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Public Media for Central Pennsylvania

 

monarch butterflies in grass
Activity of the Week

How to Make a Seed Ball 

Posted on March 25, 2022

Learn about Monarch butterflies, the host plants they need, and how to make a seed ball with Iowa PBS and the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa. Continue »

 

woman standing next to images of famous women
Activity of the Week

Fearless Female Scientists 

Posted on March 18, 2022

Margaret introduces us to female scientists who pushed past prejudices to make amazing discoveries – Marie Curie, Marie Tharp and Jane Goodall.    Continue »

 

math mess and people in costume
Activity of the Week

Math Mess 

Posted on March 11, 2022

A “Math Mess” is an everyday problem that requires an inquisitive mind, determination and a little number sense to solve. Math Messes can pop up when you least expect them — and in each short, animated Math Mess video, you’ll meet some mathematically-challenged characters who are right smack in the middle of one.    Continue »

 

Activity of the Week

Womens Suffrage in the Progressive Era 

Posted on March 9, 2022

In this interactive lesson you’ll learn about the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the Progressive Era. Explore the factors that led to a demand for social and economic change by examining the life and work of two influential women’s rights leaders of this era–Mary Church Terrell and Jeannette Rankink.    Continue »

 

great american read
Activity of the Week

The Great American Read

Posted on February 25, 2022

Explore and celebrate the power of reading. Investigate how and why writers create their fictional worlds, how we as readers are affected by these stories, and what different books have to say about our diverse nation and our shared human experience. Continue »

 

girl holding a bottle with green liquid
Your Learning Neighborhood

Backwash

Posted on February 25, 2022

Does saliva really wash back into the milk carton from your mouth when you take a drink? Test it for yourself using powdered drink mix and see what happens! Continue »

 

man behind a contraption
Activity of the Week

Water A Plant Challenge

Posted on February 21, 2022

Follow along with this engineering challenge to create a contraption to water a plant from 3 feet away with this Growing Great video from Camp TV, then try it out for yourself. Continue »

 

owl face up close
Your Learning Neighborhood

Owl Pellets

Posted on February 15, 2022

Can you determine what’s in an owl’s food chain? Find out what’s on an owl’s menu by dissecting an owl pellet – a regurgitated ball of undigested food that is part of an owl’s digestive process. Try it! Continue »

 

cartoon of Lincoln with constitution
Activity of the Week

Election Foundations

Posted on February 15, 2022

In this video, students are introduced to why we have presidential elections in the United States. They will learn what a constitutional democracy is and how the government gets its power from the consent of its citizens. Continue »

 

civil rights movement protesters
Activity of the Week

The Civil Rights Movement

Posted on January 31, 2022

Brimming with comprehensive, cross-curricular content, this virtual collection invites students into an engaging exploration of some of the most significant events of the Civil Rights Movement. Continue »

 

blood plateletes in a blood vessel
Activity of the Week

Blood | Science Trek

Posted on January 26, 2022

This video segment from IdahoPTV’s Science Trek defines the 4 parts of blood and shows the rest of the circulatory system. Discover where blood is made, how long a blood cell lives, what blood types are, why blood is red, and what a transfusion is. Continue »

 

presenter speaking to students about a mural
Activity of the Week

Arbeit Macht Frei: Murals of the Holocaust

Posted on January 18, 2022

Jeff Jamner is the son of Holocaust survivors. In this video segment, Jamner examines a mural that depicts the entrance to a concentration camp with its sign, “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Makes You Free). Continue »

 

child playing with slime
Your Learning Neighborhood

Smooshy Slime

Posted on January 9, 2022

Who doesn’t love slime? Slime is oobleck’s ooey-gooey cousin, and another example of a non-Newtonian fluid. When all of the ingredients in this activity are combined you get a squishy substance that is fun to stretch, shape, and smoosh. Try it! Continue »

 

close up image of a virus
Activity of the Week

Are Viruses Germs?

