ForMilitary

Kids!

Let ItOut!

Hey You Guys!As a member of a military family,

you’re a real hero.

For more electric fun, visit pbskidsgo.org/electriccompany

You may think we’ve got a superpower But guess what— you’ve got it, too!

You’ve got the power to choose the words To say what you’re goin’ through.

Let’s say you’re feeling mad.I mean really, really mad.Like there’s smoke pouring out of your ears.

And your fists are clenchedAnd your face is scrunchedAnd you feel like you could shout for years.

You could say:I’m mad.I’m angry.Annoyed, frustrated, and furious.

Our you could say, “I’m infuriated!”That also means mad if you’re curious.

Chorus:You gotta let it out!Let it out!Get it off of your chest.Let it out!Let it out!You’ve got the words to express.Let it out!Let it out!You can’t keep it inside.Let it out!Let it out!You’ve got nothing to hide.

You could be feeling sad— You miss your mom or your dad.Well here are some words you could try:

I’m sad.I’m bummed out.I feel crummy, upset, and alone.Sometimes I just count the days‘Til you get to come home.

But if you’re feeling happyAnd your mood is sort of snappyHere are some words that could fly:

I’m happyDelighted.Overjoyed and filled with glee.I’m feeling really proud.’Cause you’re a hero to me.

All you military kids say yeah!All you military kids say hey!We’re proud to serveAnd we’ve gotta be heard’Cause we’ve all got something to say!

Chorus:We’ve gotta let it out!Let it out!Get it off of our chests.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got the words to express.Let it out!Let it out!We can’t keep it inside.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got nothing to hide.

We can feel:Happy! Elated!Annoyed! Frustrated!Frightened or filled with love.Grumpy! Confused!Silly! Amused!And sometimes all the above!

Chorus:We’ve gotta let it out!Let it out!Get it off of our chests.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got the words to express.Let it out!Let it out!We can’t keep it inside.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got nothing to hide.

Love the Let it Out Song lyrics?— check out the video at

familiesnearandfar.org

Open It UpTurn It ON!

Create your own song

Make your own Electric Family Tree

Get interviewed by Little Mean Robot

Find hidden clues

SPECIAL EDITION

Lewis Bernstein, Ph.DExecutive Vice PresidentEducation, Research and OutreachJeanette Betancourt, Ed.D.SVP, Outreach and Educational PracticesLynn ChwatskyEVP, Educational OutreachRandell M Bynum L.M.S.W.Director, The Electric Company Outreach

Written by Rebecca Honing, Two KazoosEdited by Kama EinhornDesigned by Stephanie Nass Siegel and Oona SternCopy Edited by Diane Feldman

1

Hey You Guys!

We, the members of The Electric Company, are

heroes in our community. But so are you. As a member

of a military family, you’re a real hero. You’re strong

and brave (even if you don’t feel that way all the time)!

Us Electric Company kids all have special word powers.

And so do you. Words have power, and finding the

right word makes a big difference when you face all

kinds of challenges.

In this magazine, you’ll hang out with us heroes and

play with words. Look for important and useful words

bolded throughout.

Hope you love it—how could you not?

Calm

Content

Worried

Start led

Sad

Jubilant

Cheerful

Concerned

Tense

Disappointed

Silly

Conf ident

How AreYOU

FeelingTODAY?

The Electric Company is really close. We depend

on each other and we hang out every day. A few months ago,

Lisa left to travel around the world to do amazing science

experiments. It’s super sad. We really miss Lisa.

So we Web chat with her once a week, send her photos, and

e-mail jokes back and forth. And every Monday, we order her

favorite lunch at the diner and tell our best Lisa stories.

“ My mom travels so far away for her job.

But e-mail gets to her

so fast! I write her

e-mails almost every day. Once, I scanned a test that I got

an A+ on, and I sent it to her in an e-mail.”

JOURNAL itHow did you feel when someone close went far away? Use these story starters to tell about it.

