Learn & Play
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Learning At Home Schedule – February 2022

Take advantage of this month’s Learning at Home broadcast schedule – great for students engaged in hybrid or distance instruction, and families looking to spend some extra, quality time together!

After watching these fascinating programs, explore the PBS LearningMedia and web resources to learn more.

Tuesday, February 1

1 PM: Major League Cuban Baseball

Major League Cuban Baseball traces the experiences of Cubans at the most accomplished levels of America’s national pastime – baseball – and explores their deep cultural and emotional connection to the game. The program documents Cuban ball players’ presence in the budding American professional leagues of the late 1800s, and their impact on American baseball in the early 20th century. The documentary also delves into baseball in post-revolution Cuba, when professional sports were banned on the island and many players made the difficult decision to leave for the U.S. For the hundreds of thousands of Cuban exiles who fled their country, baseball served as an elixir and the Cuban big leaguers were their heroes.

2 PM:American Experience: Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente is an in-depth look at an exceptional baseball player and committed humanitarian who challenged racial discrimination to become baseball’s first Latino superstar. Featuring interviews with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors David Maraniss and George F. Will, Clemente’s wife Vera, Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, and former teammates, the documentary presents an intimate and revealing portrait of a man whose passion and grace made him a legend.

Wednesday,February 2

1 PM: Big Pacific | Passionate

In the Pacific, the quest to multiply has spawned a stunning array of unusual behaviors and adaptations. There are forest penguins with a tenuous marriage, the secret rendezvous of great white sharks, and the tale of male pregnancy.

2 PM:First Civilizations: Trade

Examine an ancient civilization unlike any other, that of the Indus Valley. Rather than imposing order through war or religion, it relied on the free flow of trade. The exchange of goods promoted wealth, co-operation and trust.

Thursday,February 3

1 PM: The Story of China with Michael Wood: Ancestors, Silk Roads and China Ships

In Ancestors, Michael Wood starts with a family reunion, when 300 relatives gather to worship their ancestors on ‘Tomb Sweeping Day,’ and explores ancient myths and archaeological sites to uncover the origins of the Chinese state. He examines the first Chinese writing, and tells the dramatic tale of the bloodthirsty First Emperor. In Silk Roads and China Ships Wood travels to the bazaars of the Silk Road in Central Asia, and on to India in the footsteps of the Chinese monk who brought Buddhist texts to China. He uncovers the coming of Christianity, sails the Grand Canal, and tracks the spread of Chinese culture across East Asia, an influence ‘as profound as Rome on the Latin West’.

Friday,February 4

1 PM: Soundscapes: Adrian Carr

Local musicians and stunning scenics take centerstage on Soundscapes. Pianist Adrian Carr takes his seat at the keys for an enchanting performance from the Strand Center Theatre in Plattsburgh, NY.

1:30 PM: Articulate | Making Her Way

Natalie Merchant has experience enough for several lives: teen rock star, fiercely independent solo artist, mother, wildly successful environmental campaigner. And she’s done it all in her own inimitable style.

2 PM: Culture Quest: Kyoto

We travel to Kyoto, one of the most well-preserved cities in Japan where both domestic and international tourists flock to stroll the streets to get a sense of ancient Japan. We spend time with a classic starving artist trying to make it in the art world, a tattoo artist breaking new ground in what is still a taboo art form, and a modern artist with pieces in major museums around the world.

2:30 PM: Culture Quest: Puerto Rico

We travel to Puerto Rico to explore graffiti and mural culture. This is a surprising look at how something that is seen as a sign of blight, of a neighborhood in decline, is actually unifying neighborhoods around the island. The murals give residents a sense of history and pride as well as much needed income from tourists who are visiting these seldom-seen barrios to view the mural art.

Monday,February 7

1 PM: NATURE: Pumas | Legends of the Ice Mountains

Travel to the mountains of Chile to discover the secrets of the puma, the area’s biggest and most elusive predator. Discover how this mountain lion survives and follow the dramatic fate of a puma mother and her cubs.