Posted on December 31, 2021

What we call “germs” are actually a group of different kinds of microscopic organisms. What are they and what steps should you take to protect yourself? Continue »

 

meringue tops
Your Learning Neighborhood

Marvelous Meringues 

Posted on December 10, 2021

Beating egg whites causes an amazing change. When you add sugar and bake them, more changes happen! Go from slimy egg white to fluffy foam to a crunchy solid and delicious cookie while learning about the science behind the marvelous meringue.    Continue »

 

small dinosaur in front of a homemade snow globe
Activity of the Week

Homemade Snow Globe 

Posted on December 10, 2021

What does your winter wonderland look like? Bring it to life by creating your own snow globe.    Continue »

 

girl holding a cup of orange juice
Your Learning Neighborhood

Dental Decay 

Posted on December 3, 2021

Tooth enamel is tough but can be eroded by acids in your mouth. Test the acid levels in your favorite drinks with pH test strips, then soak shark teeth or eggshells in each drink to see if the acid weakens tooth enamel. Try it!    Continue »

 

holiday cookies
Activity of the Week

Interfaith Holiday Traditions 

Posted on November 26, 2021

When Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same day, interfaith families who observe both holidays face an unusual challenge. Learn how one interfaith family balances their two faiths.    Continue »

 

Mother and daughter eating cookies
Activity of the Week

Holiday Food Traditions From Around the World 

Posted on November 19, 2021

Many of us treasure our holiday food traditions, especially if there’s a family recipe that has been passed down through the generations. Explore food traditions enjoyed by families around the world during the holidays, and maybe add some new recipes to your holiday traditions!    Continue »

 

girl in yoga pose
Your Learning Neighborhood

Blood Pressure 

Posted on November 19, 2021

Do you know what your blood pressure is? Learn how to use a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure. Can different activities change blood pressure? Gather a group of friends and try it!    Continue »

 

pumpkin coffee cup and small pumpkins
Activity of the Week

Why Is Pumpkin Spice So Good? 

Posted on November 12, 2021

Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice cookies, pumpkin spice cereal… why is it in the fall we just can’t get enough of the good stuff? Margaret shares why we love everything pumpkin spice.    Continue »

 

Veteran's Day
Activity of the Week

All About the Holidays: Veterans’ Day 

Posted on November 5, 2021

Veteran’s Day is a national day of remembrance to honor military veterans across the country. Learn why and how the day became a national day of observance!     Continue »

 

native american heritage collection
Activity of the Week

Native American Heritage Collection

Posted on October 29, 2021

 Take a look at Indigenous art, history, and culture as told through the historians, artists, students, and scientists in this featured resource collection.    Continue »

 

energy carousel experiement
Your Learning Neighborhood

Energy Carousel 

Posted on October 25, 2021

Have you ever ridden on a carousel or merry-go-round at an amusement park? Usually, these rides are powered by electricity, but you can make your own carousel toy while exploring some basic energy concepts.    Continue »

 

pipe cleaner pumpkins activity
Activity of the Week

Pipe Cleaner Pumpkins 

Posted on October 25, 2021

What kind of pumpkin can your child create with this fun and easy Halloween decoration activity? 🎃 All you need are some pipe cleaners and scissors to get started!     Continue »

 

mars egg lander
Your Learning Neighborhood

Mars Egg Lander 

Posted on October 17, 2021

How do you drop an egg without breaking it? NASA faced a huge challenge when they safely landed the Mars Exploration Rovers on the surface of Mars. Can you design a capsule that would protect a raw egg dropped from several stories to the ground? Try it!    Continue »

 

your brain on books
Activity of the Week

Your Brain on Books 

Posted on October 17, 2021

Turns out reading isn’t just about getting a good story! Margaret explains the benefits of reading, including increased vocabulary and empathy. Watch the video together and then discuss using the included discussion questions.    Continue »

 

Learning from the People
Activity of the Week

Community Stories 

Posted on October 13, 2021

Explore this collection of videos celebrating the stories and traditions of indigenous people from Hawai’i, Alaska, Mississippi, and Massachusetts.    Continue »

 

Activity of the Week

What is Empathy? 

Posted on October 1, 2021

When Arthur takes his teasing too far, it upsets Sue Ellen. Can Arthur find a way to apologize for bullying Sue Ellen and save their friendship? Explore the topic of empathy in this interactive comic, So Funny I Forgot to Laugh, based on the characters and storyline from the PBS children’s series ARTHUR.    Continue »

 

Activity of the Week

Why Do We Have Seasons? 

Posted on September 24, 2021

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.    Continue »

 

latino americans
Activity of the Week

Latino Americans

Posted on September 17, 2021

Explore the history, people and issues chronicled in the PBS series, Latino Americans in this collection of lesson plans and videos. Continue »