PBS KIDS PREMIERES NEW ONE-HOUR DINOSAUR TRAIN SPECIAL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

PBS KIDS PREMIERES NEW ONE-HOUR DINOSAUR TRAIN SPECIAL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

“What’s at the Center of the Earth?” takes kids on a new science adventure

PBS KIDS’ series DINOSAUR TRAIN will premiere an all-new one-hour special, “What’s at the Center of the Earth?,” on Monday, February 20. Created by Craig Bartlett (READY JET GO!) and produced by The Jim Henson Company, DINOSAUR TRAIN encourages kids ages 3-6 to apply scientific thinking as they discover new types of dinosaur species, and to embrace the living sciences of paleontology and natural science.  We plan to watch it as well since my daughter is learning about rocks and minerals in her fourth grade class at the moment.  It is really fascinating to learn about what our planet is made up of and talk about it with our kids.  You know, the things we learned when we were younger but managed to forget?  Just being truthful here, as I find that some of the science my daughter is learning I am relearning as well! How about your family?  Do your children love learning about dinosaurs and natural science?  Be sure to check out this new one-hour special next Monday the 20th!

“With this new DINSOAUR TRAIN special, we are excited to give families another opportunity to engage with their favorite characters and learn about nature and science,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “By delivering educational programming through our member stations and their newly launched PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream, we look forward to continuing to serve America’s children anytime and anywhere.”

In “What’s at the Center of the Earth?,” the Conductor has a special surprise for the Pteranodon Family: the Dinosaur Drill Train. This amazing machine gives its passengers a front row seat as they dig deep underground on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure below the Earth’s surface. There, they discover a whole new world – from fossils and troglobites to rivers of lava. Along the way, the family gains a new perspective on our planet and what it’s made of.

Following its premiere, “What’s at the Center of the Earth?” will repeat throughout February on PBS stations and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream. It will also be available for free on both pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video App, which is accessible on a variety of mobile devices and platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast. In addition, “What’s at the Center at the Earth?” and four additional DINOSAUR TRAIN stories will be available on DVD from PBS Distribution on Tuesday, February 21.

New digital content from DINOSAUR TRAIN will include “Fossil Finder,” a game that encourages kids to travel underground in the Drill Train to search for fossils. The game will be available the week of February 13th on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games app.

DINOSAUR TRAIN airs weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings) and daily on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream.

DINOSAUR TRAIN is produced by The Jim Henson Company and co-produced with Singapore animation company Sparky Animation, with the participation and assistance of the Singapore Media Development Authority. The series is executive produced by Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford for The Jim Henson Company. Craig Bartlett also serves as executive producer. The Jim Henson Company oversees all ancillary exploitation of the property, including distribution, licensing and merchandising in all markets other than Asia, which is administered by Sparky Animation. PBS handles DVD distribution to North American consumer and education markets.

Kiddie Academy is a proud sponsor of DINOSAUR TRAIN ® on PBS KIDS®

“What’s at the Center of the Earth?” – a one-hour special including the following stories:

“What’s at the Center of the Earth?” – Layers!
The Conductor takes the Pteranodon family on a very special journey on a new invention – the Drill Train – in search of the perfect spot for a new underground Dinosaur Train station! Don is THRILLED to be venturing into the BIGGEST HOLE THE EARTH HAS EVER KNOWN! Shiny is nervous to be underground, until they meet a new friend (a Mesozoic mole named Natasha Necrolestes), who teaches them all about the different layers of the Earth.

“What’s at the Center of the Earth?” – Fossils!
As the Pteranodon family continues their journey underground, Don accidentally breaks Buddy’s trilobite fossil (the oldest fossil in his collection)! When the search for another trilobite fossil turns up empty, their new friend Natasha Necrolestes takes them to Fossil Alley, where the kids learn that the older the fossil, the deeper underground it is.

“What’s at the Center of the Earth?” – Troglobites!
The Drill Train burrows into an underground limestone cave, where the Pteranodon family meets some strange eyeless creatures called “troglobites.” In a contest to see who would make the best troglobite, Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don participate in a treasure hunt – with their eyes closed! The kids have to rely on their other senses (with some guidance from the actual troglobites) to navigate the cave and find the prize.

“What’s at the Center of the Earth?” – Minerals!
While digging even further underground, the drill bit on the Drill Train breaks. The Pterandons find themselves in the Cave of Giant Crystals, where they learn all about rocks and crystals (what they are, how they’re different, how they form). In order to get back home, the Pteranodon family has to fix the drill bit by finding a mineral harder than the mineral that broke the bit in the first place.

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