This toolkit provides materials to teach about war and its social and political effects from multiple sources, from recordings of veterans describing their experiences to historians’ interpretations of causes and effects to archaeology, poetry and newspaper clippings. There is special emphasis on the Vietnam War and resources with the Burns/Novick PBS documentary.
Five years ago, KERA reporters met a group of eighth-graders from different schools with different lives. Now you can read their current stories in “What’s Next for the Class of ’17,” a new series in the ongoing American Graduate national broadcast project.
Art&Seek Jr is a weekly column with tips for family-friendly events and adventures in the area. It's great for planning weekend activities or special events.
Breakthroughs is a KERA News series devoted to the latest innovations in health, science and technology — with a North Texas accent.
Click to see the latest issue of KERA’s e-newsletter for families of younger children. It features fun activities in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). Subscribe to get your own weekly copy inside!
As part of the American Graduate national public broadcasting project, KERA is exploring how kids navigate from childhood to graduation, through news stories and community outreach. Click to see the spring 2017 series "Race, Poverty and the Changing Face of Schools.”
Click to see the latest issue of KERA's e-newsletter for educators. It features enrichment materials, teaching tools, articles on timely topics and much more. Subscribe to get your own bi-weekly copy inside!
These resource collections are designed to help teachers and parents discuss topics that may be sensitive or complex, such as race, financial planning and the arts. Many go with reporting projects, documentaries and events presented by KERA or PBS. Resources include video clips, discussion questions, lesson plans and much more.
Find compelling stories about teachers and students across North Texas. Follow KERA's news, features and special projects to learn about challenges and triumphs as educators deal with issues ranging from changing demographics to new technologies to evolving community needs.
Click to see the winners in the Maya Angelou Essay Contest. High school students were challenged to interpret a poem by Angelou and describe how it contributes to understanding of race relations in the U.S. Learn more and read the winning essays inside.
KERA’s Art&Seek provides a rare backstage look at how a professional musical is born. The Dallas Theater Center built Stagger Lee entirely from scratch, from the story to the set. Art&Seek has tracked the progress of the show since an early workshop in 2013. Meet the creators of the story and music, watch the show change, learn more about the real-life Stagger Lee, and listen to the way musicians have mythologized him for almost a century.
Math Can Take You Places teaches key math concepts for grades 3 - 6. The package includes TEKS-aligned lesson plans, videos, games, activities, practice questions and teacher training materials. Most items are in Spanish and English.
Henri Matisse was Pablo Picasso's senior by twelve years, and the two men could not have been more different. Reserved and dignified, Matisse was the image of respectability. Aggressive and egotistical, Picasso considered himself superior to every person he ever met - except for one.
One Crisis Away focuses on North Texans living on the financial edge. The most recent installment, "After the Flood," tells stories of people who evacuated to North Texas after Hurricane Harvey. Follow the series as KERA adds new chapters.
KERA is presenting three film screening and conversation events to facilitate a deeper understanding of American minority experiences. Please join us for these free events! And click to find film descriptions and screening dates as well as resources for using the first film, I Am Not Your Negro, in class or as the focus for group discussions.
Ready for Life provides tools to help teachers, parents and caregivers raise children who are socially and emotionally healthy and ready to succeed in school and life. The site has videos, guidebooks and other resources in four topics: Attachment & Socialization, Early Literacy, Nutrition & Fitness and Temperament. The guidebooks contain detailed information and learning activities -- in English and Spanish.
The interactive Secrets of the Meyerson was created to mark the 25th anniversary of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in 2014. Its virtual tour takes you behind the scenes to explore areas of the building that the public rarely sees and shares secrets such as which features create the hall's unique sound.
The Broken Hip explores the stories of North Texans and their families who have experienced the life-changing repercussions of a broken hip, as well as the stories of new research being done in Dallas-Fort Worth that focuses on preventing falls and recovering from fractured hips faster. The stories are part the KERA News Breakthroughs series.
