Drake and Josh

Network:  TeenNick

Running Time:  30 minutes

Episode Name:  Blues Brothers

Targeted Age Group:  Tween (8-13)

Plot:
Drake signs up for the talent show which he's won two years in a row. Meanwhile, his step-brother Josh is invited to be the Junior Weather Announcer on their father's show. While announcing the weather though, Josh gets a sudden wave of stage fright which sets off his nervous twitch for the whole town (and world thanks to his sister and the internet) to see. While at the talent show, Drake's song is stolen and sung by his rival. It is up to Josh to overcome his fear of stage fright and help Drake so they can win the talent show.

Personal thoughts:
No one likes to be embarrassed and the pressure to be perfect or unnoticed is the main survival instinct for every tween and teen.  Normally at odds with each other, Drake reminds Josh that "Brothers help Brothers".  Josh learns that it is important to face his fear or risk his brother facing the same humiliation and losing to the group that stole his song. The moral is everyone has fears, and everyone should be shown respect and support, not ridiculed and humiliation. As the golden rule states "Treat others as you want to be treated".

Educational tie-ins/Learning Activity:
Teachers can have students research famous people (movie stars, athletes, President of the U.S., etc) that have overcome certain fears to accomplish their goals. An example is Maria Carey (http://www.vh1.com/news/editorial/?page=1&contentId=1583255) according to Vh1.
Libraries can offer seminars inviting people to speak on how they overcame fears to accomplish their dreams. They can also offer tips for things like public speaking.

Adventure Time with Finn and Jake

Network:  Cartoon Network

Running Time:  30 minutes (2 episodes)

Episode Name:  My two favorite people/ Memories of Boom Boom Mountain

Targeted Age Group:  Tween/Teen (10-16)

Plot:
1st episode: Jake is disappointed that when he hangs out with one friend, he misses out on the activities with the other. To rectify this, Jake introduces Finn and Lady Rainicorn so the three of them can hang out together. But when Jake and Lady also become friends, Jake becomes jealous. Will his jealousy cause him to lose both his best friends?
2nd episode: Finn remembers when he was on Boom Boom Mountain and no one helped him when he was in need. He made a vow that whenever someone was in need, no matter how big or small, he would help them so they could be happy. Finn is faced with a dilemma when everyone shows up with needs that conflict with what the others want. Will Finn be able to help everyone get what they want and still be happy?

Personal thoughts:
The basic moral of the two episodes is learning to be tolerant of everyone's differences and getting along. The first episode shows that Jake was not being excluded by his friends, but in reality he excluded himself because he chose to be jealous of their friendship which he had wanted them to have in the first place. The second episode showed that everyone in town was able to work together in assisting with the others needs while also satisfying their own.

Educational tie-ins/Learning activity:
Lesson in tolerance. The teacher can separate their class in half. One half of the class get a red wrist band, the other half gets a yellow wrist band. For one whole day, the red band group gets extra special treatment, do what ever they want (read, color, play boardgames), no school/homework, a special treat (candy for example), etc. The Yellow group is treated harshly: extra homework, no treats but watches as the other group get some, has to do classwork, etc. On the very next day the roles are reversed and the red group is treated exactly as the yellow group was the previous day and visa versa. On the third day of class, have the students write a short paper explaining how they felt being treated on those two days and how they felt seeing how the others were being treated at the same time. This can be a precursor to a Civil history lesson.

Suite Life on Deck

Network:  Disney Channel

Running Time:  30 Minutes

Episode Name:  Computer Date

Targeted Age Group:  Tween (8-13)

Plot:
A computer chip, CALLIE,  is installed to run the whole ship more efficiently. When CALLIE feels that Cody is the only one that appreciates her, she develops a crush and creates a robot version of herself. CALLIE begins to neglect the needs of the ship putting everyone on board in danger. Will Cody be able to let go of his perfect girlfriend and save everyone on board the ship?

Personal thoughts:
Moral of the show is that sometimes we have to give up what makes us feel good to help others.Cody was treated extra special by CALLIE, but when it was his friends, family, the others safety at stake, he chose to shut CALLIE down to protect everyone on board.

Educational tie-ins/Learning activity:
Library: Present a display of books and movies where the main character was put in a situation that they had to choose doing something that helped the multitude as opposed to the few for the greater good.
School: Teacher can have the class find a time in history or a find a book where people or the main character demonstrates putting others before their themselves. (The Germans helping the Jews during WWII) Then have the students write a short essay of a time when they had to give up something they enjoyed or wanted to help others or a time when it was done for them.

