An animated STEM show and hands-on Experiment Lab
For ages 8 to 12, with content appropriate for 6- and 7-year-olds.
What STEMatics is
STEMatics Academy is an animated STEM show. Each episode starts with a question, such as why a bridge holds or where water goes, and follows Dr. Spearman, Plus, and student characters as they test ideas.
The STEMatics Experiment Lab takes the question off the screen. It gives children three experiments per episode to try themselves, with a grown-up nearby.
Every experiment follows the same four moves
Predict, test fairly, record, explain.
Predict
A child writes a prediction before touching anything.
Test fairly
They change one thing at a time.
Record
They repeat each test and use the middle number of their trials.
Explain
Then they compare their results with their prediction.
If the results disagree with the show, the Lab says to report what they got, because that is real science.
One short part at a time
Each experiment is a guided lesson with Dr. Spearman, one short part at a time.
- 1A grown-up reads the safety card and confirms it before the lesson continues.
- 2A checklist of what to gather.
- 3A prediction.
- 4Numbered steps, each with a coaching tip.
- 5A place to record real numbers, with a tally counter, stopwatch, or data log where it helps.
- 6A 3D model to explore.
- 7An explanation of the science.
- 8A link to the next experiment.
Children can jump around from a lesson map, pick up where they stopped, or switch to see everything at once.
Season 1: ten episodes, three experiments each
Each episode pairs a Quick Test, a Build and Test, and a Design Challenge.
Quick Test
A fast first look at the question.
Build and Test
Children build something and put it to the test.
Design Challenge
An open problem with more than one good answer.
Season 1 topics
- Structures and bridges
- The water cycle
- Circuits
- Energy and motion
- Coding
- Patterns and codes
- Magnets
- Strong shapes
- Data detectives
- Inventing
The last episode invites children to design, test, and present their own invention.
Honest by design. Safe and private.
Honest by design
- The only data in the Lab is what a child types in from their own experiment.
- The 3D models are labeled as models, not measurements, and they never produce results.
- Charts draw only the child’s own numbers.
Safe and private
- Experiments use everyday, low-cost materials. A few use batteries, large magnets, or small LEDs, and those come with stricter safety rules.
- There are no accounts, ads, or analytics.
- A child’s notes stay on their own device, and the Lab asks children not to type names or private information.
What is live, what is still in testing
Everything below reflects the current state of the show and the Lab.
- In production
Season 1 episodes
- Coming soon
Experiment Lab
Not hosted publicly yet.
- In testing
Camera AR
Point a device at a printed card to see the 3D model on the table.
- In testing
Installing the Lab like an app on a home screen
- Not available yet
Voiced lessons
Lessons are on-screen text for now.
- Ongoing
Classroom testing
The experiments are new and have not yet been tested with students. We are still testing on tablets and Chromebooks.
- Concepts only
Companion kit ideas
They are not for sale and have not been safety tested.
Tell us what you find
If you try an experiment, tell us what worked and what confused you. Write to info@lawofedu.org.
