Very great idea to incorporate real life "man versus nature" aspect and making a sidescrolling platformer a learning experience. This has quite some potential to be a bunch of timecombined with skillbased gameplay and some adduitional learning.
Here are some suggestions:
- Study some platforming mapdesign to place obstacles according to skill level e.a. introducing a mechanic or a change of platform variation before it becomes a norm. Like going backwards, or rising water levels - all of this has to be displayed to the player before it becomes a challange (Games Done Quick has some good videos on that)
- Give the player some time when unlocking new info. I enjoy knowledge and it feels rewarding to gain knowledge. But meing mid-challange there is no time to stop and read the info.
- Scale your skill on pixel art, nowadays a good gameplay, especially a game with learning and knowledge, that does look "homebrew" does not appeal that quickly.
Lovely game, great fun and amazin incorporation of the Jam Theme!