The Great American Read is a PBS campaign to celebrate books and the power of reading. Click to find information on PBS television specials, events around North Texas, a quiz, resources to guide book discussions and much, much more!
This reporting series tells the stories of five North Texas schools that have carried the lowest state ratings at least four years over the last decade to explore the effort required to bring a school up to standard and the consequences of failing to do so. Photo credit: Lara Solt
Every Monday through Thursday, Krys Boyd discusses current issues with writers, politicians, scientists, artists, community leaders and others from Texas and across the country. The Think site has live streaming, podcasts and archives of these conversations, which are guaranteed to make you think, as well as a list of stations that air the program.
Foster students’ interest in reading and writing, and encourage positive social skills with this collection of classroom resources from Arthur. Aimed at children between the ages of 4 and 8, these resources feature entertaining and educational activities for use at and away from the computer. Topics include: Art; Creative Thinking and Problem Solving; Diversity Appreciation and Understanding; Dramatic Play and Creative Movement; Language and Literacy; Life Skills; Math; Music; Science and Health; and Social and Emotional Development.
This collection of resources provides video clips and support materials to enrich lessons on literature, math and social studies with related concepts expressed in painting, dance, architecture and other art forms. The supplementary materials include student handouts, discussion questions, vocabulary words and teaching tips on drawing links between the art form and other subjects.
This NASA-funded collection brings together cutting-edge digital media—including videos, images, data visualizations, and games from programs like NOVA and PEEP and the Big Wide World—to provide K–12 STEM teachers with resources for teaching topics in the Earth and Space Sciences. Resources in this collection include background essays and teaching tips to support instructional use and curricular integration.
The Calderwood Writing Course: U.S History includes six interactive, self-paced lessons for high school students. Each lesson provides an immersive look at a key topic in U.S. history integrated with tools to develop writing skills. Illustrated lectures are supplemented by a range of primary source materials, including historical documents, photographs, cartoons, and artifacts. Throughout each lesson, students prepare to write an essay in response to a compelling question. They craft their arguments around three supporting questions, using built-in online tools for note-taking, close reading, analyzing evidence, and outlining.
This PBS LearningMedia collection of videos, documents, and primary sources lends context to the events and leaders that defined the Civil Rights movement’s first three decades (1954-1985). These resources also capture the issues and activities involved in the struggle today—those still making headlines, stirring debate, and trending on social media.
Crash Course features fun, fast-paced videos summarizing topics from balancing chemical reactions to analyzing famous literature. Topics covered include astronomy, biology, chemistry, ecology, government and politics, literature, physics, U.S. history and world history.
Active learning begins with curiosity! The Curious George STEM Collection helps young children understand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts, such as measuring, building, and simple machines. Lesson plans with Curious George videos offer hands-on investigations and exciting new learning opportunities that will inspire children to explore the world around them.
Cyberchase is the Emmy award-winning animated math mystery show featuring a team of curious kids who use their math and problem solving skills to outwit and outsmart the villain Hacker in their quest to save Cyberspace. In addition to segments from the animated portion of the show, this collection of resources includes live-action For Real segments, in which hosts Bianca and Harry explore the show's math topics in everyday life.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a popular animated program that teaches social-emotional skills to preschoolers ages 2 - 4. Through imagination, creativity and music, Daniel and his friends learn the key social skills necessary for school and for life.
Design Squad Nation helps students gain a stronger understanding of design processes and connections between engineering and objects we use in everyday life. In addition to teaching science and math skills, it lays foundations for participation in engineering activities later in life. The site also includes a link to activities for after school programs. For upper elementary and middle school.
This video collection features strategies for comprehensive literacy instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The purpose is to support educators and families in understanding how all students can learn and make progress in Common Core English Language Arts standards. In each video, classroom educators demonstrate research-based instructional strategies in literacy, language and communication. The videos feature students in both inclusive general education classrooms and self-contained settings.
