Earth Month reminds us of the importance of protecting the planet on which we live. It is a chance to reflect and raise awareness about the state of the Earth, the effects of climate change on the environment, and what we can do to take action.
Throughout March and April, KLRN will air a number of programs relating to Earth Month and the environment. Additionally, our Education team has provided resources for teachers and educators to use in their classrooms.
We hope you’ll tune in to enjoy this dynamic lineup! Watch on-air or stream online at klrn.org/live .
Support for KLRN's Earth Month has been generously provided by Headwaters at the Comal and Pharm Table. For information about becoming an Earth Month sponsor on KLRN, contact Melissa May, APR at mmay@klrn.org.
GRETA THUNBERG: A YEAR TO CHANGE THE WORLD
Thursday, April 22 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
PBS, in partnership with BBC Studios’ Science Unit, presents an Earth Day special following teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg. This three-part documentary series follows Thunberg as she seeks to raise awareness of the accelerating climate change issue. GRETA THUNBERG: A YEAR TO CHANGE THE WORLD premieres in its entirety as a special presentation on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22 at 7:00-10:00 p.m. (CST) on KLRN 9.1. Encore airings of all three episodes air Wednesdays, April 28 – May 12, 7:00-8:00 p.m. (CST)
Before the 7 p.m. premiere, join KLRN Live on Facebook for a special Earth Day panel discussion with members of the Mayor's Youth Engagement Council on Climate Initiatives at 6 p.m.. We sit down with local students who are members of the council to hear their thoughts on the climate crisis, Greta Thunberg, and what San Antonio residents can do to help create a more sustainable and equitable city.
Log on for this special panel discussion. April 22nd at 6:00 p.m. on KLRN's Facebook page.
Additional programming in March and April
NOVA - “Saving the Dead Sea”
March 24, 8:00 p.m.
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
The Dead Sea is dying: Since 1976, its level has dropped more than 100 feet, leaving its coastline pockmarked with thousands of sinkholes. But after more than a decade of research and debate, scientists, engineers, and political leaders have come up with a daring plan
Nature - “Extinction: The Facts”
March 31, 7:00 p.m.
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
With a million species at risk of extinction, Sir David Attenborough explores how this crisis of biodiversity has consequences for us all, even putting us at greater risk of pandemic diseases.
Climate Change - The Facts
March 31, 8:00 p.m.
Scientists explore the impact of climate change and what could happen if global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees. Discover how the latest innovations and technology are posing potential solutions and what individuals can do to prevent further damage
NOVA “Picture a Scientist”
April 14, 7:00 p.m.
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
Revealing how women make up less than one quarter of all those employed in STEM, and the numbers are worse for women of color. Science is supposed to be built on objectivity, but these bleak numbers are evidence of deep bias.
REEL SOUTH “That’s Wild”
April 20, 10:00 p.m.
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
When Atlanta teens Cliff, Ahmani, and Nicholas attempt to trek four 12,000 ft snowcapped peaks in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, they face the thrills, joy, and struggles of navigating the wilds of Colorado and daily life back home in Georgia. 10 p.m.
NATURE “Sharks of Hawaii”
April 21, 7:00 p.m.
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
Meet the 40 species of shark that live in the waters near Hawaii’s islands, including Whitetip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks and the deadly Tiger shark. 7 p.m.
NATURE “Reef Rescue”
April 21, 8:00 p.m.
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
If oceans continue to warm at the current pace, coral reefs could be wiped out by the end of the century. But scientists from around the globe are rushing to help corals adapt to a changing climate through assisted evolution.
PBSKIDS Programs:
Molly of Denali
Get ready to sled into fun with Molly of Denali! Join Molly, an Alaska Native girl, her dog Suki, and friends Tooey and Trini on their adventures in epically beautiful Alaska. Along the way, Molly’s life is enhanced, kept on track, and flat-out saved by maps, guide books, websites, weather reports, and more.
Nature Cat
The show follows Fred, a house cat who dreams of exploring the great outdoors. Nature Cat is aimed at 3 to 8-year old’s and devised to reconnect children with the natural world; making engaging, age-appropriate nature education a sustaining and enriching part of their daily lives.
Wild Kratts
Join the adventures of Chris and Martin Kratt as they encounter incredible wild animals, combining science education with fun and adventure, while traveling to animal habitats around the globe.
Educator Resources:
Spring Break with KLRN - Cyberchase Green it Up: Recycled Community Garden
March 11
Green It Up is a hands-on program designed for children ages 6-8 to inspire a deep appreciation for nature, build STEM skills, and help them feel empowered to take action in their communities to care for the planet, just like their favorite characters from Cyberchase. Students will create a make-believe community garden out of recycled materials.
Spring Break w/ KLRN - Cyberchase Green it up: Deforestation
March 18
Green It Up is a hands-on program designed for children ages 6-8 to inspire a deep appreciation for nature, build STEM skills, and help them feel empowered to take action. In this session, students will explore the topic of deforestation.
PBS LearningMedia - Inventing Tomorrow Curriculum
The Teaching Curriculum for Inventing Tomorrow offers educators the opportunity to make science, technology, engineering, and math come alive by pairing screenings of the documentary with classroom learning. Each student story in the documentary lays the groundwork for one of the lessons in the curriculum.
Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree features educational activities for schools, informal learning programs, and families to engage in the importance of forests and other environmental education topics. They also provide grants and opportunity for Green Schools and other community service learning projects.
KidsGardening
KidsGardening is a nonprofit that shares resources on growing specific plants, information on grants and how to start your own school garden, and more lessons and activities on gardening with kids.
The American Community Gardening Association
The American Community Gardening Association has resources that include instructions for making your own school or community garden, as well as a “find a garden” tool to locate community gardens in your area.
Additional Earth Day Resources:
Why does Climate Change Matter?
Hear young Native Americans talk about climate change. Listen as they respond to the question, "Why does climate change matter?"
The Environmental Movement and the First Earth Day
Learn about the first Earth Day in this video from the American Masters film, A Fierce Green Fire.
The Plastic Problem (PBS NewsHour)
By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans. PBS NewsHour takes a closer look at this now ubiquitous material, how it’s impacting the world and ways we can break our plastic addiction.
PBS Kids: Earth Day activities for parents and families
Recommended on Passport
KLRN Passport is a benefit for members, offering extended, on-demand access to hundreds of hours of PBS shows like The Great British Baking Show, Victoria, Grantchester, Endeavour, NOVA and many others.
You gain access with a donation of $60 or more a year. If you’re already a member, then activate Passport to watch past episodes of your favorite shows on your computer, tablet, smartphone, AppleTV or Roku.
Decoding the Weather Machine
In this two-hour documentary, NOVA will cut through the confusion around climate change. Why do scientists overwhelmingly agree that our climate is changing, and that human activity is causing it? How and when will it affect us through the weather we experience? And what will it take to bend the trajectory of planetary warming toward more benign outcomes? Join scientists around the world on a quest to better understand the workings of the weather and climate machine we call Earth, and discover how we can be resilient—even thrive—in the face of enormous change.
Polar Extremes
Following a trail of fossils found in all the wrong places–beech trees in Antarctica, redwoods and hippo-like mammals in the Arctic–NOVA uncovers the bizarre history of the poles, from miles-thick ice sheets to warm polar forests teeming with life.
Can We Cool the Planet?
As global temperatures rise, scientists are exploring solutions from planting trees to sucking carbon out of the air to geoengineering. But would they work? And what are the risks of engineering Earth's climate?
