Early Education

Find WXXI & PBS KIDS in the Community!

Our WXXI Education Early Learning Team’s calendar is filled with community events, activities, and fun things happening in our region. We’ll be out and about in lots of places and spaces where families spend time (or want to!). Check out our calendar of community events below and stop by to see us!

Take Your Child to the Library Day – Saturday, February 7
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Location: Central Library of Rochester – 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY
More details: https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/16138480

APAPA Lunar New Year Festival – Saturday, February 21
Time: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Monroe County College – 1000 E Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY 14623
More details: https://www.apapa.org/rochester

Trout Unlimited’s Fly Fishing Workshop Day – Saturday, March 7
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Jewish Community Center – 1200 Edgewood AvenueRochester, NY, 14618
More details: https://www.sethgreentu.org/club-events/2026-fly-fishers-workshop
Please note: 12 years old and under are free; tickets are $10/person.

RMSC’s Pi Day Celebration – Saturday, March 14
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
More details: https://rmsc.org/museum-science-center/programs-and-events/
Included with regular RMSC admission.

2026 Celtic Family Faire – Saturday, March 14
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Downtown – 155 E Main St, Rochester, NY
More details: https://rochesterparade.com/Info/Celtic-Family-Faire

Inclusive Family Fishing Day – Saturday, April 25
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Lake Riley at Cobbs Hill Park – 100 Norris Dr , Rochester, NY 14610
More details: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/events/2026/4/annual-cobbs-hill-inclusive-family-fishing

STEAM Day @ Harley School – Saturday, May 2
Time: TBD
Location: 1981 Clover St, Rochester, NY 14618
This event is free and open to the public. More details as soon as they become available.

Want WXXI’s Early Learning team to attend your family-focused community event with a PBS KIDS resource or activity table? Please send your request to Cara Rager at CRager@wxxi.org.

Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band

Watch videos from Acoustic Rooster at https://pbskids.org/videos/acoustic-rooster

Get the kids in your life jazzed about jazz with Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band, premiering May 1! See schedule for TV and Livestream | Channels & Livestreams

Based on the beloved children’s book by bestselling author Kwame Alexander, the one-hour special will teach kids about foundational music concepts and the importance of teamwork to inspire them to use their creativity as an outlet for self-expression as it opens their eyes—and ears—to the richness of jazz.

About the Series and Video Shorts:

Get ready to groove! Based on Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, the beloved children’s book by Emmy® Award-winning, Newbery medalist, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander, the ACOUSTIC ROOSTER universe is coming to PBS KIDS with a special and a short-form series produced by GBH. This will feature ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, a one-hour special, and ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS, an upbeat new animated series of 20 shorts that will introduce viewers ages 3-5 to the vibrant world of the arts, specifically jazz music, while reinforcing the importance of collaboration, creativity, and self-expression.

Centered on the titular character, a guitar-strumming rooster who joins the Barnyard Band of Jazz Greats, the series and special feature 24 original tracks composed by Juno Award-winning jazz musician Mark McLean, as well as special guests, including jazz icon Herbie Hancock and renowned jazz bassist Amy Shook. The music-filled special, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, premieres on May 1. In addition to today’s sneak peek, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS will debut a second short on April 11, with the remaining rolling out weekly beginning May 9, 2025. The multiplatform world of Acoustic Rooster and his friends will also include an interactive game, Groovin’ with Acoustic Rooster, which allows kids to create their own music and play along with their favorite songs from the show.

“When my daughter was a baby, I was having a really hard time soothing her so I put on Ella Fitzgerald’s record ‘A Tisket-A Tasket,’ then I played Wynton’s Stardust, and she was captivated. Immediately stopped crying,” said Alexander. “Playing jazz for her inspired me to write Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band to share the history and the power of the music and the musicians with the world through a fictional barnyard band.”

The one-hour special, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, will teach kids about foundational music concepts and the importance of teamwork to inspire them to use their creativity as an outlet for self-expression as it opens their eyes—and ears—to the richness of jazz. The toe-tapping special follows the musical adventures of the precocious, young Acoustic Rooster, who dreams of joining a world-class jazz band alongside his talented friends, including Mules Davis, Lil’ Herdin, Ella Finchgerald, Duck Ellington, and the Chick-A-Dees (an adorable trio of preschool chicks), whose names are all playful nods to famous jazz greats.

“Music has the unique ability to inspire creativity, foster connection, and help children express themselves in meaningful ways,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “ACOUSTIC ROOSTER uses the magic of jazz to spark a love for music as it supports personal growth, making it a truly inspiring and fun experience for young viewers.”

Each 3-minute episode of ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS follows Rooster and his friends as they go on musical adventures about friendship, fun, and jazz. These short stories highlight styles of jazz, musical concepts, as well as kid-relatable everyday experiences, each featuring an original song. Whether they’re helping a friend overcome sadness with a blues song or jumpstarting the day with a jazzy tune, Rooster and his friends will help kids understand the importance of expressing their emotions and how music can be a meaningful part of their everyday lives.

