Welcome to FableVision’s Summer Camp!

As sunlight fills the days after 15 months of COVID-19, we’re looking forward to an engaging and exciting summer. To ensure that your children continue to learn while they’re on break, we created FableVision’s Summer Camp—a compilation of resources, including educational animated series, games, softwares, and videos.

Help your children have a fun summer by supporting their creativity, sparking their imagination, and encouraging their interest in new things. Whether they enjoy animals, engineering, or meteorology (just to name a few)—we’ve got you covered with a variety of free/low-cost activities that can be enjoyed by your family! 

---

PBS KIDS Parent Activities Videos
Saturn’s rings, puzzle boxes, Yup’ik dance fans, and more—these live-action videos produced for PBS KIDS’ website for parents provide fun and educational crafts to create with your children using household materials and art supplies. In tandem with their favorite PBS KIDS shows, like Molly of Denali or Elinor Wonders Why, families can complete hands-on activities, while learning about central themes of the shows and discussing important questions. Grab your crayons, glue, and scissors and follow the easy steps in the videos—it’s time to make butterfly costumes and periscopes.

The instructional videos are available for free on PBS KIDS for Parents.

---

The Paper Girls Show
How about a summer trip to Confetti, a beautiful world built entirely out of paper? In the FableVision and Global Tinker animated series The Paper Girls Show, best friends Cailey and Reese travel to Confetti to visit their paper friends Kami and Dev. Together they creatively invent solutions applicable to the real world. Each episode features a new type of technology, such as 3D printers and robots, and the series infuses STEAM curricula that inspires young girls to explore arts, science, programming, and engineering. 

Watch the series for free on YouTube.

---

UCAR Animated Atmosphere
As summer brings heat waves and hurricanes to New England, help your children understand the weather by watching Animated Atmosphere videos, created for University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). To describe extreme weather and how to stay safe, the animated videos feature a weatherman yeti showing cold weather conditions, a dog demonstrating how to take care of pets, and a palm tree illustrating the effects of tropical storms. Humor, cute visuals, and an approachable script allow children to understand weather phenomena and get introduced to discussions on climate change.

The videos are available on UCAR’s YouTube.

---

FableVision Games
FableVision Games, a research- and educational-game-based platform, engages students and improves their learning outcomes in STEM, social studies, literacy, and social-emotional skills. Math, history, puzzles, and more—FableVision Games has something for any child’s interest.

• Cyberchase Fractions Quest: Deepen your understanding of fractions by embarking on an adventure to save Cyberspace from the villain Hacker. Created in collaboration with THIRTEEN/WNET New York Public Media and Educational Development Center’s Center for Children and Technology, the immersive math game uses a series of quest-like challenges to keep students engaged.

• Zoombinis: Help small, blue creatures escape evil Bloats and return to Zoombiniville by playing Zoombinis. Created in partnership with TERC, a not-for-profit leader in K-12 math and science education, the math and logic game teaches computational thinking through a series of puzzles.

• Civics! An American Musical: In preparation for the Fourth of July, brush up on U.S. history and create a Broadway musical from scratch in Civics! An American Musical. By teaming up with the Library of Congress, Maryland Public Television, Maryland Humanities, and Tufts’ Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), FableVision created a game where middle-school students have fun analyzing primary sources while learning how to become responsible citizens. 

The games are available on the FableVision Games website—play for free through June.

---

Echo Explorers
Speaking of Cyberchase, Hacker is up to his usual tricks. He trapped some bats and the CyberSquad needs your help to free them. Created in partnership with THIRTEEN/WNET and Bridge Multimedia, Echo Explorers, a born-accessible game, follows guidelines from child disability, math, and environmental science content experts. It can be tailored to each child’s unique learning needs and sensitivities through settings in sound, captions, background visuals, difficulty, and control modes. Children of all abilities learn about echolocation and coordinate mapping with their favorite characters from the PBS KIDS show.

