Series

Ubongo Kids

20 episodes

Ubongo Kids is an animated STEM and life-skills series from Ubongo, a Tanzanian social enterprise, set in the fictional Kokotoa Village. Four friends solve everyday problems alongside talking animal mentors, and every episode wraps a single concept in a story and an original song. Across its seasons it teaches upper-elementary math (decimals, time, statistics, basic algebra), science (circuits, nutrition), civics and economics (voting, saving), and social-emotional skills like goal-setting, empathy, and digital citizenship. Free on the official English YouTube channel and pitched at grades three to six, it gives teachers a warm, music-driven way to introduce a concept through story before building on it.

what this series covers

What Ubongo Kids covers

20 episodes in the library, tagged for 3rd–6th. Heaviest coverage: Social-Emotional Learning, Math and Social Studies. Between them they line up with 29 distinct standards across 7 frameworks.

Episodes per grade

3rd: 16
4th: 19
5th: 20
6th: 17

Episodes per subject

Social-Emotional Learning: 8
Math: 6
Social Studies: 3
Health: 2
Science: 1
Technology: 1

NGSS (Science) 2

4-PS3-2Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
4-PS3-4Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.

Common Core — Math 5

3.MD.A.1Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time intervals in minutes; solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals.
3.MD.B.3Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories; solve one- and two-step "how many more" and "how many less" problems.
5.NBT.A.3Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths using base-ten numerals, number names, expanded form, and >, =, < symbols.
5.NBT.B.7Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value.
6.EE.B.6Use variables to represent numbers and write expressions when solving a real-world or mathematical problem.

Social Studies (C3 / NCSS) 4

D2.Civ.11.3-5Compare procedures for making decisions in a variety of settings, including classroom, school, government, and/or society.
D2.Civ.2.3-5Explain how a democracy relies on people's responsible participation, and draw implications for how individuals should participate.
D2.Civ.8.3-5Identify core civic virtues and democratic principles that guide government, society, and communities.
D2.Eco.1.3-5Compare the benefits and costs of individual choices.

CASEL (Social-Emotional) 12

CASEL.SOASocial awareness: understand and empathize with other people, including those different from you.
CASEL.RDM.2Identify solutions to personal and social problems.
CASEL.RDM.3Make a reasoned judgment after looking at the information, facts, and evidence.
CASEL.RDM.6Reflect on your role in the well-being of your family, classroom, and community.
CASEL.RS.6Show leadership in a group — organize, include, and share the work.
CASEL.RS.9Show respect and cultural competency across differences in background, language, and ability.

+ 6 more

CASEL.SA.5Show self-confidence — believe you can do hard things and take on a challenge.
CASEL.SA.6Hold a growth mindset: treat effort, practice, and mistakes as how ability grows.
CASEL.SM.3Show self-discipline and self-motivation — keep working when a task gets hard or boring.
CASEL.SM.4Set personal and group goals and track progress toward them.
CASEL.SM.5Use planning and organizational skills to break a task into steps and manage time and materials.
CASEL.SM.6Show the courage to take initiative — start something, try, or speak up first.

National Health Education 3

NHES.1.5.5Describe practices and behaviors that prevent or reduce health risks, such as eating vegetables and fruit daily.
NHES.1.5.2Describe benefits of practicing health-promoting behaviors.
NHES.1.5.7Explain ways to prevent common childhood injuries and health problems, such as swimming safety or managing emotions.

ISTE (Technology) 2

ISTE.1.2.aDigital footprint: manage your digital identity and make safe, legal, and ethical choices online.
ISTE.1.2.cSafeguard well-being: be intentional about what you do online and how much time you spend there.