressure and heart rate? What is in the aerosol produced by vapes, and what do they do to your body? Are the effects of vaping really that bad? Find out the facts.

A drawing of Sophie Germain on a coin.

Math: Math’s Hidden Woman

A brilliant Frenchwoman named Sophie Germain assumed a man’s identity in order to pursue her mathematical passion. This article from NOVA focuses on how Germain got interested in mathematics, the challenges she encountered as a female mathematician and scientist in the 18th century, and her contributions to modern science.

Science: Energy in a Roller Coaster Ride

This interactive roller coaster ride produced by WGBH illustrates the relationship between potential and kinetic energy. As the coaster cars go up and down the hills and around the loop of the track, a pie chart shows how the relative transformation back and forth between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.

Social Studies: To Kill a Mockingbird – Southern Reaction 1960

This video from American Masters: Harper Lee: Hey, Boo describes what life was like for those who challenged the system of segregation in the South in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Highlighting observations from cultural and literary icons as well as average American citizens, this video features important commentary that addresses the issues presented in To Kill a Mockingbird and how the public reacted to the novel when it was first published in 1960.

A picture of the Colosseum behind the text "The Latin Grammar Collection."

World Languages: Latin Grammar

Latin Grammar is a collection of resources for teaching Latin to high school students. The collection includes video explanations which are designed to enhance language learning and display numerous examples of the Latin language. The collection also includes activities for practicing each concept and a comprehensive course glossary.

These resources are curated monthly based on new PBS LearningMedia content and recent events.

Grown-ups

anti-racism

Anti-Racism Resources

A growing list of resources from PBS and trusted partners, to use as tools to support anti-racist learning and growth. Free and open for all. (pdf)

child's hand stacking colorful blocks

Centre County Services for Children Birth to Five

Centre County Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) resource book, a guide to services and supports for children birth to five (0-5).

headshot Sonia

How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism

Sonia Manzano, known as Maria on Sesame Street, will speak about how parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and those working with children can learn how to talk to kids about race.

PBS Kids Daily Newsletter

PBS Kids Weekly Newsletter

Tips and activities to keep your kids engaged and learning while at home.

PBS Parents

PBS Parents Website

Find parenting tips, hands-on activities, games, and apps for grades PreK-3 to help you raise kind, curious, and resilient children.

Sesame Street in Communities

Sesame Street in Communities

Hundreds of multi-media tools to help kids and families enrich and expand their knowledge during the early years of birth through six.