Award Abstract # 0104700
"Peep and the Big Wide World:" A Television Science Series for Three to Five Year Olds

NSF Org: DRL
Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
Recipient: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Initial Amendment Date: September 25, 2001
Latest Amendment Date: August 17, 2004
Award Number: 0104700
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Valentine Kass
DRL
 Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
EDU
 Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date: September 1, 2001
End Date: August 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $5,911,050.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $5,911,050.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2001 = $1,474,943.00
FY 2003 = $1,484,046.00

FY 2004 = $2,952,061.00
History of Investigator:
  • Kate Taylor (Principal Investigator)
    kate_taylor@wgbh.org
  • Brigid Sullivan (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: WGBH Educational Foundation
1 GUEST ST
BRIGHTON
MA  US  02135-2016
(617)300-2000
Sponsor Congressional District: 07
Primary Place of Performance: WGBH Educational Foundation
1 GUEST ST
BRIGHTON
MA  US  02135-2016
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): GKSJF1SPLXX9
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): AISL
Primary Program Source: app-0401 
app-0403 

04000405DB NSF Education & Human Resource
Program Reference Code(s): 9177, 9180, SMET
Program Element Code(s): 725900
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.076

ABSTRACT

WGBH is producing and disseminating two seasons of a daily, half-hour television science series and accompanying outreach for three to five year olds. The series will be carried nationally as part of Discovery Television's newly expanded Discovery Kids. The project, "Peep and the Big Wide World," will model a developmentally-appropriate process of inquiry and exploration, nurture young children's innate curiosity, catalyze further hands-on exploration of the world around them, and motivate parents and care-givers to support and encourage these activities. The television programs will combine animation and short, live-action segments. The animation will weave the early childhood science curriculum into stories about three birds and their animal friends as they explore the world. Science content, unifying concepts, and habits of mind will be reinforced through two-minute live-action segments that show kids engaged in science play relating directly to the previous story.

The television series will be supported by a comprehensive "Anywhere Science" outreach component of the project. "Anywhere Science" reinforces the fact that opportunities to experience and enjoy science exist in most facets of life. It will offer a range of activities -- through both web and print materials -- that can be enjoyed by just about anyone, just about anywhere. "Anywhere Science" is being designed to show parents and caregivers how important it is to support children's curiosity and how easy it is to engage in activities that help develop their science "habits of mind." The outreach campaign will be built around the new National Association for the Education of Young Children professional development standards and Head Start's science framework.

The content director for "Peep and the Big Wide World" is Karen Worth, Senior Scientist at the Education Development Center and the Co-Director of the Center for Urban Science Education Reform. She is also the Principal Investigator of "Tool Kits for Early Childhood Science Education" that is developing national standards for preschool science education. The Executive Producer for the project is Kate Taylor who has previously served as Executive Producer for"ZOOM," " Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego," and "Degrassi Junior High." The creator of PEEP and animation artist is Kai Pindal, former Head of Animation at Danish Television. The head writer is Kathy Waugh who has written four seasons of the Emmy winning children's series, "Arthur." Evaluation will be conducted by Rockman et al.

Advisors for the series include Barbara Bowman, President of the Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Development; Diane Levin, Professor of Education at Wheelock College; Tera O'Hora, Consultant and Workshop Facilitator for "Science Beyond the Sandtable;" Kathy Paget, an early childhood educator working as a science curriculum developer and evaluator of science-related educational projects at the Technical Education Research Center; Diane Whitehead, a Quality Initiative Coordinator for the National Head Start Association; and Elizabeth Young, Director of Head Start Child Care in Cambridge, MA.

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