Resource Type: Video
Shifting Gears
Indigenous Copper Technology in the Western Great Lakes
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Talking Medicine
QWERTY: How Wisconsin Holds the Keys to Typing History
America at 250 Educator Summit
August 5-6, 2026
America at 250 Educator Summit
Engaging Learners through Civics, Inquiry, and Media Literacy
Wisconsin Historical Society & Pyle Center | Madison, WI
July 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As educators and learners prepare to move into a new school year following this milestone, PBS Wisconsin Education and partners are convening a two-day summit for 3rd-12th grade educators who teach civics and history.
Get
Inspired
Help Wisconsin’s learners grow to be civically engaged and better equipped to understand our nation’s past, present, and future.
Explore
Resources
Foster civic engagement, media literacy, and inquiry-based learning with classroom-ready materials including the Ken Burns in the Classroom collection supporting the AMERICAN REVOLUTION film plus local resources from PBS Wisconsin Education and other partners.
Exchange
Ideas
Connect and learn in community with education organizations and educator peers from across Wisconsin.
More Information
Explore the links below to learn more about the event and reserve your spot. The schedule includes plenary session descriptions and concurrent session speakers to date, and you can also learn more about the location and get information on how to register.
Featured PBS Content
Ken Burns in the Classroom
Access free, curriculum-aligned classroom resources for grades 3-12 designed to deepen students’ understanding of the American Revolution and its legacies using the power of visual media.
KQED Youth Media Challenge
Invite learners to make media that reflects on individual and collective independence, democracy, and liberty through the KQED Youth Media challenge.
Civics
Resources
Introduce community concepts, go deep into Wisconsin tribal lands, and spark important discussions about elections. This curation features contributors from PBS KIDS, Student Reporting Labs, PBS News, and more.
The
Look Back
Learn why Wisconsin tribes chose sides in the Revolutionary war in the “Sovereignty and Silver: Midwest Allies in the Revolution” episode of The Look Back.
The
Look Back
Learn how the portrait of George Washington by Thomas Sully was commissioned to paint in 1854 connected Wisconsin to the American identity.
America@250 Initiative
Explore additional ways that PBS Wisconsin is inviting communities across the state to connect and reflect on our shared history.
Partners
Supported by
Quotation
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“You provide resources to teachers who need them. We’re so strapped for time, but we still value quality experiences for our students. You help us achieve more rigorous and engaging lessons.”
Raising Readers for Kids
Raising Readers for Kids
Select from the objectives to find PBS KIDS resources to spark a love of reading, teach letters, encourage playful language development, build comprehension skills, develop vocabulary, and enhance fluency.
Collections
Reading Rainbow Stories
“Take a look, it’s in a book!”. Each video clip in this collection reads a story aloud while you view illustrations. Find discussion questions and classroom guides for connected hands-on learning and more books to explore.
Daniel Tiger Bilingual Storybooks
Explore the world of Daniel Tiger and his friends through digital books. Read-along audio supports print recognition. Books are available in English and in Spanish. Find them on the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood page below the list of games.”
PBS KIDS Read Alongs
In this series of short videos, celebrities and PBS KIDS authors read their favorite books aloud. Each story includes fun activities for the whole family.
Super Why
Explore interactive literacy videos and games featuring favorite fairy tale adventures from Super Why’s Storybrook Village. Join the Super Reader Team to help famous fictional characters solve problems and work together.
Elinor Wonders Why
Guide little learners in asking questions, making observations, and basking in the wonderment of nature’s amazing answers. Ignite children’s curiosity using the science inquiry process.
Between the Lions
These short playful video segments support early literacy skills like text comprehension, fluency, and print-word awareness.
Word Girl
Discover hilarious versions of superhero stories featuring Word Girl and Captain Huggy Face in this multimedia collection that expands children’s vocabulary.
Reading Buddies
These foundational early literacy video shorts are based on the science of reading. Learn about letters, sounds, blending, and decoding with Dusty, Dott and Alphabott and earn alphabadges to celebrate your reading journey.
Ruff Ruffman: Humble Media Genius
Meet Ruff Ruffman, an energetic, funny cartoon dog who helps children understand what it means to be safe and responsible digital citizens. Learn to navigate challenging concepts like algorithms, artificial intelligence, and search tools.
Wild Kratts
Strengthen basic observation and investigation skills with these activity bundles starring the Kratt brothers. Support children in learning about animals and habitats around the world.
