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Early Education

Summer Bucket List 2026!

Time for a summer full of PBS KIDS and community adventures! Our WXXI Early Learning Team has created a special checklist of summer activities to bring even more fun to your family this summer. Have fun exploring your local community and using PBS KIDS to spark joy with your kids. Need more ideas? Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for regular updates of new activities

Unearth a Story! Visit your local public library and join in on summer learning fun.

This summer’s theme for summer reading is “Unearth a Story” – libraries across the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region will be spending time exploring dinosaurs, archeology, paleontology, fossils, gardening, history, and so much more! See the full calendars of summer reading activities, special programming, and events at our region’s local libraries: Rochester Public Libraries, Monroe County Library System, and OWWL Library System.

Download the PBS KIDS Summer Activity Booklet.

Use the printable PBS KIDS Summer Activity Booklet for even more PBS KIDS-themed adventure and exploring ideas. The resource includes offline activities from your favorite PBS KIDS friends – Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Phoebe & Jay, Weather Hunters, and more! Download the booklet here.

Downloadable PBS KIDS Activity Book

Go Screen-Free for a Week!

Summer is the best time to create some screen-time balance! Use this “Screen Free Week” guide for activity ideas, crafts, and adventures that you can do with your kids off-screen. All of the ideas are PBS KIDS-inspired activities – from listening to a PBS KIDS podcast to visiting a local playground to going on a sign scavenger hunt like Phoebe & Jay! The best part of loving PBS KIDS is being able to play, explore, and learn with PBS KIDS anytime, anywhere! Download here.

A grid of activities to use off-screen.
A grid of non-screen based PBS KIDS activities.

Use WXXI’s Summer Bucket List

Coming soon!

Find WXXI Out in the Community!

Our WXXI Early Learning Team likes to spend time in all of the places that you do! Their 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 you might want to be too. Check out the calendar of community events – hope to see you out there!

Purple PBS KIDS tent and sign at community event.
WXXI’s PBS KIDS tent at Fall Fest 2025.

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!

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.

RPO OrKIDstra: Mother Goose with Rochester City Ballet – Sunday, May 17
Time: 2 to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Hochstein Performance Hall – 50 N Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14614
This is a ticketed event. Information on tickets can be found at the link below.
More details: https://rpo.org/events/orkidstra/

Rochester Hearing & Speech’s Super Hear-O 5K & Family Fun Day – Sunday, June 7
Time: 8 to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Seneca Park – 2222 St Paul St, Rochester, NY 14621
Sign up for the fun run and family day at the link below.
More details: https://www.rhsc.org/superhearo-5k

27th Annual Outdoor Expo – Saturday, June 13
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Mendon Ponds Park
The event is free and open to the public; presented by Genesee Valley Chapter
Adirondack Mountain Club and Monroe County Parks.
More details: https://adk-gvc.org/play/outdoor-expo-before/

Parent Connection Presents: Summer Spectacular – Sunday, June 14
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Webster Miracle Field – 1008 Ridge Rd, Webster, NY 14580
This event is free and open to the public.
More details: https://www.parentshelpingparentsmonroe.com/events

Genesee Land Trust’s Bridging Communities Event – Saturday, July 25
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Location: Pont de Rennes Bridge and High Falls Terrace Park – Mill Street, Rochester, NY
This event is free and open to the public.
More details soon.

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:

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 PBS KIDS Episodes

PBS KIDS Celebrates Women's History Month with Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Episodes
Watch PBS KIDS Episodes

Compilation for Women’s History Month of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum

Watch the Playlist
Watch Strong Women Playlist with PBS KIDS

Watch PBS KIDS Playlist of Women’s History Episodes & Shorts on YouTube:

PBS KIDS YouTube Playlist

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

Watch the Video

15 Children’s Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Children's Books for 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 & Culture Education Resources

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

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