[LM_NET] Financial Literacy

[James Lerman <pronto30@EARTHLINK.NET>]

I believe it was on this list that someone asked about resources for 
financial literacy about a week or ten days ago. Got this in my email today.

Jim Lerman
North Star Academy
Newark, NJ

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THIRTEEN/WNET NEW YORK'S MONTHLY UPDATE FOR EDUCATORS

---ANNOUNCEMENTS---

Already know the value of a dollar? Well then, "pass the buck" along to your 
students and keep them well-informed, financially speaking. Thanks to the generous 
support of the Citigroup Foundation, this month's Ed Online theme, FINANCIAL 
EDUCATION 2005, features two exciting programs and lesson plans that will help 
students to better understand money matters. Watch "Consumer Smarts," a special 
episode from IN THE MIX that helps students become savvy shoppers. The accompanying 
lesson plan, SMART CONSUMERS, SMART CHOICES, teaches kids how to manage their money 
through saving and spending wisely. If any of your students have ever received a 
pay check, they may have been surprised to see that the check amount was less than 
expected. Cue up NOW's "Risky Business" and teach your students how to analyze a 
paycheck using the TAXES: WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO? lesson plan, which examines the 
who, what, why, where, and how of taxes.

~~ NOTE ~~ Find more program highlights and educational events at 
www.thirteen.org/edonline by selecting the Educational Events Calendar.

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---E-BULLETIN TABLE OF CONTENTS---

:: April Theme - "Financial Education 2005" ::

:: Additional broadcast programs of interest to educators ::

:: Thirteen's educational events in the New York City tri-state area this month ::

:: Instructional Television (ITV) News ::
   
:: Education technology news ::

:: Next month's theme ::

:: Bulletin subscription information ::

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:: APRIL THEME - FINANCIAL EDUCATION 2005 ::
    
To access this month's new and featured lesson plans, go to 
www.thirteen.org/edonline and select the lesson plan title. 

1. TAXES: WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO?

This lesson plan looks at taxes from both the big picture and the individual 
perspective. Students learn about why the government taxes, where the money goes, 
and how the amount of taxes you pay depends on your income. The class will also 
examine ways to lower taxes through deductions like retirement accounts and 
flexible spending accounts. The class will use a segment from the PBS Newsweekly 
show, NOW, to debate how tax dollars are used by the government and how they think 
those dollars should be spent.

2. NOW airs on THIRTEEN/WNET Fridays at 8:30PM

Through documentary segments and interviews with original thinkers, NOW goes beyond 
the noisy churn of the news cycle and gives viewers the context to explore their 
relationship with the larger world. Host David Brancaccio travels the nation to 
shed light on the important public policy issues that have real-world impact on 
working Americans. On April 8th, NOW will air a segment called "Risky Business" 
that investigates what happens to working Americans when corporations shed jobs 
while the Government is not providing as much of a safety net as it once did. Watch 
and find out whether working Americans are experiencing increased financial risk 
and insecurity or are thriving in the competitive economy.

For more information, show transcripts and lesson plans visit the NOW Web site at 
http://www.pbs.org/now/. 

3. SMART CONSUMERS, SMART CHOICES 

This lesson plan will help transform your students from big spenders to smart 
savers. Students learn what it means to be a smart consumer by engaging in a 
level-headed analysis of budget, opportunity costs, and self-regulation. Using an 
episode of IN THE MIX, a show by teens, for teens, students compare prices within a 
service field, and weigh the choices of spending money on that item, saving that 
money or spending it on something else. This exercise is a good opportunity to 
present basic economic concepts.

4. IN THE MIX: CONSUMER SMARTS airs on THIRTEEN/WNET Tuesday, April 5 at 
3:04-3:33AM and Saturday, April 23 at 2:00-2:29AM

Did you know that teens will spend over a BILLION dollars this year on consumer 
goods? Are they getting the most for their money or are they getting scammed? This 
episode of IN THE MIX brings together favorite consumer segments from past 
episodes. Teens find out how to make a demo tape, how to break into the music biz, 
or simply which audiocassette is best for creating hot mixes. From car repairs to 
modeling agencies, IN THE MIX: CONSUMER SMARTS gives teens the lowdown on how NOT 
to get ripped off.

