Highlights
Thinkabout

Thinkabout - Season 1 (1979)

Season 1 Episodes

1. Finding Alternatives: Why Bother?

September 17th, 197915 min

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.

2. Finding Alternatives: Brainstorming

September 17th, 197915 min

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.

3. Finding Alternatives: Blockbusting

October 1st, 197915 min

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

4. Finding Alternatives: You Can Remember

October 8th, 197915 min

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

5. Estimating and Approximating: Estimating

October 15th, 197915 min

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

6. Estimating and Approximating: Approximating

October 22nd, 197915 min

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

7. Estimating and Approximating: Using Estimating and Approximating

October 29th, 197915 min

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

8. Estimating and Approximating: Find Your Guide

November 5th, 197915 min

Mary, Bill, and Priscilla use different words and clues to help them find their guide.

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

October 29th, 197915 min

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.

10. Giving & Getting Meaning: Meaning is More than Words

November 19th, 197915 min

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.

11. Giving & Getting Meaning: Remember the Audience!

November 26th, 197915 min

Chuck, Ginger, and Herbie create a movie for Mr. Callahan called All Around the World to help the audience remember what they’ve learned.

12. Giving & Getting Meaning: But What Does It Mean?

December 3rd, 197915 min

Kathy and Diane share and interpret the meaning of the letter and the newspaper article, then compare their ideas to the story.

13. Giving & Getting Meaning: The Bigger Picture

December 10th, 197915 min

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.

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

December 17th, 197915 min

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.

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

December 24th, 197915 min

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.

16. Collecting Information: What Do I Know?

December 31st, 197915 min

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.

17. Collecting Information: Where Should I Go?

January 7th, 198015 min

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.

18. Collecting Information: What Should I Do?

January 14th, 198015 min

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.

19. Collecting Information: There are Ways to Remember

January 21st, 198015 min

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.

20. Classifying: Classifying Objects

January 28th, 198015 min

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.

21. Classifying: Classifying Information

February 4th, 198015 min

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

22. Classifying: Stereotyping People

February 11th, 198015 min

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.

23. Classifying: There Are Many Ways to Go

February 18th, 198015 min

Heather, Leah and Kathy tell the interviewer about understanding a plan to solve a problem by doing things in a different way.

24. Finding Patterns: People Patterns

February 25th, 198015 min

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

25. Finding Patterns: Communication Patterns

March 3rd, 198015 min

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.

26. Finding Patterns: Cultural Patterns

March 10th, 198015 min

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

27. Finding Patterns: Nature's Patterns

March 17th, 198015 min

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.

28. A Challenge: Search for the Unknown

March 24th, 198015 min

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.

29. Generalizing: Drawing Conclusions

March 31st, 198015 min

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.

30. Generalizing: Checking Conclusions

April 7th, 198015 min

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

31. A Tip: Practice for Success

April 14th, 198015 min

Jack doesn’t know how to play tennis, so Lindsay and Stephanie teach him. He practices consistently until he becomes skilled at the sport.

32. Sequencing & Scheduling: One Step at a Time

April 21st, 198015 min

Barbara, Rudy, and their family work together to plan and schedule the details for their grandfather’s birthday celebration.

33. Sequencing & Scheduling: Plan Ahead

April 28th, 198015 min

The kids work together to sequence their ideas and summarize their plan for designing a Loch Ness monster to place in the lake.

34. Sequencing and Scheduling: Calm Your Jitters!

May 5th, 198015 min

Nancy is nervous about giving a presentation at her old school, especially because her former teacher, now the principal, will be there.

35. Using Criteria: What Are They?

May 12th, 198015 min

Woody explains the criteria he uses to evaluate a baseball pitch, while Debbie shares the criteria she uses as a dancer, and even applies them when choosing a card for her mom. In class, the students discuss what “criteria” means and how to use it.

36. Using Criteria: Where Do You Get Them?

May 19th, 198015 min

Larry uses his criteria to ask the automotive experts what makes a good car. Later, his friends Mike and Ed ask him to judge which of them has the better car.

37. Using Criteria: How Do You Change That?

May 26th, 198015 min

Betsy, a basketball player, uses her own criteria to decide who should be the team captain. Now she has to choose, will she vote for Ellie or May?

38. A Challenge: Design a Language

June 2nd, 198015 min

Two girls watch a deaf man communicate through sign language with the help of his interpreter in their classroom. Inspired, they visit a school for the deaf to learn signs themselves and later watch him use sign language on television.

