Fun Freetime: SciGirls

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

SciGirls  is a great PBS show that really emphasizes girls in STEM (science/technology/engineering/math). The third season started this month and focuses on citizen science - engaging the general public in data recording and observations, multiplying the amount of data that can be collected and increasing the accuracy of observations and predictions.

The show targets girls 9-13, but has enough science interest that boys can learn from the show as well. Every episode I've seen includes a diverse group of girls and scientific professionals, allowing kids fro many different backgrounds to see a role model that "looks like them." Izzie and Jake, recurring cartoon characters, jump in here and there, and are the focus of the games and activities on the accompanying website.

The show has gotten positive reviews from newspapers and magazines, and my daughter loves it. I enjoy letting her play the games on the kid-friendly (but not childish) website, and she loves the scientific discoveries. Her favorite episode is the one that took place in Minneapolis at locations where she had been before, and after every episode she sees, she tries to recreate the experiments, allowing for even more creativity and discovery. As a math teacher who also has a strong science background, it's awesome to see her so energized about discovery.

Check your local listings or the website to watch episodes of this great discover-based show!

The SciGirls creative team is headed by Twin Cities Public Television’s Director of Science Content Richard Hudson, Executive Producer of the long-running PBS children’s science series Newton's Apple and creator of DragonflyTV and the SciGirls initiative. Animation is created by Soup2Nuts, producers of PBS’ WordGirl.

Gaming and mobile website is developed by Curious Media. SciGirls is made possible by a major grant from the National Science Foundation. Additional funding is provided by INFOR, Northrop Grumman Foundation, and PPG Industries Foundation.

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ABOUT TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION (TPT)
The mission of TPT is to “enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media.” As one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, TPT uses television, interactive media and community engagement to advance education, culture and citizenship. Over its 50 plus year history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmys.
 
Based in St. Paul, MN, TPT is one of the highest rated PBS affiliates in the nation, reaching over 1.3 million people each month through multiple broadcast and online channels. The organization's particular areas of focus include: the educational readiness of children; serving the needs and unleashing the potential of America's aging population; engaging a new generation in the power of public media; and being the preferred media partner for organizations that align with our mission to enrich lives and strengthen community. For more information, visit TPT online, follow TPT on Facebook and Twitter

Watch SciGirls on pbskids.org, follow SciGirls on Facebook and @SciGirls on Twitter.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports education and research across all fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  In addition to providing major support for SciGirls, the NSF supports other science and math programs on PBS and pbskids.org, including DragonflyTV, Peg + Cat, Design Squad Nation and Plum Landing.  Visit here for more information on NSF activities.