PBS Prepares Youths Now for the Year 2035, When the Planet Will Need Help

Just in time for Earth Day comes this news flash: By the year 2035, the Earth’s population of 5 billion will double. 3-2-1 Contact Extra: A Popular Little Planet warns of how that huge number of people will wreak havoc on our fragile ecosystem. The kids’ special demonstrates the population explosion via an ever-expanding number of Ping-Pong balls. The show also shows how quickly we are using available resources such as food, air, water and space.

If that sounds depressing, a second show, “Get Busy: How Kids Can Save the Planet” suggests steps young people can take to do the right thing. For 8- to 12-year-olds.

“3-2-1 Contact Extra: A Popular Little Planet,” Sunday 2-2:30 p.m. KLCS and 7-7:30 p.m. KCET .

“Get Busy: How Kids Can Save the Planet,” Sunday 2:30-3 p.m. KLCS and 7:30-8 p.m. KCET. For 8- to 12-year-olds.

MORE KIDS’ SHOWS

An animated episode of Long Ago & Far Away (Sunday 9-9:30 a.m. KCET) tells the story of the mythological winged horse Pegasus. For 2- to 9-year-olds.

The second installment of Nick News: W5 (Sunday 6:30-7 p.m., Monday 6-6:30 p.m. and Wednesday 7-7:30 p.m.), Linda Ellerbee’s news series for kids, airs. For 6- to 12-year-olds.

Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton star in Batman (Wednesday 8-10:45 p.m. CBS), the 1989 blockbuster about the caped crusader and his archrival, the Joker. For ages 7 and up.

Brenda and Dylan head south of the border for a romantic weekend in Mexico on Beverly Hills, 90210 (Thursday 9-10 p.m. Fox). Meanwhile, Kelly finds love with a twentysomething construction worker. For ages 12 and up.

The special Mother’s Day Under the Umbrella Tree (Friday 11:30 a.m.-noon Disney Channel) features characters from the puppet and live-action show for preschoolers. For 2- to 6-year-olds.

Young scientists share their award-winning experiments in an episode of KTV (Saturday 6-6:30 a.m. KNBC), which also discusses the pros and cons of animal dissection in science classes, and looks at a natural history museum’s dinosaur bone lab. For 7- to 12-year-olds.

An ABC Weekend Special “The Kingdom Chums: Original Top Ten” (Saturday 11 a.m.-noon ABC) uses inspirational music in a story in which three kids seek the “original Top 10”--songs that illustrate the Ten Commandments. Debby Boone, Marilyn McCoo, Tony Orlando, Billy Preston and Frankie Valli provide the voices and the music. For 2- to 11-year-olds.

A segment on Fight Back! (Saturday 4:30-5 p.m. KNBC) looks at the safety of school bus seat belts. For parents.

Fred Savage (“The Wonder Years”) stars in the 1989 comedy Little Monsters (Saturday 8-10 p.m. ABC), about a boy who befriends the creature living under his bed. For ages 9 and up.