When left, I felt . For a while it was hard to . It helps me feel close to

when I . Even when we are far apart, I know we will

always .

MOUNTAIN MazeEvery few weeks, Lisa sends us a maze of

the places she’s been. Draw a line leading her

to where she’s doing a science experiment all

about wind.

Story Ping-Pong

Twenty QuestionsCameraGames

One person writes one sentence (the

beginning to a story) and e-mails it to

someone else in the family. That person

adds a sentence and sends it back. Go

back and forth until you have an ending!

The next time you Web chat, play 20

questions. Have one person think of a

favorite memory that you’ve shared

together and keep it to themselves. Then

the rest of the family can ask “yes” or “no”

questions (Was it this year? Was it last year?

Was it a holiday? Was it in our home state?

and so on) until they name the memory.

Give each member in your

family a picture challenge,

such as “Take a picture of your

feet,” or “Take a picture of the

moon out your window,” or

“Take a picture of your favorite

thing.” Then share your photos

in e-mails or letters.

32

Your TURN!

Bridge the distance

with far-away family

members by playing

some of these games:

Jessica SAYS

YOU Say

54

YOU Say

I know what you’re thinking: � � �“That Marcus is so cool!” �But �when �I �first �moved �

to �Electric �City, �I �didn’t �feel �very �cool. �It �was �a �

totally �new �place. �I �didn’t �know �anyone. �I �was �so �

nervous �about �meeting �people �that �I �kept � �

tripping �and �bumping �into �things. �When �I �met �

Jessica �for �the �first �time �and �she �asked �me �my �

name, �I �accidentally �said, �“My �name’s �moo �moo �

blah �blah.” �Seriously, �I �was �a �mess.

“ When my dad got his new assignment �

and �we �moved �to �a �new �base, �I �had �to �make �

new �friends �in �school. �I �told �myself �that �I �had � �

to �be �courageous, �just �like �he �had �to �be �brave �

doing �his �job.”

Help Marcus meet Jessica. Give him some things to say by filling in the speech bubbles. He might introduce himself and tell her his favorite sport or his favorite food. Or he can ask her a question like, “Where do you go to school?”

StorySTARTER

ASKAwayWhat’s the funniest thing you have ever seen?

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

If you could make the best ice cream sundae ever, what flavors and toppings would you use?

What smell makes you happy?

If you were going to a deserted island, what would you bring?

If you could have magical powers, what would they be?

Asking questions is a great

way to get to know someone or find

out new things about an old friend.

Try asking someone these questions.

Then your friend can ask you.

FIND:The tallest thing

Four nice places to just sit and talk

The quietest place

The loudest place

A place where an animal lives

A place where you can see the sun set

The best place to toss a ball

Your favorite tree (if you don’t have one, find one!)

A building with lots of windows

A street sign with at least one of the letters in your name

Your TURN!

Are you new to your neighbor-

hood? Even if you’ve lived there

awhile, how well do you really

know it? Go on this neighbor-

hood scavenger hunt and find

the following things:

Marcus SAYS

7Keith SAYS

YOU Say

Shock SAYS

Sometimes music can be the best way to say what

you’re feeling. Last year, I wanted to tell my dad how

amazing I thought he was, but I just couldn’t come out

and say it. I felt shy and uncomfortable. I could

never seem to find the right words. So, I tried saying it

in a song, and it worked. Now I have a way to let people

know what’s on my mind: I sing!

He’s not the only one! I get out all my feelings

through music. For me,

beat boxing isn’t just fun,

it’s how I express myself.

“ When my mom was deployed, her birthday was like the next week!

I sent her an e-card with a song in

it. I wish I could’ve sung it to her in person, but it was

the next best thing. And we made a cake for her at

home anyway and sent her pictures of us eating it.”

WRITE a Song Fill in the blank spaces to make your own music— then sing it to any tune or beat you want.I felt yesterday.

