Four new episodes of Sid the Science Kid are arriving in mid-April to celebrate Earth Day.
The new episodes of the series, which is produced by The Jim Henson Co. and KCET/Los Angeles and airs on PBS Kids!, will each cover a different science theme.
Henson describes the episodes as follows:
- “Where Did The Water Go?” (“What happens to water that goes down the drain?”). Premieres April 18. While brushing his teeth, Sid wonders what happens to all the dirty water when it goes down the drain. At The Science Center, Sid and his friends explore how water travels in and out of our homes through pipes. And here’s something Sid and his friends never realized: there’s lots of water in the world, but you can’t drink it all! We can only use fresh water, and there aren’t a lot of fresh water sources in the world. That’s why it’s important not to waste water!
- “Clean Air!” (“Why does Sid’s Dad wear a mask when he paints?”). Premieres April 19 and repeats on Earth Day, April 22. Sid the roving reporter is investigating something strange in his backyard–his Dad is wearing a mask while painting. Sid discovers that his Dad is protecting his face so he doesn’t breathe in the dirty fumes. At school, Sid and his friends discover that people and animals on Earth need to breathe clean air, and when we pollute the air around us, it affects the air that everyone breathes. The kids also discover that trees have a really important role in keeping our air clean!
- “Reused Robot” (“Where does trash go when we throw it away?”). Premieres April 20. Sid’s toy robot is broken, so he wants to throw it “away.” Sid’s Mom tells him there is no such thing as “away,” and when we put something in the trash, we are actually creating waste. Sid and his friends explore the idea that everything we throw away goes somewhere. This leads to an investigation of how to recycle and reuse items so that we make less trash.
- “Save The Stump” (“Can an old stump be a home for tiny creatures?”). Premieres April 21. Sid is super excited because his Dad is clearing out space in the yard for a basketball court! While Sid and Dad are surveying the land, Sid notices a big stump teeming with little creatures! During a special field trip to The Science Center, Sid and his friends discover that there are animal habitats all around us, even in old stumps, and if one habitat is destroyed, all of the other habitats and animals are affected.
Additionally, the show’s website (pbskids.org/sid) will be revised to feature an all-new home page that is revised weekly. There also are resources including blogs for parents and teachers at pbsparents.org and pbsteachers.org.