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--”Black Robe” (Bravo 2-4 p.m.) Explains why Canada, the second-largest country in the world at 3.8 million square miles, still has fewer people than California. The first European settlers often froze to death if they survived Mohawk and Cree attacks. Also, “Roman Emperor’s Palaces” (HIST 8-9 p.m.) Documentary about the rich and famous of the Bronze Age who lived in splendor and squalor at the same time.

* Friday--”A Third Choice” (KCET 9-10 p.m.) Traces the history of alternative political parties that have nominated presidential candidates, including Abraham Lincoln, Ross Perot and Ralph Nader.

* Saturday--”Captains Courageous” (ODSY Noon-2 p.m.) Movie based on Rudyard Kipling’s novel about a spoiled boy’s coming of age under dangerous conditions at sea.

* Sunday--”Judaism: A Quest for Meaning” (ODSY 4-5 p.m.) Documentary in a series about the challenges and choices that Jewish people face at the beginning of the 21st century. Also, “The Chieftains Over Ireland” (A&E; 10-11 p.m.) Follows the traditional Irish band, performing in a variety of settings across Ireland while tracing the history of Irish music.

* Monday--”Yeltsin” (KCET 9-10:30 p.m.) Biographical documentary about the man who dismantled the Soviet Union. Also, “Planet of Oceans” (DISC 10-11 p.m.) Documentary about the deep sea and surface currents that play a role in maintaining stable climate.

* Tuesday--”Visiting: UCLA Film and Television Archive” (City 7-8 p.m.) Looks at the process of preserving classic films and footage of historical events. Recommended viewing for students enrolled in New Media Academies at Los Angeles Unified School District high schools. For details, including the archive’s public screening schedule, log on to https://www.cinema.ucla.edu.

* Wednesday--”Live Through This” (MTV 10-11 p.m.) New dramatic series about the gritty realities of the music business. Multi-generational conflicts result as five teens and twentysomethings go on tour with their baby boomer parents, who are staging a “comeback” tour to capitalize on their enduring fame as a hit band from the 1980s.

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