Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are important fields of study in any classroom setting. Those who master STEM education find themselves in future careers that include engineering, computer science, environmental science, math, medicine, and beyond. Yet, according to statistics, only 1.8% of Black women hold STEM jobs. Well, a new PBS animated series, Lyla in the Loop is aiming to change that as it focuses on encouraging STEM education by making it simple and fun.
The new series is geared towards children ages four to eight-years-old. Lyla in the Loop follows the adventures of seven-year-old Lyla, her close-knit family, and her friend Stu, as they all find new ways to tackle problem-solving and conflict, while employing creative ways to help fix what life throws at them.
“It’s all about encouraging kids to feel confident in solving problems, taking on challenges that they’re excited about, and knowing how to get to the finish,” series creator Dave Peth told Parents.com in a recent interview about the new series.
“The learning goals are about computational thinking,” Peth continued. “Which is really just an academic sounding word meaning the techniques that engineers and computer scientists and others use to break down problems that seem really complex and solve them piece by piece.”
In the new 14-episode series, some of the adventures that Lyla, et al, will undertake include: Lyla building her own homemade carnival games using repurposed materials; lending a hand on the neighborhood trash and recycling route; making a puppet show that recreates the Jamaican folktale, “Anansi and the Goat”; and helping sister navigate the ethics of creating an art project with the help of Stu.
“Creative problem-solving, working together to come up with solutions to daily challenges, and being a good friend” are all themes that we will explore in the series,” story editor Monique Hall shared in the same interview with Parents.com.
Peth added, “When you empower kids to be a part of that kind of problem-solving that trains them to feel empowered later on when in school and in the workplace. They’ll know how to think through [problems] and work with others to figure it out.”
Click here to learn more about Lyla and her world! Lyla in the Loop is now showing on PBS.
Photo: PBS Kids