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 uncertain times, KLRN is adapting and creating educational resources in an easy-to-follow format. We aim to provide educational content and resources that support every family in our community.
With these daily blog posts, you will find two PBS Kids programs featured, and accompanying educational activities that will help extend 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
Curious George
Wednesday, April 15 at 8 AM
After a gust of wind destroys their kite, George and Bill are determined to buy the Ultimate Kite on display at Ada & Luke's country store.
Infant/Toddler
Babies who are years away from being able to say "one," "two," and "three" actually already have a sense of what counting means, Johns Hopkins University researchers have discovered. The findings reveal that very early on, years earlier than previously believed, babies who hear counting realize that it's about quantity. Making a conscious effort to include basic math in your everyday conversations with infants can help them start to understand early math concepts.
- Sing the numbers to your baby or count items as you place them in a basket or bag. You can also name a number for the day and repeat that number to your baby all day. If you remember Sesame Street’s Number of the day here is a great video to sing along to: Number of the Day.
- Here is a great article from the PBS Parents website: 7 Ideas to Get Creative on a Family Walk. Counting flags, birds, clouds all will help bring those basic early math skills into your child’s life at an early age.
Preschool
When children see people spend money or use the ATM, they are building an understanding of what money is. You can guide that understanding with simple activities about making good choices, what has value, and spending, sharing, and saving.
- Pretend play is a great way to practice spending habits. This is a fun activity where children can use Play Money to practice using money to buy items. This downloadable Sesame Street money is sure to be a fun addition to your day. Here is also some Curious George play money for any Curious George fans out there.
- Teach your child about money and saving with this cute piggy bank craft for kids from PBS Kids.
- Elmo Learns to Save video. With patience, saving money a little bit at a time can add up. Elmo and his friends count the dollars he earns and saves. You can also use this opportunity to discuss how math concepts are used in everyday situations. What happens each time Elmo adds a dollar to his jar?
PBS Kids Online Games
- Curious George Blast Off! In this game your child will select a series of numbers in the correct order to count down and launch a rocket.
- Oscar’s Trash Launch. lay this game to explore the concept of force with Oscar the Grouch.
Parent Resources
- Money Talk an article from the Sesame Street in Communities website. There are ways to talk to kids simply and directly about money.
- PBS Parents article, Raising Kids to Be Smart About Money. The following kid-approved strategies help you teach the core tenets of being financially savvy; in terms they’ll understand and appreciate.
Odd Squad
Wednesday, April 15 at 2 PM
Olive and Otto try to figure out why symmetrical objects were vandalized; objects and people disappear inside an Italian restaurant.
Math is everywhere - it’s in the numbers, shapes and patterns all around us. Whether you’re indoors, outdoors, or on the go, making math part of childrnes’ everyday lives lets them know it’s fun…and important.
Infant/Toddler
- Early math concepts can be more thoughtful in our everyday interactions with infants. Math concepts can be woven into your everyday conversations with your infant. For example: “You have two eyes, and so does your bear. Let’s count:--1, 2.” “I have more crackers than you do. See, I have 1, 2, 3, and you have 1, 2. I’m going to eat one of mine. Now I have the same as you!”
- Math is everywhere—it’s in the numbers, shapes and patterns all around us. Watch this video about shapes all around us.
- Count on Apple Seed Math! This activity covers multiple math skills including: subitizing (the ability to recognize amounts quickly without counting), counting, adding, and using manipulatives.
Preschool
- Odd Squad Make Your Own Mathroom. The Mathroom is one of the most important rooms at Odd Squad headquarters. Now, with a little cutting and folding, children can make their own. This activity will help them with shapes and spatial sense.
- Practice Math Skills with Sidewalk Math- Tossing water balloons at numbers on the sidewalk is not only fun, but it gives children a chance to put their math skills to the test.
- Use Math when baking here are some baking activity ideas, but if you don’t have the ingredients at home you can use math concepts in other ways in your kitchen. Use Math While Baking Peg’s Honey Cake; Math Equation Cookies; Practice Math While Making Peg’s Perfect Pizza
- Activity Salty potato experiment. Cut a potato in half. Fill two saucers/dishes with water. Mix salt into one of the dishes and then label them so you know which one has the salty water. Place one potato half into each dish with the cut/flat side down – watch what happens after about 30 minutes. The salt water draws the water out of the potato, causing it to shrivel. Like the potato, salty food and drinks make people thirsty. You should only have these foods occasionally.
Parent Resources
- Article, Bedtime Math, Math stories can help kids wind down at night—and build skills at the same time.
- Article, Everyday Math Tips, You’re already doing math all the time in everyday life—show kids how much fun it can be!
Wonders of Mexico: Burning North
Wednesday, April 15 at 4 PM
] In this film, we'll unravel the forces that have created this arid world, and discover that for the animals living here, overcoming the conditions can bring rich rewardsThe Sonoran Desert stretches into the Gulf of California, where the desert island of Isla San Pedro Martir is home to side blotched lizards who survive against the odds by eating the scraps left by nesting seabirds.
Grades K-5
ZOOM | Kid Musician: Mexico's Guitar Town
Perfecting the frequency at which a guitar vibrates is important to creating pleasant-sounding guitar music. Follow along as Andres prepares for the citywide guitar competition and describes the practice and passion behind his beautiful musical performance.
Grades 9-12
In this video segment adapted from Rx for Survival, learn about the importance of clean water and sanitation systems. Hear the story of how, in the early 1990s, Mexico's entry into a North American trade agreement was threatened by a cholera epidemic. Find out how the Mexican government rebuilt the water and sanitation system to stop the spread of the disease and how the investment in clean water helped the country win the trade agreement.
Educational Programming at a Glance
For a look at this week’s Schedule of Educational Programming for older school age children along with lessons for each program airing in the 4 PM time slot please click here.
We hope you enjoyed some of 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.
Parent Resources:
- The most recent KLRN Family Newsletter can be foundhere.
- New Sesame Street site with Autism resources in English and Spanish. Resources highlight that all children are amazing in their own ways. And, at a time when many families are experiencing unprecedented uncertainty, the resources provide coping strategies for parents of children with autism, supporting them as they adjust to a “for-now” normal while still addressing their children’s unique needs.
- 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.
- Mental Health & Substance Use Resources from Texas Health and Human Services
Recursos para Padres:
- Recursos para ayudar a las Familias durante el COVID-19 de Fred Rogers Productions aqui.
- Como hablar con tus hijos sobre coronavirus
- Recursos de PreK-12 para Cierres de Emergencia de PBS LearningMedia
- Sesame Street el Autismo: Ver lo maravilloso en todos los niños.
- Recursos para Salud mental y consumo de sustancias de Texas Health and Human Services aqui