Sid the Science Kid

Did You Know?

• The show's original working title was "What's the Big Idea?" and the title character was originally named Josh.
• The episode "Save the Stump!" won in the Children's Programming category at the 26th Genesis Awards presented by the Humane Society of the United States.

Premise

Sid is a curious kid who uses humor to explore the basic science questions kids wonder about, like why things happen. He works through problems with his pals May, Gerald, and Gabriela, plus his teacher Susie and his family—mom Alice, dad Mort, Grandma Rose, and baby brother Zeke. In one episode, Grandma adopts a shelter dog named Philbert. The show's ideas come from national science learning standards, cognitive learning theory, and a preschool science program called Preschool Pathways to Science. Season 1 organizes each week around one science topic. The first week covers tools like charts and measuring. Later weeks look at changes such as growth and melting, the five senses, health topics like brushing teeth, simple machines like wheels, backyard science including animal homes, weather like rain and wind, and the human body with digestion and bones. Each Friday episode reviews and wraps up the week's main idea.

Characters

Sidney Jonathan "Sid" Williams (puppeteers Misty Rosas for body and Drew Massey for voice and face) always wished about being a scientist when he grows up. He is the most practical character and often portrayed as a very supportive friend and leading scientist in his group. His special item is a toy microphone with four colored buttons that play laughter, applause, a cow noise, or record echoes. Sid's mother is of African-American descent and his father grew up Jewish. May (puppeteers Dana Michael Woods for body and Julianne Buescher for voice and face) is one of Sid's best friends, known for her friendliness and politeness, and is considerably smarter than her other three friends. She is of Chinese descent, has a cat named Mushu, and wears glasses due to nearsightedness. Gerald McIntosh (puppeteers Alon Williams for body and Victor Yerrid for voice and face) is very enthusiastic, rambunctious, and imaginative, often making creative entrances into school. A running gag is that he always tries to be funny but almost never succeeds. He has a dog named Chester. Gabriela Córdova (puppeteers John Munro Cameron for body and Alice Dinnean for voice and face) is the most sensible character and often comes up with the best jokes during Good Laughternoon. She is Hispanic, has an older brother named Mateo, and can speak both English and Spanish.

Episodes

Sid the Science Kid: The Movie, an animated film, aired on PBS Kids. The original voice cast returned, and Christopher Lloyd voiced Dr. Bonanodon. Sid and Gabriela win a contest, earning early access to a new science museum. There they meet Yangyang, Niuniu, and BobbyBot, a robot whose malfunction throws the museum into chaos, threatening its grand opening. Sid and his friends must restore order before the museum opens. This movie marks the series finale of Sid the Science Kid.