Work Out Cleaning Your Mess

Project Lead the Way believes that students love learning that feels like play. Through hands-on problem solving, they strive to help kids explore who they can be. Project Lead the Way is a proud sponsor of PBS Kids and Work It Out Wombats. Learn more at PLTW.org. From your friends at PBS Kids. We are the Wombats. Malik. Zadie. Zeke. And my stuffy snout. And you are our Wombuddies best ever friends. Work it out, work it out, work it out Wombuddies. If you're sad when things go.

do you have trouble doing really big chores, like cleaning up your messy room? Well, so do I. Sadie says cleaning up is like blowing your nose while doing a handstand. Impossible. So welcome to the Zadie Chronicles. Today's story, how Zadie learned to... Clean up her mess! So here's where the story starts. Zeke, Malik, and I promised to clean our sides of the room today. But now I don't want to. Because, ugh, I want to have fun with Junjun instead.

Hey, Zadie. Hey, Malik. Wanna go skateboarding? Yes. I'm all done cleaning. Got my skateboard. And ready to go! Whoa! Uh-oh! Watch out! You almost hit my dump truck. Whoa! Sorry, Zeke. Why are you riding your dump truck inside? Because it's helping me clean. Vroom, vroom, vroom. Sadie, you ready to go skateboarding? I am so not ready. Do you see my mess? It's making my head hurt.

That is a big mess. Hey, I have a song for you. It's really too bad you made such a mess. I can see why it's causing a whole lot of stress. There's toys and books and unicorn dresses. You got them all. You're the queen of messes. I am the queen. A queen with a great idea.

How about I clean my mess later and go skateboarding now? You always say you'll clean up later, but you never do. I will cross my heart times ten. Okay, got my helmet. Now where... Where's my board? Maybe your skateboard is at the bottom of that big messy pile? I'll go check. Sorry about that. But now that my mess is spread out, I can see all my things. Look, I found my moon unicorn. And my noisy thing.

And my finger puppet and my chompo. But no skateboard. Hmm. Is it in the closet? That's where I keep my board. Maybe. Whoa, there's tons more mess in here. It's taking a long time for you to find your skateboard, Zadie. A really long time. I have to be home in an hour. Hey, Zadie. How about me and Malik go now and you come skate with us when you find your board? Sure. Have fun. But not too much fun without me. Bye, Zadie. See you later. I hope.

Where did I put that skateboard? Found my pants, my PJs, and an old balloon. But still no skateboard. Beep, beep, beep. Backing up. Me and Snow can help you look if you want. Thanks, Zeke. And Snow. But I don't even know where to look. My skateboard could be anywhere. If you cleaned up your mess, you'd find it somewhere, right? Yeah, but that'll take forever. And where do I start? How'd you clean up so fast, Zeke?

I dump trucked it. Vroom, vroom. What? I put my stuff into small piles. A clothes pile, a toy pile, a book pile. Then I put each small pile in my dump truck and took it where it needed to go. Easy! Wow! How'd you even think of that? I just thought it would be easier to break it down into smaller parts. I'm going to try to break it down. Can I borrow your truck? Sure, but only if I drive. You can totally drive. Okay, there are three small piles, right? Toys, clothes, and books? Yep.

You make the small piles, then I'll dump check them to the toy box, the closet, and the bookcase. Sounds like a plan. When there's a mess to clean, but you don't know where to start, you can break it down. Put your toys in one big pile. Then clothes go over here. Next, gather your books in this little book. No, you're making the mess disappear.

When there's a mess to clean but you don't know where to start. You can break it down and do it part by part. Beep, beep, beep. Driving the toys to the toy box. I'm opening the toy box. Now we're dumping in the toys. High five! Wanna drive my clothes to the closet next? There's a myth to clean but you don't know where to start You're making the mess disappear. Yes! I found it! My skateboard. It was under my pillow. Under your pillow?

Why'd you leave it there? I wanted to dream about skateboarding. But I have it now, and my mess is all cleaned up. I couldn't have done it without you, Zeke. I'm off to find Joon Joon and Malik. Bye. Have fun. Aren't you coming? I don't know how to skateboard. But you do know how to drive a dump truck. Why don't you and Snout come ride around behind us? Snout says, yes. Ready? Vroom, vroom! Away we go! Just remember, Wombuddies, anytime you have a big job to do, like cleaning up a big mess,

Don't let it get you down. Break the big job into smaller parts and you'll get it done. It helps if you have a dump truck. Vroom, vroom. Or a song to get you through. When there's a mess to clean but you don't know where to start You're making the mess disappear When there's a mess to clean But you don't know where to

Thanks for listening, Wombuddies. If you like the Work It Out Wombats podcast, ask your grown-up to subscribe so you don't miss any new episodes. You can listen to all our podcasts, watch videos, and play games for free. at pbskids.org. The Working on Wombats podcast is produced for PBS Kids by GBH Kids and distributed by PBS Kids and PRX.

Working Out Wombats is made possible by a Ready to Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. Support for this podcast and the following message for parents comes from McCormick. Whether it's a last-minute bake sale, Taco Tuesday on a Wednesday, or a meal for your future in-laws, McCormick has been by your side for over 130 years. It's gonna be great. Learn more at McCormick.com.