"George Washington's Workshop" (History Channel, 8-9 p.m. E/P) George Washington, the soldier and politician, was also one of North America's wealthiest men and a remarkable entrepreneur. Here's a look at what he did at Mount Vernon, his country estate. You'll learn many fascinating and little-known aspects of America's 'Father Of The Country' though interviews with experts, original and archival materials and on-location demonstrations of his agricultural, manufacturing and commercial activities. There's a related website about the new archaeology dig at Mount Vernon, which turned up details about how Washington made money distilling and selling whiskey. http://www.archaeology.org/interactive/mtvernon/

Saturday, February 14

"Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks" (HBO-East 12:15-1:15 p.m. ET, HBO-West 3:13-4:15 p.m. PT -- check your local listings) This Oscar-nominated documentary revisits a pivotal moment in American history: the Montgomery bus boycott which was ignited by one African-American woman's courage. In 1955, Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a public bus to a white person launched the Civil Rights Movement by testing the endurance of peaceful protesters and overturning an unjust law. It created a legacy that continues to inspire those who fight for freedom and justice today. More information at www.tolerance.org. This program repeats on Thursday, February 19 on HBO-East 6:30 p.m. ET, and HBO-West 9:30 p.m. PT.

Sunday, February 15

"60 Minutes" (CBS, 7-8 p.m. E/P) The lead story in this newsmagazine is about nuclear security. Even after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, protection is inadequate at some of the facilities that house America's nuclear weapons and the deadly material used to make them. The second story is about a maverick billionaire computer, internet and sports entrepreneur, Mark Cuban. Finally, there's a feature on the arts about Philobolus -- a dance troupe famous for acrobatics, body contortions and other unusual movements.

"Nick News: The Legacy of Slavery" (Nickelodeon Channel 8:30-9:30 p.m. E/P) Even though slavery in the U.S. ended well over a hundred years ago, it remains one of the hardest things for people to talk about openly and honestly. The topic can bring up strong emotions of anger, shame and sorrow -- indications that slavery and its legacy continue to affect people today. In this Nick News Special, host Linda Ellerbee and her guest Dr. Cornel West listen to kids' opinions on how slavery continues to influence race relations and personal relations in kids' lives. The program will begin by presenting historical facts -- including information that half of those in bondage in the past were under 16 years of age.

"Iron Jawed Angels" (HBO, 9:30-11:30 p.m. E/P) This movie about how women won the right to vote in U.S. elections is rated PG-14. I mention this because you should consult with your parents before watching. The fight for women was rough at times, and the movie is emotionally strong. It focuses on two real women, Alice Paul (played by Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O'Connor). These activists broke from the mainstream women's-rights movement and created a more radical wing. They had different personalities and backgrounds -- one a Quaker and the other an Irish Brooklynite. They clashed with older, conservative activists and battle public opinion, not to mention the most powerful men in the country, including President Woodrow Wilson. The two women were thrown in jail, and their ensuing hunger strike made headline news. The women's resistance to being force-fed earned them the nickname "The Iron Jawed Angels" There is a very complete website about all this at http://www.hbo.com/films/ironjawedangels/.

Monday, February 16

"Tomb Raiders: Robbing The Dead" (History Channel, 9-10 p.m. E/P) The title of this program is provocative, so you're probably interested in viewing it -- but I want to warn you that it's not about Lara Croft, nor is it about fictional characters like Indiana Jones. It's about business. A grisly business. Tomb raiders have been digging for as long as man has buried the dead. The program follows these robber's paths deep within Egypt's pyramids to witness evidence left by ancient looters. Prowling Jerusalem's dark alleyways, it probes the black market antiquities trade and introduces a tomb thief who reveals his motives and methods. At auction houses in London and New York, you will learn smugglers' secrets and back in Egypt, ride along with the antiquities police. TV PG

Tuesday, February 17

"Slave Ship Uncovered!" (History Channel, 8-9 p.m. E/P) In July 1700, The Henrietta Marie, a ship heading home after selling its cargo slaves of to European plantation owners in the Americas met disaster off Florida's coast. Historians believe a hurricane drove her into a reef. In recent decades the remains of the ship were found and divers recovered a portion of the hull and artifacts. In the summer of 2003, cameras followed underwater researchers scouring the waters off Key West, determined to find the rest of the ship. The program includes computer-generated reconstruction of the ship's last moments. TV-PG.

