Did you happen to notice last two months that PBS Kids and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) partnered together to create special Earth Day-themed episodes of popular TV shows? While all of the special episodes have already aired, you can still check out the activities that go along with them online. This should provide some fun for you and your child this coming summer. After all, there’s no better way to start off the spring and summer than with exploring the great outdoors!
The specially themed episodes were aimed at inspiring children and their families to go outdoors and explore science and nature.Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President of Children’s Media at PBS, said, “Outdoor play and exploration is an essential part of every child’s life, and is one of the best ways to inspire kids to learn about the world around them.” The partnership involved new episodes, activities, and content which was featured online.
Thankfully, the fun didn’t end when Earth Day was over. You can still access all of the great activity ideas online. The activities include a Wild Kratts Wildlife Journal activity that instructs your child in making their own journal. It then suggests kids draw animals or insects that they find in nature. Another activity is a Seek and Find sheet. Children circle the 15 animals hidden in the sheet.
Wild Kratts is a show that was developed to help interest kids in science. Kids in America have generally shown a lack of interest and engagement with science as compared to children on an international level. The show targets 6-8 year olds and helps to build on their natural interest in animals.
The show intentionally has a diverse cast of characters to reach a magnitude of audiences to further help a greater variety of children engage in the show. The Kratt Brothers love to research and explore the world around them. They present their research in a fun and exciting way. Whether it’s revealing clips from whales that dwell in the deep sea or discovering why earthworms come out of the ground when it rains, count on these gents to stir your interest in the wild and unknown!
The National Science Education Standards (NSES) lays out the curriculum standards for science content. It is especially important for this age group to discover the scientific method, which includes asking questions, forming a hypothesis, making observations, and presenting results. This inquiry-based approach is a central part of the story and the Kratt Brothers model it in each and every episode. The Kratt Brothers also use this model to succeed, while the unsuccessful villains do not. This inherently shows children how valuable it is to use critical thinking skills and the inquiry-based method not only in science, but also in life.
The Wild Kratts, also known as the Kratt brothers, or Chris and Martin Kratt, are really awesome. They love studying and hanging out with animals. To better understand the animals the brothers have their friend, Aviva, make animal suits from the animals DNA. This allows the brothers to be closer to the animals and experience everything that the animals experience. For instance, to better understand flight patterns of Monarch butterflies, the Kratt brothers take Aviva for a ride in their Butterfly Adventure Vehicle to see the butterflies fly all the way to Mexico from the Great Lakes region. How cool is that gig?
The Kratts do have some villains, however. Chef Gaston Gourmand is one of them. The Chef likes to cook delicious dishes out of the variety of animals that the Kratt brothers enjoy studying. Not too cool for a chef. In fact, the Chef lost his license because many of the animals that he cooked were endangered species. However, the Kratt brothers do a great job of fending off the animals away from this evil villain.
If your child is into adventure and animals, this is definitely the show for him or her to watch. Not to mention, if they are a devout fan, you may wanna pick up a little gift for him or her. Like character backpacks that you can personalize, a tote bag, or birthday invite. You never know, your child just may be the coolest kid at school!