Work Out Playing Together

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. 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.

Hey, Wombuddies. Do you sometimes have majorly great ideas that turn out not so great? Well, here's the story of how my idea for a fun parade... wasn't fun. And how me, Malik, and Zeke worked it out. The story starts inside our house. We're looking out the window and not feeling great. Because... It's raining. I don't mind a little rain. This is a ton of rain. A million, billion buckets at least. Come on, clouds. Stop raining, okay? You want to go out and have...

Clouds never listen to me. Clouds don't listen to anyone, Zadie. What's something fun we can do inside? Play trucks? We did that already. We played trucks. Vroom, vroom, vroom! We played trains. Chugga-chugga-chugga-choo-choo! And we even played rocket ships and went to the moon! and played the piano. We're all out of fun things to do inside. I guess I'll just listen to the rain then. Which kind of sounds like drums.

hand like someone's hitting a symbol. It almost sounds like a marching band. Which is giving me a great idea. Let's have a fun parade. A loud one, where we march around the A parade will be super fun. I want to play my trumpet. No, no, no, no, no! No trumpets. Why? Parades are... always have trumpets. Because I'm going to play my big, loud, noisy thing. because your trumpet's so loud. Seriously? Seriously. Okay, no trumpet. I'll think of something else.

What if I put Snow in the wagon and he can be the leader of the parade? I can pull the wagon and hit my drum. No and no. No drums. And Snow can't be the leader. Why not? Snow wants to... to be the leader. The parade already has a leader. And it's me. Who made you the leader? The fun parade was my idea, right? So I get to pick the leader. One, two, three. And the leader is me. You can't argue with one, two, three. Okay, so I'm the leader out in the front with my big, loud, noisy thing.

And we'll march from the bedroom into the living room around the couch, then into the kitchen. What is that? This you mean? They're noisemakers I saved from our parties. I'm going to honk them while we're marching. I told you, Malik. I'm playing my noisy thing. We don't need any more noise than that. What do I get to do? You can march. Behind me. Did you hear me? I'm the leader, and you can march behind me. I heard. Hey, Zeke, you want to do something that's actually fun?

Like get a snack? Ooh, toast and jam. Excellent idea, Zeke. Let's go. What about the fun parade? You mean your un-fun parade? No, thanks. Well, I don't need them. I can have a fun parade by myself. Here I go. That's enough of your noisy thing. It's my big, loud, noisy thing, Super. And this is a parade. A parade? With just one person? Well, it was gonna be all three of us.

But then Malik and Zeke didn't want to. Because you said the parade would be fun. And it wasn't. What wasn't fun about it? You wouldn't let us do anything. You didn't listen to... any of her ideas, you wouldn't let me play the trumpet or honk the noisemaker. And you wouldn't let me drum or let Snout be the leader. Oh.

I guess I made it fun for me, but I didn't think about making it fun for you. You got it. So how do I fix this? Can't we try the parade again, only this time you listen to us? Sure. Talk away. I'm listening. Here's a plan. What if we each get to have one idea for the parade? I'll honk the noisemaker. I'll pulse now in the wagon. I can bang some potlets together if you'll let me join. Woo-hoo! Yeah! Super's in the parade! And I won't play my noisy thing because it's too noisy.

Thank you, little Squish. Instead, I'll... Put on my big log boots and juggle oranges. Do you know how to juggle? No. How hard can it be? You just throw them into the air and catch them. Or not. I guess I need more practice. How about you just stomp your boots? That works. This was the best. Try listening to what other people think. Take one idea from everyone and you can work it out. Because things are usually way more fun when they're fun for everyone.

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. The Working Out 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.