June 2023 Education News

2023-2024 Digital Innovator Announced
Idaho "Jobs Explained" initiative
Homedale Teen and Tween Night
Idaho Kindergarten Readiness Workshops
8 Empathy-Building Books for Kids
Outdoor Idaho in the Classroom
Inventions: June Science Trek
Find Us at These Free Family Events
Our Top Online Games for June

2023-2024 IdahoPTV Digital Innovator Announced

Christine Peargin has been chosen as the 2023-2024 IdahoPTV Digital Innovator! She teaches third grade at Rupert Elementary in Rupert, Idaho.

Every year, IdahoPTV recognizes one K-12 educator in Idaho who is going above and beyond to engage their students and enhance learning by integrating technology or digital media into their classrooms. We are dedicated to supporting teachers throughout the state and fostering collaboration between teachers.

"I am honored to be chosen! I wholeheartedly believe technology brings learning outside the classroom walls and helps students develop critical and creative thinking skills needed for the future." —Christine Peargin

We are sending Ms. Peargin on an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2024 Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE) Conference and providing her with a Classroom Innovation Kit of her choosing (worth up to $1,000). Congratulations, Christine!

Idaho "Jobs Explained" Initiative

Idaho Public Television is one of 10 public media stations nationwide selected to create fun and engaging videos to help connect young people with potential careers through the American Graduate initiative Jobs Explained.

Youth ages 13-20 are encouraged to join our Jobs Explained Youth Advisory Committee! Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

Youth Advisory Committee

Info on Jobs Explained

Homedale Teen and Tween Night

The library in Homedale, in southwestern Idaho, is a popular place for teens and tweens to hang out, so IdahoPTV Education Specialist Brady Kissel led an evening of creativity. Among Brady's many talents is fiber art, and she taught students how to weave with straws and use a variety of materials to craft colorful creatures that pull double duty as bookmarks.

By choosing to share some of her skills, Brady says she hoped to show students that art can go beyond the page and grow from a hobby into a life-long practice.

Homedale Library's Teen and Tween Coordinator Mellisa Mulinix explained that the library is a very popular gathering spot for this age group, drawing more than 30 participants to the program every week.

Brady says that creating opportunities for young people to try something new allows them to build on their existing creative knowledge.

Some participants even tried their hands at finger-knitting their own finger puppets. One exclaimed after creating her creature that it “made her whole life.”

Brady Kissel is an IdahoPTV Education Specialist working with families, children, and community organizations in southern Idaho.

Idaho Kindergarten Readiness Workshops

IdahoPTV Education offers Kindergarten Readiness Workshops to children preparing to start school along with their parents and caregivers.

Our spring workshops included Lincoln County Youth Center, Desert Sage Elementary School, and Peregrine Elementary School. Our Education Specialists showed parents and caregivers how to utilize resources from IdahoPTV and PBS KIDS to help their child prepare for kindergarten. After watching an episode of The Cat in The Hat Knows A Lot About That! about building bridges, families played an online bridge-building game from PBS KIDS and then went to work constructing physical bridges out of blocks, popsicle sticks, and other materials.

One child built a bridge all the way to the "California coast" that spanned the whole gym!

We selected items such as counting blocks, letter flashcards, and a sorting/pattern game to fill Kindergarten Readiness Kits, which we gave to each participant at the conclusion of the event. Thank you to all who attended!

Ashley Marotz is an IdahoPTV Education Specialist working with families, children, and community organizations in central Idaho.

For kindergarten readiness workshops in your area, contact us.

PBS KIDS for Parents: 8 Empathy-Building Books for Kids

Reading aloud to children is key to healthy brain development, strengthens family bonds, and increases kids’ understanding of the world around them. Spending time together reading aloud also helps children improve their language and listening skills.

View List

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Outdoor Idaho in the Classroom

Idaho teachers create classroom curriculum for IdahoPTV's local productions Outdoor Idaho, Idaho Experience, Science Trek, and more.

The newest addition is Wildflowers: Nature's Canvas, a classroom lesson in which students grades K-2 and 3-5 engage in observation, discussion, study, and construction to learn about the role of wildflowers in our Idaho ecosystems.

Inventions: June Science Trek

Each month, Science Trek explores a different topic, with short videos available on the Science Trek website, YouTube, and LearningMedia.

The website has facts, games, links and lesson plans correlated to Idaho and national science standards.

Stream Now

In other fun Science Trek news, while IdahoPTV producer / director / videographer Troy Shreve and producer / reporter / writer / host

Joan Cartan-Hansen were in Seattle last weekend to attend the Northwest Regional Emmys, they went out to the Seattle Aquarium and filmed for an upcoming episode about the oceans. They followed two scientists studying kelp!