TV Smarts

Some broadcast and cable programs contain material included in the public school curriculum and on standardized examinations. Here are viewing tips:

* Today--”Lighter Than Air” (HIST 4-4:30) Traces manned balloon technology from the French Revolution to the German and American dirigible disasters of the 1930s. Also, “The Tower of London” (TLC 8-9 p.m.) About the fortress built in 1067 by William the Conqueror to control the citizenry of London, and its 800 years of use as a prison for nobles and monarchs.

* Friday--”Coming to the Light: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indians” (KCET 9-10:30 p.m.) Explores Curtis’ masterworks of anthropological photography recording the life of more than 80 Native American tribes between 1900 and 1930. Also, “The Great American History Quiz: America at War” (HIST 9-10 p.m.) Viewers can download a free quiz sheet at https://www.historychannel.com/quiz and match wits with celebrities who pose questions on the air about events from the American Revolution to the Gulf War. Also, “Understanding Evolution” (TLC 10-11 p.m.) Covers the period from Charles Darwin’s publication of “The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” to the present day.

* Saturday--”Children’s Books on BookTV” (C-SPAN2 9-10 a.m.) Author Anne Rockwell and illustrator R. Gregory Christie discuss their book, “Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth,” about the famous heroine of the escape route to freedom for slaves before the Civil War. Also, “61*” (HBO 9-11 p.m.) Movie directed by Billy Crystal based on the competition between New York Yankees players Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle to beat Babe Ruth’s home run record. Also, “Legacy of a Kidnapping: Lindbergh and the Triumph of the Tabloids” (KLCS 10-11 p.m.) Analyzes the mass media’s effect on public opinion, focusing on the reaction to the kidnapping of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s baby in the 1930s.

* Sunday--”The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg” (CMAX 7:30-9 p.m.) About America’s first Jewish baseball star, whose achievements rivaled Lou Gehrig’s and Babe Ruth’s and helped break down barriers of discrimination in American sports. Also, “Joseph” (KPXN 9-1 p.m.) Tells the story of a carpenter from Nazareth, his conflicts with Roman authorities, his marriage to a woman who becomes pregnant during his long absences and his relationship with the child, Jesus. Also, “Twilight Los Angeles” (KCET 9-10:30 p.m.) Anna Deavere Smith’s one-woman theater piece about the Rodney King beating, the violent aftermath of the trial verdict and the lasting effect of the ensuing L.A. riots.

* Monday--”Virgin and the Abbey” (ODSY 9-10 p.m.) Shows how monks at Downside Abbey in England collaborated with technicians from Virgin Records to record Gregorian chants.

* Tuesday--”Ft. Tejon” (CITY 7-7:30 p.m.) This episode of the “Visiting With Huell Howser” series is set in a north Los Angeles County locale where historically accurate reenactments of Civil War and Indian War military activities take place. Also, “Poetic License” (KCET 10-11 p.m.) Showcases the work of several teen poets who are part of a burgeoning live-performance movement that combines West African Girot traditions, Native American storytelling and beat bebop.

* Wednesday--”Jefferson High” (KCET 7-7:30 p.m.) Showcases films made by students at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles and recently shown at the Sundance Film Festival, focusing on the history of South-Central L.A. and present-day immigrant experiences. Also, “Song of the Lark” (KCET 8-10 p.m.) A television dramatization of Willa Cather’s classic novel about a young 19th century Colorado woman’s passion for music and her rise to international stardom.

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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 available at https://www.calendarlive.com/go/tvsmarts.