I had someth ing to say .I wanted to know how I feel .So I at home.And I on the phone.And let everyone know I was for rea l .I sa id is what I’m th ink ing about .And are the words I want to shout .And is what I rea l ly know.And is where I want to go.

Beat BoxCHALLENGE

This will really test your tongue. Beat box each of these sounds below (chant it to a beat). As you do, try to find the sounds that can combine together to make a word. Write all the words you make on the lines.

skspst

illateunkeech

ringinandrong

DJ Ask everyone in your family to choose a song that tells how they are feeling and

play it for everyone on the phone or in person. As you listen, talk together about the music each person chose and why.

Play a favorite song and get everyone

dancing. Every minute or so, stop the song and tell everyone to “freeze.” As people stand frozen, they take turns calling out the first word that comes to mind. Then start the music and dance again. Dance, freeze, share a word!

Frozen Words

Your TURN!

Music is a great way

to express feelings and have

fun. The next time you’re

with family or friends, try

one of these games.

6

Lisa and I have a lot going on. I work at the diner, go to

college, help out with my little sister, and keep the neighbor-

hood safe from the Pranksters. I’m happy I get to do so many

different kinds of things, but it can be really stressful!

And I’m traveling all

over the world studying

and working harder than

I’ve ever worked before.

With all this responsibility, it can be hard to remember to have

fun and take care of ourselves. So we keep calendars that

remind us to relax and enjoy something every day.

“ I know my dad’s job is stressful. But I

feel kinda stressed out myself sometimes!

I tell myself he is doing his service to his

country, and I am doing my service to my

family by helping out at home.”

HECTOR’S WEEK

LISA’S WEEK

SUNDAYshoothoops

MONDAYdrink asmoothie

TUESDAYread myfavortiecomic

WEDNESDAYcall afriend

THURSDAYhangwithShock

SATURDAYlistento

music

FRIDAYjustrelax

SUNDAYdance

MONDAYgo fora hike

TUESDAYplay theguitar

WEDNESDAYread myfavoritebook

THURSDAYvisit

friends

SATURDAYjustrelax

FRIDAYwrite aletter

Make a PLANWhat will you do to relax this week? Will you eat something special, play a game, go for a walk? Make a plan to do something you enjoy every day, and write it below.

Make breakfast together

Create a family collage using pictures

you find online or in magazines

Take a walk together

Make up a song about the moon

Wear your pajamas all day long

Build a fort

Give an extra long hug

Pick a time every day that each

member in your family will say a silly

phrase or look at a silly family photo.

You’ll all have fun together no matter

where you are.

Hang with Hector. Color in the stars with st- (you know…as in stress!) until you get all the way to the hoop.

HECTOR’SSure Shot

9

Your TURN!

Your family can take time

to enjoy each other in the

following ways:

8 Hector SAYS

YOU Say

Lisa SAYS

10 11

YOU Say

I have something to tell you. I know it’s not nice, but...

when I feel left out, I make trouble. One time I thought

Hector didn’t want me on his ping-pong team, so I tried to

ruin the whole game. It turned out that I had it all wrong.

Hector did like playing with me. When we finally got around

to talking about it, I felt a lot better.

“ My dad sends us photos and I look at them closely.

He’s all dressed up in his uniform. I always wonder what

he is thinking. We send him photos of us, too. Even if we

are smiling, I think he knows we are a little sad because we miss him.”

THEOF

Many FacesDanny

Rebus

What do you think Danny is feeling in each of these pictures? Write his feelings on the lines. What are some ways he might try to express his feelings? Then fill in the blank space with a picture of how you feel. Here are some feelings you might choose from, but you can think

of your own, too: nervous, angry, sad, happy, scared, worried, excited

WHAT’SDanny RebusTHINKING?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s really on Danny’s mind. Solve these rebus puzzles, and you’ll see what he’s really thinking.

[answers: I hate feeling left out, I think kittens are cute, I love my friends, The Electric Company is really nice]

+s R cute

+e feeling out

th+

–g my friends

+y is really n+The Electric Com

Keep a stack of index cards and a pen next to a basket or box. Once in a while, pick up a card and write or draw how you feel. Every few days, look through the cards together as a family and talk about the different things that have been on your mind.

