Did you sing along with the lyrics above or simply smile as you read them? Since Sesame Street first aired on November 10, 1969, those iconic lines have welcomed generations of children into a world of joyful learning. Through music, storytelling, and beloved characters—alongside memorable guests like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Amanda Gorman, and Simone Biles—the show has delivered academic and social lessons in ways that feel playful and personal. Its “whole-child” curriculum resonates across cultures and classrooms, offering relatable role models who help children process emotions, practice kindness and inclusion, and navigate everyday social interactions.
Sesame Street will enter its 56th season with new episodes and library content on November 10, featuring a refreshed format along with the return of familiar characters and segments. New features include Cookie Monster’s Cookie Cart and Abbie’s Fairy Garden, which introduce delightful new magical creatures.
A key format change in each half-hour episode is the addition of two eleven-minute, narrative-driven segments focused on storytelling and character development..
New episodes will be released weekly on Netflix and are available on PBS and PBS Kids digital platforms on the same day, making this beloved and educational program accessible to all children at no cost.
As the new season begins, it is an excellent time to return to the many free resources already available for use in primary classrooms throughout the year to teach and reinforce academic and social skills.
The Sesame Street Home Page (reviewed here) offers videos, games, art activities, and full episodes to watch, along with numerous options for integrating into classroom lessons.
- Station Rotations – Include activities during station rotations, either as an online activity or by using printables to practice coloring, number, and alphabet skills.
- Tip: Add bookmarks to student computers or a learning management system (LMS) so they can access the assigned activity without needing to type in a URL. If scanning is an option, create a QR code using QR Monkey (reviewed here) and print it on cards for students to scan, eliminating the need for manual typing.
- Thematic Units – Integrate Sesame Street into your current thematic units, such as the letter of the week or an animal unit.
- Tip: Be sure that you explicitly connect Sesame Street content with your other lessons and learning objectives. For example, say, “Today, Elmo is going to help us learn about the letter M, just like we are practicing this week.”
- Differentiation – Use the features available on the Sesame Street site to differentiate instruction. For students who need additional support, provide multiple opportunities to play games or watch videos. For advanced learners, use the content as a springboard to explore a specific area of interest in greater depth. Many activities are available in Spanish; take advantage of this feature to support Spanish-language ELL students and introduce basic Spanish to all students.
- Tip: Use Project Zero Thinking Routines (reviewed here) to foster students’ development of critical thinking skills. When watching videos about the weather, for example, use the ‘I Wonder’ strategy to prompt students to think about questions they have about the weather and how they might find additional information.
- Cross-Curricular Connections – Take advantage of the many opportunities to use Sesame Street resources for cross-curricular connections. Watch a video about Cookie Monster sharing cookies, then help students write story problems about division and fair sharing, or learn about recycling with Bert and Ernie, and have students create and tell about their recycled art projects.
- Tip: Use index cards or create a digital document with integration ideas for students’ favorite videos or games. Use these ideas when needed as quick time-fillers or indoor recess activities.
Sesame Street has been welcoming children from all backgrounds into its inclusive learning environment for over fifty years. Whether students watch new episodes or explore the extensive library of resources, there are many opportunities to extend their learning through interactions with beloved and familiar characters who provide a safe space for learning.
How do you bring sunny days into your classroom? We’d love to hear how you incorporate Sesame Street into lessons to support all learners.