What to watch: Elinor Wonders Why
Where to find it: PBS KIDS app or website
Run time: Each episode consists of two 12-minute segments
Best for ages: 4+
Why We Recommend Elinor Wonders Why
In September, PBS Kids debuted their new animated series, Elinor Wonders Why. It's hard to put into words how much I love this show... it is a STEM dream come true! At the beginning of each episode, Elinor's curiosity is sparked by something she has observed. So she and her friends Ari, a bat, and Olive, an elephant, use their investigative skills to test theories and arrive at a conclusion. It's such a great way to help kids learn how to develop problem-solving and experimentation skills. I also love that the show features so many science-based lessons about nature. As with many kid's shows, I have even learned a thing or two from watching Elinor Wonders Why.
You can find Elinor Wonders Why airing every day on PBS. Episodes can also be viewed on PBSKIDS.org and the PBS KIDS app. In our house, my four-year-old daughter, Everly, watches it on the PBS KIDS Roku app.
STEM Activity - Math with Fall Leaves
This activity is inspired by the episode "Leave It to Ari" (episode 11). After watching Elinor and her friends rake leaves and uncover the answer to their question (what happens to the leaves in the forest that nobody rakes) we were ready to get our hands a little dirty.
Estimated activity time: 15 minutes
Materials needed:
Math Activity with Leaves free printable (see below)
Red, orange, and/or yellow paint
Cotton swab (optional)
Step 1: Provide your child with red, yellow, and orange paint for their fall leaves.
Step 2: In the first box, point out the top number to your child, and tell them to paint that number of leaves on the branches of the tree. They can use their finger to apply the paint or a cotton swab.
Step 3: Next, point out the number in the bottom of the box, and instruct them to paint that number of leaves on the ground.
Step 4: Ask them to count how many total leaves are in the box, adding the number of leaves on the ground to the number of leaves on the branches.
Step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 for each box, reinforcing that each time you take away one leaf from the branches, it adds to the number of leaves on the ground, and yet the total number of leaves in each box always stays the same.
After watching educational shows, I like to reinforce the lesson with Everly by asking her questions to foster a discussion about what she saw. Here are a few bullets that can apply to any episode of Elinor Wonders Why:
What was Elinor curious about?
How did she and her friends try to find the answer?
What did they do when they didn't find the answer right away?
What was the answer they found?
Is there anything you can think of that you are curious about?
Can you think of how you might be able to explore this?
Share the fun you are having with us on Social Media! Tag us @curiouscouchpotatoes when you try any of our activities.
Jeanette's Educational Insights:
One of the lessons often missed in science class is that it's OK to be wrong! So many scientific discoveries were the result of a hypothesis gone wrong. So as you seed your child's curiosity, allow them to 1. be curious! (initial question) 2. Let their imagination and prior knowledge help them create possibilities (hypothesis). 3. Decide an avenue to discover the truth (experiment). 4. Was your possible answer to your question on target? If so, what did you learn? More importantly, if not what did you learn? This is obviously an abbreviation of the Scientific Method, but nurturing this process of discovery helps build a scientific mind!