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Acme School of Stuff facts for kids

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The Acme School of Stuff
Genre Children's
Educational
Presented by David Stringer
Country of origin Canada
Release
Original network TVOntario
Original release 1 September 1988 (1988-09-01) – 1 December 1990 (1990-12-01)

The Acme School of Stuff was a cool Canadian TV show for kids. It aired on TVOntario from September 1, 1988, to December 1, 1990. The show taught viewers about how different things work. David Stringer was the host and also produced the series.

Discovering How Things Work

The show was about explaining everyday items and processes. Each episode was about 30 minutes long. It was designed to make learning about technology fun.

What Was the Show About?

Every episode of The Acme School of Stuff followed a clear pattern.

  • It started by explaining the theory of operation for an item. This means how something works or what it's made of.
  • Then, the show would take you on a field trip. This was usually a visit to a factory or a plant. You could see how the item was actually made.
  • Finally, the episode would finish with more facts. It might explain another related item or a different part of the process.

Fun Features of the Show

The Acme School of Stuff had some special things that made it unique and fun to watch.

The Rube Goldberg Machine

At the start of each show, there was a special opening scene. It featured a Rube Goldberg machine. This is a super-complicated machine that does a very simple task. It uses a chain reaction of many different parts. All the parts in the machine were items that had been explained on the show. It was a clever way to show how different things work together.

Talking to the Audience

The show made sure that facts were easy to understand. David Stringer talked to the audience in a friendly way. It felt like a conversation, not a boring lecture. The show also sometimes broke the fourth wall. This means the host would talk directly to the camera crew. You might hear comments from the TV crew. They also used special camera and lighting effects. This made it feel like you were right there with them.

Where to Watch Now

Even though the show ended in 1990, many episodes are still available. You can find them online on YouTube. Look for the "acmeschool" channel to watch them.

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