Nutrition concepts are not as complicated as people think! Fizzy’s goal is to provide an informative overview of food and nutrition topics with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The Lunch Lab provides practical and positive examples of healthy eating and regular exercise within the framework of an entertaining format. Our advisory board makes sure the information provided meets scientific and educational goals.
Flipside Science is a package of digital materials from the California Academy of Sciences that explores contemporary issues such as alternative energy sources, marine ecology, feeding the world and water use and conservation. The 20 video clips come with discussion questions, activities, student handouts and links to additional resources. The series is for grades 6 – 10.
This large collection draws on the the popular Frontline show, known for its bold reporting on complex subjects. Resources include short video segments supported by materials such as teaching tips, background essays and discussion questions. The pieces cover a wide range of topics: Health / Science / Technology; Business / Economy / Financial; Criminal Justice; Education; Environment; Family / Children; Foreign Affairs / Defense; Government / Elections / Politics; Race / Multicultural; Social Issues.
Get the Math is about algebra in the real world. See how professionals use math in music, fashion, video games, restaurants, basketball, and special effects. Then take on interactive challenges related to those careers. Watch this intro video before trying one of the challenges below.
GREAT PERFORMANCES: “Hamilton’s America” provides a behind-the-scenes look at Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton. “Hamilton’s America” blends history, footage of Miranda’s writing process, and scenes from the musical itself to create a vibrant and engaging film about the making of the musical and the preservation of Alexander Hamilton’s legacy. This collection includes clips, classroom activities, discussion questions, handouts, and teaching tips connected to the film.
This video series introduces key concepts in mathematics for grades 3 - 8. Each video focuses on building conceptual understanding of a topic, so that students understand the “how” and “why” behind mathematical problem solving.
The In Defense of Food curriculum is designed to help adolescents develop practical tools for healthier eating. Even though scientists know a lot about nutrition and health, the messages that reach adolescents about healthy eating have become increasingly complex and contradictory. And at an age where they are gaining independence to make their own food choices, they are barraged with advertising that urges them to consume more and more highly processed food products—soda, chips, junk food and fast food. The IDOF curriculum can help students learn why it is important to eat healthfully, investigate how food companies influence their food choices, and create action plans for changing their eating habits.
Games starring Curious George, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, Sid the Science Kid and a few other favorites have been translated into Spanish.
Latino Public Broadcasting develops, produces, acquires and distributes non-commercial educational and cultural media that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. LPB provides a voice to the diverse Latino community throughout the U.S. and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This collection of educational materials offers video clips, educator guides, lesson plans, and unique materials to engage students. Topics covered include: Arts and Artists; Civil Rights Movement; Mexican Revolution; U.S. History; Women's Studies; and World History.
Martha Speaks is a PBS KIDS show for ages 4 - 7. The show, games and other digital materials teach new words as Martha, a dog who learns to speak after eating alphabet soup, shares her new vocabulary with human friends. They use lots of words and explain what the harder ones mean, which helps children learn them. Click the "Parents and Teachers" link to find programs such as Reading Buddies, which pairs older and younger children to increase their vocabulary and build social skills.
This collection has a trove of videos from Masterpiece films, supported by essays and teaching tips. This collection offers innovative ways to access, understand, and analyze classic literature adapted for the screen. Watching these pivotal moments from award-winning shows also helps students appreciate the power of film dramatization—and the importance of becoming a critical media consumer. The materials will enrich instruction about novels by such favorite authors as Jane Austen, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, Anne Frank and Thornton Wilder, to name a few.
This collection of engaging media and integrated activities is designed for middle school students of diverse learning styles and backgrounds. The wide range of topics includes algebraic thinking, geometry, functions and statistics and probability, to name a few.
Math by Design encourages students to problem solve and think critically as they encounter unique geometry and measurement challenges. Students are introduced to the TRC Architectural firm as junior architects who are commissioned to build environments by working through a series of mathematical tasks.
