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Mini Fab Science Lab
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Watch Mini Fab Science Lab on PBS
A PBS NC Original Production
In Mini Fab Science Lab, Ava and friends team up to ask big questions, investigate STEAM concepts in the lab and hear from local experts on the science behind everyday things. The show is designed to encourage a love for learning among young children, critical thinking and resilience.
Watch Mini Fab Science Lab, streaming now on YouTube and the PBS app. All episodes are available to stream below in English, Spanish and with an American Sign Language Interpreter.
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Full Episodes
English and Spanish
Mini Fab Science Lab episodes are available in English and Spanish. To change the video language, click on the closed captions button in the bottom right corner of the video and choose the language you'd like to watch in.
With American Sign Language Interpretation
Mini Fab Science Lab ASL specials are available in English and Spanish. To change the video language, click on the closed captions button in the bottom right corner of the video and choose the language you'd like to watch in.
Meet the Host
Ava The STEM Princess
Ava N. Simmons, also known as Ava The STEM Princess® and Ava The STEM Ambassador™, is a 12-year-old science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) ambassador, entrepreneur, toy designer, author and creator of educational toy brand Team Genius Squad. Diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia in 2021, Ava used STEM and entrepreneurial activities to help overcome her academic challenges and build her confidence.
To share her learning journey and encourage others, Ava creates engaging STEM-based educational videos, authors STEM books, conducts peer-to-peer STEM activities in the community and develops STEM toys for children ages 5–13, including children who are neurodivergent or in underserved areas. Over 700,000 households have viewed her educational videos, and she has conducted thousands of peer-to-peer STEM experiments with children in the community, authored 3 books and developed 15 branded STEM educational toys.
Mini Fab Science Lab Experiments
In Mini Fab Science Lab, Ava and her friends explore the world of science through hands-on experiments that can be easily recreated at home or in the classroom. Each experiment is aligned to the NC Foundations for Early Learning & Development (Pre-K) and the NC Standard Course of Study (K–3) science learning objectives. Download the Learning Goals version for more information.
Slime Experiment
Explore the stretchy world of polymers and create slime. Featured in Episode 1: Stretch, Squish & Bounce.
Elephant Toothpaste Experiment
Learn how molecules break apart and change form. Featured in Episode 2: The Rotten Banana
Lemon Power Experiment
Discover how different energy sources power our world by turning lemons into batteries. Featured in Episode 3: Lemon Power
Glove Balloon Experiment
Discover how cucumbers become pickles with an acid-base reaction. Featured in Episode 4: In a Pickle
Milk-Soap Experiment
Explore the invisible force of surface tension by experimenting with milk and soap. Featured in Episode 5: Mix It Up
Behind the Scenes: On Set with Mini Fab Science Lab
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Cast and crew of Mini Fab Science Lab episode "Lemon Power" pose for a photo at the end of filming.
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Brooke and Ava are all smiles while learning about electricity at the PBS NC studio.
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There's science in my cereal?! Eleanor and Ava explore the world of surface tension in the Mini Fab Science Lab episode "Mix It Up."
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Ava the STEM Ambassador and her friends Cathal and Carter pose in front of the green screen on set of PBS North Carolina's new series, Mini Fab Science Lab.
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Cast and crew of Mini Fab Science Lab episodes "In a Pickle" and "Stretch, Squish and Bounce" pose for a photo at the end of filming. You can learn all about acids and bases, and polymers with Carter, Cathal, and Ava!
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Carter and Ava learn about acid-base reactions by doing an experiment featuring vinegar, baking soda and a latex glove. I wonder what else acid-base reactions can do?
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Taking on the role of Lead Silliness Coordinator, Producer Izzy Daniels-Connor leads Ava and Brooke through some dances, stretches and warm ups before filming.
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Carter and Ava get the wiggles out with Producer Izzy Daniels-Connor before filming the episode "In A Pickle."
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Ava and Elijah break it down after learning about decomposition reactions!
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Cast and crew of Mini Fab Science Lab episodes "Rotten Banana" and "Mix It Up" pose for a photo at the end of filming. You can learn all about decomposition reactions and surface tension with Ava, Elijah, and Eleanor!
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Coordinating Producer Jewel Ausby Lowe and Director Isaac Klein discuss notes on the set of Mini Fab Science Lab.
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Learning about electricity, Brooke and Ava check out their toy robot on the set of Mini Fab Science Lab.
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Director Isaac Klein guides the young actors through their lines during the filming of "Rotten Banana."
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Ava stretches the homemade slime she made alongside her friend Cathal before learning more about polymers.
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Elijah, Ava and Producer Izzy Daniels-Connor pose in front of the set of Mini Fab Science Lab.
Mini Fab Science Lab Locations
In each episode, we meet scientists and experts at fascinating locations across North Carolina. Learn more about the places we explored below.
Episode 1: North Carolina Central University
Scientist Eric Saliim at North Carolina Central University helps the kids discover that science is everywhere, even in their shoes.
Website: nccu.edu
Episode 2: North Carolina Zoo
Experts George Adams and Kathy Osborne at the North Carolina Zoo reveal how decomposition plays a big role in caring for plants and animals.
Website: nczoo.org
Episode 3: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
An experiment about power and energy leads the kids to a virtual visit with electrical engineer Daryl "DJ" Riley Jr. at NC A&T.
Website: ncat.edu
Episode 4: Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Experts Liani Yirka and Jason Holmes at Sarah P. Duke Gardens show the kids how acids affect soil and can even change the color of flowers.
Website: gardens.duke.edu
Episode 5: NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles
The kids chat with Dr. Tova Williams, a scientist from NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles, who shares how color is added to fabric.
Website: textiles.ncsu.edu
Mini Fab Science Lab is made possible with support from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education.
And with our partners from Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Team Genius Squad, STEMIE and Newfruit Media.
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