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Learning at Home | Week of 1/31 – 2/04

Take advantage of this week’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.

Highlight of the Week

The Story of China with Michael Wood: Ancestors, Silk Roads and China Ships
Thursday, February 3, 1 PM

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’.

Learning at Home
Week of 1/31 – 2/04

Monday, January 31

1 PM: NATURE: Animals with Cameras: Australia

Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan fronts the team helping scientists to investigate the lives of some of Australia’s most iconic animals. Using state-of-the-art cameras to film groundbreaking new behavior, the program unveils the fascinating worlds that are often out of reach to regular camera crews.

2 PM: NOVA: Ancient Maya Metropolis

The ancient ancestors of today’s Maya people thrived in large sophisticated cities across Central America for centuries. Why, around 750 CE, did they begin to abandon many of their major cities? Archaeologists investigate dramatic new evidence of the catastrophic droughts and instability that pushed cities beyond their limits. The evidence also testifies to the survival and resilience of the Maya people, whose traditions and creativity continue to enrich the world today.

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.

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