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
Searching for Timbuctoo
Monday, June 20, 1 PM
Searching for Timbuctoo tells the little-known story of a Black settlement, established in the wilds of upstate New York, that brought together a group of ardent abolitionists willing to risk their fortunes, their families, and their futures to destroy slavery. Little did they know that by coming together, they would help tear the nation apart.
- Program website
- PBS LearningMedia: The Abolitionists: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Learning at Home
Week of 6/20 – 6/24
Monday, June 20
1 PM: Searching for Timbuctoo
Searching for Timbuctoo tells the little-known story of a Black settlement, established in the wilds of upstate New York, that brought together a group of ardent abolitionists willing to risk their fortunes, their families, and their futures to destroy slavery. Little did they know that by coming together, they would help tear the nation apart.
- Program website
- Learning resource: John Brown Lives!⎪Dreaming of Timbuctoo
2 PM: George Washington Carver: An Uncommon Life
While George Washington Carver’s rise from slavery to scientific accomplishment has inspired millions, time has reduced him to the man who did something with peanuts. This documentary uncovers Carver’s complexities and reveals the full impact of his life and work.
- Program page
- PBS LearningMedia: George Washington Carver’s Impact and Inspiration
Tuesday, June 21
1 PM: Genius by Stephen Hawking | Can We Time Travel?
In this mind-bending episode: Can three volunteers work out if time travel is possible? World-famous scientist Stephen Hawking leads us on a fascinating journey of discovery, featuring DeLoreans, clocks, a giant black hole and a large swathe of New York City. It seems as if nothing is beyond his imagination. Without any mathematics or equations, he effortlessly manages to get three non-scientists to grasp 4 dimensional space and time travel.
- Program page
- PBS LearningMedia: Can We Time Travel? Lesson Plan | Genius by Stephen Hawking
2 PM: Genius by Stephen Hawking | Are We Alone?
Stephen Hawking sets three volunteers a series of fun challenges to show them how to think like a genius – and find out how likely it is that aliens exist. Cue an extraordinary journey of discovery, involving tons of sand, huge machinery, some straightforward thinking and several amazing, head-exploding reveals.
- Program page
- PBS LearningMedia: Using Light Signatures in the Search for Alien Life | NOVA Wonders: Are We Alone?
Wednesday, June 22
1 PM: Genius by Stephen Hawking | Why Are We Here?
World-famous scientist Stephen Hawking sets three ordinary people a series of fun challenges to show them how to think like a genius. Can they work out why they exist at all? Is it destiny or pure chance? This episode features smashed glasses, spooky castles and a truly freaky flash-mob illustration of multiple universes. Why Are We Here? takes the subjects down a rabbit hole of deeply profound realizations.
- Program page
- PBS LearningMedia: The Human Spark | How We Learn
2 PM: Genius by Stephen Hawking | Where did the Universe Come From?
Join an extraordinary journey of discovery, featuring racing cars, ice-skaters, balloons and running tracks as Stephen Hawking leads his three intrepid souls to a deeper understanding of the evolution of the universe than the average physics major, all with any mathematics or equations.
Thursday, June 23
1 PM: Genius by Stephen Hawking | What Are We?
A new set of volunteers explore self-assembling machines, light-up bacteria and the world’s first physical demonstration of evolution in action conspire to totally revolutionize their view of life. We discover not only that our bodies are machines of incredible complexity, but how they came to exist and how long it took for our lives to come about.
- Program page
- PBS LearningMedia: What Are We? Lesson Plan | Genius by Stephen Hawking
2 PM: Genius by Stephen Hawking | Where Are We?
Three ordinary people engage in a series of fun physical and mental challenges to show them how to think like a genius. Can they measure the earth, the solar system and even the universe and find out where we really are? They’ll use a helicopter, a boat and a powerful laser to prove the earth is round – and to measure it. Next they head off to the iconic Black Rock Desert to try and get a grip on the massive scale of the solar system.
- Program page
- PBS LearningMedia: Map a Model Solar System
Friday, June 24
1 PM: Mending Walls: The Documentary
Artist Hamilton Glass challenges 30 artists from different cultural backgrounds to collaborate on 16 murals in Richmond, VA about race, status and experiences. The film shows how the artists got to know each other through difficult conversations, how working together ultimately opened their eyes and hearts to the differences between all of us, and how these murals became a symbol of hope.
- Program page
- PBS LearningMedia: Mending Walls | Educator Workshop
2 PM: Streets of Wynwood
Take a wild ride into the riot of color, creativity and chaos that is Miami’s street art scene. Every year during the Art Basel fair, street artists from around the globe converge on Miami’s Wynwood district to transform its streets anew with a riot of creative colors. Streets of Wynwood transports the viewer into this nomadic subculture to meet some of world’s best exponents of urban art and to appreciate first-hand how this once clandestine tribe of taggers, graffiti writers and muralists have claimed their place in the broader art world. It’s a dazzling experience.
- Program website
- PBS LearningMedia: Graffiti Art: Scaling
Learning at Home on Mountain Lake PBS is supported by:
Adirondack Foundation