Enjoy art projects together and use markers, clay, and other supplies to show your feelings. Make up a play or puppet show about something that may be difficult to talk about.

Read stories about characters who might be experiencing the same things you are. Talk about the characters and how you are the same or different.

Play emotional charades. Give everyone the chance to act out different emotions and the experiences that may cause those feelings. The group tries to guess the situation and the feelings.

Do you know what a mood-dude or mood-o-sphere is? • With a grown-up

check out our FREE Feel Electric app at iTunes.com or market.android.com!

Investigate the emotion

behind the action.

Try talking about your

feelings with some of

these activities:

Your TURN!

Danny Rebus SAYS

13

I know you think I’m tough. I know you might even

think I’m mean. Guess what? I’m actually kind of a niceguy. I just don’t like people to know it. But just ask the Little

Mean Robot. I always tell him what I’m feeling.

“ When I video chat with my dad, I always tell him every single detail of

what happened that day, even if I had

a bad day. My mom told me it’s okay

to share that stuff, even if we want

assure him everything’s fine at home

without him.”

INTERVIEW WITH

Little Mean RobotManny’s robot always asks him how he’s feeling. Now it’s your turn. Write your answers to the robot’s questions in the spaces below.

How was your day?

What is one good thing that happened today?

What is one bad thing that happened today?

What is one surprising thing that happened today?

What do you hope will happen tomorrow?

Finding the RIGHT WORDS

Help Manny discover the words to express himself. Find and circle these eight feeling words below.

lonelyconfusedgoofygladhurtconcernedsurprisedshy

Camera: Take pictures of family members making all

types of faces (see page 1). Look at the faces together,

and try to name the feeling. Which one shows how you

feel right now?

Music player: Make a playlist of songs that in some

way describe your week, and play it for a family member.

OR…Make Your Own Low-Tech Fun! Go to pbs.org/teachers/electriccompany/#guide and click

“Popsicle Stick Puppets.” Print out the photos, cut out the

character photos, and glue a craft stick to each. Make up a

puppet show about something that happened this week.

Your TURN!

Gadgets can be

great for getting

conversations

going.

12 Manny SAYS

YOU Say

“Manny is really very sweet.”

15INTERVIEW WITH the PrankstersGilda: Is being a Prankster the most amazing thing in the world?

Francine: It’s totally fabulous!

That’s a lot of trying!

Annie: Yeah, it’s really great. Except for when our pranks don’t work.

Francine: When our pranks don’t work, it’s really hard.

Annie: And our pranks don’t work a lot of the time.

Francine: We have to be very persistent.

Francine: It can be frustrating.

Annie: But we keep going.

Annie: We have to try, and then try again, and again, and again....

“ Sometimes if I had a bad day, I try to

remember I’m a hero. My mom is serving our

country so she’s a hero, but I’m a hero, too,

for supporting her and helping take care of

my little sister at home.”

YOU Say

Draw a picture of a time that you felt frustrated, like Anne and Francine. What helped you feel better?

FrustrationSTATION

Test your persistence. Stare at this

picture of the kitchen of The Electric Diner

for a minute. Then close the magazine and,

on a separate piece of paper, try to list 10

items in the picture. If you can’t name 10, don’t worry; give the

picture another look, and then try again. Try until you get 10.

Take a few deep breaths

Count to 10

Step away from the thing that is frustrating and then return in a few minutes

Ask yourself, “Is there another way to do this?”

Shake it off with a wiggle

Scream or yell into a pillow

Ask for help

Talk it out

TRY, Try AGAIN14

Your TURN!

The next time you

feel frustrated, here

are some thing you

could try:

1716

YOU Say

We’re a TEAM

“ My dad works with the rest of his team to serve his country,

and my family and all his friends are part of his team, too. And

here at home, we rely on each other the same way he relies on

his team over there.”

