Common Sense Media Review
By Leslie Crenna
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Rocket/bird buddies launch preschoolers into STEM learning.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Videos and Photos
Space Racers
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
The main area highlights 11-minute full episodes of the SPACE RACERS show, which features a crack team of digitally rendered bird-like rocket ships: Eagle, Robyn, Hawk, Starling, and Raven. These characters train and learn together at the Stardust Bay Space Academy, carrying out scientific missions in the process. Kids also can choose games, coloring pages, music segments, nonanimated learning segments, and printouts from the lesson plans. Parents and educators can navigate to 17 lesson plans that address STEM concepts such as observation, unit length and depth, the wonders of space, and teamwork. Grown-ups also can access additional resources such as a newsletter, links, and an educational philosophy statement.
Is It Any Good?
Booster rockets: engaged. Wings: back. Space visors: down ... BLAST OFF! Headmaster Crane and a voice-activated computer system named Ava guide the Space Racer cadets as they launch into the solar system, tackling challenges such as rescuing wayward members or collecting data. The premise and characters are similar to those of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and Jay Jay the Jet Plane but with STEM scientific objectives and content at the fore. For example, the episode wherein Robyn and Hawk brainstorm to save a probe from descending to Jupiter's surface exemplifies the team approach to solving problems. Connect-the-dots printables teach the constellations in a perfect fit with preschooler sensibilities. Kids acquire essential aeronautics knowledge with a link to the fantastic Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website. Very cool.
A couple of quibbles: Personalities are a bit expected: brainy, innocent, yet brave; insecure but steadfast; mischievous; new kid; and jock. Plus the songs are not especially inspiring. The Space Collector game wherein kids collect asteroids or satellites of a certain shape or color ensures success for little ones by brushing off collisions with non-target objects but is almost too easy. And the 3-D Racer game simply doesn't load. Despite these few failings, Space Racers' lessons, built around video episodes, offer a whole lot of fun resources as well as engaging story lines that will draw in the littlest of learners.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it feels like to fly in preparation for a big trip or to process the fear a bumpy flight might induce. Try extending those concepts to space flight.
Families also can talk about curiosity and the desire for knowledge. How many curious people did it take to get humans to the moon?
Enjoy whole-family moon-phase observations in the winter when bedtimes won't be too disrupted by evening sessions.
Website Details
- Subjects : Science : astronomy , geology , gravity , momentum , motion , physics , rocks and minerals , Social Studies : cultural understanding , exploration
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , asking questions , collecting data , decision-making , hypothesis-testing , investigation , memorization , part-whole relationships , problem solving , Self-Direction : academic development , achieving goals , goal-setting , work to achieve goals , Emotional Development : empathy , moving beyond obstacles , persevering , Collaboration : meeting challenges together , teamwork
- Genre : Educational
- Pricing structure : Free
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate