The multiple Emmy-winning math and environmental literacy series Cyberchase returns for a new season.
Targeted at kids ages six-eight, the series will begin on Friday, 21 April during “PBS KIDS Family Night” at 7 pm ET and stream free on PBS KIDS in honour of Earth Day (22 April). Season 14 will feature four fresh environment-themed adventures and free interactive STEM resources for families, all available in English and Spanish.
The action-packed new episodes find the intrepid heroes – Jackie, Matt, Inez, and Digit – exploring timely environmental topics – recycling and trash cleanup, tree planting, weather and climate – using their math and problem-solving skills. The new season premieres with “Clean-Up on Isle 8,” where Inez grapples with giving her beloved stuffie heirloom to her little brother León while Delete corrals the CyberSquad into helping him clean up the lake. In “Trees, Please,” viewers will meet Inez’s Colombian and Mexican American family and discover how reimagining a community courtyard unites their family. Then, “Weather or Not,” a special one-hour Earth Day “movie,” will introduce Jackie’s Jamaican American family on Earth, as the CyberSquad tackles an odd haze threatening Stellandia. The young characters explore positive solutions to environmental problems – sending viewers the message that taking small actions can lead to big solutions. Each episode will also include live-action “Cyberchase: For Real” epilogues that link the math and environmental concepts shown in the animation to the real world.
With a grant from the National Science Foundation, season 14 of the series also focuses on reaching low-income and Latino communities with Cyberchase Mobile Adventures in STEM, a free, national bilingual family texting program. Families who sign up will receive weekly text messages in English or Spanish with links to Cyberchase media and a choice of two related hands-on STEM activities to complete together. As part of the grant, Education Development Center is conducting formative and summative research with families and kids around the country on the appeal and effectiveness of the show’s episodes and family resources.
Cyberchase executive producer and The WNET Group kids’ media & education Sandra Sheppard said, “Our Cyberchase work is grounded in reaching kids and families across the country. This season, we continued that work by bringing on writers and advisors to further reflect the diversity of stories we’re telling. Through introducing viewers to the families of Jackie and Inez, we’re excited to celebrate their unique backgrounds and cultural heritage while also sharing opportunities for joyful STEM learning with both English and Spanish-speaking families nationwide.”
In fall 2023, the series will debut a new digital-exclusive shorts series, The Belly Bowl. In this serialised story, the CyberSquad will trek through the snowy landscape of Penguia to track down a device the dastardly Hacker has hidden while trying to make it back in time for their penguin friend’s racing championship. Along the way, they find innovative ways to use different forms of renewable energy—solar, wind, wave, and kinetic energy from gravity—to save the day.
Cyberchase also reaches kids, parents, caregivers, and teachers through interactive learning games, classroom and bilingual family activities, apps, text messaging, and community outreach. The series offers digital games for children with a wide range of abilities, including Cyber Fashion Challenge, in which children use math skills to create fun upcycled clothing designs.
The show is produced by The WNET Group. Sandra Sheppard is the executive producer and Melinda Toporoff is the co-executive producer.