NARRATOR: Coming up next, on Betsy's
Kindergarten Adventures!
-Gracie, come home!
BETSY (VOICEOVER): I couldn't help to think,
was it my fault Gracie went away?
Was I spending too much time with Lyrtle?
MRS. O'CONNOR: The Gingerbread Boy came to life, and ran away!
-Well, that's impossible, isn't it?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
THEME MUSIC: A, B, C, and , , ,
it's Kindergarten time for you and me.
So climb aboard, and take a seat,
for Kindergarten fun with Betsy.
We'll make new friends along the way
and have adventures every day.
It's Betsy!
Kindergarten Adventures!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
BETSY (VOICEOVER): Good morning, kindergarten.
I don't think I like anything better
than starting a new week of school.
I wonder what Mrs. O'Connor has planned for us today.
-Good morning, everyone!
I hope you all had a fun weekend and are
ready to start animal week here at school.
CLASS: Oh, yes!
BETSY (VOICEOVER): I knew Mrs. O'Connor would
have something great planned for us.
She's the best.
-Good.
Now I have a question for you.
How many of you have ever wished you
could have a dinosaur for a pet?
CLASS: [RESPONDING EXCITEDLY]
-A real-live dinosaur?
Cool!
Do you have one here?
Is that our new class pet?
-What?
A dinosaur?
I don't know if I would like that, Mrs. O'Connor.
-Sorry, Billy and Molly, but that would be impossible.
You see, there are no dinosaurs left on earth.
They've been gone for millions of years.
-What?
All gone?
Not a single one left?
Oh, no!
-Yes, Maria, Scott is right.
The dinosaurs are all gone.
However, the next best thing to having a dinosaur for a pet
would be to have a turtle.
-A turtle?
Mrs. O'Connor, what does a turtle
have to do with a dinosaur?
-Well, Betsy, a turtle is a reptile,
just like the dinosaurs were.
And they've been alive for over million years.
Some turtles were walking the earth when the dinosaurs were.
Turtles lay eggs in a nest, just like the dinosaurs did.
All right, class.
Now I want you to tell me what you know about turtles.
-A turtle has four legs, Mrs. O'Connor.
Two eyes, one head, and one shell.
-Right, Kenji.
Does anyone know what turtles use their shells for?
-Ooh!
Oh!
Me!
Me!
I know, Mrs. O'Connor.
Hmph.
I know.
All right.
Turtles have shells so that they can hide inside of them
if another animal is trying to att*ck them.
-She's right.
And their shells are used to keep them warm.
-My dad told me the coolest part of all about turtles.
They have tongues, but no teeth!
-Eew!
That is positively gross, Billy.
That can't be true.
-He's absolutely right, Maria.
[BLOWS RASPBERRY]
-Billy, stop that!
[SIGHS]
GRACIE: [WHINES]
-I know, Gracie, I know.
Be patient.
I'm trying to find your yummy little puppy treats.
This store is so big I can't find anything.
[WATER BUBBLING]
BETSY (VOICEOVER): I think the pet store
is more of a Billy place.
He should be here with us.
He loves trips to the pet store, and I can see why.
-Mom, are we done yet?
Ooh, Mom, look!
A teeny tiny little turtle, just like the one
we're learning about in school.
Oh, I just love him.
Can I please, please, please, please get him?
Please, Mom?
-Oh, Betsy, I don't know.
[SIGHS] Another pet?
We already have our hands full, what with Gracie and Kitty.
-Mom, you won't have to do a thing.
I'll do all the work, I promise.
I'll clean out his t*nk.
I'll walk him.
I'll feed him.
I'll give him a bath.
-Ah! [LAUGHING]
-Oh, please, Mom?
Please, please, pretty please?
I just need this cute little turtle.
Isn't he perfect?
Billy could help me, of course.
I'm sure he'd love to.
I"ll call him as soon as I get home.
BETSY'S MOTHER: Well, OK.
He is pretty cute.
-Thanks, Mom!
You're the best!
-All right, ladies, here you go.
Enjoy your new pet!
GRACIE: [WHINES]
BETSY: Not now, Gracie.