Wishbone

Network: PBS

Running Time: 30 minutes

Episode Name: Hercules Unleashed

Targeted Age Group/General Show Overview: While this show no longer airs on television (except for the rare late night PBS appearance), it is available on VHS and DVD and is a beloved classic for many families. Wishbone, is the beloved pet of Joe Talbot, and narrator of this classic PBS show. Each episode begins in the “real world,” where Joe and his friends Samantha and David come to some type of dilemma. This dilemma always reminds Wishbone of the time a character in a classic tale encountered the same type of problem, segueing us into the realm of classic literature fantasy. Wishbone, portraying the main character of the tale, takes viewers to times and places afar, and always manages to save the day in both the classic and real worlds in which he resides. The day is saved, a lesson is learned, and a piece of literature has embedded itself in the minds of young readers. Great for the 8-10 crowd.

Plot: In this episode, everyone is searching for just the right gift, but must overcome some pretty hefty obstacles in order to find it. Sam knows just what to get her father for his 40th birthday-a picture of him and Joe’s dad on a fishing trip years ago! Unfortunately, it’s SOMEWHERE in a stack of many, many files. Wishbone has lost his own juicy birthday-bone to a mean Doberman. These complications remind him of the time Hercules went on a quest for the Golden Apples, but must first find the garden, and get past the beautiful Hesperides and angry hundred-headed dragon who guard the tree. Will everyone conquer their hurdles and find their gifts in time?

Personal Thoughts: Just because the Illiad was originally written in Ancient Greek, doesn’t mean readers today must read it as such. In the same way, just because classics are written in language too advanced for most tweens, doesn’t mean they should be excluded from them. Wishbone remedies this problem by showing how applicable and approachable these books still are today in ways that are appealing to kids and tweens! Plus, who doesn’t love a Jack Russell Terrier dressed up as Robin Hood?!

Educational Tie Ins/Learning Activity: This is a great show for schools and libraries to use to introduce classic literature in approachable ways. After watching Wishbone, a group of students/readers could work together to portray one of their own favorite stories to others.

Good Luck, Charlie

Network: Disney Channel

Running Time: 30 minutes

Episode Name: The Curious Case of Mrs. Dabney

Targeted Age Group/General Show Overview: Teddy is the “responsible” member of the Duncan family. Her older brother PJ is a total scatterbrain. Her younger brother Gabe is, well, he’s just trying to navigate being 10. Her dad’s a pest control man. When asked about anything concerning his household or children, his response is always a shrug and a “I just got home.” Her mom is a great representation of today’s working mother-she tries to be hip, but also remain in control of her household. Easier said than done! And Charlie, being the baby of the family, is just adorable! The show always opens with the video diary Teddy’s creating for Charlie. She chronicles the exploits of the Duncan family, giving Charlie a glimpse of what she has to look forward to! Every episode ends with a return to Teddy and her video diary, ending with a summary of the day’s adventures and a “so, good luck, Charlie!”

Plot: Teddy’s best friend Ivy starts up a “texting” friendship with Mrs. Duncan making Teddy jealous. This causes Teddy to attempt the same thing with Ivy’s mother. She might not be able to text, but boy can she knit! In the end, Teddy realizes that perhaps her mom isn’t as uncool as she once thought. Gabe & PJ are convinced that the neighbor Mrs. Dabney has killed her husband and search for proof with the “help” of Charlie.

Personal Thoughts: Good Luck Charlie contains good hearted, clean humor and keeps all ages entertained. Even adults can relate to the plights of Mr. & Mrs. Duncan as they try to manage households, jobs, and four children. There is always one kind of crazy issue in the works, and only Charlie manages to save the day. It always makes me wish my older sibling had left me “good luck” videos in preparation for my parents!

Educational Tie Ins/Learning Activity: I think this would be a great addition to a “how-to” selection of programming. Readers/viewers could make their own video, audio, or storybook type diaries that would be theoretically passed on to someone else. The diary could be like Teddy’s, instructions on how to survive a possible future situation, or they could be instructions on how to survive a week in the jungle, how to build a paper airplane. They could also be more traditional diaries, meant to be passed down, chronicling a certain moment in time.

