STEM with Dr. Owl

168 Episodes

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Why Do Things Melt? – Physics & Chemistry for Kids

2026-02-0410:17

🍦 Learn about the physics of melting, molecules, and the three states of matter as Ziggy the Robot desperately tries to stop his lime popsicle from turning into a sticky puddle! Join Dr. Owl and Emma for a "molecule dance party" to discover why heat makes the tiny building blocks of our world wiggle, jiggle, and slide apart. It is a science-tastic adventure filled with frozen soldiers, rock juice, and even jet-powered puddles!

How Do Microwaves Cook Food? – Physics & Energy for Kids

2026-02-0210:55

Learn how microwave ovens use invisible electromagnetic waves to vibrate water molecules and create heat. Join Dr. Owl, curious Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they discover why soup gets hot faster than crackers and why metal causes sparks inside the oven. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS4.B – Electromagnetic Radiation & Heat Transfer

How Do Binoculars Work? – Light Physics & Optics for Kids

2026-01-3009:51

Learn the science of optics and how convex lenses and prisms magnify distant objects. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they discover why images flip upside down inside binoculars and how light performs gymnastics to reach your eyes. This episode explains the "Big Catch," the "Magic Folding," and why two eyes are better than one! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. Learning Connection: NGSS 4-PS4-2 – Light reflecting from objects and entering the eye to allow objects to be seen.

Why Do Prices Go Up and Down? [Money, Market, and Me! - EP8]

2026-01-2811:01

It’s freezing outside, and Ziggy has bought every single box of hot chocolate in town—and he’s selling them for ONE MILLION DOLLARS! Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they warm up with a lesson on why prices go up and down. Kids will learn about supply, demand, and scarcity while navigating Ziggy’s chaotic cocoa monopoly. This episode is part of the mini series: Money, Market, and Me! — listen to the full collection HERE.

What Is Zero? (And Why Do We Need It?)

2026-01-2611:44

Discover how zero acts as a crucial placeholder in math and forms the secret language of computers. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they bake "zero cookies," investigate why Ancient Romans struggled with math, and learn why "nothing" is actually a superhero number. It’s a counting adventure where empty space means everything! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. CCSS-Math: Number & Operations in Base Ten (Place Value)

Why Is This Orange Fuzzy? (What Is Mold?)

2026-01-2310:28

🍊 Discover the secret world of mold spores, fungi, and nature’s cleanup crew in this fun biology episode. Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they help Ziggy the Robot understand why his orange grew a "green beard" and how tiny spores float through the air to find a home. You'll even learn how some molds are used to make life-saving medicine! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS2.A – Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

How Does Our Body Fix A Scrape?

2026-01-2110:42

🩹 Ouch! Emma took a tumble on her roller skates! Join Dr. Owl and Ziggy as they shrink down to investigate the amazing "Emergency Repair Crew" inside our bodies. From sticky platelets stopping the leak to white blood cell soldiers fighting off germs, find out how your body acts like a fortress to fix itself! Don't forget to sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get useful science materials and fun activities sent straight to you! Learning Connection Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.A – Structure and Function.

Can Money Grow On Trees? | What Is Investing? [Money, Market, and Me! - EP7]

2026-01-1911:11

Can you grow a donut tree? Ziggy certainly thinks so, but Dr. Owl swoops in to teach him and Emma that while pastries don't grow in dirt, money actually can grow if you give it the right job! In this episode, our explorers dive into the basics of Investing, learning how to turn "sleeping" piggy bank savings into "working" investments, all while mastering the tricky balance of risk, reward, and patience. This episode is part of the mini series: Money, Market, and Me! — listen to the full collection HERE.

Why Does Bread Have Holes?

2026-01-1612:18

🍞 Have you ever wondered why your sandwich bread is full of tiny holes? Did invisible space ghosts take a bite? Join Dr. Owl, curious Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they head to the kitchen lab to discover the "invisible bakers" living in your dough! In this episode, we explore the science of yeast, how chemical reactions work, and why tiny gas bubbles make our lunch so fluffy. Want fun science experiments and activities sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com! Learning Connection Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS1.B – Chemical Reactions (Heating or mixing substances).

How Does A Camera Work?

2026-01-1413:16

📸 Ever wonder how a tiny box can freeze a moment forever? Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and our silly robot friend Ziggy as they zoom in on the science of photography! We will discover how camera lenses act like eyes, shutters blink like eyelids, and sensors catch "light rain" to create the pictures you see every day. Plus, find out how the very first cameras were actually giant rooms you could walk into! Don’t forget to sign up for our email list to get fun science activities and useful materials at orbitalowl.com! Learning Connection Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS4.B – Electromagnetic Radiation (Light & Vision)

Why Do Animals Migrate?

2026-01-1211:05

🦢 Winter is here! Join Dr. Owl, curious Emma, and our silly robot friend Ziggy as they uncover the secrets of animal migration. Why do geese fly in a V-shape? How do tiny butterflies fly thousands of miles without a map? And does Ziggy need to migrate to the kitchen? Tune in to discover the "Big 3" reasons animals go on these super long adventures! 👉 Parents & Explorers: Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get fun, free science materials and activity sheets sent straight to your inbox! Learning Connection Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.B – Growth and Development of Organisms

How Was the Earth Made?

2026-01-0911:41

🌍 Have you ever wondered if the Earth was built like a giant Lego set? Join Dr. Owl, Curious Emma, and a very confused Ziggy as they travel back 4.5 billion years to solve the mystery of our planet's birthday! We’ll discover how space dust, gravity, and a whole lot of time turned a hot ball of "rock soup" into the home we know today. (Parents: Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get fun, free science activities and materials to go along with this episode!) Educational Standard Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ESS1.C – The History of Planet Earth.