39. Reshaping Information: Symbols

June 9th, 198015 min

Leah uses symbols as clues, while Burt, Faye, Jack, and Jody read and examine different symbols to help choose a name for their baseball team.

40. Reshaping Information: More Than You Think

June 9th, 198015 min

Alex gets a job at a carnival as a fortune teller, and he starts thinking about and reshaping what he knows to understand what a fortune teller really does.

41. Reshaping Information: Summarizing

June 16th, 198015 min

Jess summarizes his ideas by writing them down and gathers information from his friends to help him get a job as a cashier at a sporting goods store.

42. Reshaping Information: Maps and Models

June 23rd, 198015 min

The Westside Wranglers use maps and models to figure out how to get their moose head back up on the wall.

43. A Tip: Get Ahead with Goals

June 30th, 198015 min

Leon enters a bike race so he can push himself toward his goals and chase a victory.

44. Judging Information: Should I Believe It?

July 7th, 198015 min

Sue decides to become a newspaper writer after she evaluates the information about aliens supposedly invading the town of Duncan.

45. Judging Information: What's Important?

July 14th, 198015 min

Jamie and Christy visit Sir Gordon’s castle, where they examine and judge the important information surrounding his death.

46. Judging Information: What's Enough?

July 21st, 198015 min

Bobby rides his bike to the until it gets stolen, He blames Eddie for taking his bike, He tries to get enough information to see who stole his bike.

47. Judging Information: Point of View

July 28th, 198015 min

Michael goes to Cedarville Park to explore different points of view about the automobile strike.

48. Judging Information: Persuasive Techniques

August 4th, 198015 min

Wes asks Allen to play football, but Allen turns him down because he has to go to practice. The other boys criticize Allen, calling him a nerd and making fun of his persuasive techniques, especially since he’s now in high school.

49. A Tip: Make a Deal with Yourself

August 11th, 198015 min

Duncan makes a deal with himself as he practices guitar for his audition at the country jamboree. Andrew also makes a deal with himself, he commits to showing up to work on time.

50. Communicating Effectively: Styles of Communication

August 18th, 198015 min

Bill, Donna, and Gunnar use their different communication styles to take people’s orders at the restaurant.

51. Communicating Effectively: Planning a Presentation

August 25th, 198015 min

The kids plan a school presentation to teach everyone about the importance of getting pets vaccinated.

52. Communicating Effectively: Making a Presentation

September 1st, 198015 min

Shannon, a Navajo girl, prepares a presentation for the annual speech contest about her heritage. As she practices, she learns the skills of oral delivery, body language, and eye contact to strengthen her presentation.

53. Communicating Effectively: Making Your Point!

September 8th, 198015 min

Flash doesn’t get picked for the basketball squad, so he tries to impress the coach—showing off his skills, promoting himself, and making his case right there on the court.

54. Communicating Effectively: Making It Come Alive

September 15th, 198015 min

Heather is a ballerina, and she writes a term paper about becoming one when she grows up—bringing her dream to life through her writing.

55. A Challenge: Make Something New

September 22nd, 198015 min

Sophie talks about being creative, and the kids join in by discussing how they can make something new.

56. Solving Problems: One Thing Leads to Another

September 29th, 198015 min

Margie and Janet are babysitting when things get a little mixed up. Realizing they can do better, they start their own babysitting service to earn money. They even figure out how to get their own phone so they can keep the business going, until everything suddenly goes awry.

57. Solving Problems: A Matter of Time

October 6th, 198015 min

Susan takes two of her nieces and their friends to Lake Nedar, but their trip takes a sudden turn when they become involved in a plane crash. The plane catches fire, and Susan is injured in the chaos.

58. Solving Problems: There's Always a Risk

October 13th, 198015 min

A girl repairs the scanner so she can check out the plane crash involving Colleen, Roxanne, Cathy, and their Aunt Susan. Roxanne and Cathy take a risk when they decide to walk to a nearby town for help.

59. Solving Problems: Hanging in There

October 20th, 198015 min

A search begins for three girls and a woman after their plane crashes. News reports cover the unfolding situation, and helicopter crews eventually locate them and carry out the rescue.

60. Plan a City of the Future

October 27th, 198015 min

The kids share and discuss their ideas for planning a city of the future.