Honor Veterans Day in your classroom with this PBS NewsHour Classroom lesson plan, which helps students explore the true meaning of sacrifice. Students will examine the challenges many veterans face today — including access to healthcare, mental health support, and long wait times for treatment — while gaining a deeper understanding of service and empathy.

Follow individual trajectories of America’s diverse community of veterans as they join the military, experience deployments, and then return and adjust to civilian life. Analyze oral histories that describe the camaraderie of the veteran community, the struggles of engaging in combat, and the experiences—positive and negative—of returning to civilian life. Use their personal stories to engage in a discussion of how American veterans are treated by civilians during their service and on returning home from various conflicts.

The video resources in this collection are from the four-part documentary American Veteran.

As the season of gratitude arrives, I love bringing activities to schools/libraries that inspire kids to reflect and share what they’re thankful for. One of my favorites features the PBS KIDS show Molly of Denali, episode “Thanks-For-Giving.” In this touching story, Molly learns about community, kindness, and how giving can be just as special as receiving.

After the episode, kids create their own Thankful Tree! Each child decorates a paper tree and fills it with colorful leaves that share the people, places, and things they appreciate most. From family and friends to pets and favorite treats, every leaf tells a story of gratitude.



Link to the clip –Thanks-for-Giving

November is the perfect time to spark curiosity about fall’s favorite fruit—pumpkins! One of my favorite activities features the Sid the Science Kid video, Decayed Pumpkin Investigation. 



After watching the video, kids become “Pumpkin Investigators”! They measure and weigh pumpkins, count seeds, and examine the textures inside and out. You can even make simple predictions like, “Which pumpkin will change the fastest?”—introducing early science and math concepts in a hands-on, playful way. 



Link to the clip – Decayed Pumpkin Investigation

Join PBS LearningMedia on November 18th at 6:30 pm ET for an engaging conversation with Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, the filmmakers of The American Revolution. This event is intended for educators teaching social studies in grades 3-12, as well as other educators, including instructional coaches and curriculum specialists in social studies. When registering, attendees will have the opportunity to submit a question that may be asked during the event. 

PBS KIDS premiers new episodes of Sesame Street, starting Monday, November 10th! Visit with your favorite neighborhood friends, and for the first time, have a look inside the iconic building with the animated segments, Tales from 123. Explore previous seasons today.