AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year olds
GENRE
Film
REVIEW
These video shorts, available on the PEEP and the Big Wide World Web site, present science concepts through the day-to-day adventures of a small yellow bird named Peep, and his friends Chirp and Quack. In the short “The Real Decoy”, for example, Quack and Peep find something which they think is a living duck which is simply not moving. Their belief about the "duck" can be considered a hypothesis, which they go about testing by trying to get the duck to eat, drink, paddle on water, etc. Through use of their observational skills, they gradually accumulate information about this duck that begins to suggest that it is inanimate. Much of the success of the PEEP shorts results from the facts that they are not didactic in tone at all and are also often laugh-out-loud funny due to Quack's huge ego. Additional strengths include their focus on friendship, helpfulness, kindness, and of course, determination in the pursuit of answers to questions. The shorts do not always clearly explain all science concepts, but they are only meant to be an introduction after all. With their uncomplicated plot lines and clear and bold animation, the PEEP shorts are appropriate for preschoolers.
LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Full screen versions of the shorts could be shown as part of a science day at the library. Stations where children could test some of the science concepts shown in the shorts could be set up.
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