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• George Shrinks - "A Star is Shrunk"
  There's a big time Hollywood movie shooting in town and Dad, Mom and Aunt Eunice have bit parts. But George becomes the real star of the show when he stands in for the movie's star and plays out the film's climactic action scene on the George-scale model set.
• Sagwa - "...And Action"
  Two French film directors introduce motion pictures to the palace. In his pursuit of fame, Dongwa forgets to just be himself. The Foolish Magistrate and Tai-Tai also vie for the camera's attention. The only one who is not interested in immortalizing his image on film is humble Cook. As the cats and humans watch the film, they see how silly their antics were and are reminded that the search for fame sometimes leads to behavior you might regret later on.

Do in Class

• Arthur: Arthur Rides the Bandwagon - Increase awareness of TV commercials by keeping track of what is being sold during a cartoon program.
• Arthur: Film Festival - Create a film festival crafting movies and movie screens with art supplies.
• The Berenstain Bears: Section 5: Socio-Emotional/Family & Community: Video Lesson Plan #11: TV Talk - Brainstorm alternate entertainment choices when television is not an option.
• Between the Lions: Watch This Ad - Discuss television advertisements. Make a "TV set" and a TV commercial about a favorite toy or stuffed animal.
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Show and Tell - Make a television set. Use puppets and toys to act out a show.
• ZOOM: Playhouse - A Day at the Movies - Combine the arts. Put on a play about going to the movies.

Play Online

• Clifford: Backstage - See Clifford's animation studio, meet the cast of the show and learn how to draw Clifford.
• Don't Buy It!: Your Entertainment - Go behind the scenes of TV, music and magazines. (Advanced Activity)
• Wayback - U.S. History for Kids: Music Video 1900 Style - Explore the beginnings of the music video.
• ZOOM: Behind the Scenes - Virtual Studio - Go on a virtual tour of the ZOOM television studio. (QuickTime required)

Read

• The Bionic Bunny Show
  By Marc Tolon Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown
  Published January 1984 by Little, Brown & Company
  Portraying an ordinary bunny as a bionic hero takes extreme efforts on the part of TV crewmembers in this exceptionally funny look at television production.
• Silent Movie
  By Avi and C.B. Mordan
  Published March 2003 by Simon & Schuster Children's
  This immigrant story takes the form of a silent movie. When Gustave and Mama arrive in the U.S., they can't find Papa. After wandering penniless in New York, Mama finally finds a job paying a dollar a day, but it is only when Gustave is hired as an actor in a silent movie that the promise of America is realized and Gustave and Mama are reunited with Papa. Mordan's black and white illustrations recapture the look of silent movies.

*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.