The game is available on PBS KIDS.

---

Go Wild! With Ranger Rick
Who can better excite children about wildlife than the beloved raccoon Ranger Rick? The FableVision-created mobile app for National Wildlife Federation (NWF)’s Ranger Rick teaches 4-8-year-olds about animals through three activities. In “That’s Wild!,” children engage through jokes and riddles about their favorite animals. In “Mystery Animal,” a set of clues helps children guess the unknown animal. Lastly, in “Rick’s Pix,” children create a scrapbook of animal photos decorated with stickers, frames, and nature backgrounds. The app excites children through fun activities, vibrant colors, and NWF’s extensive database of information. Next time you’re at the zoo, aquarium, or backyard, learn more about the animals you see through Go Wild! With Ranger Rick.

The app is free to download with a Ranger Rick subscription.

---

Reach Every Reader Apps
Help your young children begin their literacy journey! FableVision-created mobile apps, Photo Play and Animal Antics, for Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE)’s Reach Every Reader initiative, turn everyday routines into learning opportunities for 2-4-year-olds. In Photo Play, children decorate their own photos with stickers, emojis, and talk balloons, which helps them facilitate conversations with caregivers about the photo memories, locations, and details. In Animal Antics, children and caretakers use their imaginations to role-play as different animals. Reach Every Reader works to bridge the literacy gap by providing learning opportunities and word acquisition in low-income families.

The apps are available to download for free.

---

FabMaker Studio
Spark your child's interest in engineering through FabMaker Studio, an easy-to-use, web-based program that allows children to engage in STEM and STEAM learning. From idea to reality, children build paper prototypes and final designs with this researched-based application. FabMaker Studio is part of the national Make To Learn research initiative, a unique for-profit/non-profit collaborative founded by Glen Bull, Co-Director of the Center for Technology and Teacher Education at the University of Virginia and The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity. 

The online-tool provides a low-cost, accessible way to design and invent 2D and 3D projects. As children progress through the program, they transform their creativity into building their own working machines. FabMaker is perfect for creating at home, in the classroom, and summer programs. 

 If you click here for more information, you can also receive a free activity!

Catch FableVision's 2021 Summer Tour!

Summer is almost here, and we’re just getting warmed up for all of the exciting events we have on the horizon. You’re all invited to make a splash with us at a number of virtual conferences and events throughout the season. Don’t miss out on the fun—keep reading for more details on how to catch us along our virtual summer road trip!

---

BostonFIG Talks and Learns (May 29 - 30)

BostonFIG Talks and Learns are back, and we’re gearing up for two days of sharing, learning, and networking! FableVision is proud to sponsor this year’s conferences, featuring industry experts, educators, students, and more. Industry professionals and aspiring students or hobbyists are welcome to join us on May 29 for BostonFIG Talks, an annual game-creators conference that will include expert talks on game design, methodology, technology, and more. And come back the day after talks on hands-on learning games, academic research, classroom topics, and more at the annual Learns conference. Learns is perfect for educators, students, and professionals interested in the learning games space.

When: May 29, 30
Click here to register for free.

---

ED Games Expo (June 1 - 5)

Next stop is the ED Games Expo! The expo is the Department of Education’s annual showcase of game-changing education technology. At this year’s conference, FableVision will showcase three of our learning games and tools. Join us at the expo to learn more about Cyberchase Fractions Quest, our award-winning fractions learning game based on the popular PBS KIDS show Cyberchase, Civics! An American Musical, our civics learning game that invites middle school students to produce their own hit musicals based on United States history, and FabMaker Studio, FableVision Learning’s digital fabrication software tool that inspires STEM and STEAM learning in the classroom! 

Check out the FableVision Learning website now to learn more about the products and how you can access all three for free through the month of June.

When: June 1-5
Click here to access the events.

