NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ASHBURN, VA (April 4th, 2025) — JASON Learning is proud to feature the Playwatch series Black History Beats on its digital platform, providing educators with engaging lessons, activities, and educator guides that integrate Black history into STEM education.
Black History Beats, spearheaded by creator Joshua Bullock, has already gained national recognition for its unique fusion of Black history, hip-hop, animation, and storytelling to bring the stories of influential Black figures to life, ensuring students connect with these powerful narratives in meaningful ways. The Martin Luther King Jr. animation won three Telly Awards and aired on PBS.
These impactful animations—highlighting figures like Jackie Robinson, Bessie Coleman, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—are available to students and educators through JASON Learning’s Humans Who Make A Difference collection. Through JASON’s partnership with Playwatch Kids, JASON has developed lesson plans, activities, and educator guides that align with the animations, allowing teachers to integrate these inspiring stories into their curriculum.
“At JASON Learning, we are committed to providing engaging, high-quality educational resources that reflect the diverse experiences of students everywhere. Partnering with Playwatch Kids on Black History Beats allows us to amplify these powerful narratives and integrate them into STEM education, ensuring that young learners see themselves in the stories of innovation, leadership, and perseverance.”
—Dr. Eleanor Smalley, President and CEO of JASON Learning
Expanding Impact through Books
With the successful funding of Black History Beats on Kickstarter, Playwatch Kids is transforming these animations into a series of interactive books. This expansion allows young learners to engage with history in a new way, combining hip-hop-inspired storytelling with vivid illustrations.
The Black History Beats book series will feature:
- Jackie Robinson – Breaking barriers in baseball.
- Martin Luther King Jr. – Championing civil rights and justice.
- Bessie Coleman – Soaring high as the first African American female pilot.
These books, combined with JASON Learning’s digital resources and the original animations, create a multi-faceted learning experience designed to inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers.
“We are excited to join forces with JASON Learning to bring Black history narratives into STEM education. This partnership allows us to reach a broader audience and inspire students from all backgrounds to appreciate and pursue opportunities in science and technology.”
—Joshua Bullock, creator of Black History Beats
To learn more about the partnership between JASON Learning and Playwatch Kids and to stay updated on new resources and opportunities, visit https://jason.org/playwatch-kids/ and follow us on social media. Educators can access Black History Beats and other Playwatch Kids content through the JASON Digital Platform.
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About JASON Learning
JASON Learning is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit transforming science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through real-world STEM curricula, project-based learning experiences for Pre-K-12 students, and high-quality professional development for teachers. JASON’s mission is to “inspire and educate students everywhere through real science and exploration.” To learn more about JASON, visit https://jason.org/.
JASON Media Contact: Jenna Davis, jdavis@jason.org.
About Playwatch
Playwatch is a creative studio dedicated to producing high-quality, educational content that entertains and informs. With a focus on diverse storytelling and innovative media, Playwatch aims to inspire and educate audiences through engaging narratives and dynamic visuals.
Playwatch Media Contact: Joshua Bullock, jbullock@playwatchkids.com.
