DragonflyTV

DragonflyTV
Created by	KTCA
Starring	Eric Artell, Michael Brandon Battle, and Mariko Nakasone
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	30 Minutes
Original release
Network	PBS
Release	2002 – present

DragonflyTV is an award-winning multi-media science education program combining television, community outreach, the Web, and fun. Produced by KTCA, creator of the long-running family science series Newton's Apple, DragonflyTV engages tens of millions of children, parents and teachers in accessible, hands-on science activities. DragonflyTV is designed to appeal to children from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds. By modeling and celebrating children's science capabilities, DragonflyTV has always shown that if kids can dream it, they can do it!

DragonflyTV's first step has been to attract children with a TV show unlike anything they've seen before. The DragonflyTV television program is broadcast nationwide on PBS stations, and presents real-life science investigations in a style of television that captures the attention of today's MTV and video-game generation. Against a pop-music soundtrack, children tell about their investigations, communicating the infectious excitement that comes with making their own discoveries. The new season airs in 2008.

DragonflyTV extends beyond the television screen, offering a variety of standards-based learning tools. A rich, interactive Web site, a biannual children's science magazine, educators' guides, Fun Kits, and other outreach materials are available to schools, homes, community organizations, or any place kids gather to explore, create, and discover. It is not broadcasted on WGBH, WHYY-TV, NJN,NHPTV (New Hampshire Public Television), or on WNET New York.

Episodes

Season 1

2. Wheels

Production Code: 102

Twin Motocross Racers Tamara and Tara explore what impact their body positions have on their motorcycle jumps, while Skateboarders Scott and Anthony experiment with different sized wheels that have the best in terms of maximizing speed and maneuverability. Two young inventors named Patrick and Justin show how skis and scooters can pair up to speed through the snow.

3. Animal Behavior

Production Code: 103

Dog owners Anna and Laura test their dog's performances on intelligence tests, while Jouse and Michelle compare otter grooming habits.

4. Water

Production Code: 104

Champion surfer Carsten explores how the terrain around different beaches affects the sport on waves, while Hilary investigates how dolphins make friends, observing pair bonding among dolphins. Also in this episode, Valerie and Margie tackle two twisty waterslides to determine which is speediest and most "wild."

5. Rocks

Production Code: 105

Simi, Jenny and Danny kayak down a raging river and learn how rock size affects speed, while Climbers Gordon and Jesse explore different types of rock as they scale sheer cliffs in Aspen, Colorado.

6. Flight

Production Code: 106

Alex and Ryan, model airplane pilots, investigate how different wing designs affect how the stunt planes preform. David, Abby and Alex use a thermal camera to determine how the terrain below affects the paraglider in flight.

7. Weather

Production Code: 107

Melissa and Elizabeth visit the site of a recent tornado and examine the damage to determine the tornado's strength on the F Scale. Sullivan and Alexa engineer their own tornado model to explore how tornados are made. Also Mari and Lindsay test traditional forecasts against modern weather predictions.

8. Technology

Production Code: 108

A GEMS team (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) make a robot to compete in the "First LEGO League" contest. Isaac and Anjali find out how their model solar car performs as the sun moves across the sky at different times of day.

9. Plants

Production Code: 109

Elissa and Julia track a swarm of weevils charged with saving the Everglades from invasive melaleuca trees, while certified Scuba divers Megan and Ian meet some amazing creatures in an underwater kelp forest. Maddie, Mia, Ally and Mikki investigate how leaves change color in the fall.

10. Air

Production Code: 110

GiGi and Emmanuel investigate how sail position affects speed of sailboats, and Masha and Patsy check out how the temperature inside a hot-air balloon makes them soar in the sky or sink to the ground.

11. Human Behavior

Production Code: 111

Maddy and Martina investigate how inaccurate human perception can be. Zahabiya and Christopher investigate people's reactions to roller coasters.

12. Space

Production Code: 112

Sarah, Shakivia and Erica send coconut snacks into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle to investigate how the coconut would be as a space food. Chris and Vanessa make models of moon craters, then compare their models with the view through their own telescopes.

13. Human Body

Production Code: 113

Young Martial Arts athletes Kha and Peta determine how different tae kwon do moves challenge their bodies' skeletal and muscular systems, and then attempt to do what they learned in competition.

External links

• DragonflyTV official website
• Twin Cities Public Television
• DragonflyTV on imdb
• Dragonfly TV on TV.com