---

Tech + Social Studies LIVE! (June 5)

While you’re at the ED Games Expo, stop by the Tech + Social Studies LIVE! free virtual conference for innovative civics and social studies teaching resources and techniques. Whether you teach online, in person, or a hybrid, the demos and talks featured at this conference will show you new ways to engage your students. And join us later in the day to hear from FableVision communications director Sarah Ditkoff, Maryland Public Television director of PreK-12 learning design Karla Thompson, and educator Joshua Pleasant as they present on how you can use Civics! An American Musical to encourage creativity and primary source analysis in your classrooms.

Civic Action through Primary Sources in "Civics! An American Musical"
When: June 5 at 5:20 p.m. EST
Click here to register for free.

---

Learning Ideas Conference (June 14 - 18)

Next, FableVision is headed to the Learning Ideas Conference to catch up on international innovations in learning and technology for the workplace and higher education. The Learning Ideas Conference brings together researchers and practitioners interested in using technology to improve education and workplace learning.

Join FableVision Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Product Solutions Shelby Marshall for his workshop on June 16. This session will cover ways in which online simulations can support and extend learning in higher education and corporate training. In his talk, Shelby will explore examples at different levels of complexity that have been developed by the studio, including interactives created in partnership with the Smithsonian Science Education Center, Noodle Partners, and Pearson Higher Education. You won’t want to miss it!

Using Online Simulations to Explore Complex Topics and Apply Systems Thinking
When: June 16 at 4:30 p.m. EST
Click here to register.

---

Carly & Adam’s Heart of STEM Teacher’s Summit (June 21 - 23)

FableVision Learning is excited to join the Carly & Adam’s Heart of STEM Teacher’s Summit on June 21-23. During this virtual event, attendees will explore connections between STEAM, real-world problems, kindness, and social-emotional learning. Learn from FableVision Learning’s Peter H. Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, Sara Smith, and Andrea Calvin.

Keynote: The Hope of STEM with Peter H. Reynolds, Georgie Badiel-Liberty, and Susan Verde
The creative team behind The Water Princess storybook will be kicking off the three-day summit with their Keynote: The Hope of STEM. With new troubling problems challenging the world every day, it’s important to empower the next generation with creative problem-solving skills and hope to make a positive impact across the globe. 

When: June 21

Exploring Creativity with Fabrication and Animation with Andrea Calvin
Andrea Calvin will share her experiences about working with students and educators across the country to implement fabrication and animation tools into their classrooms. Attendees will create bravely by using Animation-ish and FabMaker Studio.

When: June 21

Keynote: Create Bravely - Self Design for a Purposeful Life with Paul Reynolds
Paul Reynolds will share his insights on the power of storytelling and foster your life’s journey purpose with a growth mindset. Educators will learn how stories and creative tools can help students discover their talents and strengths, and how to apply them in life. With courage and perseverance, we can make a change by using our creativity.

When: June 22

The Element of Surprise with Sara Smith
In this session, Sara Smith will discuss the benefits of using the element of surprise in STEM and SEL. Educators will learn how the brain engages with surprises in learning and why surprises help humans during hard times. 

When: June 22

Click here to register.

---

The Creativity Symposium 

FableVision Learning and Eduscape have partnered this summer to offer the Creativity Symposium, where educators across the country discover ways to foster creativity into their classrooms. During the three half-day sessions, in June or July, educators will use collaboration techniques to develop practical, achievable, and scalable solutions to challenges. 

When: June or July
Click here to register.

---

Serious Play Conference (June 23 - 25)

If you’re serious about serious games, you’ll also want to join FableVision at this year’s Serious Play Conference. The conference features expert changemakers and thought leaders who are reshaping the educational gaming and education technology industries. Don’t forget to check out FableVision’s panel at the conference on accessibility and game-based learning. FableVision lead UX/UI designer Loren Lee-Flynn will join experts from WNET and Bridge Multimedia to discuss how we created Echo Explorers, a born-accessible learning game based on the award-winning PBS KIDS show Cyberchase and designed for children of all abilities to learn about echolocation and coordinate-mapping. The panelists will also share suggestions for game developers to incorporate accessibility into their own games.