"NOVA: Crash of Flight 111" (PBS, 8-9 p.m. E/P) On September 2, 1998, Swissair Flight 111 plummeted into the sea off Nova Scotia while en route from New York to Geneva. All 229 people on board died. In May of 2003, Canada's Transportation Safety Board published its final conclusions from an investigation that took more than four years and cost $30 million. This program covers the story of one of the most baffling and intricate aviation investigations ever mounted. At the companion Web site, http://pbs.org/nova/aircrash, you can take an interactive tour of a passenger jet; explore miles of electrical wires, complex ventilation ducts and awesome fuel supplies. And learn what steps were taken following major commercial aviation disasters to correct the design of airplanes or the policies that govern their operation.

"Slackers" (Animal Planet Channel, 8-9 p.m. E/P) This program in the Animal Channel's "Beastly Planet" series is about animals who get away with spending most of their time doing nothing. Or if they do something at all they do it very slowly -- yet they still manage to eat, multiply and defend themselves. I do not recommend them as a role model, although it's interesting to know about the lifestyles of sloths, snails, alligators and lions. Did you know that lions, actually sleep 90 percent of the time.

Wednesday, February 18

"Decoration Day" (Hallmark Channel, 9-11 p.m. E/P) Repayment of a debt of honor becomes a means to long-earned freedom in this Golden Globe-winning movie. A judge (James Garner) has retired from the bench and pretty much from life when he is asked to help a boyhood friend (Bill Cobbs), who has refused the government's belated attempt to award him the Medal of Honor. Delving deeper, the judge is confronted with his friend's bitterness about WWII and certain incidents he and his friend have maintained a silence about for decades. The characters in the story are not kids, as is often the case with movies about racial tolerance, but very mature adults who have had a lifetime of dealing with prejudice TV rated PG. For students whose teachers have given class assignments to study "To Kill a Mockingbird," this new movie might be something to tape and bring to class. There's a lot of history in it about racism in America.

Thursday, February 19

"Frontline: Tax Me If You Can" (PBS, 9-10 p.m. E/P) If you're good at math or have been thinking about becoming a computer hacker, you might have what it takes to follow this behind-the scenes report about secret deals in the accounting business. Tax shelters have become so lucrative over the past 50 years that the corporate tax rate has fallen to half its average, losing the American government $180 billion a year. And ordinary taxpayers are footing the bill. This program reveals how big corporations and wealthy individuals cut their taxes with intricate, hidden, and abusive tax shelters and investigates the role of blue chip accounting firms in these secret deals. More details at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/.

Friday, February 20

"Skywalkers" (History Channel, 4-5 p.m. E/P) This is not a movie with characters from "Star Wars," but rather a program about workers who tread narrow steel beams hundreds of feet in the air to raise skyscrapers and bridges. Theirs is a peril-filled world where one wrong step can prove their last. The program reviews the greatest and deadliest construction jobs of the past, and explores what the future holds for these tenacious workers. Many are Mohawk Indian ironworkers, whose legend was forged in the collapse of the Quebec Bridge (which claimed 33 of their tribe). TV-PG.

"Dateline NBC: The Final Days of Jesus" (NBC, 9-10 p.m. E/P) This is a special documentary episode of NBC's regular Friday newsmagazine. The topic is an event which took place nearly 2000 years ago and caused the founding of a religion that has transformed millions of lives. Evidence from those final days is scarce, limited to the books of the Christian gospel and writings by ancient historians. The accounts of what happened there have caused great debate throughout history. The report examines what forces triggered Jesus's death and who was responsible. NBC reporters traveled to Jerusalem to interview prominent Jesus scholars about the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus and its ultimate results.