Dear Michigan Educators,

Happy October! There’s something truly magical about this month in our state. The crisp autumn air, the vibrant colors of changing leaves, and the abundance of fresh apples and pumpkins—it’s a time that reminds us to appreciate the beauty of change. As we embrace the cozy fall atmosphere, your PBS stations across Michigan are also shifting into high gear, bringing you rich programming and resources designed to engage students, spark creativity, and connect to current events and cultural celebrations. Reach out to us at any time so that we can come visit and customize PBS materials for your classroom!

October marks the beginning of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, and we’re thrilled to offer a variety of educational programs, hands-on activities, and curated resources to help you bring this important cultural celebration into your classrooms. Additionally, with Bullying Prevention Month in full swing, we’ve teamed up with Delta College Public Media and WNMU Public Media to support the Stand Up To Bullying campaign, helping schools foster safer environments for all students. It’s also National Book Month and LGBTQ+ History Month –and we’ve got ideas for all of it!

I’d love to hear about the incredible work happening in your schools. Whether you’re looking for specific content, interested in designing a new project that incorporates PBS materials, or planning a family engagement event, our whole team is here to help! Feel free to reach out at connect@michiganlearning.org.

Until then, dive into our October programming highlights below, and let’s continue to inspire Michigan’s learners together.

Peace,

Matt Hamilton

Program Director, Michigan Learning Channel

What’s New This Month

Our October programming brings fresh, dynamic content to K-12 classrooms. Browse all of this month’s offerings or navigate using the links below.

New K-12 Series

Read, Write, ROAR! Upper Elementary

We’re expanding our Read, Write, ROAR! series for upper elementary students. All month long, we’ll roll out new lessons exploring Michigan history, ecology, and science—while helping students develop essential reading and writing skills. These lessons are research-based and aligned to Michigan state standards, making them a perfect fit for classrooms across the state.

Check out new episodes on our YouTube channel or visit our MLC website for updates.

Extra Credit for Teens

Teens are invited to tune into new Extra Credit episodes, featuring hosts Paige and Brooke as they dive into critical topics affecting their world. From career exploration to mental health, teamwork, and even internet safety, these discussions empower teens to learn and grow through meaningful conversations. Catch the latest episodes all month long.

PBS Kids: Odd Squad

Calling all math detectives! Season 4 of Odd Squad takes students across the pond to the UK. New agents and villains bring a fresh set of challenges as Ozzie and Agent Orli solve odd mysteries using problem-solving skills and collaboration. These fun, educational episodes are a great way to integrate math and logic into the classroom.

Discover teaching resources for Odd Squad on PBS LearningMedia.

New Secondary and General Audience Content

For middle and high school educators, we’re premiering several impactful documentaries and series this month. Here’s a look at what’s available, with accompanying resources to support your teaching.

American Masters: A Song for Cesar

This documentary delves into the life of Cesar Chavez, a civil rights leader who united farm workers through music during their struggle for better labor conditions. Perfect for history and social studies classes, the film offers a glimpse into the power of solidarity and the role of music in activism.

Teach this program with a dedicated PBS LearningMedia resource.

Stonewall Uprising: An American Experience

The 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. This episode explores how the events of those six days ignited the modern gay civil rights movement, making it essential viewing for lessons on civil rights history.

Explore teaching resources related to Stonewall with PBS LearningMedia.

Beyond the Canvas: Modern Mexico

This episode highlights Mexico’s rise as a global arts center through the lens of its most influential creators. Use this engaging content to discuss contemporary art, culture, and the pandemic’s impact on creativity.

Extend the learning with PBS LearningMedia resources.

Making It: Latino Students’ Pathways to College

As Latino student populations grow in the U.S., educators must adapt to meet their unique needs. This documentary provides best practices for engaging Latino students and preparing them for college success, featuring Michigan’s Cesar Chavez Academy and Michigan State University’s College Assistance Migrant Program.

Find lesson ideas to accompany the film on PBS LearningMedia.

Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

This revealing series follows Greta Thunberg as she steps from behind the podium and onto the front lines. Over the course of the three episodes, Greta explores the science as she travels to extraordinary locations across the globe, meeting leading climate scientists, witnessing first hand the consequences of climate change and confronting the complexity of what is required to make change happen.

Extend the learning with this resource from PBS NewsHour.

NATURE: Super Cats

Uncover the secret lives of big cats who thrive in all four corners of the globe, from the solitary snow leopard to the nimble black-footed cat, seen through the latest camera technology and science.

Extend the learning with this activity from PBS LearningMedia.

Retro Report: Citizen Nation

This four-part documentary series is an inspiring coming-of-age story that follows teenagers from across America as they face off in the nation’s premier civics competition. Culminating in a championship showdown in the nation’s capital, high school students with diverse personal and political backgrounds grapple with critical questions about democracy.

Teach this series with these resources from PBS LearningMedia.

Featured Collections for Teaching and Learning

National Hispanic Heritage Month Collection

Our National Hispanic Heritage Month collection includes resources for every grade level. Whether you want to explore Hispanic and Latinx culture through art, music, history, or language, this collection has something for everyone.

Civics Learning Collection

With civics education taking center stage in today’s classrooms, our new Civics Learning Collection offers media-rich resources to help middle and high school students understand U.S. citizenship, democracy, and government. From interactive lessons to engaging videos, these tools help bring civics to life.

Dive into the collection on PBS LearningMedia.

You, Me, and Community

No student is too young to learn how to become civically engaged! Introduce your young learners to basic civics concepts—including making their voice heard and exploring the process of voting. This robust collection will help to spark new conversations in your classroom.

Dive into the collection on PBS LearningMedia.

Connect With Us

Iconic MI Teacher Fellowship

Are you a 5th–12th grade teacher passionate about storytelling? Apply for our Iconic MI Teacher Fellowship, where you’ll receive media-making support to create documentary-style videos with your students. This paid fellowship celebrates Michigan’s landmarks and communities and gives students hands-on experience with video production.

Applications close October 11. For more details and to apply, visit our Iconic MI Teacher Fellowship page.

Stand Up To Bullying

Find resources, ideas, and activities for teaching inclusion and practicing kindness through our anti-bullying campaign and collection on our website. Make sure to let us know how you are participating by filling out the submission form – we would love to celebrate your school!

Upcoming Events

This October, we’re excited to connect with educators at conferences across Michigan. Come visit us:

  • Michigan Council for Teachers of English (October 11): Join our presentation on digital storytelling at 11 AM.
  • Michigan Library Association (October 16-17): Learn more about media literacy and family engagement.
  • Michigan Association of School Librarians (October 24): Connect with us about building collaborative learning environments.

If you’re attending, reach out to schedule a meeting at connect@michiganlearning.org.