Cyberchase Echo Explorers: Exploring Accessible Game Design for All Children
When: June 25 at 1:45 p.m. EST
Click here to register.

---

Connected Learning Summit (July)

And if you’re unable to attend our panel at the Serious Play Conference in June, have no fear! You will still have the opportunity to learn more about Echo Explorers and designing games with accessibility at the forefront of the development process at the Connected Learning Summit. Be sure to catch our expert panel, as well as other influential talks from leaders and innovators at the intersection of innovation, education, technology, and play. The summit aims to support and empower innovators who are using emerging technology to increase access to creative and playful learning. It will feature engaging presentations and workshops all month long.

Cyberchase Echo Explorers: Exploring Accessible Game Design for All Children
Click here to register.

---

ASU+GSV Summit (August 9 - 11)

Last stop on our tour is ASU+GSV—and this time it’s in person! The summit connects leading minds focused on transforming society and business around learning and work, and their north star is that ALL people have equal access to the future. The Summit is a leading platform of innovation and ingenuity that offers a tangible look at the EdTech industry, with groundbreaking research and insights. FableVision’s Shelby Marshall is headed to San Diego to network with and learn from researchers, educators, and practitioners from around the globe. Make sure to connect with Shelby if you plan to attend as well.

Click here to register.

May FableFriday: Andrea Hoerner, Associate Producer

Organization, communication, and trust: FableVision associate producer Andrea Hoerner has perfected the recipe for flawless project management down to a science. With a background in journalism and experience in higher education, Andrea combines strong people skills with her knowledge of pedagogy to lead teams that produce media that engage viewers and inspire change. 

The journalist in her seeks to honor the story being told by building strong connections with her team and clients. “The hours and hours I’ve spent with subjects either writing or photographing them has enabled me to build trust with clients and help them articulate their needs,” she shares. “Holding space for people to work through their ideas and observing what excites people are all ways of interaction that I bring with me into every meeting.” 

In her role, Andrea manages the studio’s technical and creative teams, as well as supports the production team on a variety of media projects. Read on for her organization hacks, advice to budding producers, and the sense of wanderlust that inspires her in all her endeavors.

Welcome to FableVision! What initially drew you to the studio, and what do you enjoy most about working in educational media?
When I first heard about FableVision, I had been trying to marry my passion for social impact and education with the work that I was doing day to day. Having come from a background working in higher education, I closely aligned with the studio’s mission. I spent some time doing my own research and connected with a FableVision staff member to learn more about the various types of projects the studio tackles. I was drawn to the work being done at FableVision, and now here I am! 

Here at FableVision, we tell “stories that matter, stories that move.” How do you, in your role as an associate producer, try to honor the different stories being told?
While each project has its own mission, deliverables, and clients, my universal goal as a producer is to ensure that our team’s creative collaboration on every project is a catalyst for the desired result of audience engagement and education. Regardless of the learning goal, I like that the work FableVision does is positive and instills a feeling of empowerment through play or interaction. As storytellers and creatives, the best way to honor different stories being told is through creating connection with audiences emotionally and visually. 

Before joining the FableVision team, you reached out to other professionals to learn more about the industry. What’s one piece of advice you would pass on to someone interested in entering the field?
As someone who loves learning from others and their experiences, I’d recommend a two-part piece of advice. I’d encourage someone interested in entering the field to network to get a sense of how the work and culture can vary at different organizations within the industry. And more importantly, I’d advocate for some internal reflection on your skill sets and experiences (“Me-search,” as I like to call it). I’ve learned that you can talk to as many people as you’d like, which is great; however, if you don’t really know who you are or what you’re looking for, it’s easy to lose sight of your own purpose.    

