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--”California’s Water With Huell Howser” (Channel 35-LA Cityview 2-3 p.m., repeats 9:30-10:30 p.m.) This special report airs on Los Angeles’ public access channel and describes the Eastside Reservoir project, located in Riverside County and which will be the largest reservoir in Southern California when construction is finished by the Metropolitan Water District. On public display at the excavation are the remains of the largest mastodon ever discovered in the Western U.S.

* Friday--”Discover Magazine” (DISC 9:30-10 p.m.) Biologists in Indonesia track down 10-foot-long Komodo dragons, the largest breed of lizard, to gather saliva and blood samples for research in solving humans’ growing resistance to antibiotics. These creatures are immune to infection and scientists want to learn if humans can duplicate the chemical process used by the dragons to ward off infections.

* Saturday--”How Animals Tell Time” (ANML 9-10 p.m.) Sir John Maddox, editor of the prestigious magazine “Nature,” explains how animals tell time. Snakes, squirrels and bees know exactly when to move home, breed and sleep, but our pets may have lost this ability.

* Sunday--”Photo Fakery: The History and Techniques of Photo Deception and Manipulation” (C-SPAN2 9-10 a.m., repeats 3:30-4:30 p.m.) Dino Brugioni, a former CIA senior photo interpreter, explains deceptions and how to spot them. He illustrates his presentation with examples from his recent book on the topic. Also, “History Center” (HIST 7:30-8 p.m.) This regular history magazine show features a report on what former United States presidents do after having the most powerful job in the world. The report includes predictions by Washington-based journalists and professors about Bill Clinton’s plans for 2001.

* Monday--”Workplace Essential Skills” (KCET 3-4 p.m.) A pair of half-hour shows airs in this time slot Monday through Friday featuring topics aimed at novice job-seekers about the skills needed to get and hold a job.

* Tuesday--”’Britannic” (Fox Family Channel 8-10 p.m.) Made-for-TV adventure movie is based on a true incident that occurred on a bigger so-called sister of the Titanic. The ship also sank, not by hitting an iceberg but under mysterious circumstances involving World War I espionage in 1916. Jacqueline Bisset and Amanda Ryan star.

* Wednesday--”Monet: Light and Shadow” (HBO 10-11 a.m.) Airing daily this month at different times, this fictional, dramatized account of Claude Monet’s early career provides children an introduction to French Impressionist art.

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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 www.latimes.com/tvsmarts.