The backstory – our children, Harry (6) and Freya (4) both enjoy being in charge of the tv remote. TV has become very much on demand viewing with both children preferring to watch their recorded shows (series link offers hours of viewing) or their preferred channels.
Now we have a “smart” tv connected to our wifi, the custodian of the tv remote has become self-appointed ruler of the virtual world too. Youtube is the search device of choice, predominantly via the on-screen keyboard or via video association. Occasionally Freya will mirror her Galaxy Tab, supercharging her search using Google Voice but that takes “effort” and her Galaxy Tab to be charged and accessible.
If Harry is not watching Minecraft howtos with Stampycat then they are browsing Youtube by association. Recently, we joined Amazon Prime making available a whole host on of on-demand content. With the Amazon icon adjacent to to Youtube icon, our two bounce between these two content eco-systems, mainly on the tv but also on a range of connected devices, picking up where ever they left off (resume and play from beginning)… finding their way to original Amazon pilot series Annedroids.
Annedroids is a science-based action-adventure series for 6-9 year olds. It tells the story of genius scientist Anne, her friends Nick, Shania, and her android creations; Hand, Eyes and Pal “as they embark on the biggest experiment of them all: growing up.” The series celebrates the STEM subjects, teamwork and collaboration, whilst gently tackling a range of social issues most children encounter in their lives. In particular, it is good to see that the junkyard team learn as much from their failures as their successes, and see the failures as opportunities to try new
things. Bravo Sinking Ship Entertainment.
Our two have now watched, re-watched and re-watched both seasons and they continue to re-watch episodes. Slowly and very surely they are learning about a range of STEM topics, adopting a real curiosity for scientific inquiry and technological problem-solving.
So what has Seasons 1 and 2 of the show covered so far:
Science:
Forces and Interactions: Pushes and Pulls
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
Waves: Light and Sound
Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles
Structure and Properties of Matter, again in Season 2.
Ecosystems
Forces and Interactions
Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Trait – which led to a trip to the library and loan on evolution.
Weather and Climate
Energy
Waves: Waves and Information
Processes that Shape the Earth
Space Systems: Stars and the Solar System
Learning apptitudes and skills
Curiosity, determination, empathy, perseverance, resourcefulness, tolerance. The skills set exemplified: Critical and creative thinking, collaboration and team-work, communication, information gathering, decision-making and problem-solving. There is a healthy scientific vocabulary and counter-stereotypical role-modelling which Freya has certainly picked up upon.
Social skills
The diversity of families and the honest, realistic portrayal of family interactions provide another learning opportunity for our two. It would appear that this is a very deliberate focus for the production team at Sinking Ship Entertainment.
To summarise, highly recommended, five stars. At 23 minutes per episode, a powerful lesson resource. Dare I say it, a teacher most pupils can relate to. Bravo Amazon and Sinking Ship Entertainment on so many educational and social levels.
Annedroids has the power to inspire young viewers through exposure to positive role models in science, technology, engineering and the environment while providing great opportunities for viewers to see the processes of science and technology in action. By following the adventures of Anne and her friends, children will see how science and technology ‘work,’ while also learning that being a scientist can be interesting and cool and something they can be themselves.
https://youtu.be/lkvKxHqkxSI
Sinking Ship Entertainment is an Emmy nominated, award-winning production and interactive company that creates and produces groundbreaking kids TV and transmedia content.
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