“Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?” Worldwide, more than 120 million children regularly hear those words in the opening tune to Sesame Street, the longest-running and most popular children’s television show in history.
Sesame Workshop [1], the non-profit organization behind the popular show, will launch a nationwide campaign designed to nurture young children’s appreciation and love for nature by supporting their innate sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world. Sesame Street will weave nature themes more directly into the television program for Season 40 (launching November 2009), as well as other Sesame Workshop materials such as books, home videos and toys. The Sesame Street Muppets will encourage children to explore their curiosity in the outdoors through hands-on activity. Children will also learn simple, age-appropriate ways of showing care and stewardship for the environment.
In addition, Sesame Street's website, sesamestreet.org [2], will offer online content such as parent and caregiver tips, videos, activity pages, games and stories – all designed to motivate children and families to go outdoors and connect with nature. Sesame Workshop will also create an electronic resource toolkit designed to help parents, educators and other childcare providers to bring Sesame Street’s environmental messages to life in the home or any other place where young children are learning.
Developed with input from expert advisors in early childhood and environmental education, the electronic toolkit will include both video and print materials to provide an entertaining, accessible introduction to exploring the world outdoors. Materials will feature “go green” tips, guides for outdoor activities and games that will encourage children’s curiosity and sense of wonder about the environment at home, at school or in their own neighborhoods.
Parents, educators and care providers can use these resources to educate and entertain preschoolers in the course of their everyday routines to begin to interact with and respect the world around them. To join us, stay tuned, log in and find your way to Sesame Street – where you can learn, donate and get educated.