You manage and support multiple teams at the studio. How do you keep the lines of communication open between departments and ensure everyone works together to get a project over the finish line?
The needs of any given project fluctuate at different times, but constant effective communication remains a pervasive part of day-to-day management. When it’s crunch time for a project or we’re about to enter a new phase of production (QA Testing, animation, etc.), I am a fan of daily team huddles or meetings. These meetings typically last all of 15 minutes every day, usually bright and early, but they provide an opportunity for all team members from different departments to have a 360-degree view. This process helps build trust on our teams, which are different for each project, and I’m often sad when a months-long project wraps after the team has found a great rhythm! 

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to managing a project. What is your secret to staying organized? 
Personally, I love organization on a Marie Kondo level, so it’s not surprising to those who know me that I have many tricks up my sleeve. One of my favorite ways I like to stay organized across my different projects that all have moving parts is through very colorful post-it note lists on my wall. I like the visual display with color and the flexibility to prioritize or de-prioritize action items listed in front of me. 

You have a lot of hobbies. How do you cultivate your interests both in and out of work, and what is your go-to way to relax after a busy week at the studio? 
My hobbies and activities are a bit more limited these days given COVID, but I like to spend as much time outside as possible on the weekends. I’m a National Parks lover, and one of my goals is to visit as many national parks as possible! If I’m not hiking with my camera or kayaking on the Charles, I can be found meandering through the Museum of Fine Arts or dabbling with watercolor. Additionally, I’m always trying to perfect new recipes for baked goods or meals and enjoy sharing them with friends!  

We hear that you’re an avid fan of photography. Who are your favorite photographers and what do you enjoy photographing the most?
Photography has always been about “clicks and connections” for me, meaning connection through my lens with my own photos or the photos of others. I am always connecting to a specific sense of place, time, and often people, which in turn usually helps me learn more about myself. 

Two of my favorite photographers are quite different from each other in style, subject, and time. The first is Ansel Adams, as his images inspired my hiking travels to Wyoming a few years ago. It was incredible to float down the Snake River and see the Tetons emerge on the horizon like he did. I love the way he utilizes light, especially in his black and white pieces. 

The other photographer is James Nachtwey, who is an American photojournalist and war photographer. I remember watching a documentary about his work in high school and it left me stunned by the beauty and raw quality of his work; he has covered tragic events/crises globally from the Rwandan Genocide to famine in Somalia. While many would run away from capturing the individual human experience in conflicts like these, Nachtwey runs towards those at the heart of these experiences to tell their stories and give them a voice through his work.   

We also hear that you love to travel. What are some of your favorite trips that you’ve taken? Where do you look forward to visiting once it’s safer to do so?
I’m itching to get back out West (Wyoming, PNW) again on another hiking trip with my camera. Staying inside most of the last year has made me really miss being out in nature and spending time in environments that are radically different from city life. Outside the U.S., I would really like to visit Norway either in the summer or winter to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights!

If you could: 

Pick up any new skill: Play guitar well.

Live anywhere in the world: London.

Listen to only one album for the rest of your life: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

Learn any language instantly: Portuguese.

Have any animal as a housepet: Mini horse.

Have authored any one book that already exists: Too tough to choose!

June FableFriday: Jordan Bach, Technical Director

FableVision Technical Director Jordan Bach is definitely not new to the edtech game. A member of the FableVision team for almost 10 years, Jordan has decades of experience in developing educational games and media with a focus on accessible technology and innovations in tech. He’s also just a really nice guy.

Jordan first joined the team as a developer and now, in the role of Technical Director, oversees the technical department, contributes to planning and budgeting proposals and projects, and continues serving as lead developer on a number of the studio’s large game projects. Working with tools such as Unity and HTML5 to merge physical and digital play, Jordan is an expert in all things AR and VR. And through the advancements and innovations in technology over the years, Jordan has also consistently been the go-to person on staff for questions about accessibility, designing and leading projects to support people with learning disabilities and different educational needs to provide a safe and engaging space to learn.

