Resources from KLRN

KLRN PBS Learning Media Resources to use:

Elwood City Map! (PreK-2)
Learn where your favorite "Arthur" characters live and play by exploring this interactive map of Arthur's hometown. Click on character faces and stars to read more about each location.

Brainstorming Ideas (Grades K-5) 
Generate ideas for an original story about Arthur and complete a chart that outlines the setting, characters, problems and solutions that you will use in your story.

Get Up Close and Personal (Grades 6-12)
Examine how writing developed by studying the shapes used in ancient scripts and consider how writing can be incorporated with the visual arts. Create a sketchbook or journal of daily life using rubbings and make a layered collage.

News from KLRN Education

KLRN: A "Gold Gem" In Our Community
Elisa Resendiz
Former KLRN Manager of Community Engagement

Do you recall what you were doing in September 1962? Or were you even born? This is when your local PBS television station signed on as KLRN. This year KLRN continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary along with the accomplishments and services they have been providing the San Antonio community throughout the years. KLRN’s mission is to “use the power of telecommunications to provide quality programs and services which advance education, culture and community, to enrich the lives of people throughout South Central Texas.” This mission statement is what has guided the station and education department as we serve our community and surrounding areas, all the way to Laredo, Texas.

Twenty years ago when I stepped foot in KLRN, the station was housed at the Institute of Texan Cultures building on the second floor. Back then the education department was a staff of one person. As the years passed by the department grew to two staff members and then three and now the team consists of 10 and is housed in our current building located on Broadway. The education team is comprised of either past educators or individuals who have a passion working with families and children. KLRN provides workshops for parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins, childcare teachers, school teachers, administrators or anyone that has an interest in helping a child become successful in their formal school careers. The workshops inform the families on the importance of being the child’s first teacher and their home being their first classrooms. KLRN empowers families with early childhood knowledge, learning activities, and materials for them to start working with the child at home. KLRN also provides workshops for teachers and administrators on how they can utilize PBS programming in their classrooms and lesson plans.

For the past 50 years KLRN has provided our community with educational programming and grassroots services. KLRN is considered a “gold gem” in our community to some people and this slogan is well fitting as the symbol for a 50th anniversary is gold. KLRN has touched past generations, present generations, and will reach future generations as well as continue to serve our community and surrounding areas for another 50 years.

Resources from KLRN

KLRN PBS Learning Media clips to use:

Dinosaurs Have Feathers! (Grade PreK-1)
This clip highlights a few different types of dinosaurs that had feathers and shows that each of their feathers were different!

How a Dinosaur Became a Fossil (Grades 3-8)
In this interactive resource adapted from the University of California, Berkeley, Museum of Paleontology, see an animation about how organisms, such as dinosaurs, become part of the fossil record.

Dinosaurs Were Not Special, Just Lucky (Grades 7-12+)
Columbia University paleontologist Steve Brusatte thinks dinosaurs might have been 'just lucky' to have ruled Earth for so long

The Smithsonian Dinosaur Site (Grades K-12+)
Listen to a teacher explain why he thinks the Smithsonian Web site is a good resource.

News from KLRN Education



Photo Credit: Britt Reints

Parents Are a Child's First Teacher
Valerie Rios
Education Activities Coordinator, KLRN


As summer comes to an end, I look back to the quality time spent with my 10-year-old daughter, Naomi. As we prepared for a new school year, I was excited and looking forward to my daughter continuing her educational journey. But I must say she had quite a few jitters, as she just started 5th grade at a new school. Her jittery feelings of going to a new school meant not only a new campus, but also new teachers, and new friends.

Some of her concerns were, “What if I can’t make friends?” “What if I get lost on campus?” There's been a lot of “What if?” conversations around my house lately. I reassured her that everything would be OK by letting her know she would do great, she has such as sweet personality, and that she would have no problems making friends. We attended a “Meet the Teacher” night. I also took her to walk around the campus the evening prior to the first day so she could get a feel for the school.

I know that as a mother, I want my child to receive the best education she can get, to be around other students her age, and have a teacher who she learns from. I also know that as a parent it is my job to guide and direct her in the right path, sit down with her in the evenings to do homework, and talk about what she learned each day. 

I want my daughter to become a leader and to share her knowledge and wisdom that she obtains during her years in school. I want her to be able to give back to the community.

We continually remind our families at KLRN that we are the first teacher in our child’s life. We should remember that we, the parents, are the role models and setting examples are more important than just words. I like to encourage our families that attend our workshops and to read to their children every day, spend time with them, and that learning time is anytime.

Resources from KLRN

KLRN PBS Learning Media clips to use:

Ice Cream (Grade K-5)
In this video, watch as children experiment with a recipe that makes homemade ice-cream

3D-Cube (Grade 2-6)
Interactive game that helps students name concrete objects and pictures of three-dimensional solids (cones, spheres and cubes)

Mission US: For the Crown and Colony (Grade 6-8)
This interactive adventure games put players in the shoes of Nat Wheeler, a 14-year-old printers apprentice in 1770 Boston.

Documenting Glacial Change (Grade 3-12)
This collection of comparative glacier images adapted from the National Snow and Ice Data Center shows substantial changes in five Alaskan glacier positions over periods of 60 to 100 years.

News from KLRN Education

We Are Always Learning
Yvonne Yates
Director of School Services, KLRN

Summer is nearly upon us and as the last tests are taken and students are saying their goodbyes, KLRN encourages teachers, students and parents to remember that learning does not stop during the summer months.

There are many opportunities around San Antonio to continue the thirst for knowledge. Check out a few of these this summer and let us know about what you learned.

• San Antonio Botanical Garden Education Events
• Witte Museum Education
• San Antonio Children’s Museum Education
• McNay Museum Education
• San Antonio Zoo Education
• Sea World Educational-Programs
• San Antonio Public Library Educational Programs

Have a wonderful summer! Enjoy the fun in the sun, and see you all in August!

Resources for KLRN Education

KLRN PBS Learning Media Clips to use:

Summer Is Fun in Alaska (Grade K-2)
This video segment from Between the Lions features kids from Alaska who show their favorite summer games and activities.

Summer Treat Wave (Grade 1-5)
It’s a sweltering hot day, so the Lunch Lab gang makes a summer treat that is full of calcium. Professor Fizzy explains how dairy products are good sources of calcium and great for growing bones.

Capital Building in Summer (Grade 6-12)
This Building Block video shows trees and building lining the edge of a reflecting pool. The camera pans right to reveals the Capital Building and the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial around which distant tourists wander under dark skies.