View, Do and Read

Cyberchase WHYY offers children a fun and safe learning environment
By Sandra Andino, WHYY Ready to Learn

Winter winds are in full swing, and school-aged children hurry home to stay inside. Watching television and playing video games are a favorite pastime, and many parents worry if what their kids are watching on TV is educational.

Well, there is no need to worry with the lineup of great children's shows on WHYY TV12, all of which are non-violent, educational and entertaining as well. From 3 to 5 p.m. each weekday, children can tune into TV12 to discover new books to read on Reading Rainbow; explore environmental science with George Shrinks; catch up on Philadelphia's history with the adventures of Liberty's Kids; have fun trying science experiments while watching ZOOM; sharpen their math and logic skills with Cyberchase; and learn positive social behavior with Arthur and his friends.

And there is more good news! Children and parents can extend the educational viewing experience by visiting the Web sites for each show at www.pbskids.org. These educational sites are fun and safe for children to browse on their own, but they also include tips, activities and lesson plans for parents and teachers that can be applied at home or in school.

View
Watch your children sharpen their thinking skills as they try to solve math problems in with the Earth kids on Cyberchase, which airs Monday through Friday at 4:30 p.m. on TV12.

Do
Dr. Marbles Gotcha Game

What You'll Need: 15 marbles, 14 blue and 1 red, or any set of 15 small objects (for example, pennies and a dime or sugar packets) as long as one of them is different

Instructions: Arrange the 14 blue marbles or objects of the same color in a circle. Place the red marble in the center. Take turns removing 1, 2, or 3 blue marbles. The winner is the player who does not get stuck with the red marble. Play the game a few times. Can you think of a winning strategy?

After the game, encourage your children to talk about their experiences. In the January 9 episode of Cyberchase, "Problem Solving in Shangri-La," the kids - Matt, Jackie and Inez - play this same game against Hacker. But they have to come up with a game plan - a strategy for winning - and this game is really difficult to figure out. Ask your children this question: "What do you do when something is difficult to figure out?"

Here's a hint: To make a hard problem easier, try something simpler. The solution to the simpler problem can help you think about the more difficult one. With this game, try playing with just five marbles or pennies or sugar packets (one of which is different). Is it easier to think about a winning strategy?

Read
100 Days of School by Trudy Harris; illustrated by Beth Griffis Johnson How many ways are there to count to 100? Lots! The funny rhymes in this book show different ways to count to 100 with a clown's nose and piggy toes and other groups of things. It all adds up to a fun way to learn about 100. Recommended for children aged 5 to 8.

It's Science: Solid, Liquid, or Gas? by Fay Robinson A fun way to learn about the properties of solid, liquid or gas is illustrated with great pictures in this hands-on book written for children. Each page has a "try it out" section to demonstrate the changing shapes, colors and forms of solid, liquid or gas. Questions to test kids' knowledge and answers make this a great science book! Recommended for children aged 5 to 8.