“Accessibility means so much more than making a game compatible with a screen reader,” Jordan tells us. “It means that many people experience learning games differently and we need to communicate with as many of them as we can.”

Using his vast skills in design and developmental technology, Jordan has adapted to the many changes that have happened to the edtech and media fields over the past decade and helped FableVision to stay on top of and actively respond to growing trends in the industry. Working closely with other members of FableVision staff, freelancers, and clients over the years, he approaches his dedication to his work with endless patience, a calm demeanor, and a creative eye—actively looking for the best ways to help others and making possibilities realities. Continue reading to learn more about Jordan’s journey to FableVision, how he approaches projects in his role as Technical Director, and what advice he has for developers at the start of their careers!

How did you first hear about FableVision, and what initially drew you to the studio?
I first heard about FableVision through friends and former colleagues who loved working here, so I connected with Brian Grossman, the former Technical Director. During my first visit and first interview at the studio, the mission and the creative spirit were so clearly visible in everyone I met and in the physical space that the decision was already made from my perspective.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My day-to-day schedule has changed a lot since I’ve become the Technical Director! Every day I’m trying to do two things: first, I’m contributing to current, upcoming, and potential projects. This includes offering support to the developers, participating in planning, and completing budget estimates for proposals.

And second, I’m reserving a little time to continue being a developer, which is something I love. Most recently I’ve been helping set up the architecture of a new project, and then sharing it with the developer who will take it through the rest of development and over the finish line!

You’ve been at the studio for ten years! How has the technology the studio uses changed, and how do you stay on top of edtech trends?
Ten years ago, Flash was the most common way to develop highly interactive applications for the web browser, and mobile apps were still relatively new to the world. Unity has emerged as a go-to tool for building cross-platform mobile apps, and we’re also using various web frameworks to speed along complex browser-based development projects. We’re more used to change than we were then! 

The best way to stay on top of trends is to ask questions. When someone mentions something and I don’t know what it is, I just ask. And then go look it up if I need more information. There’s so much to know and sometimes there’s pressure to pretend like you know everything. As a mission-based company, FableVision is all about learning, so I just ask.

How do you approach each project from a technical perspective? How does the process differ depending on the scope of a project or the medium (game-based app, Augmented Reality experience, website, etc.)
Determining the technical approach for a project goes hand-in-hand with the creative design. After we have started the creative brainstorming, we think about what technology might make sense to help us with the project. The scope, medium, audience, and platform all feed into this thinking process. We focus on HTML5 and Unity, but also work with other technologies. Then the strengths of the chosen development platform can further inform the creative definition of the project. 

Once the design and technology are set, we'll pick what’s hard, what hasn’t been done before, and start there. 

What is a FableVision project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of?
I feel particularly proud of the projects we’ve done that are used in research studies. The Zoombinis remake and the Reach Every Reader apps for the Harvard Graduate School of Education are examples of apps that are not only fun to use, but also move educational research forward. It’s definitely rewarding to be a part of such important projects such as those.

Here at FableVision, we’re dedicated to making sure our work follows accessibility standards. What do you have to keep in mind when making sure our projects are accessible? 
When we create accessible media, we need to think beyond the platform it's housed on and what features we can add to accommodate certain disabilities. Many of our users have different experiences and use our games, interactives, and other media in different ways, so we have to design for as many different learning contexts as possible.

Right now we’re making a game that is “born accessible,” meaning we’re designing it to be accessible to many from the start, instead of retrofitting an existing game for a more diverse audience. We’ve learned that an important tool is customization: for example, if a player struggles with focus, we can expose a setting to turn off distracting background imagery. If someone has low vision, we can expose a setting to turn on audio descriptions. On the other hand, there are some elements of a game we can make accessible to many without the need for customization. For example, we can design artwork to be easily distinguishable by people with the most common forms of color blindness.

