PBS Kids teaches at Hero Elementary

PBS Kids in the US has ordered a series set in a school for budding superheroes, where kids learn to master their innate powers while exploring science along the way.

Hero Elementary

Hero Elementary (40×30′) will premiere in the summer of 2020 and is coproduced by Twin Cities PBS and Portfolio Entertainment.

The series aims to give children aged four-to-seven the tools to solve problems by thinking and acting like scientists and igniting their natural curiosity and empathy.

“Hero Elementary is the perfect show to teach children the power of STEM skills. The science and empathy-driven curriculum weaves seamlessly into the heroic adventures of these superhero kids, making the series fun and engaging,” said Linda Simensky, recently appointed head of PBS Kids content.

It is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the US Department of Education. The Ready To Learn initiative is a federal program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families.

In related news, PBS will bring the first nationally distributed children’s series in the US to feature a Native American lead character to MipJunior later this month.

Molly of Denali is an action-adventure comedy that follows the adventures of feisty and resourceful 10-year-old Alaska Native girl.

Each episode, produced by WGBH Boston, includes two 11-minute stories as well as interstitial content, including live-action segments featuring real children and regions in Alaska.