2 PM: NOVA: Arctic Sinkholes

Colossal explosions shake a remote corner of the Siberian tundra, leaving behind massive craters. In Alaska, a huge lake erupts with bubbles of inflammable gas. Scientists are discovering that these mystifying phenomena add up to a ticking time bomb, as long-frozen permafrost melts and releases vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What are the implications of these dramatic developments in the Arctic? Scientists and local communities alike are struggling to grasp the scale of the methane threat and what it means for our climate future.

Tuesday,February 8

1 PM: Magical Land of Oz: Land

“Magical Land of Oz” offers a look into the land’s highest snow peaks and the depths of its frigid and wild southern seas; its last populations of wild numbats to its largest diorama of giant cuttlefish. It’s a land of diverse beauty that delights and surprises. In this first episode, go on an exploration of one of the most magical lands on the planet. Its unique wildlife includes a tree-dwelling kangaroo, a spider that survives underwater and a bird that spreads fire.

2 PM: Ancient Skies⎪Gods and Monsters

With breathtaking CGI, beautiful landscape footage and some of the world’s most important astronomical artifacts, Ancient Skies looks at the cosmos through the eyes of our ancestors, charting our changing views of the cosmos throughout history. In this episode, we explore the origins of our relationship with the skies. From our earliest ancestors we discover how we used the skies to navigate and tell time, and how we gave religious significance to the things we saw in it. We finish on the cusp of a revolution that gave birth to modern science.

Wednesday,February 9

1 PM: The Story of China with Michael Wood: Golden Age, The Ming

In the alleys of Kaifeng, the world’s greatest city before the 19th century, Michael Wood hears legends, samples the cuisine and explores printing. We see a huge working replica of an astronomical clock made by ‘China’s Leonardo da Vinci’, one of the inventions that made the Song a great era of science. And at a crunch Chinese Premier League match, we learn that the Chinese even invented soccer! Then, in Nanjing, Michael sees the building of a huge replica of a Ming ocean-going junk. In Suzhou, the ‘Venice of China’, he explores the silk industry, ceramics and lacquer-making, and visits one of China’s most beautiful gardens. And finally in Macao, we learn about the arrival of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci beginning China’s fateful modern exchanges with the West.

Thursday,February 10

1 PM: The Story of China with Michael Wood: The Last Empire, The Age of Revolution

In the 18th century China was the biggest economy in the world, and with that prosperity came a fabulously rich culture. From China’s favourite novel, to opera and storytelling houses, and all-women’s mosques, it’s an age full of surprises. But then came the fateful clash with the British in the First Opium War, the beginning of the end of the empire. Then we follow as Michael Wood visits Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel, jewel of the Jazz age, and follows Mao on the Long March to Yan’an, the base of the communist revolution. He meets a survivor of the Japanese massacre of Nanjing, describes the communist victory, and ends with Mao’s death and the boom time of the last thirty years. The series ends as it began at home with the warmth of the Chinese family.

Friday,February 11

1 PM: Soundscapes: Marie-Elaine Gagnon

Local musicians and stunning scenics take centerstage on Soundscapes. Canadian cellist and Crane School of Music professor Marie-Elaine Gagnon performs a collection of covers from classical composers at the Strand Center Theatre in Plattsburgh, NY.

1:30 PM: Articulate | Taking Time

A fatal accident in his teens would come to define life for Darin Strauss. Also, from champion skier to acclaimed composer, Steven Mackey has never lost his rhythm.

2 PM:Culture Quest: East Timor

We travel to East Timor with writer Naldo Rei, who was instrumental in the 15-year bloody struggle for independence from Indonesia. Naldo and his fellow East Timorese are now looking towards an uncertain but hopeful future for a country with a lot of potential, including what Conservation International calls the most biodiverse swath of ocean right off the shore of their capital city.

2:30 PM: Culture Quest: The Northern Coast of Australia

We travel to The Northern Coast of Australia to Arnhem Land, spending time with the Yolngu tribe – a group of people that some anthropologists date back to well over 30,000 years and who were instrumental in advancing the struggle for land rights for Aboriginals across Australia.

Monday,February 14

1 PM: NATURE: Penguins | Meet the Family

A celebration of one of Earth’s most iconic and beloved birds, featuring footage of all 18 species of penguins for the first time, from New Zealand, Cape Town, the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica.