Phoebe and Jay
Learn how to read and write mailing labels, addresses, and directions with six-year-old twins, Phoebe and Jay. Use the corresponding activities to make recipes and door decorations with detailed information.
The Alphabet: Sesame Street
Join the Sesame Street characters to learn letters with these one minute videos. These shorts feature each letter, its corresponding sound, words that start with that letter, and interactive seek and find letter segments.
Sesame Workshop: Reading
Explore different ways to read online to nurture a love of reading with Sesame Street characters. This multimedia collection is full of the joy of reading together.
Wisconsin First Nations Booklist
Find early learning book recommendations for learning about the American Indian Nations of Wisconsin.
Games
Xavier Riddle Story Creator
Choose a book from writers like Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Angelou, or Charles Dickens. Then, design a story just like theirs with help from Xavier Riddle and his friends.
Storybook Builder
Create a story with Sesame Street characters.
Wonder Red’s Rhyme Racer
Listen and read along with rhyming words that explicitly teach children that rhymes end with the same sound; it’s their beginning sound and letter(s) that change.
Sesame Workshop: Rhyme Time
Develop phonemic awareness skills on the Rhyme Time Express! Help Grover build his train by listening, and matching the pictures on the train cars that have the same ending sound(s).
Super Why Saves the Day
Build critical literacy skills by developing alphabet knowledge, phonics, spelling, and comprehension to save the day in these familiar stories with Super Why.
Molly of Denali: Fish Camp
Use and understand informational text with Molly of Denali while she goes fishing with her Dad.
Luna’s Seek and Find
Play this seek and find game to learn about different places, animals, customs, and cultures from all over the world.
Creature Power Cards
Learn about animals from around the world with the Kratt brothers! Children can build their understanding of main ideas and details as they play different versions of the game.
Letter Dance Party
Dance, sing, and create friends made out of different letters with Big Bird and Snuffy. Trace each letter in the alphabet and let it loose on the dance floor!
Elmo’s Brain Games
Develop attention and focus skills with Elmo! This game invites children to listen, “read,” and remember pictures with ease in English or in Spanish. Practicing memory skills helps develop the sustained attention and perseverance needed to read with ease.
Pretty Princess Magical Rescue Storybook
Strengthen listening skills in the magical land of Sparkletopia where players read and choose their way through different adventures. Children decide story elements like characters, settings, problems, and solutions to create their own happy endings. …or not!
Read-a-Roo Zoo
Explore different zoo habitats with a friendly kangaroo guide, Read-a-roo. In each habitat, players learn to identify beginning and ending sounds in words.
Printable
Family Storytelling Bingo
In these printables, find activities like bingo, cut-out puppets, a storytelling card deck, and more to share family stories and learn about the elements of storytelling. Printables are available in English and in Spanish.
Rhyme Time Magnets
Rhyme on a dime with a few household items.
Science Notebook
Encourage children to be like scientists and keep track of their own wonder, curiosity, and learning. Guide children to document the process of their discoveries with this bilingual printable Science Notebook.
Growing as a Writer Bingo
Explore writing with activities to express ideas and learn letter-like shapes, symbols, letters, and words. Printables are available in English and in Spanish.
Word Girl Opposite Game
Celebrate Opposite Day with Word Girl. Watch this short video to learn about synonyms and antonyms, then print and play the party game (available in English and Spanish).
Word Girl Charades
Help children recognize the power of vocabulary to defeat the evil Dr. Two Brains with this short video and lesson plan.
Vocabulary Words – Graphic Organizers
Set children up for success with these bilingual graphic organizers from PBS KIDS. Define the new words you are learning in English and in Spanish and practice using them in a sentence.
Anteater: Animal Alphabet
Learn about different animals that start with each letter in the alphabet in these 15-30 second videos. This collection also includes a printable, bilingual graphic organizer to keep track of learning.
Super Why Lickety Letters
Build an alphabet toolbox or practice writing and singing the letters and sounds in the alphabet with these Super Why printables. Listen and watch Alpha Pig sing the alphabet as he types letters to match the letters cards to the song.
Growing as a Reader Bingo
Find activities like literacy bingo, book reviews, reading logs, and letter and word scavenger hunts that invite children to become superstar readers. These printables are available in English and in Spanish.