I'm getting Lyrtle the Turtle ready to come home with us.
I can't wait to get home and tell Billy.
Can my friends come over and meet Lyrtle tonight, Mom?
BETSY'S MOTHER: Sure, honey.
-They are going to love you, Lyrtle.
LYRTLE: [BLINKS]
-Wow!
Look how cool he is.
I love how he chews up that lettuce!
-He is so cute, the way he's drinking from his water bowl!
-He already knows how to crawl through this amazing toy log!
-You are so lucky, Betsy!
Wait until we tell Mrs. O'Connor tomorrow.
-I know.
He is so cute.
The man at the pet store said that the turtles
need lots of water.
And he needs to get out in the sunlight a few times a week.
-And this book says that turtles have
really good eyesight, and strong noses!
Oh, this is so great, Betsy!
I'm almost as excited as when my dad
brought home a slug collection for me.
-Slugs?
Billy, that is so gross!
Ah!
CLASS: (TALKING EXCITEDLY)
GRACIE: [PERFORMING TRICKS]
-Oh, sorry, Gracie.
I promised Lyrtle that I would walk
him to Billy's after dinner.
I'll take you out tomorrow night.
BETSY: Bye, Mom!
[SAD MUSIC]
KEVIN: [HAPPY BABY TALK]
[SAD MUSIC]
-Hi, Mom!
What's for breakfast?
-Good morning, honey.
We're having your favorite, blueberry pancakes.
-Ooh, yum!
-Just do me a quick favor and put some food in Gracie's bowl.
-Sure thing.
Here, Gracie!
Time for breakfast!
Gracie!
Gracie!
-That's funny.
Gracie always comes running for breakfast.
Where could she be?
Oh, dear!
Bus driver Bob is here.
Well, get your book bag, dear.
Kevin and I will go look around the neighborhood.
Don't be worried.
We'll find her.
BETSY (VOICEOVER): I couldn't help but worry.
Gracie had never wandered away before.
I wonder, where could she be?
-Well, hello there, Betsy!
How are you on this fine morning?
Wait.
What's with the sad face?
-Well, you see, my dog, Gracie, didn't come to breakfast today.
And we can't find her.
-Oh, I'm sure she just went out for a walk or something.
She'll be fine.
-I had to do something.
I needed a plan to find Gracie.
And I knew I might need help with it.
-Good morning, class!
I'm happy to see all of you this morning at Morning Circle.
Now, does anyone have anything to share before we begin?
-I do, Mrs. O'Connor.
Yesterday at the pet store, my mom bought me a new turtle,
just like we've been learning about in class.
-Yeah, Mrs. O'Connor.
Lyrtle the turtle is so cool!
He is the best turtle I've ever seen.
-He can certainly eat.
-And he's actually pretty cute, too.
-That's great, Betsy.
Just remember, pets are a big responsibility and need
lots of love, care, and attention.
BETSY (VOICEOVER): I couldn't help to think,
was it my fault Gracie went away?
Was I spending too much time with Lyrtle?
-I was paying so much attention to my new turtle
that Gracie ran off.
And now we can't find her anywhere.
Mom and Kevin are looking now, but they need help.
Do you think the class and you could help me?
-Of course, Betsy.
That's what friends are for.
Right, class?
CLASS: Yeah!
-You can count on us, Betsy.
So what should we do first?
-Let's make missing dog signs and hang
them all around the neighborhood.
-Thanks, you guys.
I just know this will work.
-OK, everyone.
Take your signs home today, and ask your parents
if you could hang them around your neighborhood.
Let's use teamwork to help Betsy and her family find Gracie.
Can we do it?
CLASS: (EXCITEDLY) Yes!
-I knew my friends would help.
I just know that that Gracie will be home by dinner time
tonight.
-All right, I'm ready.
Billy to the rescue!
Here I come, Gracie!
[DOORBELL]
-Yes?
Can I help you, young man?
-Yes, ma'am.
You see, my friend Betsy has lost her dog, Gracie.
And I was wondering--
[DOG GROWLING]
---Uh, uh, that's a nice dog that you have, there.
