Educators here are some great ways to incorporate PBS Programming into your classroom. Whether you are exploring Nature, National Park or Social Justice these lesson plans and activities will provide you supplemental activities to add to your classroom learning. For a full list of the KLRN schedule click here. Don’t forget each month KLRN provides FREE Teacher training. For a full list of upcoming trainings check out the KLRN events page.
Finding Your Roots: Mexican Roots
Tuesday, February 1 at 7pm on Channel 9.1
Link to PBS Learning Media Video: https://klrn.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/19309f17-3d3f-4e9f-bd9a-f59b062131d4/finding-your-roots-the-seedlings-episode-1/
Penn State University Anthropologist/Paleobiologist Dr. Nina Jablonski and “Finding Your Roots" series host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. provide an introduction to what campers will explore during the Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings Genetics & Genealogy Camp.
- We encourage you to download and customize the curriculum used in our Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings camp! Simply fill out the form at fyrclassroom.org/curriculum/ and you'll be forwarded to a Box folder where you can download the full curriculum: https://fyrclassroom.org/curriculum/index.html
Foundation: The Black Church in San Antonio
Thursday, February 3 at 7:30 PM on Channel 9.1
Link to KLRN Video Player: https://www.pbs.org/video/foundation-the-black-church-in-san-antonio-fxrjfg/
- The Black Church: Education Guide (Grades 6-12) This guide serves as an educational overview of the PBS series The Black Church, and includes lesson plan excerpts, associated discussion questions, historical background information, and resources on anti-bias curriculum. This is aimed at instructors at the middle and high school levels. The lessons explore key historical events from the series focusing on history, culture, civil rights, gender, race and leadership and are designed to support both in-person classroom and virtual learning.
- The Civil Rights Era | The Black Church (Grades 6-12) Despite the guarantees afforded in the 15th and 19th Amendments, the right to vote was still a distant dream for many African Americans in the post-World War II era. This was especially true in the South where Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, literacy tests, and violent terror tactics were used to intimidate and block African Americans’ access to their right to vote. Black churches have historically been the center of strength and faith in the Black community and this put them as natural leaders in the fight for civil rights, Black church leaders provided venue space and hosted meetings, supported and attended rallies and marches, and provided the emotional, moral, and spiritual support for their congregations. *Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.
Finding Your Roots: Fighters
Tuesday, February 8 at 7:00 PM on Channel 9.1
Link to PBS Learning Media Video: https://klrn.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/1120bdfe-77a5-483c-b778-4d20d13
In episode 2, we see campers on their first day extracting and seeing their own DNA, the "blueprint of life."
Can You Trace Half Your Roots? Mitochondrial DNA | Finding Your Roots (Grades 6-12) In this clip from Finding Your Roots, journalist Maria Hinojosa and actor John Lithgow learn about their ancestry through DNA testing. To discover more about Maria Hinojosa’s roots, they analyzed her mitochondrial DNA. Through this analysis, they were able to find out that Maria had Native American ancestors. How can you trace genes on one side of your family? This lesson was created by the National Science Teaching Association and adapted for Finding Your Roots with support from WETA.
Black Ballerina
Wednesday, February 9 at 1:00 PM on Channel 9.2
Link to KLRN Video Player: https://www.pbs.org/video/friday-arts-extended-interview-brenda-dixon-gottschild/
- Learning About Black Leaders Bingo: PreK and K | PBS KIDS (Grades PreK-K) Identifying contributions of people, past and present is important. We learn to celebrate individuals and the part they play in our lives. (This media gallery and activities are available in English and Spanish)
- Misty Copeland | Peg + Cat (Grades PreK-2) In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black principal ballerina with the American Ballet Theater. / En el 2015, Misty Copeland se convirtió en la primera bailarina principal negra del American Ballet Theatre.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Maya Angelou / I Am Fredrick Douglass
Thursday, February 10 at 3:30 PM on Channel 9.1
Link to Xavier Riddle Videos on PBS Kids: https://pbskids.org/xavier/videos
- What Are the Traits of a Great Hero? Think about the heroes in your life and what they’re like. List their traits in this printable!