Hannah Montana

Network: Disney Channel

Running Time: 30 minutes

Episode Name: Bye Bye Ball

Targeted Age Group/General Show Overview: Miley Stewart (played by Miley Cyrus), is a just like every other little girl in America. She has an older brother she both loves and loathes, a father (played by Billy Ray Cyrus) who supports her through the good and the bad, a best friend from whom she is inseparable, and big, big dreams. Unlike every other little girl in America, though, Miley’s dreams are fulfilled without having to give up her day to day existence. Enter Hannah Montana-Miley Stewart’s rock star alter-ego. Of course, it’s never easy to live a double life, especially when one half is world famous! Miley/Hannah must navigate the world of tweendom and set an example for her fans every second of the day, and does so most admirably, I must say. Fans everywhere learn that there are no substitutes for love and loyalty, to dream big, and always stay true to yourself.

Plot: When Jackson accidentally ruins Miley’s stuffed bear, she gets back at him by destroying his signed baseball. Her guilt level rises though, when Jackson apologizes and has her bear repaired. Hannah must then step in in order to help Miley replace the ball.

Personal Thoughts: This is the show that an entire generation of little girls has grown up on. While I may not agree with where “grown-up Miley” is taking us, I must admit that tween Miley provided self-confidence, joy, talent, fashion, and devices to deal with best-friends, heartbreak, school, and family to each and every one of her viewers.

Educational Tie Ins/Learning Activity: I think Hannah Montana is a great show to include in programming targeted specifically for young tween girls. It can be used in conjunction with literature, both fiction and non, on all of the topics that Miley/Hannah deal with on the show.

Wizards of Waverly Place

Network: Disney Channel

Running Time: 30 minutes

Episode Name: Matchmaker Alex

Targeted Age Group/General Show Overview: Alex, Justin, and Max Russo are just typical New York City kids, with the addition of burgeoning wizarding abilities! The live in Greenwich Village on Waverly Place and assist their former-wizard father and non-wizard mother run the Waverly Sub-Shop while learning to hone their powers, and prepare to do without them, in preparation for the wizard competition, as upon completion of their training, only one Russo will be able to keep their powers for life. Justin’s a brainiac, Alex is sassy and super self-confident, and Max is rather “blond.” While they may not always agree, the magical bonds of family and love are always stressed in the end.

Plot: In this episode Alex tries to use the “sparks fly” spell to make Zeke and Harper like one another. When it backfires, she discovers that there’s no substitute for the sparks of real attraction and that some things are best left alone when it comes to magic. Justin creates a water powered engine, but is beat in the science fair by Max’s creation of “life” (with a little help from Alex’s reversal of the spell) in a barbeque grill full of “all the gooey brown stuff” from under his bed.

Personal Thoughts: The show is in its 4th season. Many tweens have become teens right along with the Russos, and it is still quite enjoyable by the 7 and up crowd. Alex is always on the cutting edge of fashion without trying to grow up too fast. Tween love is dealt with realistically and delicately, never pushing the envelope too far for any age group. This is a great “sit down with the kids” show enjoyed by the whole family.

Educational Tie Ins/Learning Activity: Libraries could incorporate this show into a whole series of programming on magic, wizards, and fantasy. It’s a great show to introduce “fantasy reluctant” readers into this genre without being to sci-fi heavy.

Phineas & Ferb

Network: Disney Channel

Running Time: 30 minutes (2, 15 minute episodes in each block)

Episode Name: Attack of the 50 Foot Sister

Targeted Age Group/General Show Overview: Phineas and Ferb are step-brothers who are trying to step-up how they spend their summer vacation. They are helped by their eclectic group of friends and an apparently infinite budget, access to NASA level technology and equipment, and imaginations that are literally out of this world. Their inventions are always built for the good of all and are neatly put away by the end of the day, much to the chagrin of their boy-crazy sister Candace, who is always trying to “bust her brothers.” Each 15 minute episode has a sub-plot introduced by the question “Hey, where’s Perry?” the brothers’ pet platypus. Little do they know that their beloved pet is doubling as Agent P, out to stop the Evil Doctor Doofenshmirtz at every turn. The foiling of the evil doctor usually ends up destroying the brothers’ work just before Candace manages to find their mother and bust her brothers. Don’t worry Candace, “there’s 104 days of summer vacation.” Maybe tomorrow!

Plot: Candace wants to become the next “Flawless Girl,” the face of Flawless Girl Cosmetics, but discovers she is too short. Phineas and Ferb “know what they’re going to do today,” and are trying to help Baljeet save his family name by using there super-grow solution to plump up his puny-watermelon before the Midsummer’s Festival. Candace uses some of the solution on herself with disastrous results. Luckily for her, the entire Universe grows to match her now 50-foot stature when Perry the Platypus, AKA-Agent P, foils Evil Doctor Doofenshmirtz’s plan to cover the Universe in stinky diaper scent by replacing it with the boys’ super-grow solution. Unfortunately, this also means she must go one more day without “busting her brothers!”