Heh-heh.
Nice doggie, heh.
-Gracie!
Gracie!
Where are you?
-[MYSTERIOUS MUSIC]
-Aah!
[DOG GROWLING AND BARKING]
-Aah!
DOG'S OWNER: Oh, don't worry!
Fifi doesn't bite!
-Gracie!
Oh, Gracie!
Ugh!
Where is that dog, anyway?
Gracie!
Gracie!
[SIGHS] I hope Betsy appreciates me spending
my entire afternoon helping her.
Ooh, what's this? [GASP] What?
A new Super Fun Sandy doll is out?
-Oh, Gracie!
Oh, Gracie.
Why?
Why have you run away?
Where, oh where can you be?
Come back!
Come back!
[MARCHING MUSIC]
-OK, Kenji.
Ready to find Gracie?
-Let's go!
-Gracie!
Gracie, come home!
-Gracie!
Gracie?
-Well, Betsy, any luck?
-Yeah, is Gracie home yet?
-Not yet, you guys.
I don't know where she could be.
-(OUT OF BREATH) Hey, Betsy.
Did we find her?
Is she home?
-Nope.
-We're sorry, Betsy.
We tried our best.
-Yeah, we put the signs out everywhere.
-I know, you guys.
Thanks so much for all of your help.
We'll find her.
I just know it.
I'm not going to give up.
And from now on, I'm going to take good care of all
of my pets, Gracie, Kitty, and Lyrtle.
They all need love and attention.
Gracie has always been such a good friend to me.
When she gets back, I promise to never skip her nightly walk,
and to play with her every day after school.
Gracie, you're back!
Where did you go?
I'm sorry, Gracie.
I'll never ignore you again.
-Gracie, welcome home!
Boy, are we glad to see you!
-Gracie, I love you so much!
I missed you.
I'm so glad you're home.
KEVIN: [GURGLING HAPPILY]
BETSY (VOICEOVER): One of the things I really
like about kindergarten, is that you
never know what to expect each day.
BETSY (VOICEOVER): Weekends are fun, but I like school better.
KITTY: [MEOW] [SNIFFING, UNIMPRESSED]
[HAPPY SLURPING]
GRACIE: [GROWLING]
KITTY: [SCREECHING]
[SCREECHING AND BARKING CONTINUES]
-[GASP] Kitty, no!
Gracie!
No!
Kitty, get off the table!
BETSY'S MOTHER: Oh, no!
Kevin, no!
GRACIE: [BARKING]
BETSY'S MOTHER: Outside, Gracie!
-OK, Kitty, you're next!
[SIGH] Oh, my goodness.
-Mom, I have knots in my shoelaces!
-Oh, Betsy.
-What?
-Didn't you see that big puddle of chocolate syrup
you just stepped into?
-Huh?
Chocolate syrup?
Hey, what's chocolate syrup doing on the floor?
--[SIGH] Now, please go put on some clean socks.
-OK.
Sorry about stepping in the chocolate syrup, Mom.
-That's OK.
Just try and pay more attention to what's going on around you.
-All right.
-[GIGGLING]
-Good morning, everyone!
-Good morning, Bus Driver Bob.
-Hello, Bus Driver Bob.
-Hmm.
Do I smell chocolate?
-Oh, that's just Kevin.
-Well, isn't he sweet?
Ha ha ha! [GIGGLE
BETSY (VOICEOVER): After stepping in that chocolate
syrup this morning, I started thinking.
Maybe my mom was right.
There are lots of things that go on all around us every day.
So we should always try to pay attention.
BUS DRIVER BOB: Good morning, Billy!
BILLY: Hi, Bus Driver Bob!
Hi, Betsy!
-Hi, Billy!
Um, Billy, what's that on your head?
-Oh!
These are my shorts!
-Why are you wearing your shorts on your head?
-Uh, I guess I wasn't paying attention
when I got dressed this morning.
BETSY (VOICEOVER): I guess everybody could
stand to pay a little more attention.
MRS. O'CONNOR: Good morning, everyone!
CLASS: Good morning, Mrs. O'Connor!