Developed for use in middle and high school classrooms, Mission US engages students in the study of transformational moments in American history. Each mission consists of an interactive game and curriculum materials that are aligned to national standards and feature document-based activities. Since some topics Mission US explores are difficult, it is recommended that teachers/parents preview the mission for appropriateness to their students/children.
Nature Cat features Fred, a house cat that dreams of exploring the great outdoors. Like many kids, Nature Cat is eager and enthusiastic about outside activities, but is at times intimidated by them. The materials include video clips, teaching guides, DIY activities and readers created to accompany Nature Cat story segments for grades PK-3.
This collection from the award-winning program NOVA offers digital materials in a wide range of topics in science and math, from algebra and statistics to engineering, genetics, human impacts, particles & waves, properties of matter, and weather. Each topic has multiple lessons, most of which include a video and support materials. The site also has links to several other NOVA instructional products.
NOVA Labs is a free digital platform that engages teens and lifelong learners in games and interactives that foster authentic scientific exploration. From predicting solar storms and constructing renewable energy systems to tracking cloud movement and designing RNA molecules, NOVA Labs lets participants conduct investigations by visualizing, analyzing, and sharing the same data that scientists use.
Student agents of Odd Squad use math to solve problems that are, well, odd. The problems presented in videos cover a range of topics in elementary school math, including counting and bundling numbers, geometry, place values, patterns and problem solving.
Oh Noah! teaches Spanish to children ages 6 - 8 through animated videos with embedded games that help build vocabulary. The stories provide context for new words, even if kids can't understand all the Spanish dialogue. Videos come with support materials, such as lesson plans, Spanish flash cards, teaching tips and activities. There's also a webinar for teachers.
PBS Kids gathers apps, albums, E-Books, and other fun stuff, including wallpaper, on this site full of downloadables for favorite Kids shows. Media categories are searchable by shows, skills and age. Skills are categorized by Science, Creativity, Reading, Math, Literacy, Music, and Social-Emotional.
This trove of games builds on skills taught in PBS Kids shows and feature favorite characters. The games are searchable in several ways: newest, most popular, and more than two dozen topics and skills (dinosaurs, healthy habits and creativity as well as math, reading and science).
PBS Kids is always working on something new—and usually several "somethings" at once! Whether it is new apps using math or an augmented reality game using camera phones, click here to find the latest and most innovative from PBS Kids.
Find a wide array of information on favorite PBS Children’s programs, including video clips, games, apps, activities, stories and other digital resources that reinforce skills introduced on the shows.
This searchable site has more than 100,000 TEKS-aligned resources, including videos, activities, games, lesson plans, articles and other resources. It has something for all grade levels and most subjects, along with tools for lesson prep. LearningMedia is independently operated by PBS.
PBS created NewsHour Extra to engage students in current events and provide tools for teaching about news. The site includes video clips of news stories, lesson plans and many creative activities to encourage deeper thinking. It's geared to grades 7 – 12.
PBS Ready To Learn provides free, evidence-based educational resources to help teachers, caregivers and parents build early science and literacy skills in children ages 2 - 8. Introducing children to key STEM concepts early better prepares them for school and boosts their long-term education opportunities. The site includes media-rich, multi-platform resources in the form of videos, games, apps and hands-on activities tied to favorite PBS Kids shows. The site is funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant that will enable new materials to be added in coming years.
PBS Teachers' Lounge is a digital space for teachers to come together and sharpen their professional skills. They can learn from each other through a blog, get tips from PBS on featured content in LearningMedia and find interesting stories about education from NPR and public stations around the country. Features update frequently.
Through engaging stories and physical comedy, Peg + Cat inspires preschool children to see math as exciting, accessible, and fun. The show and digital resources teach measurement, shapes and patterns, and a wide range of fundamental pre-math skills. It also teaches an inquiry-based approach to problem solving that children can use in their everyday lives.
Plum Landing provides lesson plans and interactive materials for teaching about STEM concepts and practices in the great outdoors. This environmental education project invites elementary students to virtually visit ecosystems around the world and then to head outdoors to explore their own ecosystems. The resources teach content topics and science process skills.
