Alive and Kicking: Series 3 (1983)
Series 3 (1983) of the ITV Schools series Alive and Kicking was broadcast in the 1980s, covering PSHE for primary school pupils.
The third and final series of Alive and Kicking provides stories, drama, animation and activities to supplement the topics introduced in the second series from 1980, which continued to be repeated alongside it.
These new episodes were interleaved with the existing episodes from 1980, so that the original episode on Moving was shown in the first week, followed by the new complementary episode on Moving Again in the following week, and so on. This third series includes one new episode of the "original" type, showing children's experiences of Caring and Sharing, a topic revisited from many other episodes. With this addition the Alive and Kicking series offered 18 episodes per year across the spring and summer terms, covering 9 broad topics.
The presenter Rachel James appears in a colourful studio, or out on location, talking about the topic and taking part in little drama scenes with children and other adults. Sometimes she reads a relevant story.
Throughout each episode an animated, blob-like character appears in short, silent cartoon sequences demonstrating the topic of the episode, for example in the episode about Caring and Sharing they have donuts which they share with their friends. The character was not named on-screen, but was named Aak by the production team, based on the initials of the series Alive and Kicking, and this description appeared in the teacher's notes.
Titles & Theme Music
The same title sequence used for the 1980 episodes is shown, with children playing in the playground and sound of them singing "Hokey Cokey". The titles cut to an animation of Aak and friends illustrating the theme of the week, before the episode title is shown.
Episode List
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Moving Again | 18 Jan 1983 |
| 2. | Growing Again | 1 Feb 1983 |
| 3. | Looking After Young Again | 15 Feb 1983 |
| 4. | More Feelings | 8 Mar 1983 |
| 5. | Keeping Safe Again | 22 Mar 1983 |
| 6. | More Homes and Families | 3 May 1983 |
| 7. | His and Hers Again | 17 May 1983 |
| 8. | More Waste? | 7 Jun 1983 |
| 9. | Caring and Sharing | 14 Jun 1983 |
| 10. | More Caring and Sharing | 21 Jun 1983 |
Broadcasts
| Year | Term | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Channel | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-83 | Spring & Summer 1983 | Tuesday, 10:04am | Friday, 10:15am | ITV | ||||
| 1983-84 | Spring & Summer 1984 | Wednesday, 9:47am | Thursday, 10:11am | ITV | ||||
| 1984-85 | Spring & Summer 1985 | Tuesday, 9:59am | Thursday, 11:14am | ITV |
In all cases the series 2 and series 3 episodes are shown in pairs, series 2 the first week then series 3 the next.
Credits
| Presenter | Rachel James |
| With | Mick Wall Tony Armatrading |
| Graphics | John Hunt |
| Designer | John Lageu |
| Consultants | Kathleen Edwardes Susan Humphries |
| Director | John Prowse |
| Producer | Graham Sellors |
Resources
As usual there were teacher's notes available each year.
The animated character Aak appears on the front of each set of notes.
Topics
School topics covered in this programme. Click to find other programmes covering the same topics, but bear in mind topics are a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
Keyword tags
Some features of this programme. Click to find other programmes with the same features, but bear in mind tags are also a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
(these appear surprisingly often for a series made in the 1980s, including a rag-and-bone man's wagon, a gypsy caravan and a horse and cart in the final episode)
More
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More Programmes
Some random programmes for age 5-7 from the 1980s
| See for Yourself (radio) | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1983-1994 | |
| Science |
| Cruinn Comhla | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1982-1990 | |
| Miscellany |
| The Friday Serial | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1988-1990 | |
| English |
| Let's Make a Story | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1986-2012 | |
| English |