FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2020
Contact: MiChelle Jones, NPT, (615) 259-9325 x2110, mjones@wnpt.org
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – In light of the current coronavirus situation that has closed schools and led students, teachers and their families to follow “safer at home” protocols, Nashville Public Television has curated an “At Home Learning” block of programming to assist students who are now engaged in distance learning activities. The new daytime schedule begins Monday, March 30, and the featured programs will change each week.
“We’re supplementing our educational content for younger kids that starts at 6 a.m. each day with additional educational programs aimed at older audiences,” said Kevin Crane, NPT’s president and CEO. “From 10 a.m. to noon we’ll be broadcasting programs that middle school students can enjoy, from noon to 2 p.m. will be for high school students. But really anyone can enjoy and learn from these PBS and NPT programs.”
“Nashville Public Television is an essential partner in our city-wide strategic effort to support student learning,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, MNPS Director of Schools. “We are grateful to NPT for working with us to broadcast additional educational programming targeted to each of our age groups with relevant enrichment content.”
As of April 6, NPT will incorporate instructional programming from the Tennessee Department of Education.
Here’s an overview of NPT’s “At Home Learning” programming schedule (a searchable version of the station’s schedule is available at wnpt.org/schedule):
6 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Children’s programming with favorites such as “Sesame Street,” which offers literacy skills and social emotional learning; and “Molly of Denali,” a show that stresses using and understanding informational texts. “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” also provides social emotional learning. “Let’s Go Luna” has a social-studies based curriculum, and “Nature Cat” and “Wild Kratts” help children explore the natural sciences. Note: children’s programming resumes each weekday from 2 to 5 p.m. In addition, NPT3 PBS Kids will continue to offer 24/7 children’s programming at 8.3 over-the- air, Comcast 242, Charter 189 or 192 (depending on area) and Google Fiber 87 and online at wnpt.org/npt3.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Programming suitable for middle and high school students incorporates math and science in “NOVA” series “The Planets” and “Breakthrough: The Ideas that Changed the World.” Literature and language arts are the topics of “The Great American Read”; while history is covered by NPT’s own “By One Vote: Woman Suffrage in the South” and “American Experience” series like Ken Burns’ “The Roosevelts.”
Many of NPT’s programs are available to stream via video.wnpt.org and the PBS app. However, not everyone has a fast internet connection, so broadcast is the best way to reach everyone, Crane said. “We want to make sure that all parents have access to educational programming for all ages,” he added.
Additional resources from NPT
NPT created two new web pages with resources to help Middle Tennesseans navigate the COVID-19 crisis. A collection of ideas for distance learning, with suggestions for both educators developing curricula and parents with children at home, is available at wnpt.org/health-wellness/parents-teachers. This page includes information drawn from PBS Learning Media (tn.pbslearningmedia.org), a website offering free lesson plans and video clips; as well as links to information and videos tailored to adults and children about staying calm during crises. Parents may also sign up for a new PBS Kids newsletter (pbs.org/parents/pbskidsdaily) for ideas and activities delivered each weekday.
General information page wnpt.org/health-wellness includes links to reliable sources for COVID-19 updates, along with videos and other resources about talking to children. The page also features a list of related national and NPT-created programming – some on-air, some via streaming – that offers information, tips and historical perspective.
“Tennessee Crossroads” and “Volunteer Gardener” segments, as well as NPT’s original documentaries are available for online viewing at video.wnpt.org In addition, PBS is making more of its archive available (Ken Burns’ “Baseball” series, for example) to stream for free, also at video.wnpt.org and through the PBS app.
About Nashville Public Television:
Nashville Public Television, Nashville’s PBS station, is available free and over-the-air to nearly 2.4 million people throughout the Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky viewing area. NPT’s three broadcast channels are NPT, the main channel; secondary channel NPT2; and NPT3, a 24/7 PBS Kids channel. NPT is also available to anyone in the world through its array of NPT digital services, including wnpt.org, YouTube channels and the PBS video app. NPT provides, through the power of traditional television and interactive digital communications, quality educational, cultural and civic experiences that address issues and concerns of the people of the Nashville region, and which thereby help improve the lives of those we serve. Join the conversation at facebook.com/nashvillepublictelevision, on Twitter @npt8 and on Instagram @nashvillepubtv.
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