2 PM: NOVA: Secrets in the Scat

Scott Burnett is “Scatman”- an Australian ecologist on the trail of the secrets of poop. By identifying and analyzing animal scat for DNA and hormones, he discovers essential details of their behavior, how they fit in the ecosystem, and how to protect them. From the mysterious cubic poop of wombats to the precious pink waste of whales, join scientists as they explore nature’s smelliest secrets.

Tuesday,February 15

1 PM: American Masters | Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands

Directed by Emmy and Peabody Award-winner Rita Coburn, American Masters – Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands explores the life, career, art and legacy of the African American contralto and civil rights pioneer in her own words using archival interview recordings. Marian Anderson’s singing and speaking voice are heard throughout the documentary, providing new understanding of the woman behind the music.

Wednesday,February 16

1 PM:Magical Land of Oz: Ocean

Magical Land of Oz: Ocean is a natural history exploration of Australia’s magical coasts and islands where three oceans create the perfect environment for whales, giant cuttlefish and sharks.

2 PM: Ancient Skies⎪Finding the Center

Episode two of this landmark series delves further into our ancient understanding of the skies above. After exploring the mysterious creatures living at the edge of the world, we follow the story of our earth as it takes shape and a place in the cosmos in the minds of great astronomers and scientists including Ptolemy, Copernicus and Galileo.

Thursday,February 17

1 PM: Prince Among Slaves

This special tells the forgotten true story of an African prince who was enslaved in Mississippi for 40 years before finally achieving freedom and becoming one of the most famous men in America.

2 PM: John Lewis: Get in the Way

Follow the journey of civil rights hero, congressman and human rights champion John Lewis. A film by Kathleen Dowdey, “John Lewis – Get in the Way” is the first biographical documentary about Lewis, an inspiring portrait of one man cast into extraordinary times and his unhesitating dedication to seeking justice for the marginalized and ignored. The film spans more than half a century, tracing Lewis’ journey of courage, confrontations and hard-won triumphs.

Friday,February 18

1 PM: Soundscapes: Kevin Sabourin

Local musicians and stunning scenics take centerstage on Soundscapes. Guitarist Kevin Sabourin takes the stage at the Strand Center Theatre in Plattsburgh, NY with a set of storytelling acoustic tunes.

1:30 PM: Articulate | Indefatigables

Singer-songwriter Valerie June has been knocked down but never out by heartbreak, illness, and hardship. Now in his early 60s, choreographer and dancer Stephen Petronio has built a life and a body of work by deciding whose rules he was prepared to follow.

2 PM: Kindred Spirits: Artists Hilda Wilkinson Brown and Lilian Thomas Burwell

Kindred Spirits explores the unique relationship between an African American aunt and niece who became accomplished artists and educators despite the hardships of the Great Depression and the inequities of racial segregation. The story of their lives, their works of art and sources of inspiration are presented against the backdrop of a segregated society.

2:30 PM: Georgia O’Keeffe: A Woman on Paper

Georgia O’Keeffe: A Woman on Paper, highlights the artist’s career while focusing on the little-known story of O’Keeffe’s time spent in Columbia, S.C., as an art instructor at Columbia College. The program follows O’Keeffe’s career through various artistic stages, ending permanently in New Mexico, where she created more realistic paintings with vivid color.

Monday,February 21

1 PM: NATURE: The Ocean’s Greatest Feast

The story of South Africa’s annual sardine migration is brought vividly to life on camera. Each summer, the sardine run sees billions of sardines spawning and traveling up the coast, providing a feast for an array of marine predators.

2 PM: NOVA: Great Mammoth Mystery

Join Sir David Attenborough on a unique excavation of a site in southwest England with rare traces of ancient mammoths and Neanderthals. Featuring hands-on experiments with replicas of Neanderthal-era spears and photorealistic reconstructions of the site’s ancient riverside setting, NOVA brings the world of prehistoric Britain vividly to life, illuminated by the inimitable thoughts and insights of Sir David Attenborough.

