

Thinkabout
Season 1
Created by: Robert D. B. Carlisle, Edwin G. Cohen
Network:
Season aired: 1979-09-17
Overview
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.
Advertisement
AdSense · 320×100
Episodes · 60

Finding Alternatives: Why Bother?
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.

Finding Alternatives: Brainstorming
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.

Finding Alternatives: Blockbusting
Different people try blockbusting by testing their ideas and visualizing the problem to find new solutions.

Finding Alternatives: You Can Remember
On his first day at work, Pete tries hard to remember everything he’s learned as he begins his newspaper route with Erica.

Estimating and Approximating: Estimating
The Shenandoahs use estimating and approximating to figure out how they can beat the other team in the canoe race.

Estimating and Approximating: Approximating
The students use estimating and approximating as they work together to put their school play on stage.

Estimating and Approximating: Using Estimating and Approximating
The kids and their grandmother use estimating and approximating to figure out which supplies they need to buy to help warm up the house.

Estimating and Approximating: Find Your Guide
Mary, Bill, and Priscilla use different words and clues to help them find their guide.

Giving & Getting Meaning: What's the Meaning?
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.

Giving & Getting Meaning: Meaning is More than Words
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.

Giving & Getting Meaning: Remember the Audience!
Chuck, Ginger, and Herbie create a movie for Mr. Callahan called All Around the World to help the audience remember what they’ve learned.

Giving & Getting Meaning: But What Does It Mean?
Kathy and Diane share and interpret the meaning of the letter and the newspaper article, then compare their ideas to the story.

Giving & Getting Meaning: The Bigger Picture
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.

Giving & Getting Meaning: Where Are You Coming From?
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.

Challenge #1: Time Capsule: Make a Present for the Future
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.

Collecting Information: What Do I Know?
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.

Collecting Information: Where Should I Go?
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.

Collecting Information: What Should I Do?
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.

Collecting Information: There are Ways to Remember
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.

Classifying: Classifying Objects
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.

Classifying: Classifying Information
Leora classifies information does a report about the Walker hotel and interviews Mr. Stark about the history of the hotel.

Classifying: Stereotyping People
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.

Classifying: There Are Many Ways to Go
Heather, Leah and Kathy tell the interviewer about understanding a plan to solve a problem by doing things in a different way.

Finding Patterns: People Patterns
Ricky learns about people patterns inside the classroom, and He does a people pattern on a old man inside the apartment building.

Finding Patterns: Communication Patterns
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.

Finding Patterns: Cultural Patterns
Chiquita goes to Mexico to learn her family's Cultural Patterns.

Finding Patterns: Nature's Patterns
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.

A Challenge: Search for the Unknown
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.

Generalizing: Drawing Conclusions
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.

Generalizing: Checking Conclusions
Angie explores what it would take to start a music group for the community talent show, hoping it could lead to a record deal.






