Bottom line:: Sid the Science Kid: The Movie takes preschoolers on a slowly paced science adventure that emphasizes scientific discovery and teamwork.
Rating: TV-Y
Genre: Animated/Children's educational
Guide Age Recommendation: 2+
Runtime: 75 minutes
*Airs on PBS KIDS March 25, 2013. DVD release date April 2, 2013
 

Sid the Science Kid: The Movie - Overview

Sid and his friend Gabriela win a science contest and are awarded a trip to The Super Ultimate Science Museum, which is just about to open to the public.

When they arrive, they meet the conets winners from the age group above them. Yangyang and Niuniu are from China, and they are a couple of super smart big kids. The group of winners are then introduced to the founder of the museum, Dr. Bonabodon (A Doc Brown type with white hair voiced by guest star Christopher Lloyd), who has designed the whole museum and can't wait to share it with the world.

To help him share his wonderful museum with the world, Dr. Bonabodon has invented a group of robot tour guides. He assigns his smartest bot, the highly intelligent yet also comedic Bobbybot, to take the winning kids on their exciting tour.

The kids visit all kinds of exciting places like a gigantic bee hive and a room full of fun simple machines. But when Bobbybot malfunctions, the kids must work together and think like scientists to keep Bobbybot from destroying the museum just minutes before the grand opening.

 

Sid the Science Kid: The Movie - Guide Review for Parents

Little fans of the show Sid the Science Kid will enjoy this movie adventure featuring silly robots, fun science scenarios and lots of Sid-style jokes.

The movie is very slowly paced, especially in the beginning, but will probably retain the attention of most preschoolers.

The movie fulfills the goal of the Sid the Science Kid series, which is to engage preschoolers’ natural curiosity about the world around them. Sid and his friends' love of science, their intense curiosity and their determination in finding answers to their deepest questions are contagious and will have preschoolers itching to explore and discover just like Sid.

Preschoolers may glean a few new scientific facts from the show. In each of the differently themed science rooms in the museum, Sid and his friends learn a few facts about each subject, but the facts aren't very well organized for kids and don't necessarily start with the basics. The movie focuses more on the overall message that science is fascinating, and working together makes the scientific process even more fun and effective.

 

Sid the Science Kid: The Movie - Fun Ideas for Further Learning

• I love the room in the Sid Movie science museum that contains simple machines. The concept of simple machines is one that is easy for preschoolers to learn, and even more importantly, it's easy to find mess-free hands-on activities that encourage kids to explore, think, predict, discover and have fun doing it. Use blocks, cardboard, wheels and other items to help kids learn about the six types of simple machines. Talk to them about what tools and machines do and why they are important. Choose a tool or simple machine, and have kids imagine all the possible ways they could use it. Encourage answers that align with what the tool is actually used for, as well as those that think outside the box.
• For older or advanced preschoolers, here are some Simple Machines Worksheets you can help them with. Also, get kids thinking and analyzing at an early age with questions like: What kinds of simple machines do we use each day? How could you use a simple machine to move your doll across the house without carrying her? What kind of simple machine would help us cut a heart out of paper?
• In the museum, Sid and his friends also learn about Dinosaurs, space, electricity, robotics and bees. If your child seems interested in one of these subjects, help him or her find books and activities that relate, such as building a model of the planets or rubbing a balloon on hair to create static electricity.
• As always, the PBS KIDS website has fun and educational games and activities as well as ideas for educators and parents.

 

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