Thinkabout
TV-Y71979•15m
KidsFamily
Thinkabout, "a cooperative project for acquiring skills essential to learning", was an instructional program for children, produced in 1979 by the Agency for Instructional Television, in association with various contributing television stations in the United States and Canada. It was distributed to PBS and educational stations across the US and Canada as late as the mid-to-late 1980s. The sixty programs produced were aimed for fifth and sixth grade students to understand their learning process in topics as varied as language arts, mathematics, study skills, as well as thinking skills. Thinkabout was funded by various state and local agencies, with additional support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, one of very few CPB-funded programs not distributed by PBS.
Production
Agency for Instructional Technology (AIT), PBS
Language
EN
Status
Ended
First Aired
September 17, 1979
Last Aired
October 27, 1980
Created By
Robert D. B. Carlisle, Edwin G. Cohen
Where to Watch
Region US · Lang EN
US
No providers available for this region.
Seasons & Episodes
Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.
Season
E1
Finding Alternatives: Why Bother?
Air date: 1979-09-17
Kelly researches and gathers information to write a book report on George Washington Carver. She imagines his life and considers different possibilities and ideas about his work.
E2
Finding Alternatives: Brainstorming
Air date: 1979-09-17
The school janitor comes up with a plan to stop students from painting in the halls and to make sure they clean up any mess they create.
E3
Finding Alternatives: Blockbusting
Air date: 1979-10-01
Different people try blockbusting by testing their ideas and visualizing the problem to find new solutions.
E4
Finding Alternatives: You Can Remember
Air date: 1979-10-08
On his first day at work, Pete tries hard to remember everything he’s learned as he begins his newspaper route with Erica.
E5
Estimating and Approximating: Estimating
Air date: 1979-10-15
The Shenandoahs use estimating and approximating to figure out how they can beat the other team in the canoe race.
E6
Estimating and Approximating: Approximating
Air date: 1979-10-22
The students use estimating and approximating as they work together to put their school play on stage.
E7
Estimating and Approximating: Using Estimating and Approximating
Air date: 1979-10-29
The kids and their grandmother use estimating and approximating to figure out which supplies they need to buy to help warm up the house.
E8
Estimating and Approximating: Find Your Guide
Air date: 1979-11-05
Mary, Bill, and Priscilla use different words and clues to help them find their guide.
E9
Giving & Getting Meaning: What's the Meaning?
Air date: 1979-10-29
Alfie has a communication problem with Jack about meeting him at the field until a man tells Alfie about communication about the way to give and get meaning.
E10
Giving & Getting Meaning: Meaning is More than Words
Air date: 1979-11-19
Alfie has a communication problem with Jack about meeting him at the field until a man tells Alfie about communication about the way to give and get meaning.
E11
Giving & Getting Meaning: Remember the Audience!
Air date: 1979-11-26
Chuck, Ginger, and Herbie create a movie for Mr. Callahan called All Around the World to help the audience remember what they’ve learned.
E12
Giving & Getting Meaning: But What Does It Mean?
Air date: 1979-12-03
Kathy and Diane share and interpret the meaning of the letter and the newspaper article, then compare their ideas to the story.
E13
Giving & Getting Meaning: The Bigger Picture
Air date: 1979-12-10
Danny runs away from home and takes a bus to another city, where he begins to think about the bigger picture and what his choices really mean.
E14
Giving & Getting Meaning: Where Are You Coming From?
Air date: 1979-12-17
At prep school, Coulter, Hansen, and Blake share and interpret the meaning behind their teacher asking to see them after class, both about their grades and about working on a story about the school.
E15
Challenge #1: Time Capsule: Make a Present for the Future
Air date: 1979-12-24
A time capsule is uncovered in the desert, and the kids explore its contents to learn about the past, understand the present, and imagine the future.
E16
Collecting Information: What Do I Know?
Air date: 1979-12-31
A boy finds a lost puppy in front of the building and starts gathering information to figure out where it came from. Meanwhile, two girls begin searching for the missing puppy, and eventually, they’re the ones who find him.
E17
Collecting Information: Where Should I Go?
Air date: 1980-01-07
Marty and Pete see a red glowing object in the sky. Marty goes to the library to find information inside the encyclopedia about UFO's, Him and Pete and gather objects to collect information about UFOs.
E18
Collecting Information: What Should I Do?
