April 6 | Grades 9–12

Programming Highlights

Hawking
Trace Stephen Hawking’s amazing scientific discoveries and see how he became the a real-life science superhero.

Worlds of Ursula K. Leguin | American Masters
Do you love science fiction and fantasy novels (Harry Potter and Game of Thrones fans, raise your hands)? You can thank Ursula K. Leguin for basically inventing the genre. Stay tuned to meet the prolific woman who, despite facing a hefty share of sexism, forever transformed American literature by bringing science fiction into the literary mainstream.

A young Ursula K. Leguin | Still from “Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin” | American Masters

 

Daily Programming

Monday on Arizona PBS

12:30 p.m. Ursula K Le Guin: American Masters

Exploring Ethics in Literature – Activity
Pushing Boundaries: Science Fiction and Feminism – Discussion Questions
The Left Hand of Darkness and Gender Fluidity


1:30 p.m. Little Women: Part 1

Primary Source Set: Little Women By Louisa May Alcott – Images
An Iconic Character – Handout
An Iconic Character – Teaching Tips


2:30 p.m. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History “Get Action”

The Rough Riders in Cuba
Theodore Roosevelt 60-Second Presidents – Handout

 

At-Home Learning Tips

Start a Journal
There’s no denying that we are living through a significant moment in history. Set aside time for your kids to write down their experiences. Explain that personal journals are often used by historians to make sense of what happened in the past, and they can help future historians understand the pandemic. What is their day-to-day life like? How do they feel? This activity not only creates an interesting account for your kids to look back on when they grow up, but journaling is a screen-free activity that helps your children reflect on what’s going on in the world and has been shown to be beneficial to our mental health. Read more tips on how to help your kids deal with our current situation.

 

Additional Resources

The Long Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Day
To many of us, Martin Luther King Jr. Day might just mean a day of rest we take for granted, but just a few decades ago, people had to fight for it. Take a look back at the complicated and controversial history of the holiday and why it’s truly a day for giving back.

Protesters march to Los Angeles City Hall in celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday, January 15, 1981. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library

Stephen Hawking Was a Living Metaphor for the Scientific Endeavor
Imagine if, at 21-years-old, you were told that you only had three years to live. What would you do? Stephen Hawking’s advice would be to not waste a single minute. “All my life I have lived with the threat of an early death, so I hate wasting time,” he once said. Read more about the man who, despite becoming “more machine now than man” like Darth Vader, lived an impossibly full life, filled with discovery, love and loads of pop culture cameos in cultural gems such as “The Simpsons,” “Futurama” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

A young Stephen Hawking | Still from “Hawking”

What Makes L.A. the “Capital of Science Fiction”?
Is L.A. a progenitor of science fiction? Considering many people see it as sort of the place where the future happens, it certainly feels that way sometimes. Join historians as they discuss the city’s long relationship with the genre and get a glimpse of some cool sci-fi movie stills while you’re at it. Bonus points if you get watch the original “Blade Runner” from 1982 later — with parental supervision, of course.

A photo journalist walking a destroyed city
airs April 2

Frontline: 20 Days in Mariupol

A woman working on a project in an art studio
airs March 29

Violet Protest

The
aired March 25

Pulitzer on the Road: Small Town Shakedown

A salad that has corn, avocado, and other delicious toppings
airs March 28

Tune in for an all new episode of ‘Check, Please! Arizona’

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