You have a background in music! How does music continue to impact your life, and how has your degree influenced your work at FableVision?
In college, I got degrees in both math and cello performance. Doing both was a great opportunity to see all the connections (and differences) between the two. It was also a great opportunity to understand the similarities between learning each. When working on an abstract math proof, you start with what you know and build from there. When learning a difficult passage in music, you break it down to the smallest pieces you can play and start stringing them together. And now, when starting a new project at work, I approach it with the same mindset: what do I know, and how can I start putting it together to get somewhere I’ve never been before?

You’re currently a Teaching Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Technology, Innovation, and Education program. What’s rewarding about your role, and what has teaching taught you?
I was involved in a course called Advanced Design Studio this past semester. In the first half of the semester, I taught Unity development in the lab sessions; together with the class, we made one of the puzzles from Zoombinis (“Cap’n Cajun’s Ferryboat”). During the second half of the semester, I coached groups of students as they developed their own designs into prototypes. It’s exciting to see the students coming up with great concepts. After 20 years working in this space, I saw ideas I hadn’t seen before. And the students all wanted to participate in learning; they didn’t just want to be fed information. This encouraged me to think about what I needed to provide to facilitate learning without getting in the way of it.

What advice do you have for students and professionals starting out in the technology field? What skill is important for a programmer to develop early on in their career?
Consider also focusing on a non-programming skill or interest. Programming is a tool; it also helps to have experience in education, games, some kind of production, or something else that you love. Beyond that, well-rounded programmers think big (code architecture and efficiency) and small (detail-oriented, predicting every way a user might interact with the application). I’ve found that most people are usually naturally good at one of those ways of thinking and need to focus on improving the other. (Also, see above: asking questions!)

You made an amazing quilt for Creative Juices last year! Are you currently working on any new projects?
I’m working on an underwater-themed quilt for my niece. It’s somewhat improvised, which is new for me, so I don’t know what it’s going to look like yet!

Quick questions

Recipe you haven’t tried but would like to: Anything from Pastry Week on the Great British Bake Off.

TV show you’re currently binging: I, Claudius, while listening to the I, Podius podcast. I’d never seen it before, but I vividly remember the “Me Claudius” spoof on Monsterpiece Theater when I was young.

Best consolation of Staying at Home: curbside pickup to support small restaurants. Vietnamese Fresh Roll Friday is now a thing!

Game you love to recommend: Carcassonne, as a board game or as an app. I just gave it to my nieces and they love it.

Top two tips you give to new gardeners: 1) A plant in the wrong place will never be happy. Pay attention to the sun/shade requirements! 2) If you’ve only ever planted annuals, try a perennial. It’s magical to see them come back from nothing in the early spring. It’s my favorite part of gardening.

A book you love to reread: Lizard Music by Daniel Pinkwater, a favorite from elementary school. A weird story for a weird kid.

Introducing “The Paper Girls Show” Season One - Out Now!

“If you dream it, you can make it!” Introducing The Paper Girls Show, an original STEAM-based MIPTV- and Kidscreen-award-winning animated YouTube series from Global Tinker and FableVision Studios. Designed to inspire young girls to have confidence in their intellectual capabilities and create their own innovative solutions to everyday problems, the show follows Caily and Reese, best friends and makers who are fueled by curiosity and creativity! Along the way, they discover the fantastical paper world of Confetti, where they find inspiration to solve their real-world dilemmas. 

Each episode introduces viewers to a different type of accessible technology, from 3D printing to paper circuitry. Global Tinker also partnered with Brooklyn-based STEAM camp company and magazine Curious Jane and Taro’s Origami Studio to create free DIY STEAM-related craft videos and origami projects using affordable materials that align with projects highlighted in each episode. By infusing STEAM curricula with great storytelling, The Paper Girls Show empowers girls to create, imagine, and learn as they become problem solvers just like Caily and Reese. Season 1 is being released on The Paper Girls Show’s YouTube channel. Check back every Wednesday for a new episode!