Tuesday,February 22

1 PM:American Experience: Jesse Owens

The most famous athlete of his time, his stunning triumph at the 1936 Olympic Games captivated the world even as it infuriated the Nazis. Despite the racial slurs he endured, Jesse Owens’ grace and athleticism rallied crowds across the globe. But when the four-time Olympic gold medalist returned home, he could not even ride in the front of a bus. The story of the 22-year-old son of a sharecropper who triumphed over adversity to become a hero and world champion, Jesse Owens is also about the elusive, fleeting quality of fame and the way Americans idolize athletes when they suit our purpose, and forget them once they don’t.

2 PM: American Experience: The American Diplomat

The American Diplomat explores the lives and legacies of three African American ambassadors — Edward Dudley, Terence Todman and Carl Rowan — who pushed past historical and institutional racial barriers to reach high-ranking appointments in the Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. At the height of the civil rights movement in the United States, the three men were asked to represent the best of American ideals abroad while facing discrimination at home. Oft reputed as “pale, male and Yale,” the U.S. State Department fiercely maintained and cultivated the Foreign Service’s elitist character and was one of the last federal agencies to desegregate. Through rare archival footage, in-depth oral histories and interviews with family members, colleagues and diplomats, the film paints a portrait of three men who left a lasting impact on the content and character of the Foreign Service and changed American diplomacy forever. 

Wednesday,February 23

1 PM:Magical Land of Oz: Human

An exploration of Australia’s mesmerizing wildlife and how they’ve adapted to survive in the human environment, including a flamboyant dancing peacock spider in a suburban garden.

2 PM: Ancient Skies⎪Our Place in the Universe

In Episode 3, Our Place in the Universe, we complete the puzzle of our ancient skies, collecting the missing pieces required for an accurate model of our universe. We break through the spheres that defined our skies for millennia, abandon the long-held idea of circular orbits, discover new neighbors in our solar system, and begin to comprehend the enormity of our ever-growing universe.

Thursday,February 24

1 PM: The Education of Harvey Gantt

In 1960, a talented African-American student from Charleston, Harvey Gantt, graduated from high school and decided to become an architect. Clemson College was the only school in South Carolina that offered a degree in his chosen field. In January of 1963, with the help of NAACP lawyer Matthew J. Perry, Gantt won a lawsuit against Clemson and was peacefully admitted to the college.

2 PM: Fannie Lou Hamer’s America: An America Reframed Special

Fannie Lou Hamer’s America focuses on the incredible life of one of the Civil Rights Movement’s greatest leaders and the injustices that made her work essential. Airing during Black History Month, the film is produced by Hamer’s great-niece Monica Land and Selena Lauterer and directed by Joy Davenport.

Friday,February 25

1 PM: Soundscapes: Gretchen Koehler and Daniel Kelly

Local musicians and stunning scenics take centerstage on Soundscapes. The duo of fiddler Gretchen Koehler and pianist Daniel Kelly close out this season of Soundscapes with a lively mix of traditional and original works at the Strand Center Theatre in Plattsburgh, NY.

1:30 PM: Articulate | Worlds of Words

Writer Tochi Onyebuchi and visual artist Stephen Powers are both trying to change the world, one word at a time. Tochi Onyebuchi imagines worlds that never were, but always grounds them in this one. Stephen Powers wants the murals he creates to be democratic and reflections of the communities they occupy.

2 PM: Bird: Not Out of Nowhere

Kansas City PBS is proud to present a documentary that looks back at the years Charlie “Bird” Parker spent in Kansas City and his lasting legacy on the Kansas City jazz scene. Bird: Not Out of Nowhere features rarely seen archival footage of Parker, interviews with musicians and historians, and live performances from Kansas City’s most talented jazz musicians.

Monday,February 28

1 PM: NOVA: Augmented

Follow the dramatic personal journey of Hugh Herr, a biophysicist working to create brain-controlled robotic limbs. At age 17, Herr’s legs were amputated after a climbing accident. Frustrated by the crude prosthetic limbs he was given, Herr set out to remedy their design, leading him to a career as an inventor of innovative prosthetic devices. Now, Herr is teaming up with an injured climber and a surgeon at a leading Boston hospital to test a new approach to surgical amputation that allows prosthetic limbs to move and feel like the real thing.

Learning at Home on Mountain Lake PBS is supported by:
Adirondack Foundation