As one of the foremost content producers for the public media system, the WGBH Educational Foundation (GBH) has maintained the highest standards in the production of history, science and children’s programming. GBH’s production units have been producing high-quality and award-winning content for decades.
In 2022, AVDF awarded GBH a two-year organizational grant to support the production and dissemination of the programming categories listed above. Grant funds are allocated within these areas at the discretion of GBH. A portion of the AVDF grant was used to support a new GBH children’s program that debuted in February 2022.
Work It Out Wombats! is an animated series produced by GBH Kids and Pipeline Studios, that helps children build important problem-solving skills. The program is designed to reach kids ages 3-6. The series stars a playful trio of marsupial siblings—Malik, Zadie and Zeke—who live with their grandmother, Super, in their treehouse apartment complex. The program introduces computational thinking concepts that will help young viewers solve meaningful problems, learn flexible thinking and how to express themselves—all while using the practices and processes at the core of computer science.
“The Wombats are all about exploring the world around them and, much like preschoolers, their curiosity and love of adventure know no bounds,” said Sara DeWitt, PBS KIDS Senior Vice President and General Manager. “Computational thinking is a way of approaching problems in strategic ways, helping young children respond and adapt to the world around them. We’re excited for viewers to explore these foundational skills and mindsets while having fun with their new marsupial friends.”
Work It Out Wombats! takes place in the Treeborhood—a massive treehouse complete with secret passageways, gondolas and rope swings. The residents of the Treeborhood—wombats, snakes, moose, kangaroos, iguanas, fish, tarsiers and eagles—bring varied skills and abilities, assorted ways of thinking, and different family structures and traditions to this diverse and vibrant community of neighbors, a place where even the adults join in the play.
“Malik, Zadie and Zeke are passionate about their goals, but they don’t always know the best way to go about meeting them,” said Marcy Gunther and Marisa Wolsky, GBH Kids executive producers. “But in every story, we see the Wombats using computational thinking, a powerful toolkit, to work it out.”
“Work It Out Wombats! strikes a perfect balance of telling stories for preschoolers that are educational, fun and engaging. Bringing an exciting world filled with diverse characters to life has been incredibly empowering for our artists and technical talent,” said Luis Lopez, executive producer, Pipeline Studios.
Full of endless energy, Malik, Zadie and Zeke run, bounce, roll and romp, always on the lookout for interesting Treeborhood problems to solve. Each episode includes two 11-minute stories, accompanied by a 90-second music video, featuring the Wombats as they demonstrate their computational thinking skills, learning as they go.
Work It Out Wombats! games launched in tandem with the series on pbskids.org and the free PBS KIDS Games App. To extend the learning at home, parent and caregiver resources, including tips and hands-on activities, are available on PBS KIDS for Parents. For educators, PBS LearningMedia offers classroom-ready materials, including videos, games, teaching tips and printable activities.
“Work It Out Wombats! introduces problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration to young learners in a fun and age-appropriate way, helping children get excited about learning and laying important groundwork for success in school and life,” said Debra Tica Sanchez, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Senior Vice President, Educational Media.
To stream episodes of Work It Out Wombats! and other associated content, click here.