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.

Find an OWWL Library location.
See upcoming OWWL library programs.
Find an MCLS Library location.
See upcoming MCLS library programs.
Visit the Toy Library.

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.

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!

Town of Irondequoit’s Abilities in Action Event – Saturday, May 16
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: McAvoy Park – Corner of Winton Rd/Empire Blvd, Irondequoit, NY
More details: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E5P1EZS8o/

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/

Action for a Better Community’s Community Action Day Resource Celebration – Saturday, May 23
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Parcel 5, Downtown Rochester
More details: https://www.abcinfo.org/events/2026-community-action-month-celebration

19th Ward’s Square Fair – Saturday, June 6
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Aberdeen Square Park – 373 Aberdeen Street, Rochester, NY 14619
More details: https://19wca.org/2019/11/30/june-square-fair/

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.

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.

The U.S. and the Holocaust • WXXI-TV

The U.S. and the Holocaust airs Sunday, April 6- at 1 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Combining the first-person accounts of Holocaust witnesses and survivors and interviews with leading historians and writers, The U.S. and the Holocaust dispels competing myths that Americans either were ignorant of the unspeakable persecution that Jews and other targeted minorities faced in Europe or that they looked on with callous indifference. The film tackles a range of questions that remain essential to our society today, including how racism influences policies related to immigration and refugees as well as how governments and people respond to the rise of authoritarian states that manipulate history and facts to consolidate power.

The final episode “The Homeless, Tempest-Tossed (1942 — )”: A group of government officials supports rescue operations; the public sees for the first time the scale of the Holocaust as Allies liberate German camps.

Click here to about the Lynn Novik event.

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!

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

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 more PBS KIDS videos