The READY JET GO! astronomy curriculum covers the basics about the planets, moons, asteroids, comets of our solar system, and the fact that our own Sun is actually a star—one of billions in our own Milky Way Galaxy. And because the characters get to travel into space, we get to study the planets up close, AND get to look back at the Earth!
Ruff Ruffman: Humble Media Genius is here with videos and tips to help students explore and understand the many ups and downs of personal technology. The collection explores four topics with original animation and interactivity—texting, sharing photographs, conducting searches, and finding an appropriate balance of technology and media use. Grades 2-5
ScratchJr is a creative app from PBS Kids that helps children ages 5-8 learn core coding concepts as they create their own interactive stories and games using PBS Kids characters. It is FREE and available for iPad and Android tablets.
Engage preschoolers in everyday learning by teaching core skills in math, literacy, STEM, and social and emotional development with the fun songs and skits by the Sesame Street crew. This site has hundreds of videos, printable materials, cross-platform educational games and STEM educator guides.
Shakespeare Uncovered combines history, biography, iconic performances, new analysis, and the personal passions of its celebrated hosts to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. What sparked the creation of each of these works? Where did Shakespeare get his plots, and what new forms of theater did he forge? What, in the end, makes Shakespeare so great?
The Hollow Crown starts with video segments from four history plays televised on the PBS series Great Performances: Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V. The videos are supplemented with instructional resources, including discussion questions, background essays, viewing guides and teaching tips. The materials guide students' explorations of the characters and major themes in these complex plays.
The Sid the Science Kid on-air series and online resources provide many opportunities for teachers to introduce or reinforce early science concepts in the classroom. Help your students think, talk, and work like scientists, with activities that explore "Science Tools" with the Science Adventures curriculum. Students will learn about some of the tools that scientists use including magnifiers, charts, measuring tools, and science journals.
Super Why makes reading an empowering adventure by using interactive literacy games that need YOU to play. In Super Why reading is power! We begin each 24-minute reading adventure in Storybrook Village, a 3-D world hidden behind the bookshelves in a children's library, where characters encounter problems. As in real life, the problems require preschool social skills to resolve. The adventure begins as the Super Readers find out how famous fictional characters handled similar situations.
The world of Thomas & Friends is a place with a strong community spirit, typified by a universal willingness to embrace good manners and hard work, and a desire to be “really useful." Teachers can use the video segments and learning materials to foster social and emotional growth in prekindergarten students, as well as with students on the autism spectrum in grades PK-3.
The Kratt brothers' travels to animal habitats around the world teach 6- to 8-year-old viewers natural history and age-appropriate science by building on their natural interest in animals. The videos and other resources also help children develop and strengthen basic skills of observation and investigation that are important to the study of science.
“WordGirl” is a superhero who fights crime and enriches vocabulary usage, all in a day’s work. Each episode introduces new words and reinforces their meaning in a variety of contexts throughout the episode. The videos, games and apps reinforce what children learn from the show. Click on "Parents" to read about the show's learning goals and additional resources to teach literacy skills for elementary-age children.
The DPLA Primary Source Sets are designed to help students develop critical thinking skills by exploring topics in history, literature, and culture through primary sources. Drawing online materials from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States, the sets use letters, photographs, posters, oral histories, video clips, sheet music, and more. Each set includes a topic overview, ten to fifteen primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide.
This nonprofit founded by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor teaches how government works through interactive games, printable lesson plans and support materials. Games ask students to assume roles – a judge, a member of Congress, a community activist, even the President of the United States – and make decisions associated with their chosen roles. For grades 5 - 12.
Click to find stories from NPR, KERA and other stations, with discussion questions and other resources. Help build listening skills and teach about English language arts, science, social studies and current events. Search for “KERA” to find local stories.
StoryCorps is asking educators across the country, including in North Texas, to ask students record an interview with an older friend or relative during Thanksgiving week. Click to learn more and encourage your students to record history!