- Celebrating Black Leaders The month of February honors the important role Black people play in the story of our country. Across the United States, schools and communities organize to learn more about Black History and Culture. Match the historical Black figure with the description that shares a piece of what they accomplished.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Jigonsaseh / I Am Sacagawea
Monday, February 14 at 3:30 PM on Channel 9.1
Link to Xavier Riddle Videos on PBS Kids: https://pbskids.org/xavier/videos
- Make a Hero Self Portrait In each episode of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, Xavier, Brad, and Yadina travel back in time to meet real-life historical figures when they were kids themselves. Just like the historical figures in the series, your child has heroic qualities! Help your child understand what it means to be a hero and that there is a hero in every one of us.
- Xavier Riddle: Hero Maker (Grades K-2) Introducing, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum's Hero Maker! In this game, kids learn how everyday people can do amazing things. To get started, students choose from a wall of historical figures to learn more about them or create their own!
Antiques Roadshow: Crocker Art Museum
Monday, February 14 at 8:00 PM on Channel 9.1
- Pocket Map of California, ca. 1853 | ANTIQUES ROADSHOW (Grades 6-12) Rare books and manuscripts appraiser Martin Gammon examines a map that the owner’s great grandfather, a 49er (miner in the 1800s), used to prospect for gold in this video produced for ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. The early rendition of the Britton and Rey map depicts, more accurately than others of its time, the border region between California with what was called Utah, now Nevada. Very few of the maps survived because they were generally carried in the pockets of miners.
- Art Research Investigation | History Detectives (Grades 3-12) In this collection of resources from History Detectives, examine research methodology for investigating artwork, investigate a miniature painting of George Washington that may be connected to an early abolitionist, and understand connections between a collection of unusual paintings and the WPA.
Finding Your Roots: Forgotten Journeys
Tuesday, February 15 at 7:00 PM on Channel 9.1
Link to PBS Learning Media Video: https://klrn.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/33993f81-2fbb-48c4-b0dc-6f09dc5eb522/finding-your-roots-the-seedlings-episode-3/
In episode 3, campers make predictions about their genetic ancestry and then open their individual DNA test results to find out for certain.
- The Haitian Revolution | Finding Your Roots (Grades 6-12) Actor Issa Rae discovered that her ancestors were from Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti) and her fourth-great-grandfather was killed in the Haitian Revolution. In 1791, the enslaved people of Saint-Domingue rose up, launching what we now call the Haitian Revolution, considered the most successful slave revolt in human history.
Finding Your Roots: Songs of the Past
Tuesday, February 22 at 7:00 PM on Channel 9.1
Link to PBS Learning Media Video: https://klrn.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/fe295062-daa2-4fb8-bc51-67382d8b8104/finding-your-roots-the-seedlings-episode-4/
Campers dig into their DNA test results to discover the likelihood they possess various genetic traits. Then they take the PTC test to see if they have the dominant gene for tasting bitter compounds.
- Free Black Americans Before the Civil War | Finding Your Roots (Grades 6-12) Queen Latifah discovers her fifth great-grandmother - Juggy - was born into slavery in 1766. In 1792, Juggy was freed by a woman who realized that slavery was morally wrong. At a time when the majority of Black Americans were enslaved, Juggy became one of a small percentage of free Black people who had the right to marry, earn a living, and own property.
Arthur: Making Conversation / A Cloudy Day
Monday, February 28 at 4:30 PM on 9.1
Link to PBS Learning Media Video and Activities: Arthur Takes a Stand | ARTHUR (Grades PreK-2)
- Discover ways to protest an injustice and have your voice heard using this video from the PBS KIDS series ARTHUR. When Mrs. MacGrady opens the cafeteria for breakfast and takes on double the work without any help, Arthur tries different ways to solve the problem. He begs the principal to hire help and even encourages students to boycott! Finally, after a pep talk from Congressman John Lewis, Arthur stages a peaceful protest. His classmates join him, and they refuse to leave the cafeteria until they are heard. But will it make enough of an impact to hire an assistant for Mrs. MacGrady?