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Two Shows Debut, One Favorite Returns to NPT’s Children’s Programming  click for larger image NASHVILLE, Tennessee – August 12, 2008 -- A talking dog, an inquisitive young scientist-in-training and a team of math sleuths highlight NPT’s new weekday kid’s programming lineup when it premieres on Labor Day, September 1. Martha Speaks, a new animated series for children ages 4-7 based on the best-selling books by Susan Meddaugh, follows the adventures of Martha, a lovable dog whose appetite for alphabet soup gives her the power of speech. Martha Speaks joins the weekday lineup at 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sid the Science Kid, a new animated series from the Jim Henson Company, uses comedy and music to encourage 3-6 year-olds to explore the foundations of science in their everyday world. It comes to the lineup at 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. weekdays.
Cyberchase, the only math-based series on American television, aims to improve kids’ problem-solving and math skills every episode through thrilling cyberescapades driven by a different math concept. The series returns to NPT’s lineup at 5:30 p.m.  click for larger image “These are truly educational and entertaining shows that will satisfy the programming needs of children in this community, especially in the area of literacy,” said Beth Curley, president and CEO of Nashville Public Television. “We continually assess our daytime lineup to meet those needs and expectations. With Martha Speaks joining Super Why, World World, Word Girl, Reading Rainbow, Between the Lions and Sesame Street, we have a strong lineup dedicated to promoting literacy and vocabulary growth.”
While building children’s oral vocabulary is serious business, the Martha Speaks series is anything but. Being a dog with a lot to say, Martha loves words and creates a vocabulary-rich environment. Each episode provides the proper context to introduce children to the new vocabulary in meaningful and memorable ways with stories that are fun and engaging. Though specifically targeted to children ages 4-7, parents, caregivers, librarians, preschool and early elementary teachers will all enjoy watching Martha Speaks, not to mention dog lovers. The Martha Speaks Web site at pbskids.org/Martha extends and reinforces vocabulary learning from the series in an interactive, playful environment that offers games, videos and printable offline activities. The vocabulary curriculum is woven throughout, ensuring multiple exposures to target words. Games feature minimal instructions, smart self-leveling, variability for repeat play and listener-friendly audio presentation. The Jim Henson Company’s first series for PBS KIDS that features a practical in-school science curriculum, Sid the Science Kid celebrates children’s natural curiosity about science in everyday life. The energetic and inquisitive Sid starts each episode with a new question (“Why are my shoes shrinking?” “Why do bananas get mushy?”) and embarks on a fun-filled day of finding answers with the help of family and friends, including his internet-savvy mother. The show has an accompanying interactive Web site at pbskids.org/Sid designed to further develop children’s natural wonder and help caregivers to build a strong foundation for early science exploration. The complete children’s programming lineup is as follows: Weekdays: 6:00 a.m. A Place of Our Own 6:30 Martha Speaks 7:00 Curious George 7:30 Sid the Science Kid 8:00 Super Why 8:30 Clifford 9:00 Sesame Street 9:30 Sesame Street 10:00 Dragon Tales 10:30 Word World 11:00 Super Why 11:30 Sid the Science Kid 12:00 p.m. It's a Big Big World 12:30 Reading Rainbow 13:00 Caillou 13:30 Clifford 14:00 Curious George 14:30 Martha Speaks 15:00 Between the Lions 15:30 Maya & Miguel 16:00 Arthur 16:30 Word Girl 17:00 Fetch 17:30 Cyberchase Saturday 6:00 a.m. GED Connection 6:30 GED Connection 7:00 Between the Lions 7:30 Arthur 8:00 Big Comfy Couch 8:30 Thomas & Friends Sunday 6:00 a.m. Bob the Builder 6:30 Zoboomafoo 7:00 Mr. Rogers 7:30 Arthur 8:00 Big Comfy Couch 8:30 Curious George About Nashville Public Television Nashville Public Television is available free and over the air to nearly 2.2 million people throughout the Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky viewing area, and is watched by more than 600,000 households every week. The mission of NPT is to provide, through the power of traditional television and interactive telecommunications, high quality educational, cultural and civic experiences that address issues and concerns of the people of the Nashville region, and which thereby help improve the lives of those we serve. # # #
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