The Paper Girls Show Episodes

Episode 1: “Something Fishy”
Reese is participating in a local fashion show and has to get crafty when Caily’s fish tank overflows and ruins all of her fabric. The girls head to the colorful paper world of Confetti for some inspiration from their friends Kami and Dev.

Episode 2: “Museum Mayhem”
Confetti’s new recycling program threatens Queen Frivol’s prized landfill of non-biodegradable junk. To get around the new law, she declares her junk pile a national museum. With Queen Frivol’s junk pile getting bigger, Kami enlists the help of Reese and Caily to shut down the bogus museum and get rid of the supersized pile of junk.

Episode 3: “Mice To Meet You”
The maker studio Stax by Jax has a mouse problem. The little furry critters have been sneaking in at night and nibbling on the pencils and books and infiltrating the shop’s snack stash. When the mouse problem becomes unbearable, the girls head to Confetti for help.

Episode 4: “Bot We’re a Team”
Reese and Caily’s robotics team can’t agree on a design for their robot for an upcoming competition. In Confetti, Kami introduces them to her uncle, Professor Seymour, a talented inventor who created the first robot Shredder. His story gives the girls an idea for how they can compromise and design a bot that everyone’s on board with.

Episode 5: “The Inspo-Buddies”
After Edie accidentally records over a treasured family vacation video, Caily is determined to lock her out of her computer. In Confetti, Queen Frivol is trying to steal Dev’s family’s secret lemonade recipe to win a contest. Caily and Reese show Kami and Dev how to write the recipe in invisible ink, and in the process, discover an idea for an Edie-proof computer lock. 

Episode 6: “Paws-itively Fabulous”
When Jax’s ferret Jennifer sprains her leg, Edie wants to help her get around the studio. In Confetti, Queen Frivol’s Shredders are polluting Parchment Pond with her unwanted garbage, and ruin an animal habitat in the process.

Episode 7: “Dev-astated by Fame”
The girls go to Confetti to cheer Dev up after a disastrous audition for the Confetti’s Got Talent show, judged by Queen Frivol. Caily shares her dilemma of wanting a drum set and her mom’s objection to the resulting racket. One of Dev’s comments inspires them to make a drum set out of paper and conductive ink, which they demonstrate on their DIY web show, “Made Wrong.” 

Episode 8: “Not Remotely Funny”
Reese and Caily are mortified when their paper airplane note flies off course and lands on another student’s desk, earning them detention. Determined to perfect their paper plane, they jump at Kami’s invite to Confetti for a ride in Professor Seymour’s airship and navigate their way to a solution. 

Episode 9: “A ‘Shred’ of Difference”
Queen Frivol is furious when she discovers that her beloved Shredder, Melvin, has been recycling items from her prized junk pile at Uncle Seymour’s Fix It Shop. Kami and Uncle Seymour ask Reese and Caily to hide Melvin until the Queen calms down, and Melvin makes mountains of shredded paper for Edie’s Earth Day presentation.

Episode 10: “Fin-tastic Fabio”
Caily asks Jax for help figuring out why her fish Fabio isn’t feeling well. He encourages her to look at a sample of Fabio’s fish tank water under a foldscope, and Reese’s research catches the culprit. Kami asks the girls for help with Dev, who is terrified that Parchment Pond is haunted by glowing ghosts, but a paper microscope reveals the truth.

Episode 11: “Let’s Make a Mistake”
This music video for the song “Let’s Make a Mistake” is an anthem for The Paper Girls Show and the maker generation. The song celebrates imperfection, learning from mistakes, and encourages curiosity and out of the box thinking to help make the world a better place.

Episode 12: “Trash Talk”
Queen Frivol hosts a talk show, Trash Talk, with the help of her producer/camera operator/sidekick Melvin the Shredder. In this installment, she beats Dev at a rigged game of Name that Tune and snores through Kami and Uncle Seymour’s demonstration of solar power.