Ep 1. Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West

As a language and literacy show for young children, Between the Lions' first episode aims to entertain and educate children. The episode titled "Pecos Bill Cleans up the West" sets the tone for the rest of the series by focusing on phonemic awareness and oral language development.

The show begins with the Lion family, Theo, Cleo, Lionel and Leona, excitedly gathering to watch a new show on television. The show that they are eagerly anticipating is called "Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West," a classic American western tale. However, they soon realize that the television is not working properly and decides to read the book version of the story.

As the story unfolds, the viewers are taken on an adventure with Pecos Bill as he saves the "wild west" from a variety of creatures that are causing chaos. Pecos Bill uses his cowboy skills to thwart the villains and bring peace to the land. The narrative is interactive, and viewers are encouraged to participate by saying words aloud, such as "horse," "hat," and "hero," that are prompted on the screen.

Throughout the story, the Lion family highlights specific phonemes and phoneme blends in the words, providing young viewers with opportunities to recognize and understand these important parts of language. For example, when Pecos Bill tells his horse to "whoa" while chasing a runaway train, Cleo explains to Lionel and Leona that the "oa" sound is called a diphthong. In another scene, Pecos Bill says that the "west" is wild, prompting Theo to ask the viewers what sound is at the end of the word "west." These moments of phonemic awareness and word recognition prepare children for reading and writing.

In addition to phonemic awareness, Between the Lions also focuses on oral language development. Children learn new vocabulary, such as "lariat," "corrals," and "cactus," which they can use in their own conversations. During one of the story's action sequences, Theo asks, "Do you see what Pecos Bill is doing?" and proceeds to explain the meaning of the phrase "on the double." By modeling and explaining language that might be unfamiliar to young children, the show assists in expanding a child's vocabulary and helps them to understand important concepts.

As the story concludes, the Lion family returns to watching the television, only to find that it is still not working. But instead of being disappointed, they realize they prefer reading the storybook version because it allowed them to use their imagination and engage with the story in a unique way. The episode ends with the Lion family reading another storybook, and viewers are left with the lesson that reading can be just as fun as watching television.

Overall, "Pecos Bill Cleans Up the West" sets the tone for what viewers can expect from future episodes of Between the Lions. The show provides children with an educational experience that is both entertaining and interactive. By integrating phonemic awareness and vocabulary development into a fun, adventure-filled story, the show creates an exciting learning environment that encourages children to engage with reading and literacy.