Whack-a-Mole!

Episode Description: When a flyer leads Max and Molly to new POG activity, Aunt M sends them to the Great Wall of China in 1601. There, they discover that what locals think is a terrifying “monster” is actually a POG transmission antenna. With the Commander eager to take credit, Max and Molly must rescue a strange printout that deepens the koan mystery. Math Concepts:  Time calculations (converting minutes → seconds, hours → minutes → seconds); Speed, distance, and pace (Molly’s run: 1.1 miles in 9:45 → pace calculations); Order of Operations (PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction); Prime vs composite numbers (e.g., 9 as the first odd composite number); Ratios and unit conversions (seconds to minutes, minutes to hours)History/Geography Concepts:  Geography: The Jiumenkou section of the Great Wall—unique as a bridge with nine arches spanning the Jiujiang River; History: Ming Dynasty China, 1601 CE; Cultural element: How myths and misunderstandings can grow around technology (locals mistaking a satellite dish for a monster); Philosophy: Koans (riddles used in Zen Buddhism to provoke deeper thought)

Episode Description:  Max, Molly, and Rufus are pulled into one of Alaska’s most legendary true stories: the 1925 Serum Run to Nome, Alaska. Teaming up with mushers like Wild Bill Shannon, Leonhard Seppala, and famous sled-dogs Togo and Balto, they brave blizzards, ice, and exhaustion to help deliver life-saving medicine. Along the way, they use Math, stamina, and teamwork with furry friends to help save a community. Math Concepts: Division and averages (150 ÷ 20 = 7.5 dogs per team) Distance, rate, and time calculations; Multiplication with decimals; Ratios and comparisons. History/Geography Concepts: History: The 1925 Serum Run to Nome (also called The Great Race of Mercy); Geography: Alaska, Nenana, Nome, Norton Sound, Arctic conditions; Biology: Dogs’ olfactory system (300 million receptors vs. 6 million in humans)

Episode Description: While erasing doodles for extra credit, Max and Molly stumble across a secret message from Aunt M hidden in the margin. It leads them to Burlington Bunker, a Cold War-era underground city in Corsham, England, where mysterious Morse code transmissions are being sent—possibly by the POGs or their underground allies, the Moles. With the help of a Problem Solving spy, Ames Blond, Max and Molly use pattern recognition, proportional reasoning, and division tricks to uncover a pattern in the coded transmissions. But just when they think the mission is over, they learn the transmissions are being sent... to Oshkosh. Math Concepts: Division & Multiplication relationships; Trick for dividing by 5: Multiply by 2 and move the decimal left one place; Parts of a Division Problem:  Dividend, Divisor, Quotient; Pattern Recognition; Basic Unit Conversions (minutes vs. seconds) History/Geography Concepts:  Applying math concepts to real-world spy scenarios; Burlington Bunker: Cold War-era government facility in England. Morse Code: Historical communication method, including its use on the Titanic.  Avogadro & Mole (Chemistry reference): Sneaky cross-curricular connection

Episode Description:  When Max and Molly receive a mysterious telegram, it sends them straight to the North Atlantic—just in time for the Titanic disaster. Luckily, they are aboard the RMS Carpathia – the ship that came to the rescue of the Titanic’s passenger.  Using math, maritime history, and quick thinking they are able to help with one of the greatest rescues at sea ever! Math Concepts:  Calculating distance between coordinates using the Haversine formula; Nautical miles and knots as units of distance and speed; Unit conversion: knots to miles per hour; Multiplication and division with decimals; Lifeboat capacity analysis through multiplication and addition.History/Geography Concepts: The sinking of the Titanic (April 14th, 1912); Role of the RMS Carpathia in the Titanic rescue; Guglielmo Marconi and the development of wireless communication; Lifeboat design innovation by Maria E. Beasley; Geography of the North Atlantic Ocean and use of coordinates; Contributions of Molly Brown & Captain Arthur Rostron; Women’s suffrage & early 20th-century activism