No matter what happens, we’re a team. It takes friendship to power The Electric Company. We each have special skills, but we’d never get anywhere without each other.

Electric FAMILY Tree Who’s on your team? In the spaces below, draw pictures of friends and family on whom you rely.

TEAM Crossword

Use the clues to fill in the names for each friend in the picture puzzle below.

1. Gather white paper, cotton swabs, and one

of the following: lemon juice, grapefruit juice, or milk.

2. Use a cotton swab to write “THANK YOU” on the paper

with the lemon juice, grapefruit juice, or milk. Keep writing;

sign your names, and then decorate the page any way you

like. (You won’t be able to see anything you wrote.) Let dry.

3. Give the secret message to its recipient (make sure there

is a grown-up there to do the next part). Tell the recipient to

hold up the “invisible” message to a light bulb, lightly rub

against the bulb, and watch the message appear! (For faster

results, the recipient can sandwich the paper between a

folded paper grocery bag and rub with a medium-hot iron.)

Your TURN!

Electric Thank You:

Thank people who have

been there for your family

with a super-secret

invisible message.

Did you know you can feel the power of words with a mobile app? • With a grown-up

check out our FREE Feel Electric app at iTunes.com or market.android.com!

ForMilitary

Kids!

Let ItOut!

Hey You Guys!As a member of a military family,

you’re a real hero.

For more electric fun, visit pbskidsgo.org/electriccompany

You may think we’ve got a superpower But guess what— you’ve got it, too!

You’ve got the power to choose the words To say what you’re goin’ through.

Let’s say you’re feeling mad.I mean really, really mad.Like there’s smoke pouring out of your ears.

And your fists are clenchedAnd your face is scrunchedAnd you feel like you could shout for years.

You could say:I’m mad.I’m angry.Annoyed, frustrated, and furious.

Our you could say, “I’m infuriated!”That also means mad if you’re curious.

Chorus:You gotta let it out!Let it out!Get it off of your chest.Let it out!Let it out!You’ve got the words to express.Let it out!Let it out!You can’t keep it inside.Let it out!Let it out!You’ve got nothing to hide.

You could be feeling sad— You miss your mom or your dad.Well here are some words you could try:

I’m sad.I’m bummed out.I feel crummy, upset, and alone.Sometimes I just count the days‘Til you get to come home.

But if you’re feeling happyAnd your mood is sort of snappyHere are some words that could fly:

I’m happyDelighted.Overjoyed and filled with glee.I’m feeling really proud.’Cause you’re a hero to me.

All you military kids say yeah!All you military kids say hey!We’re proud to serveAnd we’ve gotta be heard’Cause we’ve all got something to say!

Chorus:We’ve gotta let it out!Let it out!Get it off of our chests.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got the words to express.Let it out!Let it out!We can’t keep it inside.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got nothing to hide.

We can feel:Happy! Elated!Annoyed! Frustrated!Frightened or filled with love.Grumpy! Confused!Silly! Amused!And sometimes all the above!

Chorus:We’ve gotta let it out!Let it out!Get it off of our chests.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got the words to express.Let it out!Let it out!We can’t keep it inside.Let it out!Let it out!We’ve got nothing to hide.

Love the Let it Out Song lyrics?— check out the video at

familiesnearandfar.org

Open It UpTurn It ON!

Create your own song

Make your own Electric Family Tree

Get interviewed by Little Mean Robot

Find hidden clues

SPECIAL EDITION

Lewis Bernstein, Ph.DExecutive Vice PresidentEducation, Research and OutreachJeanette Betancourt, Ed.D.SVP, Outreach and Educational PracticesLynn ChwatskyEVP, Educational OutreachRandell M Bynum L.M.S.W.Director, The Electric Company Outreach

Written by Rebecca Honing, Two KazoosEdited by Kama EinhornDesigned by Stephanie Nass Siegel and Oona SternCopy Edited by Diane Feldman