-Does anyone notice anything different about our classroom
today?
CLASS: [ALL GUESSING AT ONCE]
-Oh!
Oh, oh!
I know, Mrs. O'Connor!
I know!
-OK, Betsy, what do you notice?
-Gingerbread men.
The whole room is decorated with gingerbread men!
-That's right!
I've put gingerbread men decorations
up all over the classroom today.
CLASS: [COMMENTING ON DECORATIONS]
-So I thought I'd start our day off with a story.
This story is called The Gingerbread Boy.
Once upon a time, in a far away land,
there lived a baker and his wife.
One day, they mixed together all their finest ingredients,
including a little bit of magic, and shaped
the mixture into a Gingerbread Boy.
They decorated him with raisins for eyes, a licorice whip
mouth, and a gumdrop for a nose, and popped
him into the oven to bake.
As it baked, the gingerbread smelled so good
that the baker couldn't resist opening
the oven to take a peek.
But when he did, something magical happened!
CLASS: Ooh!
MRS. O'CONNOR: The Gingerbread Boy hopped out of the oven
and began running all around the bakery shop,
shouting, "chase me!
Chase me!
It's what I enjoy.
But you won't catch me.
I'm the Gingerbread Boy!"
The Gingerbread Boy ran down the street, right past a policeman.
[WHISTLE BLOWING]
MRS. O'CONNOR: (IN A GRUFF VOICE) "Come here
and let me eat you," he bellowed.
MRS. O'CONNOR: (NORMAL VOICE) But the Gingerbread Boy only
laughed and said, "chase me, chase me!
It's what I enjoy.
But you won't catch me.
I'm the Gingerbread Boy!"
The policeman then began running after the Gingerbread Boy, too,
followed by the baker and his wife.
Before long, the Gingerbread Boy ran by a schoolhouse.
When all the children smelled the delicious Gingerbread Boy--
CLASS: "Come here and let us eat you!"
-That's right!
Scott, what do you think the Gingerbread Boy said to that?
-"Chase me, chase me!
I'm the Gingerbread Boy!"
-That's right!
You're all certainly paying attention.
With all those people chasing him,
the Gingerbread Boy started to get very tired.
-Aw.
-He needs to find a place to hide.
-Yeah, or some really good running shoes.
-The Gingerbread Boy soon found himself
in a lovely neighborhood, filled with big, beautiful houses.
Looking inside the window of one of the houses,
the Gingerbread Boy saw a beautifully-decorated
gingerbread house on a table, inside the home
of a little girl named Carol Ann.
So he quickly slid himself under the door of the house
and climbed up onto the table, and hid himself
inside the gingerbread house.
All the children, their teacher, the policeman, the baker,
and his wife all came running by.
One little boy said, "I guess he ran away."
It seemed that the Gingerbread Boy had outsmarted everyone.
However, Carol Ann had seen everything, and always
paid attention to things going on around her.
She saw the Gingerbread Boy hide inside her gingerbread house.
Quietly, she crept up to the table
and reached inside the gingerbread house.
The second Carol Ann touched the Gingerbread Boy,
the Gingerbread Boy magically turned back
into what he was always meant to be--
a delicious gingerbread cookie.
The End.
Now, how would everyone like to help me make a gingerbread man
cookie as part of our classroom gingerbread decorations?
CLASS: [CHEERING]
BETSY (VOICEOVER): I love cooking.
And making a Gingerbread Boy sounded like a lot of fun.
-Here comes the molasses!
-Ah!
I just love the smell of cinnamon.
-And these other spices smell good, too.
-That's the ground ginger and nutmeg.
CLASS: Mmm!
-Is this enough flour, Mrs. O'Connor?
-That's perfect, Betsy.
BETSY (VOICEOVER): After the batter was mixed,
Kenji and Scott rolled the dough out on the counter.
Then Mrs. O'Connor took a sharp Kn*fe,
and shaped the cookie dough into a Gingerbread Boy.
-There, that should do it!
Now all we have to do is pop him in the oven and let him bake.
Let's go back to our classroom.