Personal Thoughts: This is a great show for the younger tween set and hits on the sadly-abandoned male half. It takes the “geeky” world of science and invention and turns it into a cool way to rev-up the world around you. While we all might not have the means to build a gyroscope-controlled, ride-in bowling ball, there’s no reason kids can’t build a real world adaptation for their own backyard exploits. It teaches responsible exploration without supervision. Despite the fact that parents are only present in the fringes, Phineas and Ferb never partake in activities that are inappropriate or questionable. Okay, so maybe they should have asked before they went to Mars…

Educational Tie Ins/Learning Activity: This would be a great show for libraries or classrooms to use, especially during summer reading programs. They could have an entire summer section (or a lead up/follow up devoted to Rube Goldberg machines, crazy inventors and inventions, and a competition to see who could come up with the best “Phineas and Ferb” contraption!

MythBusters

Network:  Discovery Channel

Running Time:  60 Minutes

Episode Name:  Beat the Bloodhound (PT 2)

Targeted Age Group:  All audience 10 and over

Plot:
Adam and Jaime, after receiving emails from fans, revisit whether it is possible to evade the scent skills of a bloodhound with some new techniques. Morgan and his trainer, Matt, are brought back to see if his sniffer can be fooled or will he triumph in seeking out his target again. Meanwhile, Kari, Tory, and Grant try to fool another set of sniffer dogs. Inviting four contraband sniffing dogs and their human partners, the team puts the dog's noses and their handlers to the test by hiding some contraband in some interesting and some really unpleasant stuff.

Personal thoughts:
The cast of MythBusters puts together well planned experiments to validate or disprove myths both new and old. Using math, science, and physics they test these theories in an entertaining and informative way, always remembering "Safety First".

Educational tie-ins/Learning Activity:
The teacher could present some myths that could be tested safely in a classroom/lab environment. Split the class in teams and have each group choose a myth to research at the library. With the aid of the teacher, experiments can be performed to see if the myth is "Confirmed", "Plausible", or "Busted". The students can then present their myth and explain their scientific method: hypothesis, experiment, and findings.

NED'S DECLASSIFIED SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE

Network:  TeenNick                                                                        

Running Time:  30 minutes (2 episodes)

Episode Name: Bathroom/Project Partners

Targeted Age Group: Tweens (10-14)

Plot:
Episode 1: After running into a school bully in the girls bathroom, Moze suggests that her, Ned, and Cookie come up with some survival tips on how to survive a school day with little or no bathroom use.
Episode 2: Moze chooses a partner for the class project based on "hottie" ratings. However, when her partner refuses to do any of the work, he dumps her for another partner who's project is completed and willing to let him put his name on it. Will Ned and Cookie be able to help Moze get a partner last minute and have the project done by 7th period?

Personal thoughts:
Ned's Declassified addresses school issues, such as dealing with bullies, school crushes, and dreaded tests, with light-hearted humor. Although the situations are over-dramatized and silly in their presentation, the writers do address important issues with the possible consequences presented.
In Bathroom, the choices are to go at home before leaving for school and holding it till they get back home, get a hall pass and go during class, or go the to nurses office claiming a stomach ache then ask to use the restroom. The show presents the students facing these situations on their own as though they have no adults to turn to. For some, this may be how they feel and for others, it may actually be the case when dealing with bullies.
In Project Partners, Moze has three choices for partners. She can choose 1) the nerd who will do all the work, but wants to follow her around like a love-sick puppy, 2) a reliable friend who will share the work equally with her, or 3) the hunk that does nothing but spin a basketball on his finger, but at least she will get to stare at him. The moral is that it is more fun and rewarding (both in grade and in personal satisfaction) for all project partners to contribute and share the work equally.

Educational tie-ins/Learning Activity:
Have the students create a survival guide of their own. It can either be how to survive Mr/s. So-and-So's class, or like Ned's, how to survive the Xth grade. This would be a project done toward the end of the school year and should be written in a way as though they are leaving it for the next incoming class.(My daughter's junior high school actually does something similar for the incoming 6th graders.)