Raising Readers for Educators
Raising Readers for Educators
Support children’s early literacy development. Browse free self-paced learning courses, webinars, and peer networks that count for Wisconsin Registry credit.
Professional Learning
PBS KIDS Library Cohort
Join the statewide PBS KIDS Library Cohort to explore PBS KIDS resources that ignite curiosity, cultivate compassion, and develop foundational literacy skills for the children and families in Wisconsin communities. Applications open in the fall.
Reading Universe
WETA’s Reading Universe provides a structured literacy approach to teach reading and writing. Explore ParaReading, a free series of five self-paced courses on successful teaching strategies for paraprofessionals.
Building a Reader
Learn ways to engage children in learning about language and literacy with resources from Sesame Street in this free self-paced learning course. Early care providers can earn three and a half credits through the Wisconsin Registry.
Great Phonics Instruction
Learn how to support children and families with phonics in this free webinar from Sesame Workshop. Early care providers can earn one credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Move and Learn Together for Literacy
Take part in music and movement-based activities that build knowledge and provide practice with literacy skills in this free webinar from Sesame Workshop. Early care providers can earn one credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Stories, Smiles and Shared Reading with Sesame Workshop
Foster a love of reading with children and the grown-ups that care for them in this free webinar. Early care providers can earn one credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Regulating Emotions for Educators
Regulating Emotions for Educators
Enhance children’s social emotional development with free self-paced learning courses, webinars, and peer networks that count for Wisconsin Registry credit.
Professional Learning
PBS KIDS Library Cohort
Join the statewide PBS KIDS Library Cohort to explore PBS KIDS resources that ignite curiosity, cultivate compassion, and develop foundational literacy skills for the children and families in Wisconsin communities. Applications open in the fall.
Kindness Curriculum
Learn foundational mindfulness skills, explore classroom-tested strategies, and practice mindfulness yourself through the Kindness Curriculum, a series of 24 lessons shown to have a positive impact on academic performance, peer relationships, and social competence.
Kindness Cohort
Join a statewide Kindness Cohort in partnership with PBS Wisconsin Education and the UW–Madison Center for Healthy Minds. Learn about research-backed wellness strategies for supporting you and your students through the Kindness Curriculum in your learning space. Applications open in the spring.
Caring Communities
Learn strategies for teaching children how to overcome challenges, bounce back, and communicate their feelings in this free self-paced course from Sesame Workshop. Early care providers can earn three and a half hours of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Building a Connected Community
Learn ways to help children and families get ready for school and life together in this free self-paced course from Sesame Workshop. Early care providers can earn three hours of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Roads to Resilience
Take this free self-paced course from Sesame Workshop to learn how to build resilience skills in children. Early care providers can earn three hours of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Rhythms of Resilience
Take this free self-paced course from Sesame Workshop to nurture resilience in both children and adults by supporting emotional and cognitive well-being and development. Early care providers can earn three hours of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Welcoming Others
Explore practical, strength-based ways for supporting children and families affected by conflict, crisis, or other traumatic experiences with this free self-paced course from Sesame Workshop. Early care providers can earn three hours of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Autism Resources You Can Use
Watch this free webinar to learn about Sesame Street autism resources that build acceptance, inclusion, awareness, and understanding with children and families. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Components of Community: The Science of Kindness
Watch this free Sesame Workshop webinar to learn about components of community that create social connections to address mental health. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Helping Children Make Meaning After Trauma
Learn how young children experience trauma and what can help with Sesame Workshop’s Tara Wright and clinical psychologist and author Chandra Ghosh Ippen. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Responding to Challenging Behavior in Caring Ways
Move from attention to connection with this free webinar from Sesame Workshop that explores effective strategies to support young learners facing emotional challenges. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Supporting Resettling Children and Families in the U.S.
Watch this free webinar to learn about “Welcome Sesame” resources for supporting young children in the aftermath of crisis and conflict. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Traumatic Experiences: First Steps to Hope (Part 1)
Watch the first of Sesame Workshop’s two free webinars on strategies for helping families cope with and overcome traumatic situations. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Traumatic Experiences: First Steps to Hope (Part 2)
Watch the second of Sesame Workshop’s two free webinars on strategies for helping families cope with trauma, including resources from Sesame Workshop. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.
Understanding Bullying
Watch this free webinar to learn how bullying affects children and explore ways providers can empower parents and caregivers to help prevent bullying. Early care providers can earn one hour of credit through the Wisconsin Registry.