AMERIKIDS FILM AND TELEVISION
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Our story opens with panoramic whale footage from the East and West coasts of America. The Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts researches whales, dolphins, porpoises and turtles. It is run by Josiah Mayo's family. A species of whale, the Right Whale, the largest and rarest on Earth, is spotted by Josiah's father. Josiah discovers unique marine mammal sounds and solves problems recording the songs and patterns of a 40 Foot, 80,000 Pound whale.
Josiah Mayo, a 10 year old boy, learns how many endangered whale species there are inhabiting the high seas. We view the unusual customs and habits of all the numerous species of whales. Josiah learns of the special marine environment and weather conditions along the coasts of America. There are majestic scenes of gigantic Humpback Whales and Right Whales, their communicative songs, the distinctive patterned tails and their unique breathing blow holes.
Sacagawea "Bird Woman"
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SACAGAWEA, Her Voyage of Discovery.....
A Shoshoni Indian, 16 year old Sacagawea, guides the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the untamed West. Not only does this young Native American woman interpret the Indian language for the two explorers, she also helps them learn native customs.
Sacagawea was captured by the Minnetaree Indians when she was 11 years old. She was sold to French-Canadian Toussaint Charbonneau, whom Lewis hires to translate the Minnetaree Indian language into English. Sacagawea is brought along to translate Shoshone, Nez Perce, Blackfoot and other Indian languages into Minnetaree. Sacagawea, hoping to see her people once more, anxiously ventures up river with the Expedition. Lewis at first objects to bringing Sacagawea, but is convinced that she could be useful when meeting the Shoshones in the mountains.
Sacagawea, in a canoe and on horseback, proves her ultimate value by recognizing landmarks which guides the "Corps of Discovery" up into the mountains. They reach the Continental Divide quickly and safely due to her courage and skill in crossing rivers and in distinguishing myriad wild animals and plants on the frontier. When the party finally meets the Shoshonis on their journey, Sacagawea recognizes the Chief, Camewaite, as her own brother. Sacagawea convinces the tribe to supply the corps with horses. She must decide to stay with the Shoshone Tribe or continue with the party. Sacagawea chooses to continue leading the Lewis and Clark Expedition and leaves her own people. She is the first youngster to travel the Western Territory, cross the Rocky Mountains and view the Pacific Ocean.
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Sibyl In The Virtual Forest...
This story focuses on the adventures and contributions of a 16 year old girl, Sibyl Ludington, during the Revolutionary War. Sibyl, the teen horse rider, rides through the forest to alert the militia that the British have landed in Connecticut and are marching towards West Point, New York. The British burn down the patriot's ammunition supplies and head for the Hudson Highlands from Long Island Sound. This 10 hour ride covers 40 miles through perilous trails in upstate New York throughout the dark night. Her heralded ride is longer than the famed ride of Paul Revere. As Sibyl gallops through the forest she saves Enoch Crosby, a famous counter spy for the patriots, and scares away Indians, British soldiers and bandits.
| The prison ship HMS JERSEY |  |
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The British were famous for their "cruel and unusual punishments." This story makes us aware and better understand why Americans insisted on having the first Bill Of Rights, protecting every citizen under law. James Forten, a freed slave, is an Amerikid and eventually the story's hero. He is captured by British soldiers during the Revolution, becomes a crew member on HMS Jersey, a prison ship, and must save himself from his captors. He helps a friend escape from the prison ship before the British conquer the Continental Army on Long Island Sound. Our story memorializes the early legacy of African Americans breaking the bounds of slavery and contributing to a nation of freedom and justice.
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Adolescents have just seen the American Revolution and feel that they can now have freedom and equality. Children are still considered indentured servants and subsequently treated cruelly. This form of indentured servitude was a hold over from English society. In this story, we witness a group of indentured boys who are apprentices in different crafts building parade floats. They each escape and run away from their cruel masters, but are later captured and then punished with no recourse. Finally, confronting their adversaries, they learn to fight for their rights - in court, by applying the laws of the U.S. Constitution. In the end, it is the Constitution that prevails, not men or kings, as the ultimate Law of the land.