For additional information and educational resources visit the IN THE MIX Web site 
at http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/. 

5. Other theme-related ED ONLINE lesson plans 

Strengthen your students' money smarts by using these Financial Education lesson 
plans:

* What Can I Afford? http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/afford/index.html 
* It's About Supply and Demand 
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/supply_and_demand/index.html 
* Cyber Currency, Currently 
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/cyber_currency/index.html
* Filling Empty Pockets: Borrowing, Loans, and Credit
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/financial_lit/index.html 

For more lesson plans go to www.thirteen.org/edonline and choose "Lesson Plans" 
from the "Quick Links" list on the left; then select a subject area.

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:: BROADCAST PROGRAMS OF INTEREST TO EDUCATORS ::
***Check your local PBS listings for air times in your area***

6.  CYBERCHASE airs 8AM & 5PM ON THIRTEEN/WNET and 7:30AM on WLIW21. Special KNOW 
YOUR DOUGH marathon airs April 15 from 3:30-5:30PM

CYBERCHASE launches its new financial literacy campaign - KNOW YOUR DOUGH! By 
tackling topics such as saving, spending and budgeting, this Financial Literacy 
initiative helps 6-11 years olds learn smart money skills they can use their whole 
lives. Watch the special CYBERCHASE: KNOW YOUR DOUGH marathon April 15th from 
3:30-5:30PM. The 2-hour broadcast includes the premiere of the new financial 
literacy episode, "Balancing Act." In this episode, the CyberSquad quickly runs 
through their money, and must learn to budget the remaining funds to complete a 
film project on schedule and save Frogsnorts school from Hacker's devious scheme.

Kids can also join the CyberSquad and use money smarts to defeat Hacker in a new 
edition of CYBERCHASE: THE QUEST Web game. This time, kids go head to head with 
Hacker in a winner-takes-all skateboarding competition! Players must build the best 
skateboard in order to defeat Hacker.

For additional information and for CYBERCHASE: KNOW YOUR DOUGH activities and 
lesson plans visit the CYBERCHASE Web site at www.pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase.

7. GREAT PERFORMANCES: THE LITTLE PRINCE airs on THIRTEEN/WNET Wednesday, April 6 
at 9PM 

The longest-running performing arts anthology on television, GREAT PERFORMANCES, 
presents "The Little Prince." Children and adults alike have long been drawn to 
Antoine de Saint-ExupŽry's classic tale of a star-traveling youngster who relates 
his encounters to a downed pilot in the Sahara. Academy Award-winning composer 
Rachel Portman of EMMA and CHOCOLAT and director Francesca Zambello take this 
beloved tale from page to stage in this heavenly and enchanting production of sight 
and sound. 

For additional information and lesson plans visit the GREAT PERFORMANCES Web site 
at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf.

8. NATURE airs on THIRTEEN Sundays at 8PM

The exciting new three-part mini-series, NATURE: DEEP JUNGLE, premieres April 17. 
Follow researchers as they climb through the treacherous wild rainforest, facing 
the unexpected and uncovering unbelievable secrets that lie within nature's heart 
of darkness. In these three new episodes, explorers and scientists confront bizarre 
species, unravel mysteries of animal behavior and probe archeological sites that 
harbor clues to lost civilizations.

For more information, interactive features and lesson plans visit the NATURE web 
site at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature.

This year's NATURE school package will include an eight-page Teacher's Guide and a 
full-color poster focusing on DEEP JUNGLE. The education materials will focus on 
biodiversity, the complexity and interdependence of life in the world's 
rainforests, the lives of scientists, and the excitement of scientific discovery.

