Each episode: three choices, three challenges and several endings. Every run ends safely, sometimes in a hedge. How fast, and where the kart stops, depends on the science.

1. 1 1. Crates and Wheelsabout 15 min The kart is built. On Grandad’s driveway, how hard should Jo push, and how far will it roll? Members
2. 2 2. Into the Hedgeabout 15 min The first real hill run ends in a hedge. Too heavy, too fast, or no brakes? Members
3. 3 3. Wet Weekabout 15 min It rains all week and the hill is slick. Which wheels grip, and how much longer will it take to stop? Members
4. 4 4. One Rider or Twoabout 15 min The rules allow one rider or two. Two is heavier: harder to start, harder to stop. Is it faster? Members
5. 5 5. Kit’s Flagsabout 15 min Kit adds six flags for speed. Do they help, or is the air pushing back? Members
6. 6 6. Derby Dayabout 15 min One push at the top, one finish box at the bottom, and everything they tested on the way down. Members

Characters

Hill Street in early fall: one long hill, closed to cars for one Saturday a year, hay bales at every corner and a chalk finish box at the bottom. Jo’s grandad raced it forty years ago and still has the trophy. The test track is his driveway.

• Maya Driver · 11 Always wants one more test run, especially after a good one.
• Jo Pusher · 11 Times every run and writes it down, even the embarrassing ones.
• Grandad Jo’s grandad Won the derby in 1986. Says stopping is half the race.
• Kit Rival · 12 Adds flags for speed, then blames the wind.

What kids practice

Science · Forces and motion, grades 4–5. Each skill comes up inside the story, where a choice depends on it.

• Pushes and pullsBalanced and unbalanced forces, and which way things move.Push 10, friction 4: it speeds upComes up in Episode 1: Crates and Wheels
• Friction and gripWhy rough, wet or smooth surfaces change speed and stopping.Wet road, longer stopComes up in Episode 3: Wet Week
• Mass and motionA heavier kart needs a bigger push to start, and to stop.Two riders, a bigger pushComes up in Episode 4: One Rider or Two

More like this

More series in math, science and code. SLICE! Episode 1 is free to read today.

MembersRAMPMath · Angles and shapes

MembersMIXMath · Ratios and percents

MembersFIZZScience · Matter and mixtures

MembersLOOPCode · Logic and loops

Episode 1 freeSLICE!Math · Fractions

Details

• SettingHill Street in early fall: one long hill, closed to cars for one Saturday a year, hay bales at every corner and a chalk finish box at the bottom.
• CharactersMaya, Jo, Jo’s grandad and Kit.
• SubjectScience · Forces and motion. Pushes and pulls, friction and grip, and mass and motion.
• Grades4–5. Ages 9 to 12.
• FormatA branching comic. Your kid makes the choices, and the science decides what happens. Three choices, three challenges and several endings per episode.
• LengthAbout 15 minutes per episode. Season 1 has 6 episodes.
• When it startsSeason 1 is coming soon. Members get each new episode the week it comes out.
• SafetyNo ads, no chat. Safety and privacy