New Educational Music Videos from PBS SoCal Highlight Math Topics Like Shapes, Sorting, Patterns and Measurement Accompanied by Fun, Bilingual Songs for the Whole Family to Enjoy; Available on Music Streaming Platforms April 5
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Chelsea Grosbeck
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Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal get extended access with PBS Passport.
Los Angeles, Calif. – March 29, 2024 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS station, announced today a new component to their popular multi-platform FAMILY MATH program that involves music videos designed to build children’s early math skills. The fun, family-friendly math music video series combines the power of music and visual storytelling to equip caregivers with strategies and resources to facilitate meaningful math experiences at home with their child. Soft launched in November 2023, the Family Math music videos covered math topics like shapes, sorting, patterns and measurement with English and Spanish videos. New songs featured in the FAMILY MATH music videos will be available in both English and Spanish on all major music streaming platforms including Apple Music, Amazon Music and Spotify starting April 5 and on the Family Math YouTube channel.
Locally, Southern California families will be able to have an interactive experience with Sing-Along performances of the new educational music videos at a variety of events this spring including the largest free STEM event in Los Angeles, City of STEM at Los Angeles State Historic Park (1245 N. Spring St., LA, CA) on Sat., April 6 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. PT, as well as at the nation’s largest literary event, the Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books at the University of Southern California (USC) on Sun., April 21 at 12:35 p.m. PT.
Designed to introduce core math concepts through music and multimedia, the Family Math music videos were created so that young learners could recognize math in everyday life with the goal for families to associate math as a positive, enjoyable experience. In 2023 alone, the videos reached 254,356 views. In addition to the 12 original music videos that were launched in November (six in English and six in Spanish), PBS SoCal has also published four compilations as well as one short video and continued to populate the channel with new content monthly. Bilingual music video song guides (in English and Spanish) were also released to support parents and caregivers with co-viewing opportunities of the music videos with their child. Incorporating catchy tunes and colorful animations, the videos inspire a playful interactive learning experience that fosters early math skills in a fun and memorable way.
Over the course of the coming months, PBS SoCal is participating in a variety of educational initiatives across Southern California that engage families in fun-filled learning activities dedicated to FAMILY MATH. Two of the calendar year’s largest educational events in the region, City of STEM and the Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books, will debut some new vibrant, interactive FAMILY MATH SING-ALONG performances set to the FAMILY MATH music videos and songs. The City of STEM event will feature a special PBS KIDS costumed character plus a performance by Isabel Brazon of “Baila Baila,” the voice behind the Spanish FAMILY MATH songs, as well as performing a 30-minute interactive set at the Festival of Books outdoor Children’s Stage. FAMILY MATH activity books and additional educational materials will be shared during both events as well as many of the other events mentioned below this spring.
Some recent and upcoming educational community outreach efforts by the PBS SoCal Early Learning Team include the following:
Thurs., Feb. 1 - Lyla in the Loop Virtual Premiere Party
On February 5, 2024, PBS KIDSdebuted the new hit bilingual animated series LYLA IN THE LOOP, a funny and engaging new animated series for kids ages 4-8 that follows Lyla, a dynamic 7-year-old girl who lives in a big city with her close-knit family and a host of relatable and quirky characters in her community, who use creative and strategic problem-solving and critical thinking skills to address a range of everyday problems together. Local families got a sneak peek of the new PBS KIDS series and engaged in a hands-on activity to support strategic problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Tues., February 27 - Head Start California Annual Conference
The PBS SoCal team led two sessions at the Head Start California Annual Conference – one in English and one in Spanish - as well as an exhibition booth. The sessions were a chance for family engagement specialists and professionals to learn about Family Math and the Family Math Toolkit and engage in hands-on activities.
Thurs., March 21 - Virtual Story Time of “The Animals Would Not Sleep!”
In collaboration with the Early Math Project, PBS SoCal hosted a virtual story time of “The Animals Would Not Sleep!” with Author Sara Levine. Over 300 families had a chance to practice early math skills, like sorting, at this fun, interactive virtual read aloud and workshop. YouTube's most watched reading channel performers from KidTime StoryTime led the Spanish read aloud, which occurred immediately after the English story time.
Sat., April 6 - City of STEM and Virtual STEM Workshops (Los Angeles State Historic Park /1245 N. Spring St., LA, CA)
City of STEM is a month-long, community focused celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, engaging diverse audiences across Los Angeles. But on Saturday, April 6, City of STEM and Los Angeles Maker Faire will host a FREE, non-ticketed event open to the public from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. PT that is being called Southern California's largest celebration of science, making, creativity, invention, and fun with hands-on activities, amazing experiences, workshops, lectures and appearances by famous creators and science celebrities. Visitors to this year’s extravaganza can expect to be greeted by a Top-Secret PBS KIDS character and visit the PBS SoCal booth, as well as attend a custom workshop, and even catch a special live stage performance of the Family Math songs.
Sun., April 21 - Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books (University of Southern California)
PBS SoCal will present a Children’s Stage Performance on the second day of this year’s Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books on Sun., April 21 at 12:35 p.m. PT and distribute Family Math activity books. The Children's Stage performance will feature Isabel Brazon of “Baila Baila” performing a Family Math Sing-Along set to the popular Music Video series. This year’s two-day indoor and outdoor event is the nation’s largest literary event and includes over 200 conversations and performances, book signings, cooking demos, poetry readings, bilingual programming and more. All outdoor events and activities are free.
Sun., April 21 - CAAEYC 2024 Annual Conference & Expo
The PBS SoCal education team is partnering with GrowingGreat and the Academy of Natural Sciences to lead a session at the 2024 CAAEYC Annual Conference & Expo. The session will focus on how to engage children and their caregivers in accessible math activities that build a relationship with the natural world.
Fri., May 10 - Virtual Early Learning Convening
This year’s Early Learning Convening event will welcome early childhood leaders to discuss collective efforts around family engagement, and share tools, practices and resources to support all families and children. This year’s keynote speakers are Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski, authors of “When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids.”
Thurs., May 30 - Compton USD STEAM Fest
PBS SoCal will distribute early learning resources and engage families and students through hands-on activities at the Compton USD STEAM Fest. The event is taking place at Compton College as an opportunity for students to explore the world of STEAM.
PBS SoCal’s FAMILY MATH initiative was initially announced in May of 2021, as a multi-platform initiative designed to help families and caregivers with children ages 2-5 years old prepare for kindergarten and beyond. The initial FAMILY MATH program was comprised of fun online workshops, in-person educational activities and original videos as well as a comprehensive collection of editorial content. By participating in Family Math over the last year, families had access to in-depth virtual and in-person workshops, educational activity nights, family story time sessions and PBS KIDS camps. Public media stations and community-based organizations are now able to access and download the over 350 bilingual assets that comprise Family Math for free through the Family Math toolkit. These assets include workshop materials and facilitator guides, printables, broadcast videos, activity videos, and other key Family Math information such as evaluation pathways, a program overview and branding materials. Users represent a variety of organizations, including PBS stations, early childhood centers, K-12 schools and community-based organizations that support early learners.
PBS SoCal continues to dedicate enriching learning experiences throughout Southern California through other partnership-driven efforts that include PBS SoCal’s Early Learning Initiative and Ready To Learn Learning Neighborhood in East LA. PBS SoCal has also expanded its statewide efforts by partnering with organizations like the California Department of Social Services and California Department of Public Health to amplify the reach and impact of Ready To Learn resources across the state.
These videos were made possible in part by support from the Heising-Simons Foundation, PNC Grow Up Great and the Overdeck Family Foundation.
About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCaluses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App as well as over-the-air, via seven channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.