Sesame Street

　Sesame Street is a popular educational program.// It teaches children/literacy and other lessons.// It is now offered online/as well as on TV.//
　The program is famous/for its colorful characters.// Cookie Monster loves to eat everything,/especially cookies.// Big Bird is very kind/and tall.// Ernie always asks his friend, Bert,/silly questions.// Children see each character/play a unique role/in the program.//
　Sesame Street is shown/in about 160 countries,/and some characters are different/from country to country.// For example,/in South Africa,/you can see Moshe,/a meerkat.// He likes dancing/and growing vegetables.// Another example is Lily/in China.// She is a tiger/that likes martial arts.// Children around the world/enjoy their own versions/of Sesame Street.//


　Sesame Street creates new characters/from time to time.// Many of them reflect/what is happening in the world.//
　In 2013,/viewers saw a new character/introduced in the US.// The character’s name is Alex.// His father is in jail.// Alex does not like/to talk about him.// Alex’s friends understand his feelings/and tell him/that he is not alone.// They make him/feel supported.//
　In 2019,/Karli was introduced.// She lives with her foster parents/because her birth mother/cannot care for her.// Karli is having a hard time,/but her loving foster parents/take care of her.//
　Both Alex and Karli/represent children/facing challenges.// Through these characters,/the viewers learn about current social problems.// They also realize/that all children have the right/to feel safe and loved.//


　Sesame Street also has episodes/about people with disabilities.// For example,/a character named Sivan/appears in the Israeli version.// Sivan is a girl/who uses a wheelchair.// She sometimes has her wheelchair/pushed by her friends.// At other times,/she offers a hand to others/as much as she can.//
　Sesame Street challenges traditional gender roles/as well.// The Indian version has some episodes/where male characters cook voluntarily.// In other episodes,/female characters play soccer skillfully/or do math well.//
　Through episodes like these,/children understand/how to get along with people/with various disabilities.// They also have a chance/to reconsider gender stereotypes/in society.//


　Why does Sesame Street focus on social issues?// The answer is related to US history.// Sesame Street started in the US/in 1969.// At that time,/the civil rights movement/was taking place.// People were fighting to gain equal rights/for all races.//
　On Sesame Street,/humans and monsters/of various shapes,/sizes,/colors,/and personalities/live together.// Their diversity shows a world/where different people/live in harmony.// Through these characters,/children learn/how to get along in society.// The characters also help children/develop their inclusive views/on people around the world.//
　Creating a society like Sesame Street/is still a work/in progress.// The program continues to send important messages/to the world:/diversity,/equity,/and inclusion.//