Get Kids Ready for the Election with PBS

 

We are three weeks away from the 2020 presidential election. Some may wonder how to tackle this challenging topic with their children as they prepare for an election year like no other. 

PBS LearningMedia and PBS KIDS provides many resources for parents and educators to successfully engage children – young and old – on the topics of voting and civics. 

• Explain how grownups vote with Daniel Tiger: To help young children understand voting and the process of doing so, what better way for them to learn than alongside their neighbor, Daniel Tiger? If voting in-person this year, this video resource can familiarize young children with the voting process before they join their parent at the polls, with a step-by-step guide on how grownups vote.
• Share a history lesson and make informed predictions with The Election Collection: Parents and educators of middle and high school-aged kids can help them not only keep up with election news, but also learn about the history and process of presidential elections with this collection of videos and activities. The interactive Electoral Decoder, for example, allows learners to explore electoral college results from previous elections, and predict the outcome of the upcoming election.
• Talk about civics in an age-appropriate way: This guide provides parents and caregivers of children aged 2-8 tips and tricks to best talk with their young about voting and civic engagement, all the while improving their reading, art and math skills in the process. 

PBS KIDS has been providing parents, caregivers, and educators resources for decades. As we all adjust to new ways of learning, what better way than to turn to PBS KIDS for ideas, activities, and information. 

Fall Guide to At-Home Learning from PBS

Teaching kids from home isn't always easy for parents and caregivers. Thankfully, PBS KIDS and PBS LearningMedia have created new and updated resources to support parents as they facilitate learning through the end of the year.

Check out this sample fall syllabus with activities and resources tied to holidays and major events from October to December.

October

• INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY (OCT 12): Explore Alaska Native culture this Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the kitchen by making a new recipe with PBS KIDS’ MOLLY OF DENALI
• THE ELECTION: Help your child learn about civics, voting and elections as we near the 2020 presidential election with this handy guide
• HALLOWEEN: Celebrate Halloween at home while working on your child’s skills in art, reading and more

November

• VETERAN’S DAY (NOV 11): Explain the origin of Veteran’s Day and discuss with your child how you can honor the veteran in their life
• THANKSGIVING (NOV 22): Practice gratitude as a family and teach your child the accurate version of history this Thanksgiving

December

• COLDER WEATHER: Use the change in weather as a way to teach your kid about how the tilt of the earth affects climate and the change in seasons
• HOLIDAYS: Help kids understand the many different holidays celebrated around the world this winter through this collection of videos

You can sign up for the PBS KIDS for Parents newsletter for timely, curated resources, including video content, digital games, DIY activities, and parent-directed information to support at-home learning as it evolves. In addition, parents can find the latest tips, printables, and other tools to Learn at Home with PBS KIDS.

Wild Kratts: Creepy Creatures Premiers and Live Streams Today!

Was so excited to hear about this new WILD KRATTS special. All my kids love the Kratt brothers.

On October 22, PBS KIDS will premiere the all-new, one-hour movie, WILD KRATTS: CREEPY CREATURES on PBS stations and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream. It will also be available for free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video App. In this special movie event, the Kratt Brothers decide to celebrate Halloween by searching for "creepy cool" creatures, but will Zach and the other villains get in their way and ruin Halloween? Additionally, PBS KIDS will premiere new Halloween-themed episodes from READY JET GO! and PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC®. Families will be treated to special Halloween-filled Family Night programming and specials the last two weekends of the month on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream.

The spooky fun continues on digital platforms, where PBS KIDS will offer a variety of Halloween-themed games on the free PBS KIDS Games App and pbskids.org, including a new game from WILD KRATTS. This will debut in addition to favorites such as Arthur’s Tricks and Treats, Curious George Pumpkin Boo, Daniel Tiger Dress Up, The Cat in the Hat Corn Maze Craze and Peg + Cat Parade. A new Spooky Street and Halloween design contest will launch on PBS KIDS’ popular virtual world, Kart Kingdom, and the Nature Cat Art Box and Cyberchase Watts of Trouble games will have Halloween themed updates. Hands-on activities, including pumpkin-carving templates with favorite PBS KIDS characters and spooktacular treat recipes, are available on PBS KIDS for Parents.

“Halloween is a great time for families and teachers to encourage children’s imagination and creativity,” said Linda Simensky, Vice President, Children’s Programming, PBS. “With new specials and episodes from WILD KRATTS, READY JET GO! and PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC®, as well at returning favorites, PBS KIDS will offer themed content and educational resources to help do just that.”

PBS LearningMedia will offer PreK-12 teachers an easy way to integrate Halloween themes into their instruction with a range of curriculum-aligned videos, lesson plans, and games. Teachers can use these resources to kick-start classroom discussions and enhance homework assignments. These free resources cover a range of subjects and are available to teachers nationwide on pbslearningmedia.org. Featured resources include Shadows Can Be Scary Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, All About the Holidays: Halloween, Frankenstein, M.D. and The Zombie Autopsies. Find these resources and more in the Halloween collection.