PBS KIDS Creates Safe Spaces for Kids & Families

PBS KIDS content helps provide safe, trusted spaces for all children and their families. From watching to listening to playing, PBS KIDS and local stations, like WXXI, support adults in creating safe spaces for children anytime, anywhere.

Watch: PBS KIDS series use rich stories to help kids learn, explore, and feel secure. Children and adults trust the characters, families, and embedded learning. Use PBS KIDS videos to create an immersive, safe space for kids and families. Watch using the free PBS KIDS Video app, PBS KIDS on YouTube, or your local New York PBS station.

Listen: PBS KIDS stories are not only for watching but also for listening! Kids and families can listen to stories from their favorite PBS KIDS friends – Arthur, Molly of Denali, Work it Out Wombats!, and more. Just like the video stories, the audio stories create an immersive space for kids to turn to anytime, anywhere. Listen to PBS KIDS podcasts.

Play: PBS KIDS games are interactive spaces designed for young children to practice, play, explore, and learn. They are built for young children to play independently or with a grownup. And align to the same learning goals embedded in each PBS KIDS series. Play using the free PBS KIDS Games app or PBSKIDS.org/games.

Do: Each PBS KIDS series has offline activities, such as coloring pages, puzzles, crafts, and experiments to extend the learning within each story. These free printable materials can bring PBS KIDS to life offscreen in real spaces.

Share: PBS KIDS is a trusted source of fun, information, and learning. Sharing PBS KIDS tools and information on social media or in-person is another way to connect families to safe, trusted, and helpful resources for their young kids. Content can be shared from PBS KIDS for Parents, PBS KIDS Newsletter, or your local New York PBS station’s parent/education newsletters.

Mystery League Videos, Games & Activities

Watch a new mystery series for 3-5 graders from PBS KIDS and Arkansas PBS: Mystery League

Mystery League” is a new live-action series that teaches kids in kindergarten through second grades about friendship and community. This series features three fifth-grade detectives – Millie, Mike and Marta – as they solve the never-ending mysteries of the fictional small Arkansas town of Mulberry Springs. Each episode features relevant storylines that encourage Arkansas kids to problem solve and build relationships. To play games, download learning resources and learn more, visit https://myarpbs.org/mysteryleague.

Where to Watch:

P BSKIDS .org and the PBS KIDS free Video App. (Download)
PBS KIDS YouTube channel

Women’s History Month with PBS KIDS

March is Women’s History Month! Celebrate and learn about famous women in history with your favorite PBS KIDS shows including Xavier Riddle, Molly of Denali, and others! You will find full episodes and short clips from your favorite PBS KIDS shows

Watch Playlist of Full Episodes:

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Protect PBS KIDS & Public Media — Your Voice Still Matters

Earlier this month, I reached out about the growing pressures facing public media. Since then, the situation in Washington has only intensified, and the challenges we face are becoming even clearer.

At WXXI, we know that for families, PBS and PBS KIDS are more than just television channels—they are a trusted source of education, inspiration, and learning. Whether it’s Sesame Street helping young children build early literacy skills, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood teaching social-emotional learning, or Carl the Collector celebrating our differences and commonalities, these programs play a vital role in your child’s development.

But here’s something many people don’t realize: PBS and PBS KIDS programs are made available to your family through local public media stations like WXXI. We are the bridge that brings these award-winning programs into local families’ lives – on televisions or tablets, in classrooms and care settings, and in our community.

Now, the future of public media is being debated in Washington, and decisions made in the coming weeks could threaten funding for these essential services. Cuts to federal funding don’t just affect WXXI—they impact your family’s access to high-quality, free educational programming and resources.

That’s why we need you to speak up. If PBS, PBS KIDS, and public media matter to your family, now is the time to act.

📢 Take Action Now: bit.ly/ProtectWXXI

Every message sent, every story shared, and every show of support makes a difference. Decisions made in the coming weeks could impact public media for years to come. Let’s make sure our community’s voice is heard loud and clear.

A message from you—can make a difference – whether it’s sharing your family’s experience, telling your representatives why PBS KIDS matters, or spreading the word on social media. Public media has been a trusted resource for generations, and with your support, we can ensure it remains strong for the next generation.

Thank you for being part of the WXXI family. Your voice, your advocacy, and your support mean everything.

Warm Regards

Chris Hastings
President & CEO
WXXI Public Media

Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month to focus on learning about black history and culture throughout the year.

This PBS LearningMedia Collection to showcase Black excellence through contributions, achievements, and ideas across core subjects and eras. These classroom resources aim to inspire educators to intentionally include Black history and stories in all curricula, using PBS LearningMedia as a tool in doing so, and celebrate Black history this month — and all year long.

Explore videos, media galleries, lesson plans, and more for students! Explore additional related Black History connected collections

About Black History Month

Watch PBS KIDS Black History Month Playlist

Watch the PBS KIDS YouTube Playlist for Black History Month

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with PBS KIDS

Make this Valentine’s Day extra special by spending it with your favorite PBS KIDS characters. Share sweet moments and important lessons about love, kindness, and friendship with Daniel Tiger, Pinkalicious, Molly of Denali, Arthur, Peg+Cat, Nature Cat, Super Why, Word World and more! Watch the Playlist Above.