Mrs. Schmidt, the cafeteria lady,
will make sure he doesn't burn.
BETSY (VOICEOVER): Back in the classroom,
we built a gingerbread house out of cardboard.
We were having fun.
Mrs. Schmidt, the cafeteria lady,
came running into our classroom.
-Are you sure?
Children, Mrs. Schmidt was just here,
and she told me that when she opened the oven
to check on our Gingerbread Boy, the Gingerbread
Boy came to life and ran away!
-Well, that's impossible, isn't it?
-The Gingerbread Boy even left a note.
-What does it say, Mrs. O'Connor?
-(IN HIGH VOICE) "I'm the Gingerbread Boy,
and I just want to say, I like Lakeshore school,
and I might like to stay.
Pay close attention!
My next clue will be found where boys
and girls like to monkey around."
-What do you think, Betsy?
-All I do know is that we need to be paying attention
to what's going on around us, so we won't miss the next clue.
CLASS: Yeah.
-What did he write in the last part of the clue he left?
-Um, he said, "my next clue will be
found where boys and girls like to monkey around."
-Well, we play all over the playground.
Where do we look first?
-The monkey bars!
That's where kids like to monkey around.
And there it is!
Our next clue!
-I'll get it!
Here you go, Betsy.
What does it say?
-Hmm.
Too many big words for me.
We need to find a grown-up.
-Oh, look!
There's Principal Warner.
-Good gravy!
Why are you children in such a big hurry?
-We just discovered a note from a missing Gingerbread Boy.
-Is that so?
Where did you find it?
-On the monkey bars.
Would you read it to us?
Please?
-All right.
[CLEARING THROAT] "This place was too drafty.
I did not like its looks.
I think I'll move someplace that has lots of books."
CLASS: The school library!
-Thank you, Principal Warner!
-Shh!
-Excuse me, Miss Monroe. have you seen a Gingerbread Boy?
CLASS: Shh!
-(QUIETLY) Whoops!
Sorry!
-Well, I think I saw a Gingerbread
Boy in the story book section.
-I found another note!
CLASS: Shh!
-(QUIETLY) Whoops!
Sorry!
BILLY: What does it say, Betsy?
-Hmm.
We'd better bring it to Miss Monroe.
-It says, "I don't belong here.
I'm shy as a mouse!
What I'd like to find, is a gingerbread house."
-He's gone to our classroom!
-To the gingerbread house we built!
-What are we waiting for?
Let's go!
CLASS: Shh!
-(QUIETLY) Whoops!
Sorry!
-Thank you, Miss Monroe!
-Oh, you're very welcome!
-(LOUDLY) Bye!
-Shh!
-(QUIETLY) Whoops!
Sorry!
-Did everyone enjoy recess?
-We sure did.
-We were all over the school.
-Following clues.
-Just like detectives.
-Or spies.
-And we think we solved the mystery
of the missing Gingerbread Boy.
-Well, now, where do you think the Gingerbread Boy is hiding?
-Look, cookies!
Lots of Gingerbread Boy cookies.
And one final note.
What does the note say, Mrs. O'Connor?
-It says, (IN HIGH VOICE) "I brought you some cookies,
so eat and enjoy, as I leave this last spot
for each girl and each boy.
Keep both your eyes open, and school will be fun.
I'm the Gingerbread Boy, and now I must run!"
CLASS: [LAUGHING]
MRS. O'CONNOR: Visit the Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures
website, and see how Betsy's getting ready for school,
play games, color pictures, and meet all of Betsy's friends,
at pbskids.org.
BETSY (VOICEOVER): My friends and I love to read.
You can find all kinds of fun and interesting books
to read at your local library.
Visit the library in your town today
to have your own adventures, just like me! [GIGGLES]
MRS. O'CONNOR: Of course, garbage
will have to be taken out by somebody strong.
BILLY (VOICEOVER): When someone gives you a responsibility,
you should always do your very best.
MRS. O'CONNOR: How about Billy?
-All right!
I get to take out the garbage!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[WATER BUBBLING]
[FISH SINGING] Zoink!
CHILDREN: PBS Kids!