Learn & Play
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Learning at Home | Week of 12/20 – 12/24

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

All is Calm | The Christmas Truce of 1914
Thursday, December 23, 1 PM

The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, peace. A remarkable true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

Learning at Home
Week of 12/20 – 12/24

Monday, December 20

1 PM: NATURE: Santa’s Wild Home

Get an intimate look at the wildlife of Lapland, a region in northern Finland, the fabled home of Santa Claus and actual home of reindeer, wolverines, eagles, wolves, brown bears and more.

2 PM: NOVA: Decoding da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance genius. Not only did he paint masterpieces of art, but he was an obsessive scientist and inventor, dreaming up complex machines centuries ahead of his time, including parachutes, armored tanks, hang gliders, and robots. On the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, with the help of biographer Walter Isaacson, NOVA investigates the secrets of Leonardo’s success. How did his scientific curiosity, from dissections of cadavers to studies of optics, shape his genius and help him create perhaps the most famous painting of all time, the “Mona Lisa”?

Tuesday, December 21

1 PM: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Conceived by John Mauceri, this new work is a re-imagination of Tchaikovsky’s holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker.” Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 book, Alan Cumming recounts the origin story of how a prince got put into a nutcracker. Unlike the ballet, we also learn what happens when the young girl grows up, having saved the prince, and what they are doing today.

2:30 PM: One Voice: The Songs We Share | The Sacred

Join the American Pops Orchestra as we celebrate uniquely American music that has transcended its original genre and audience. “The Sacred” features Justin Guarini (“American Idol”), Maureen McKay (Metropolitan Opera), Daniel Colaner (16-year old prodigy artist and cancer survivor), and Broadway star Adam Hyndman. Hosted by Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child.

Wednesday, December 22

1 PM: Rick Steves’ Europe | Luther and the Reformation

Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther kicked off the Protestant Reformation, which contributed to the birth of our modern age. In this one-hour special, Rick Steves visits key sites relating to the Reformation and explores the complicated political world of 16th-century Europe — from indulgences to iconoclasts. It’s a story of power, rebellion, and faith that you’ll never forget.

2 PM: Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas

Join Lucy Worsley on a 12-day extravaganza as she discovers that much of what we enjoy in contemporary Christmas — from carols to gift-giving, feasting and drinking — was just as popular 500 years ago, with some surprising Tudor twists.

Thursday, December 23

1 PM: All is Calm | The Christmas Truce of 1914

The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, peace. A remarkable true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

2:30 PM: Christmas on the Danube

Against the music of the great composers, Christmas on the Danube travels the majestic Danube River as it passes through European landscape, history and culture. The cities along the Danube have a special sparkle at Christmas. This heartwarming holiday special visits Vienna, Budapest, Salzburg, and Oberdorf. Other highlights include a visit to the Melk Abbey, the old town on Passau, and the charming Christmas Market in Bratislava. Christmas on the Danube is a companion to European Christmas Market.

Friday, December 24

1 PM: Soundscapes: Beartracks

Local musicians and stunning scenics take centerstage on Soundscapes. Local bluegrass legends Beartracks bring their treasured original songs and classic covers to the stage of the Strand Center Theatre in Plattsburgh, NY, complete with some brother-sister banter.

1:30 PM: Articulate | Finding Meaning

Music has been a salvation for Timothy Showalter, frontman and founder of Strand of Oaks. Writing and recording have helped him through personal tragedy and despair. Solo and with the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, theater artist John Jarboe explores the politics of sexuality and gender in popular culture.

2 PM:Crane Candlelight Concert: Peace & Love

In a concert tradition that began in the 1930’s, the Crane Chorus and the Crane Symphony Orchestra come together each year to present a very special holiday concert. Featuring carolers and musicians from the renowned Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam, the concert includes traditional Christmas and seasonal hymns from around the world along with popular favorites. 

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