Cyberchase Launches Weather Watchers this April

What if kids could get involved with predicting their own snow days -- or hit-the-beach days? Beginning Monday, April 20 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings), they can find out a lot more about weather with one of their favorite animated series. CYBERCHASE is launching a new seventh-season "Weather Watchers" initiative that brings climate issues front and center with new episodes, a challenging new online game, and rich outreach activities. On hand to lend her weather wisdom is NBC meteorologist Janice Huff, who will voice the cartoon character of Stormy Gale and also appear as herself in two CYBERCHASE For Real segments.

CYBERCHASE's Weather Watchers will explore real-world math connections in a context that encourages kids to take action and seek answers about the weather and its impact on the environment. The initiative launches just in time for PBS KIDS Share the Earth Day on April 22.

CYBERCHASE For Real, a live-action segment found at the end of each animated episode, will show how Janice Huff from WNBC New York and THE TODAY SHOW uses math with every weather forecast. "You can't understand the weather without using math -- it's a big part of my job every day," says Huff. "After watching these CYBERCHASE episodes, young viewers will never look at the weather report the same way again -- and they may even want to go test out those forecasts for themselves."

The Weather Watchers initiative features five math and weather-themed episodes, including four premieres; a new interactive Web game at CYBERCHASE Online (pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase); hands-on activities for kids; tips for parents and teachers and other outreach efforts, reaching kids on air, online and in communities nationwide.

The Weather Watchers episodes will embed math concepts in situations where the CyberSquad quantifies atmospheric conditions, makes predictions and measures physical properties to get out of jams caused by the villainous Hacker. Huff helps reinforce these concepts with her animated and "for real" appearances in the first two episodes on April 20 and 21.

On the web, CYBERCHASE Online will launch fresh, exciting activities and materials tied to the Weather Watchers theme for season seven. A new immersive game will enable kids to respond to simulated weather conditions by using math to solve weather-related problems. This interactive experience features several mini-games where kids must save Cyberspace by using math to solve weather-related problems.

Also on CYBERCHASE Online, kids and adults will be able to watch Weather Watchers episodes 24-7 and download them for free. The episodes will also stream on the PBS KIDS GO! video player at pbskids.org/go/video. Parents and teachers can find tips for ways to combine math and weather, plus weather-related activities and educational outreach materials, at CYBERCHASE Online (pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase).

For more CYBERCHASE fun, don't miss the February premieres of brand new, web- exclusive online videos, The Misadventures of Buzz & Delete, Lucky Star Game Show, and the live-action Math Magic with "Harry" from CYBERCHASE For Real. These short form videos can be streamed or downloaded at pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase or, in early February, on the PBS KIDS GO! video player, perfect for the classroom or on-the-go mobile devices. Kids can also go online to play related games and continue the adventures.

CYBERCHASE -- the only math series for children on American TV -- airs daily on PBS KIDS GO! across the country. Check local listings at CYBERCHASE Online: pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase. In the tri-state area, CYBERCHASE can be seen weekdays at 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. on THIRTEEN, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. on V-me and Monday-Friday at 7 a.m. on WLIW21.

CYBERCHASE is produced by THIRTEEN in association with Title Entertainment Inc. and WNET.ORG. Exec producers are Sandra Sheppard, THIRTEEN's director of Children's and Educational Programming, and Frances Nankin. Ellen Doherty is senior series producer.

Major funding for CYBERCHASE is provided by the National Science Foundation, Ernst & Young LLP, Northrop Grumman Corporation, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by The Volckhausen Family. Special funding for CYBERCHASE Weather Watchers is provided by Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman.