TV Smarts

Some broadcast and cable programs contain material included in the public school curriculum and on standardized examinations.

Here are home-viewing tips:

* Today--”Little Women” (TCM, 3-5 p.m.) This is the Oscar-winning Katharine Hepburn movie version of Louisa May Alcott’s classic American novel about four young girls 100 years ago managing the process of growing up before MTV and malls.

Also, “Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco” (KCET, 8-9 p.m.) This telecast of the famous Canadian-based circus troupe features the best, most imaginative acrobats and gymnasts produced by the physical education departments of the world.

* Friday--”Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration” (KCET, 3-9 p.m.; first two hours repeat Saturday, 7-9 a.m.; third and fourth hours repeat Saturday, 3-5 p.m.; final two hours repeat Sunday, 9-11 a.m.) This is the annual live broadcast from the Music Center of multicultural, holiday music and dance performances by groups from around the county, including Mexican, Chinese, Jewish, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Irish and reggae. The finale will be performed by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. Schedule of appearances available at www.lacountyarts.org or (213) 974-3099.

Also, “When Dinosaurs Ruled” (TLC, 8-11 p.m.) This is a trio of paleontology documentaries about sites in the Andes, Africa and Australia.

* Saturday--”The Olympic Show: Katerina Witt” (CNBC, 4:30-5 p.m.) This is a documentary about the Olympic gold medalist’s life and current ice skating career.

Also, “King of Kings” (TBS, 5-8:30 p.m.) This is an epic about the life of Jesus, directed by Nicholas Ray (“Rebel Without a Cause”) with a cast that includes Jeffrey Hunter, Siobon McKenna and Robert Ryan. Orson Welles narrates. Available on video.

* Sunday--”Science & Technology Week: Y2K Scams” (CNN, 1:30-2 p.m.) This science-news show will report on zero-hour efforts by con artists to prey on people’s Y2K fears.

Also, “Irving Berlin: An American Song” (A&E;, 5-7 p.m., repeating 7-9 p.m.) This is a documentary with performance excerpts about the musical career of a Russian immigrant who became the most important composer of American popular music. (“God Bless America,” “White Christmas,” “Easter Parade,” “Blue Skies” and even “There’e No Business Like Show Business.”)

Also, “Nueva America” (KNBC, 7-8 p.m.) This documentary measures the growing Latinization of the U.S.--Hispanics’ emergence as the largest minority group, their influence in upcoming elections, culture, consumer power and society. Geraldo Rivera reports.

* Monday--”Only in America Marathon” (TRV, beginning at 6 a.m. and running for 18 hours) This is a broadcast marathon of geography documentaries about every region of the U.S., many featuring Western and Pacific Rim states, with an emphasis on places fun to visit. For schedule details, log on to www.travelchannel.com.

* Tuesday--”The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” “Anna Karenina” and “The Prisoner of Zenda” (TCM, 1-11 p.m.) This is a rare opportunity to compare not only a book to a movie but two movie versions of classic Browning, Tolstoy and Dumas stories. Casts include Garbo, Gielgud, Laughton and Fairbanks.

* Wednesday--”The Canterville Ghost” (ODY, 2-4 p.m.) This is a movie version of Oscar Wilde’s classic story about a teenager’s encounter with a 400-year-old British ghost. Neve Campbell and Patrick Stewart star.

“Le Nozze di Figaro” (The Marriage of Figaro) (KCET, 8-11:30 p.m.) This is a telecast from the Metropolitan Opera of Mozart’s comedic masterpiece, sung in Italian with English subtitles. James Levine conducts Cecilia Bartoli, Bryn Terfel, Dwayne Croft and Renee Fleming.

Also, “The Great Wall of China” (HIST, 10-11 p.m.) This is a documentary about the techniques involved in building the only structure mankind has made that is visible, unaided, from the moon.

Compiled by Richard Kahlenberg in consultation with Crystal J. Gips, dean of the School of Education, College of St. Mary, Albany, N.Y. Columns at https://www.latimes.co./tvsmarts