KLRN strives to provide valuable educational content to every family in our viewing area, from great drama, world-class music, in-depth news, fascinating "how-to" programs and, best of all — non-violent educational programs for your children.
During these times of uncertainty KLRN is adapting and creating new educational resources in an easy to follow format. We aim to provide the educational content and resources that support every family in our community.
During these daily blog posts, you will find that we will feature two PBS Kids programs and provide accompanying educational activities that will help extend the learning into your home. In addition to that we have added a new 4 PM time slot that aims at providing some content for older school age students. You will find resources tied to each of these programs aired daily with lessons from our PBS LearningMedia site.
We hope that this will provide your family a way to enjoy the PBS shows you love and extend the learning into your home.
All the best,
KLRN’s Education Team
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Monday at 9 AM
Safety Patrol: Today at school, the children are learning about traffic signs. Prince Tuesday comes for a special visit, wearing his crossing guard uniform. He takes the class on a walk through the Neighborhood and they practice their safety rules all along the way.
Safety at the Beach: Daniel and Katerina are playing on Jungle Beach with Mom Tiger. The children get a bit carried away by their treasure hunting play and they drift too far away from Mom. They learn that to stay safe near the water, they need to stop and listen!
After viewing the PBS program, try these fun activities.
Sensory Play
Infants: Sensory play is always fun for children. You can begin sensory play with even infants that are able to sit. Sensory exploration is a child's way of examining, discovering, categorizing, and making sense of the world, and it's beneficial to provide them with opportunities for sensory play.
- Sit with your baby and let them explore a bowl of water. You can place some small infant bowls or other items like spoons for them to use to play with the water.
- Language and sensory play. Use this activity to help introduce new words to your baby as they play and explore.
Toddler Activity Ideas
- Baby Doll Bath: This is such a great activity for children. All you need is a plastic bin with water, a little soap, wash cloth and a plastic doll. If you have a stool for your little one you can use your sink. Caring for and washing your baby doll not only helps provide some sensory experience but also helps your child learn about taking care of others, empathy-showing kindness and affection towards others, and cause and effect as the water moves.
Preschool Activities
Messy play is important for young children, giving them endless ways to develop and learn. Here are a few particularly inventive examples:
- Homemade Rubbery Goop: Rubbery Goop looks and feels like basic play dough but it is textured differently. It is smooth, soft and slightly stretchy. Molding it in the hands is very addictive as the texture is delightful. It is so much fun to play with, you can pull the goop apart and roll it back together to form a smooth ball. You can squeeze it and it will squish through your fingers.
- Sensory Squishy Bags: Squishy bags are perfect for sensory play without the mess. They are easy to make and your child will enjoy manipulating and playing with them.
These great ideas are from the Learning4Kids website. They have some more really great learning activities.
Try these fun PBS Kids games and activities
- Use PBS resources to help engage your child in activities that help foster strong language skills in your child.
Let’s Go Luna!
Monday at 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Me and My Elephant: Leo becomes a reluctant caregiver of an orphaned baby elephant in Nairobi. Mukandi's Farm: The kids learn about creative farming in Nairobi when Luna volunteers to take care of her friend's farm for a day.
Exploring Nature
- Bird Watching: Make some “binoculars” using two toilet paper rolls per child. Use a blank sheet of paper to keep track of your “nature observations,” next go out in your backyard and look for birds. Draw the birds you see in your observation journal. What sounds did the birds make, what color were its feathers?
- Bird Feeder: Here is an easy bird feeder idea from Happy Hooligans. All you need is a few pipe cleaners, cheerios and string. Thread the cheerios through the pipe cleaners and wrap the ends of the three pipe cleaners together, next, tie the string to hang on a tree branch. You can go here to see the directions. For more ways to make bird feeders go here.
For some Fun Let’s Go Luna printables click here!
NOVA: Mars
Monday at 4 PM
Mars was once a blue water world studded with active volcanoes. But when its magnetic field and protective atmosphere faded, it became the frozen desert planet we know today. With so many necessary elements in place, did life ever form on Mars?
For Grades 1-6
Educators Guide: Water on Mars: Dragonfly TV
For Grades 6-12
India Succeeds in Sending Spacecraft to Mars
Celebrate the success of the Indian space program's launch with this video and educational materials from PBS NewsHour from September 24, 2014.
We hope you enjoyed these activities. If you follow KLRN on your facebook account please be sure to share your activities and use the #KLRNeducates and #KLRNLearnatHome tags.
Tune in tomorrow for more learning fun with your favorite PBS Kids programs.
Check out KLRN’s event page for upcoming events such as:
- How to Use Learning Media at Home for Teachers & Parents
- Healthy Kids Activity Ideas to Incorporate at Home
- NEW Play & Learn at Home Virtual Group funded by United Way of San Antonio
Parent Resources:
- San Antonio FOOD BANK mobile distribution list for week of March 23
- Any Baby Can Parent Stress Online Class Tuesday, March 31 at 10 AM call 210-547-3007 to RSVP and receive the link
- United Way of San Antonio various resources
- Temporary emergency childcare assistance (up to 3 weeks) will be provided for licensed and registered childcare center or licensed/registered home care. Info here