These educational materials have been mailed to the science chair of every public 
grade school nationwide. Teachers are free to photocopy and share the materials. A 
very limited supply of guides and posters are available free of charge while 
supplies last. Please email requests to: <guiderequest@thirteen.org>. In the 
subject line, please indicate the name of the guide you are requesting, and include 
your name, street address, institutional affiliation, subject, grade level and how 
you learned of the guide.

Ford Motor Company, proud sponsor of the NATURE series, has partnered with the 
National Parks and National Geographic in bringing an exciting new contest to 
classrooms. The "Radical Renovation: School Edition" contest is open to school kids 
from kindergarten through the sixth grade and challenges students to plan ways to 
make their school more eco-responsible. The class that comes up with the best plan 
will win $100,000 for an environmental renovation! 

For full contest rules visit 
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/gogreen/ford/rules.html. 
For lesson plan and entry form visit 
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/gogreen/ford/. 

9. COLONIAL HOUSE airs on THIRTEEN/WNET Sundays at 7PM beginning April 10 

Missed it the first time? Get a second chance to watch two dozen modern-day time 
travelers discover what early American colonial life was really like when they 
struggle to create a functioning and profitable colony using only the tools and 
technology of the 17th century. Also, don't forget to use the accompanying lesson 
plans to learn more about colonial America with your students.

For more information, interactive features and lesson plans visit the COLONIAL 
HOUSE Web site at http://www.thirteen.org/colonialhouse.

10. DAISY COOKS! WITH DAISY MARTINEZ premieres on THIRTEEN/WNET Fridays at 10:30PM, 
beginning April 15 

Let New York chef Daisy Martinez be your guide to Latin music, fashion, history 
and, most important of all, the food. Martinez takes your palate on a Latin 
adventure with simple and delicious recipes that will spice up the mundane and 
ordinary kitchen into a carnivale of taste and flair. 

Find out more by visiting the DAISY COOKS! WITH DAISY MARTINEZ Web site at 
http://www.daisycooks.com.

11. BBC WORLD NEWS airs on THIRTEEN/WNET weeknights at 6PM and at 6AM, 6PM and 11PM 
weekdays on WLIW21. BBC World: This Week - a comprehensive round-up of the events 
of the past seven days - airs Sundays, 5:30PM on WLIW21.

WLIW has been distributing live BBC WORLD NEWS to public television stations 
nationwide since 1998. BBC WORLD'S newscasts offer international news as it 
happens, from one of the world's most respected news sources, BBC News, with 50 
international bureaus and 250 correspondents worldwide.

For more information visit the WLIW21 BBC News Web site at 
http://wliw.org/productions/bbc.html. 

12. FREE FROM THIRTEEN/WNET NEW YORK'S EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT: SPARKS OF 
INNOVATION MAGAZINE, RED GOLD: THE EPIC STORY OF BLOOD DISCUSSION GUIDE, AND THE 
SECRET LIFE OF THE BRAIN ADULT GUIDE

Get your free copy of the SPARKS OF INNOVATION magazine, created to accompany the 
INNOVATION series. This 36-page, full-color magazine is suitable for high school 
and adult audiences and includes articles by Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author 
of "The Tipping Point," and other top-notch science writers. With interviews, 
reviews and other fascinating features, the magazine looks at great successes and 
failures in innovation, unintended consequences of innovation and advances in such 
areas as stem cell technology and spying. More information is available at 
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/innovation/.

The RED GOLD: THE EPIC STORY OF BLOOD Discussion Guide includes a three-page essay 
by Douglas Starr, author of "Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce;" 
discussion questions; a historical timeline that lists milestones in the scientific 
understanding and medical use of blood; a chart showing what happens to donated 
blood; and a section on how to plan a successful blood drive. More information is 
available at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/.

THE SECRET LIFE OF THE BRAIN is a five-part series on human brain development from 
birth to old age. The Secret Life of the Brain Adult Guide includes five original 
essays, one for each program; overviews of brain development at major life stages; 
exploration of relevant topics such as brain health, addictions and cravings, 
schizophrenia; and discussion questions, a glossary and activities. More 
information is available at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/.