Air date: 1980-01-14
The kids complain about the school meatloaf and decide they want a change. They talk with Ms. Caldwell, the dietitian, to discuss new lunch options. After collecting information and sharing their ideas, they help get the lunch menu changed.
E19
Collecting Information: There are Ways to Remember
Air date: 1980-01-21
Cathy does Tai Chi in the park, and She forgets her notes on the bus stop and remembers how to do Tai Chi for her presentation.
E20
Classifying: Classifying Objects
Air date: 1980-01-28
Sam, his sister and his parents are having a garage sale to raise money and move, they classified and organize objects in the right column.
E21
Classifying: Classifying Information
Air date: 1980-02-04
Leora classifies information does a report about the Walker hotel and interviews Mr. Stark about the history of the hotel.
E22
Classifying: Stereotyping People
Air date: 1980-02-11
Lisa treats and labels her grandmother as old when she is in mean to her and treats her unkindly at home after being released from the hospital for a broken arm.
E23
Classifying: There Are Many Ways to Go
Air date: 1980-02-18
Heather, Leah and Kathy tell the interviewer about understanding a plan to solve a problem by doing things in a different way.
E24
Finding Patterns: People Patterns
Air date: 1980-02-25
Ricky learns about people patterns inside the classroom, and He does a people pattern on a old man inside the apartment building.
E25
Finding Patterns: Communication Patterns
Air date: 1980-03-03
Roger meets a deaf girl student named Jackie, He don't know sign language, so He learns sign language by Communicating Patterns to communicate with her at the school dance.
E26
Finding Patterns: Cultural Patterns
Air date: 1980-03-10
Chiquita goes to Mexico to learn her family's Cultural Patterns.
E27
Finding Patterns: Nature's Patterns
Air date: 1980-03-17
Susan visits her uncle, aunt, and cousin in town, and she and her cousin Howard spend the afternoon exploring nature’s patterns as they search for fish in the pond.
E28
A Challenge: Search for the Unknown
Air date: 1980-03-24
Scientists travel to northern Scotland to investigate the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, known as “Nessie.” Along the way, locals share stories and sightings, describing a mysterious creature that many believe resembles a prehistoric dinosaur.
E29
Generalizing: Drawing Conclusions
Air date: 1980-03-31
A boy is preparing to move to London, England. His father explains the pattern to him, and he later asks Mrs. Stokins for more information about life in England.
E30
Generalizing: Checking Conclusions
Air date: 1980-04-07
Angie explores what it would take to start a music group for the community talent show, hoping it could lead to a record deal.
E31
A Tip: Practice for Success
Air date: 1980-04-14
Jack doesn’t know how to play tennis, so Lindsay and Stephanie teach him. He practices consistently until he becomes skilled at the sport.
E32
Sequencing & Scheduling: One Step at a Time
Air date: 1980-04-21
Barbara, Rudy, and their family work together to plan and schedule the details for their grandfather’s birthday celebration.
E33
Sequencing & Scheduling: Plan Ahead
Air date: 1980-04-28
The kids work together to sequence their ideas and summarize their plan for designing a Loch Ness monster to place in the lake.
E34
Sequencing and Scheduling: Calm Your Jitters!
Air date: 1980-05-05
Nancy is nervous about giving a presentation at her old school, especially because her former teacher, now the principal, will be there.
E35
Using Criteria: What Are They?
Air date: 1980-05-12
Woody explains the criteria he uses to evaluate a baseball pitch, while Debbie shares the criteria she uses as a dancer, and even applies them when choosing a card for her mom. In class, the students discuss what “criteria” means and how to use it.
E36
Using Criteria: Where Do You Get Them?
Air date: 1980-05-19
Larry uses his criteria to ask the automotive experts what makes a good car. Later, his friends Mike and Ed ask him to judge which of them has the better car.
E37
Using Criteria: How Do You Change That?
Air date: 1980-05-26
Betsy, a basketball player, uses her own criteria to decide who should be the team captain. Now she has to choose, will she vote for Ellie or May?
E38
A Challenge: Design a Language
Air date: 1980-06-02
Two girls watch a deaf man communicate through sign language with the help of his interpreter in their classroom. Inspired, they visit a school for the deaf to learn signs themselves and later watch him use sign language on television.
