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• Maya & Miguel - "Family Time"
  Noticing that everyone in her family is overworked, overtired, and overstressed, Maya concludes that they all have been missing "family time" - quality time spent alone as a family. Maya and Miguel plan a camping trip to a state park - and do all the planning and packing themselves to make things easier on their very busy parents and grandmother. But when they arrive at their campsite, the kids have forgotten some essentials, and rain, wildlife, and a capsized boat threaten to make their escape a disaster. In the end, however, the Santos family discovers the only thing they really need is time together.
• Clifford - "Clifford's Winter Spirit"
  Norville is feeling sad and lonely when it seems as though he is the only one without a tradition for celebrating the first snowfall of the year. It's up to Clifford and his friends to find a way to help Norville feel included.
• Berenstain Bears - "Family Get Together"
  The Bears are hosting a family reunion, but the cubs doubt they'll enjoy spending time with relatives they've never met. The cubs' first impression of two cousins only confirms their opinion; Sylvester and Penelope are just too different to consider getting acquaintance with. However, as the day unfolds, Brother and Sister get to know them better and discover they've not only met new cousins, they've made new friends too.

Do in Class

• Arthur: Weddings Around the World - Learn about weddings and explore family wedding traditions.
• Barney: Family Day - Plan a family day with your class.
• Berenstain Bears: Our Families - Have students or family members share cultural items and traditions with the class. (section 2)
• Maya & Miguel: A Cultural Collection - Encourage time with family members and to help children become more aware of how much older generations have to offer about family history and cultural uniqueness.
• Maya & Miguel: Family Traditions Calendar - Recognize and develop new family and cultural traditions.
• Postcards from Buster: Family Heritage - Learn how to make a traditional Scandinavian craft, and research your own family heritage.
• Reading Rainbow: The Gift of the Sacred Dog - Start a new holiday tradition in your family.
• Reading Rainbow: Mrs. Katz and Tush - Make a traditional Jewish recipe of apple and nut spread.

Play Online

• Sagwa: New Year's Clean-Up and Countdown to the New Year - Learn about family traditions and how to make your own.

Read

• The Friday Nights of Nana
  By Amy Hest and Claire A. Nivola
  Published August 2001 by Candlewick Press
  It is Friday, and the young narrator of this picture book is spending the day with her grandmother, Nana, preparing for the Sabbath: folding table linens, ironing dresses, roasting and baking, and shopping for flowers. This picture book celebrates tradition and family.
• Aunt Claire's Yellow Beehive Hair
  By Deborah Blumenthal and Mary Grandpre
  Published May 2001 by Dial
  After Annie's family eats dessert, they push back their chairs and talk about people she only knows from photographs. She wants to know more so one rainy day she and Grandma Marilyn collect family photos and other things to help remember the past. They assemble a scrapbook, and Annie labels each item. This book would make an ideal introduction for a unit on family history in language arts or social studies.

*As most PBS children's programs offer one year extended taping rights for teachers, please feel free to tape them now and save them for use in your classroom during the school year.