New ‘CBS Schoolbreak Special’ targets young environmentalists

A new CBS Schoolbreak Special, “50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth,” proves once again that every little bit helps. Based on the best-selling book by John Javna and The Earthworks Group, the special looks at different ways to save natural resources such as water, wildlife and air. It’s filmed on location throughout the United States and shows kids--from preschool to high school age--in such activities as car-pooling, cleaning up the oceans, avoiding using plastic foam and saving the rain forests.

Adding their two-cents’ worth are the Muppets, Corin Nemec of “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose!” and others. Sara Gilbert of “Roseanne” and Brian Green host.

“CBS Schoolbreak Special: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth,” Tuesday 3-4 p.m. CBS. For all ages.

MORE KIDS’ SHOWS

Snake fans will hiss with delight over the new ABC’s World of Discovery installment, “In the Realm of the Serpent” (Sunday 7-8 p.m. ABC), which looks at some of the most interesting of the slithering species. For all ages, with parental guidance.

Spaceship Earth: Our Global Environment (Sunday 8:30-9 p.m. Disney Channel) defines environmental problems and offers perspectives from teenagers across the world. For 10- to 17-year-olds.

Kathleen Turner narrates We All Have Tales: Rumpelstiltskin (Sunday 8:30-9 a.m. and Friday 6:30-7 p.m. Showtime), the German story about the mysterious man whose talent is turning straw in to gold. Tangerine Dream provides the music. For 2- to 10-year-olds.

The Best of Encyclopedia (Monday 7:05-8 a.m. HBO) is a collection of entertaining and informative sketches from the family series co-produced with Children’s Television Workshop. For all ages.

Nickelodeon airs a weeklong series of episodes from its original cartoon Doug (Monday-Friday 7:30-8 p.m. Nickelodeon), introducing weekday viewers to the world at 21 Jumbo Street. For all ages.

American Baby Magazine editor Judith Nolte hosts Discovering the First Year of Life (Monday 9-10 p.m. Family Channel), which uses documentary footage to point out major milestones between a child’s birth and first birthday. For ages 16 and up.

The teen magazine show Youthquake travels to cities across the United States and Europe to look at ways to improve the educational system in the special “Crisis: Youthquake in Education” (Tuesday 8-9 p.m.; Friday 5-6 p.m. and Saturday 10-11 a.m. USA). Aside from offering possible solutions from the usual suspects, the show also interviews kids to find out how they would improve schools. For 9- to 18-year-olds.

Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw host the Your Family Matters Special “Shattered Lullabies” (Wednesday 9-10 p.m. Lifetime), a look at the high infant mortality rate in the United States which also poses potential solutions. For parents.

John Candy stars as a bumbling relative left in charge of his nephew (Macaulay Culkin) and two nieces in the 1989 John Hughes comedy Uncle Buck (Tuesday 9-11 p.m. CBS). For all ages.

The animated A Cricket in Times Square (Saturday 2:30-3 p.m. Nickelodeon) tells the story of a talented insect who brings harmony to a busy spot in New York City. For 2- to 10-year-olds.

Didn’t get to see enough ice skating during the Winter Olympics? An Ice Capades Special (Saturday 8-10 p.m. CBS) should take care of that. For all ages.