E39
Reshaping Information: Symbols
Air date: 1980-06-09
Leah uses symbols as clues, while Burt, Faye, Jack, and Jody read and examine different symbols to help choose a name for their baseball team.
E40
Reshaping Information: More Than You Think
Air date: 1980-06-09
Alex gets a job at a carnival as a fortune teller, and he starts thinking about and reshaping what he knows to understand what a fortune teller really does.
E41
Reshaping Information: Summarizing
Air date: 1980-06-16
Jess summarizes his ideas by writing them down and gathers information from his friends to help him get a job as a cashier at a sporting goods store.
E42
Reshaping Information: Maps and Models
Air date: 1980-06-23
The Westside Wranglers use maps and models to figure out how to get their moose head back up on the wall.
E43
A Tip: Get Ahead with Goals
Air date: 1980-06-30
Leon enters a bike race so he can push himself toward his goals and chase a victory.
E44
Judging Information: Should I Believe It?
Air date: 1980-07-07
Sue decides to become a newspaper writer after she evaluates the information about aliens supposedly invading the town of Duncan.
E45
Judging Information: What's Important?
Air date: 1980-07-14
Jamie and Christy visit Sir Gordon’s castle, where they examine and judge the important information surrounding his death.
E46
Judging Information: What's Enough?
Air date: 1980-07-21
Bobby rides his bike to the until it gets stolen, He blames Eddie for taking his bike, He tries to get enough information to see who stole his bike.
E47
Judging Information: Point of View
Air date: 1980-07-28
Michael goes to Cedarville Park to explore different points of view about the automobile strike.
E48
Judging Information: Persuasive Techniques
Air date: 1980-08-04
Wes asks Allen to play football, but Allen turns him down because he has to go to practice. The other boys criticize Allen, calling him a nerd and making fun of his persuasive techniques, especially since he’s now in high school.
E49
A Tip: Make a Deal with Yourself
Air date: 1980-08-11
Duncan makes a deal with himself as he practices guitar for his audition at the country jamboree. Andrew also makes a deal with himself, he commits to showing up to work on time.
E50
Communicating Effectively: Styles of Communication
Air date: 1980-08-18
Bill, Donna, and Gunnar use their different communication styles to take people’s orders at the restaurant.
E51
Communicating Effectively: Planning a Presentation
Air date: 1980-08-25
The kids plan a school presentation to teach everyone about the importance of getting pets vaccinated.
E52
Communicating Effectively: Making a Presentation
Air date: 1980-09-01
Shannon, a Navajo girl, prepares a presentation for the annual speech contest about her heritage. As she practices, she learns the skills of oral delivery, body language, and eye contact to strengthen her presentation.
E53
Communicating Effectively: Making Your Point!
Air date: 1980-09-08
Flash doesn’t get picked for the basketball squad, so he tries to impress the coach—showing off his skills, promoting himself, and making his case right there on the court.
E54
Communicating Effectively: Making It Come Alive
Air date: 1980-09-15
Heather is a ballerina, and she writes a term paper about becoming one when she grows up—bringing her dream to life through her writing.
E55
A Challenge: Make Something New
Air date: 1980-09-22
Sophie talks about being creative, and the kids join in by discussing how they can make something new.
E56
Solving Problems: One Thing Leads to Another
Air date: 1980-09-29
Margie and Janet are babysitting when things get a little mixed up. Realizing they can do better, they start their own babysitting service to earn money. They even figure out how to get their own phone so they can keep the business going, until everything suddenly goes awry.
E57
Solving Problems: A Matter of Time
Air date: 1980-10-06
Susan takes two of her nieces and their friends to Lake Nedar, but their trip takes a sudden turn when they become involved in a plane crash. The plane catches fire, and Susan is injured in the chaos.
E58
Solving Problems: There's Always a Risk
Air date: 1980-10-13
A girl repairs the scanner so she can check out the plane crash involving Colleen, Roxanne, Cathy, and their Aunt Susan. Roxanne and Cathy take a risk when they decide to walk to a nearby town for help.
E59
Solving Problems: Hanging in There
Air date: 1980-10-20
A search begins for three girls and a woman after their plane crashes. News reports cover the unfolding situation, and helicopter crews eventually locate them and carry out the rescue.
E60
Plan a City of the Future
Air date: 1980-10-27
The kids share and discuss their ideas for planning a city of the future.
Cast
Taborah Johnson
Jamie Dick
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