Victorious

Network: Nickelodeon
Running time: 30 min

Episode name: The Great Ping Pong Scam
Targeted group: tweens

Plot: Tori wants to join the Ping Pong team. The team members Cat, Robbie, Beck, and Andre tell her that she needs to ask Jade the team Captain. Tori asked Jade but Jade said “No”. Tori was not going to give up so she asked the guidance counselor to intervene. All Tori got was a try-out but she still didn’t make the team. Tori know wanted to know why she was being rejected after she defeated all Ping Pong members. She asked one of the guys who designed props for the play to build her something big enough so she can spy on the Ping Pong team. He builds her a soda vending machine. She finds out that the team is just a scam. The team uses the $1500 they get for travel expenses and equipment to go to a fancy restaurant. Tori joins the team and goes out to the fancy restaurant. While at the restaurant, Robbie requested the waitress to bring him a big bowl of caviar which brings their bill to $1300. Just them the restaurant’s owner asked the manger about the live music act. The manger tells him that the live entertainment act had an accident and he was not able to book another act. Tori gets the idea of performing to pay for the meal.

Personal Thoughts/Educational Tie Ins: It was wrong of the students to form the team just so they can have a fancy dinner. It was wrong of the teacher to participate in this. It was also of Tori not to bring this up to the principal. They got lucky when the restaurant’s owner agree to let them perform to pay off their debt.

True Jackson, VP

Network: Nickelodeon
Running time: 30 min

Episode name: Red Carpet

Targeted group: tweens

Plot: True is in charge of designing a dress for a famous actress named Jenna. When True had Jenna try on the dress it was a red dress but Jenna thought that it should be green, with ruffles and big shinny buttons. True didn’t like the idea but went along with it because Jenna was going to take her business somewhere else. During the Red Carpet Kitty Monreaux, the commentator said that Jenna looked like a Christmas tree. True wants to clear her name with Kitty and show her original dress. Kitty was not interested in hearing True out.

Personal Thoughts/Educational Tie Ins: True was upset that her original dress was altered and the new design turn out to be a disaster. She realized that she needed to face the bully but in the end it didn’t make a difference to the bully. True realized that their area always critics and that the only opinion that matter is your own personal opinion.

Sonny With a Chance

Network: Disney Channel
Running time: 30 min

Episode name: Sonny with a 100 percent chance of meddling

Targeted age group: tweens

Plot: Sonny tried to play matchmaker. Sonny saw that Zora was flirting with Wesley (a 12 year old boy who plays young Chad on Mackenzie Falls) and got the idea of going out for pizza. Tawni advised her not to “Sonny it up” (that is what they call meddling) because every time she “sprinkles rainbows and cheddar dust” all over a situation it always ends up poorly. Just as Tawni and Chad predicted things went wrong. Wesley got the idea that Sonny had a crush on him. Zora saw that Wesley sent Sonny a basket of cheese and was heartbroken.

Personal Thoughts/Educational Tie Ins: Meddling has consequences; Zora got hurt because Sonny tried to get Wesley to like her without knowing how he felt towards Zora. Sonny realized she made a mistake and apologize to Zora for meddling.

iCarly

Network: Nickelodeon
Running time: 30 min

Episode name: iSell Penny Tees

Targeted age group:tweens

Plot: The iCarly gang sells items from their web show. They are surprise to see that the Penny t-shirt sold for $300 dollars. They get the idea of making more to sell. Sam got a bunch of 4th graders from St. Mary’s to make their tee shirts. Sam’s working conditions resemble a sweatshop, which Carly and Freddy are disappointed to see. Freddy and Carly take halve of the kids up to the studio to make the tee shirts to see which group makes more. Carly and Freddy’s group gets a better treatment. Unfortunately both groups of 4th graders started their own penny tee shirt business.

Personal Thoughts/Educational Tie Ins: I think that both groups needed a balance of working conditions. Sam’s working conditions were too harsh and Carly and Freddy’s were too lenient so their group took advantage of the situation.

Fish Hooks

Network: Disney Channel
Running time: 30 min (2 episodes)

Episode name: Queen Bea

Targeted age group: tweens

Plot: It’s the Student Council Dance and the council is thinking of naming Bea the Queen. The only requirements the council has for the position is that the queen needs to be mature, sophisticated, and not embarrassing. Just then her parents offer to chaperone the dance. Bea asked Milo and Oscar to help her with her parent’s situation. Milo and Oscar plan a fake dance for Bea’s parents to chaperone. Bea is forced to go back and forth between the both places.

Personal Thoughts/Educational Tie Ins: The series deals with typical situations teenagers go through in school. Bea should have just been honest with her parents to save her the trouble of being in two places at once but like every teenager they need to go through the motions in order to realize that they made a mistake and they should have just come forward with the truth.