Please email requests to: <guiderequest@thirteen.org>. Please be sure to include 
your name, street address, institutional affiliation, subject, grade level and how 
you learned about the guide.

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:: THIRTEEN'S EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN THE TRI-STATE AREA::

13. CYBERCHASE: KNOW YOUR DOUGH DAY! - LIVE IN NEW YORK - April 15, 2005 

To help celebrate Tax Day, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is proclaiming April 15, 2005 
as CYBERCHASE: KNOW YOUR DOUGH DAY in New York City. At the American Stock Exchange 
(AMEX), the mayoral proclamation will be presented by New York City Finance 
Commissioner Martha E. Stark. The stars of CYBERCHASE, Harry, Bianca and Digit have 
the honor of ringing the Stock Exchange Opening Bell. Then, the CYBERCHASE crew 
will hightail it over to the Farley Post Office in Midtown Manhattan (33rd Street & 
8th Avenue) to hand out fun financial literacy activities for last-minute tax 
filers to bring home to their kids.

14. JOIN THIRTEEN/WNET FOR FREE SNEAK PREVIEW SCREENINGS OF PBS' NEWEST FILM 
DOCUMENTARIES, Monday, April 4 at 7PM and Monday, April 25 at 7PM.

THIRTEEN/WNET's Reentry Outreach Campaign and The Fourth Universalist Society 
cordially invite you to attend free sneak preview screenings of compelling PBS 
documentaries that help address the needs and concerns of people who are leaving 
prison and returning to their families and communities. On April 4th, A JUSTICE 
THAT HEALS tells the story of murder and forgiveness as a mother, through the 
support of her community, learns to forgive her son's murderer. Then on April 25th, 
catch OMAR & PETE (REDEMPTION), a feature documentary that explores the social and 
economic barriers that low-income African-American men face in the context of 
incarceration and release. Special Guest Speaker: Tod Lending, OMAR AND PETE 
filmmaker.

Join us at The Fourth Universalist Society, 160 Central Park West at 76th Street. 
Please RSVP to (877) 290-9912 at least 2 days before the screening date. For more 
information on the Re-Entry Outreach Campaign go to 
http://www.reentrymediaoutreach.org/index.html. 

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:: INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION (ITV) NEWS ::

15. NEW THIS MONTH ON ITV

By popular demand we're re-broadcasting A CHILD'S BOOKSHELF: INSIDE CHILDREN'S 
LITERATURE, which aired on THIRTEEN for the first time last month. If you missed 
it, you can catch it again Tuesday morning, April 5th, from 2:00-2:55AM. Following 
that series on April 5th, you can see GEOGRAPHY SKILLS (episode #11), IN THE MIX: 
CONSUMER SMARTS and CONCEPTS IN NATURE. Then on April 23rd, we'll be repeating IN 
THE MIX: CONSUMER SMARTS at 2:00AM followed by another new series, BEADS, BAUBLES 
AND JEWELS. Don't forget to set your VCRs! 

New York educators - have you tried our free online educational video streaming and 
downloading service? If you'd like to log on to this password protected site, just 
email us at itvrequest@thirteen.org for your school passcode. 

Many programs have accompanying classroom resources; check the ITV Web site at 
www.thirteen.org/edonline/itv or for WLIW21 viewers visit www.wliw.org/itv. If 
you've missed any episodes of an ITV program, please contact us at 
itvrequest@thirteen.org; we'll be glad to re-air them for you.

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:: EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY NEWS ::
   
16. Encourage your students to join an online discussion group created by and for 
youth. This project, run by Global Kids and PBS's NewsHour Extra, allows students 
to become better informed about world affairs and current events and discuss the 
latest news events with their peers. To learn more visit http://www.newzcrew.org.

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:: NEXT MONTH'S THEME ::

17. In May, Ed Online will celebrate DUE EAST - THIRTEEN/WNET's annual on-air 
celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage.  

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:: BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ::

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Major funding for Thirteen Ed Online is provided by the Citigroup Foundation.

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