This is a half hour TV series for youngsters 8-12 years old. The series will compliment the highly successful CD-ROM game ”Pony Express Rider,” produced by McGraw-Hill Home Interactive in association with AMERIKIDS USA. As each title in the AMERIKIDS CD-ROM is published, the TV series amplifies and expands the adventures of the CD-ROM game. The AMERIKIDS television series, originally developed for ABC-TV as Weekend Specials is the complimentary rendition and expansion of the live action computer game.
Each episode is an adventure in preserving the Union and saving the country from the secret Confederate States of America militias. The protagonist is a ‘kid’ rider for the Pony Express. He is secretly working for President Lincoln as a Union agent, gathering information on the recently uncovered Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC). Every week, as the riders deliver the mail in different territories from Missouri to California, they uncover nefarious plots by the KGC to over run the Union.
In addition to the adventure and excitement of the western panorama and working for President, Abraham Lincoln, the youngsters have dramatic encounters with several Indian Nations. Each PONY EXPRESS RIDER will have to decode letters, Morse codes and spy ciphers to uncover the dastardly deeds of the KGC. The riders encounter youthful challenges by Indian braves and squaws. Viewers will understand how difficult it was to build this great nation and how young people helped keep it united as one country before the Civil War.
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Stacy May Humphrey, the story's main character, gets the camels west crossing the wild American desert. The Camel Experiment established a Camel Corps to aid U.S. Troops in negotiating with the Indians of the Southwest. The highest point in Arizona is Humphreys Peak, named after the young boy, who lead the Camel Corps across the desert.
View Stacy's dangerous mission in the wild West. The assortment of characters, mostly camel drivers, get bitten by rattlesnakes, live without water, have to subsist on sagebrush, thistles or bushes, swim across rivers carrying 1300 pounds, and get caught up in dangerous camel stampedes. The camel riders eventually meet up with oxen, mules or dogs that run wild and must be tamed. Stacy is confronted with bandits, vigilantes, both hostile and friendly Indians, bad weather and unyielding terrain. This exciting drama is fast paced and will keep you on the edge of your saddle!
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Clark Stocking moves a $25,000, hundred pound gold nugget, through Nevada into California....
Clark Stocking, 16 years old, transports a gold nugget worth $25,000. A one hundred pound nugget is found at the Monumental Mine in the Sierra Butte Mountains.. He transports this treasure safely over the mountains and down into California without losing a single ounce. Along the way, Clark is captured by hostile forces and must safely maneuver out of these unusual situations. Ride along the dusty trail with him as it winds down the steep mountains, as he faces desperados and unsavory treasure hunters. Viewers will see the entire gold miners way of life of this little known, yet true story. Experience how traitorous and unruly the mining camps were during the heyday of the first gold rush.
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Samantha's contribution to ending the Cold War...
This is the story of Samantha Smith traveling across Russia by plane, boat, and automobile. Our story explores vital information about unconventional nuclear weapons and the broken treaties between countries. We discover and analyze the conflicts that still exist preventing world peace. Uncovering information about Russia and America, we come to know the strange commonality that children have despite their leaders and the politics that divides a small planet.
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A 16 year old girl fights for child labor laws and the elimination of the 12 hour work day...the eclipse of the early labor union movement....
Claire stands up for the working girl against factory owners. She helps fight the fires at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. As our story enfolds, we view the working conditions of a young sweatshop worker, in the context of the garment industry. Claire becomes disenchanted with her work and organizes to fight the appalling 12 hour work day. Many scenes show how dangerous the factory conditions in that period were, especially as fire traps for workers in New York City.
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The first Black student to integrate a high school in Arkansas....
Elizabeth Eckford experiences the fear of hostile forces and people preventing her from getting the best education she deserves.
In September, 1957, nine Black students are supposed to start school at Central High School, an all-white public school in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Governor tries to stop the boys and girls from attending the school by calling up State troopers. President Eisenhower, however, intervenes against the obstruction and calls up the National Guard. While the world watches, Elizabeth Eckford, calmly leads nine students through the doors of Central High School behind a column of Federal officers, opening the way for full implementation of the Civil Rights Laws and the establishment of public school integration.
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JUMP ON THE BRAND WAGON sponsor
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