Why Is My Skin Oily?

2026-01-0711:35

💦 Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered why your nose is shiny? Or why hair gets greasy if you don't wash it? Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and a very slippery Ziggy as they investigate the tiny, invisible "factories" hiding inside your skin! In this episode, we discover that the oil on your face isn't just dirt—it's actually a special superpower called "Sebum" that acts like a waterproof shield. Don't forget to sign up for our email list to get useful science materials and fun at-home experiments at orbitalowl.com! Learning Connection Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.A – Structure and Function (How external body parts help animals survive).

Why Do Some Things Stain?

2026-01-0511:50

🍇 Oh no! Emma has spilled grape juice on her favorite white shirt! Why won’t it just wipe off like water? In this episode, Dr. Owl takes us on a microscopic journey to discover that fabric is actually like a giant "net," liquids play on different teams, and soap is a molecular superhero with two hands! Tune in to solve the mystery of the "Grape Crusader" and learn the science behind sticky situations. For more fun science experiments and activities to try at home, sign up for our email list to get useful science materials at orbitalowl.com! Learning Connection Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS1.A – Structure and Properties of Matter.

🎄 Holiday Replay: Why Do We Fart?

2026-01-0209:49

🎄 This episode is part of our Holiday Replay Series — a collection of favorite STEM with Dr. Owl episodes while we take a short holiday break. ✨ New episodes will return after the holidays! 💨 Ever let out a little toot that made you giggle? Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and a very gassy Ziggy as they investigate why we fart! Explore the secret world inside your tummy where tiny helpers throw food parties, learn where gas comes from, why some farts are loud or quiet, and what makes them stinky. A super scientific, giggle‑filled journey kids love to replay!

🎄 Holiday Replay: What’s the Biggest Number?

2025-12-3108:58

🎄 This episode is part of our Holiday Replay Series — a collection of favorite STEM with Dr. Owl episodes while we take a short holiday break. ✨ New episodes will return after the holidays! 🔢 How big is a googol? What about a googolplex?! In this super‑sized episode, Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy explore the biggest numbers ever imagined — from billions to numbers so huge they can’t fit in the universe! Kids will learn how fast numbers grow, invent their own monster numbers, and discover where the word googol came from in this mind‑stretching, curiosity‑boosting adventure.

🎄 Holiday Replay: Why Do We Need Money? [Money, Market & Me!]

2025-12-2911:11

🎄 This episode is part of our Holiday Replay Series — a collection of favorite STEM with Dr. Owl episodes while we take a short holiday break. ✨ New episodes will return after the holidays! 💰 Ever tried to trade your snack for a toy — and it got confusing fast? That’s exactly what happens to Emma in her banana trading shop! Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they explore the big question: Why do we need money? Travel back in time from bartering to shiny shells to modern coins and bills in this fun, story‑based introduction to economics. 💰 Money, Market & Me! This episode launches our Money, Market & Me! series — helping kids understand how money works in everyday life. Episodes in this series include: EP1: Why Do We Need Money? EP2: Why Do We Need a Budget? EP3: What Is a Bank? EP4: What Is Tax? EP5: How Do Stores Make Money? EP6: Who Pays for the Donuts? (The Credit Mystery!) ✨ More money adventures coming soon!

🎄 Holiday Replay: Where Does Poop Come From?

2025-12-2612:11

🎄 This episode is part of our Holiday Replay Series — a collection of favorite STEM with Dr. Owl episodes while we take a short holiday break. ✨ New episodes will return after the holidays! 💩 Ever wondered where poop comes from? In this laugh‑and‑learn adventure, Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy shrink down and take a ride through the amazing digestive system! From chomping food to twisty intestines, kids will discover how the body turns meals into energy — and poop. Packed with silly sounds, fun facts, and just the right amount of gross‑out science!

🎄 Holiday Replay: Why Do Things Burn? [Science Behind Minecraft]

2025-12-2414:33

🎄 This episode is part of our Holiday Replay Series — a collection of favorite STEM with Dr. Owl episodes while we take a short holiday break. ✨ New episodes will return after the holidays! 🔥 Uh oh! A Creeper explosion sets a tree ablaze near Herbert’s precious carrot patch! Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and a slightly singed Ziggy as they explore the science of fire and combustion inside the world of Minecraft. Learn about the Fire Triangle, heat, fuel, oxygen — and how to stay safe — all through blocky adventures kids love. 🧱 STEMcraft Friday: The Science Behind Minecraft This episode is part of STEMcraft Friday, our special series connecting real‑world science to Minecraft mechanics. Episodes in this series include: Why Is Minecraft So Blocky? Pixels Explained Mining Like a Geologist What Is Lightning? Why Do Things Burn? Why Do Volcanoes Erupt? What’s a Biome? Exploring Minecraft’s Wildest Animal Homes How Sand Turns Into Glass Flip the Switch! All About Circuits

🎄 Holiday Replay: Why Does Popcorn Pop?

2025-12-2212:36

🎄 This episode is part of our Holiday Replay Series — a collection of favorite STEM with Dr. Owl episodes while we take a short holiday break. ✨ New episodes will return after the holidays! 🍿 Get ready for a POP‑TASTIC adventure! Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they unravel the delicious mystery of why popcorn pops. Discover the secret ingredient hidden inside every kernel, learn about mini explosions caused by water and heat, and find out why some kernels are called "old maids." A cozy, crunchy science snack perfect for winter listening!

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