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• Clifford - "New Dog in Town"
  In a heartwarming flashback story, we learn how Clifford's enormous size frightened T-Bone when they met for the first time. T-Bone learns that "you can't judge a book by its cover" and that friends come in all shapes and sizes.
• Dragon Tales - "Try It You'll Like It"
  There are new rides at the Dragon Land amusement park, but Zak is leery of eating snacks and riding rides that are unfamiliar.

Do in Class

• Arthur: Good for Me - Invite children to share how they felt when they learned to do something new, like tying their shoes.
• Arthur: Summer Plans - Create a list of things to try this coming summer. Describe and illustrate the ideas to create pages for a family "summer fun" book.
• Arthur: Trying New Things - Put on a puppet show about trying something new.
• Berenstain Bears: Section 5: Socio-Emotional/Family & Community: Back to School Blues - View the episode "Go to School" which deals with the anxiety produced by a grade change. Discuss students' fears of their new grade level.
• Dragon Tales: Fly with a New Friend, Part 2 - Make a book using pictures from magazines that illustrates some of the new things each child is trying.
• Dragon Tales: Super Snow Day - Encourage and help your child try something new on the playground.
• It's a Big Big World: My How I've Grown - Discuss growing and developing as a mental process, and describe how people constantly learn to do new things. Create a "mental development" chart to track new mental skills that are acquired as people grow.
• Sagwa #119: Master of Mistakes - Talk about new skills students have acquired, and the mistakes made in the learning process.

Read

• In English, Of Course
  By Josephine Nobisso and Dasha Ziborova
  Published January 2003 by Independent Publishers Group
  English is a second language for everyone in Josephine's class. Josephine is from Italy, and when she tries to describe Naples, her limited English vocabulary and her teacher's question about a farm lead her far from her city and its Roman ruins. Despite the misunderstanding, she learns new words. This humorous and warm-hearted tale provides insight into the frustrations experienced by anyone trying to learn a new language.
• Little Cliff's First Day of School
  By Clifton L. Taulbert and Earl B. Lewis
  Published July 2003 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
  Everyone is excited about Little Cliff's first day of school, everyone except Little Cliff. He doesn't want to give up his toys, his favorite tree, or his #3 washtub to work, work, work. Only after his great grandmother walks him to school does he learn school might be fun. Anyone who has ever done anything reluctantly will empathize with little Cliff. Lewis's watercolors add just the right touch of humor.

*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.