Getting the ball rolling on science

An Ottawa producer is behind the hit TV show ‘Run the Marbles!’ which inspires kids to take STEM out of the classroom

Cast members from ‘Run the Marbles!’ now on TVOkids. Photo Credit GAPC Entertainment

You may have seen those awe-inspiring videos of mesmerizing marble runs created by engineers on social media.

Instead of scrolling by like many others, Ottawa’s Hoda Elatawi was inspired to create a television show using marble runs to teach kids about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“We wanted to create fun activities for kids using marble runs that also inspired problem solving,” says Elatawi, the president and senior producer with GAPC Entertainment.

“The marble runs incorporate aspects of science, technology, engineering and math and we did it with stuff you’d find around your own house as well as using marble run kits that are available in stores,” she says.

GAPC Entertainment did a casting call on Facebook. The company has a good reputation for working with children and trust is a huge factor, says Elatawi, adding that they have worked hard over the years to gain that trust.

“We sought out kids with big personalities. Ones that could have fun and laugh at their mistakes and believe me, there were lots of ‘oops’ moments in the show,” she says.

Hoda Elatawi. Photo by Ben Welland

The show stars five kids, an older guide and a narrator who asks questions about how to make things work. Even the crew gets involved. “This was a hoot for them too,” she says.

On the show, kids were asked, “‘What happens if…’ “They had fun trying to get things to work,” Elatawi says. And it’s fun for parents to watch and maybe even try things at home. It can be a learning experience for everyone.”

The show is aimed at the four to seven age group. “At this age, most kids are really open to discovering things,” she says. “Marble runs are just fun… a great way to expose kids to concepts like potential energy, kinetic energy and how slope, speed and height can affect what happens to your marbles. You do it all with paper towel rolls, cardboard boxes and string – just stuff you find at home.”

GAPC Entertainment has a history of creating educational and entertaining television programming and the company has done a lot of work with TVO Kids. Other GAPC productions include “Polkaroo Reads,” “ScienceXplosion” and “Where’s My Alphabet?” They’ve also produced many documentaries.

GAPC’s latest idea was a hit. “TVO really liked the idea when we pitched it to them,” says Elatawi. “We did our research, produced a pilot and TVO got on board with it.”

The series premiered on TVO on May 19 and its 25 episodes with titles like “Water Slide Fun,” “Alphabet Karaoke,” “Loopy Marble Run” and “Bendy Clay Run” captured the imagination of youngsters and their parents.

“We just tapped into kids’ natural curiosity and their love of silliness,” says Elatawi.

The best thing about this series? The marble runs “are things you can build at home so families can have fun, and it becomes a great way to learn and build together.”

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Where to watch “Run the Marbles!”