Monkey Shines!
What happens when you take a beloved, and very curious, character from children's literature and give him a whole new life on public broadcasting? Kids go bananas for Curious George! "George's zany adventures are the perfect vehicle for introducing preschoolers to key concepts in science, engineering, and math," says executive producer Carol Greenwald, of Arthur and Postcards from Buster fame. Greenwald's WGBH production team stayed true to all that has endeared H.A. and Margret Rey's mischievous monkey to generations of children, while at the same time—as with all of WGBH's children's series—incorporating content developed by curriculum specialists. And long after the hit TV series is turned off, curious kids keep learning from George online (2.2 million visits in the first two months, with kids spending an average of an hour, making it the most-visited kids' site on pbs.org). "With George's approach to the world as the driving force, and some of the original stories as inspiration," Greenwald continues, "we are able to communicate important concepts in an accessible way, while never losing sight of the essential element: entertainment."
Breathing Easier
Five Boston neighborhoods have some of the highest rates of
childhood asthma in the country. And WGBH and the world's most
famous aardvark are doing something about it. Partnering with
Children's Hospital Boston, the Boston Public Health Commission, the
Boston Children's Museum, and the Boston Public Library, WGBH's
"Kids with Asthma Can . . ." asthma management
campaign draws on two of WGBH's most popular children's series,
Arthur and Postcards from
Buster, to help families effectively manage the chronic disease.
"Mom, that's Buster!," a delighted Boston youngster exclaimed upon seeing a
subway poster headline, "Kids with Asthma Can . . . Play!."
And, "he has
asthma just like me!," the boy continued, prompting a mother-son chat about
all the ways he could stay healthy and have fun, "just like Buster."
Head of the Class
Being a teacher today isn't easy. Overcrowded classrooms and students with
a variety of learning needs add up to a tough assignment. WGBH is easing the
strain with Teachers' Domain, an online digital library of
free, classroom-ready
multimedia materials, created to help teachers customize
their lessons and excite students. Companion, fee-based online courses help
teachers advance their professional skills. Nearly 100,000 teachers have
signed up for the free service, with 4,000 more registering every month.
"Thanks for this terrific expanding archive!," wrote one of many grateful
teachers.
Design and Build
Ask a team of teens to build an automatic pancake maker, or to
construct a human-powered waterslide, and they might tell you
they learned how with the help of Design
Squad. The brainchild of Zoom producers,
WGBH's fast-paced new reality/competition series for older kids and
families uses a science- and math-based curriculum to present
engineering as a fun challenge and a career path. And, as with all of WGBH's
children's shows, an at-home cohort of kids can interact with the series
through a robust Web site and an e-zine . . . and then spring into action.
Hands-On Science
Part game show, part reality TV, part spoof, Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman uses an ensemble cast of real kids to engage its 'tween audience in real science while stressing teamwork, problem solving, and camaraderie. The hit series is getting raves from the press and viewers of all ages, even Girl Scout leaders, who tell WGBH its offbeat format invites "shy children to participate because they are part of a team . . . working toward 'winning' together." Not bad for a show hosted by a quirky, irreverent, animated dog named Ruff!