Episode Description: Trolly Moly the Trolls are back! A surprise messenger sends Max & Molly off to ancient Egypt to stop the Trolls from sabotaging the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria. Can they decode a watery weapon, navigate nautical math, and save one of the Seven Wonders of the World? Math Concepts:  Division and ratios; Patterns and extrapolation; Estimating and solving with proportional reasoning; Understanding speed units like knots and converting between degrees, arc minutes, and arc seconds; Calculating how long it takes to travel one degree of latitude at a given speed.History/Geography Concepts: The history and significance of the Lighthouse of Alexandria; Use of lighthouses in ancient maritime navigation; How ancient ports like Alexandria supported trade and cultural exchange; Protractors and angles in real-world physics (catapults); Cultural geography: Nile Delta, ancient Egypt, ancient Alexandria

Max and Molly follow a cryptic ice cream clue to the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, where they meet a Sherpa named Amarita and learn about the legend of the Yeti. As they explore the region’s history, they uncover how myths can protect culture, ecology, and even scare off evil. Along the way, they break down measurement conversions and altitude math to track their frosty path. But with POGs lurking nearby, their mission takes on a whole new layer of importance. Math Concepts:  Unit Conversion: Centimeters to inches/Inches to feet;Comparative Subtraction: Altitude difference between home and Mount Everest Base Camp (16,900 ft - 771 ft = 16,129 ft) Division & Estimation:Ice cream cost per sandwich (10 ÷ 12 ≈ $0.83)History/Geography Concepts:  Introduction to the Himalayas & Mount Everest; Folklore and the legend of the Yeti; Importance of Sherpas in Himalayan expeditions. Critical Thinking – Cryptids and the balance between myth and meaning; Legends as tools for conservation, unity, and wonder

Episode Description: When a marching band practice turns into a math-filled magic show, Max and Molly stumble upon suspicious activity involving real moles, fake teachers, and a very old-school printer. Can they figure out what the POGs are planning before it's too late? Math Concepts: Probability and Fractions: Calculating odds (e.g., 1 in 52 chance = 1.923%); Converting fractions to percentages (7/8 = 87.5%); Ratios & Proportions; Permutations with Repetition: 2^3 = 8 possible outcomes for 3 suspects being Mole or Not MoleHistory/Geography Concepts: Classic spy tools like encoded messages, antenna signals, and scroll-like printouts

Episode Description: Max and Molly team up with a surprising ally—Aunt M’s teenage boyfriend Murph—as they race to help save the Apollo 13 astronauts from disaster. But strange things are still happening in the time-warped school, and Charlene’s mysterious assignment might be more dangerous than she realizes. Math Concepts: Subtraction and Time Intervals; Multiplication and Division; Ratios and Proportions; Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation: Applying the formula for gravitational force (F = GMm/R²) to calculate acceleration from the moon’s pull; Unit Conversions & Scientific Notation: Newtons, kilograms, meters per second, volts. History/Geography Concepts: Apollo 13 Mission (1970): including learning about spacecraft structure (Command Module, Lunar Module), CO₂ scrubbers, and gravitational slingshot maneuvers.

Episode Description: Max and Molly are shocked to discover their school has mysteriously time-warped back to 1970—and so has Aunt Murgatroyd, who’s now a teenager again. As they navigate outdated vending machines, retro slang, and payphones, they realize something more sinister may be at play. For one thing, there is a rocket emergency in outer space – while closer to home, the POGs seem to be targeting a young Aunt M – and Charlene may be helping them! Math Concepts: Elapsed time calculation (i.e. - 2025 minus 1970 = 55 years); Basic probability concepts; Fractions and percentages; Pattern recognition; Estimation and coin math. History/Geography Concepts: The  Apollo 13 crisis – a real-world 1970 event involving NASA’s near-catastrophic moon mission. Cultural context of 1970s America: decor, fashion, technology, and retro candy

Episode Description: Max and Molly try to decode a mysterious POG message hidden in the Statue of Liberty's torch, but they are overwhelmed by permutations—until a clue from a previous mission shines new light. The clues lead them to 16th-century France, where they use a clever time trick to gain the trust of famed psychic, Nostradamus. Can he help them catch a POG Mole without blowing their cover? Math Concepts: Permutations without repetition (factorials); Simple multiplication and pattern building with factorials (7! = 5040; 8! = 40,320) History/Geography Concepts: Introduction to Nostradamus: his visions, writings, and court life in 16th-century France; Catherine de Medici and King Henri II’s court; Palace intrigue and the role of advisors in Renaissance politics; Zen koans and Buddhist philosophy