On-Demand

Who puts bridges together? What makes the metal in a car frame stay together? The answer is welding. Jen learns all the different things in our community that welders get to work on. 

Jen finds out how becoming a welder can change the way you look at the world. You see it in a whole different light. Once you look around, you start to understand all the different things that are welded from buildings to structural beams.  Even your car has welds!  

Support Materials
Use the resources below to help keep your kids learning – asking questions, learning new words, and exploring connected resources!

Discussion Questions

• What is welding?
• What do you like to build? What materials do you use?
• How do welders protect themselves to stay safe?
• Why do welders wear protective gear?
• Why is it important to practice and learn from your practice runs?

More Welding Resources
These resources are from public media partner organizations – they’re educational, trustworthy, and will help you and your child learn more.

• What is Metal?
• Welding in a Tunnel
• How Does Welding Work
• Metal Fabrication
• Advanced Manufacturing’s High Tech Career Path
• SciGirls: Building a Robotic Arm
• Denise Bailey – Welder/Instructor
• Metal Sculpture
• Weld Shop Supervisor

How do the lights in your bedroom turn on and off? Who changes the street lights or the lights in a stadium? An electrician. 

An electrician is a person who installs, operates, maintains, or repairs electric devices or electrical wiring. Jen digs in and works with an electrician to learn all about how she can install a light, change an outlet, and how electricians work both on teams and independently. 

Support Materials
Use the resources below to help keep your kids learning – asking questions, learning new words, and exploring connected resources!

Discussion Questions

• Do you like having a schedule or a routine?
• Would you prefer to work inside or outside?
• Does every house or building have a circuit breaker?
• What’s the difference between 2-prong and 3-prong outlets?
• Are you afraid of heights?
• What kinds of tools have you used?
• Do you work well on a team? Or do you like working more independently?

More Electrician & Electricity Resources
These resources are from public media partner organizations – they’re educational, trustworthy, and will help you and your child learn more.

• Electrician
• Construction Trades
• Body Electricity
• Electricity
• Teachable Moment: Electricity
• Electric Girl
• Can you Cook a S’more Without a Fire or Electricity?
• Electric Circuits

You’ve heard of an airline pilot, but what about a helicopter pilot? Jen meets a special kind of helicopter pilot who helps in emergencies. 

Ambulances help transport people to hospitals if they are injured. In this episode, Jen meets a medical helicopter pilot who helps people get to the hospital faster than any ground transport. 

Support Materials
Use the resources below to help keep your kids learning – asking questions, learning new words, and exploring connected resources!

Discussion Questions

• Can helicopter pilots fly other planes?
• Can airplane pilots fly helicopters?
• Why does the weather impact whether a helicopter can fly or not?
• Do airplanes have to balance like helicopters?
• Helicopter pilots need to know a lot of technical words. 
• Are the crews the same on a medical helicopter and an ambulance?
• Why do you think it’s important to stabilize a patient before driving or flying?

More Helicopter and Pilot Resources
These resources are from public media partner organizations – they’re educational, trustworthy, and will help you and your child learn more.

• Airport Field Trip
• Tracking Polar Bears in a Helicopter
• Alaska Native Pilots
• Rachel Obermoller – Pilot/Aviation Representative
• Amelia Earhart
• Model Airplanes
• Flight

Mechanics work on cars, trucks, and vans, but who works on BIG trucks like tractor trailers, garbage trucks, or ambulances? Jen meets up with a diesel mechanic who owns a fleet repair shop where he works on and maintains large vehicles.

Support Materials
Use the resources below to help keep your kids learning – asking questions, learning new words, and exploring connected resources!

Discussion Questions

• Why are tires on vehicles all different sizes?
• Do you think it would be easy or hard to roll a tire?
• What does it mean to balance a tire?
• Do you use checklists for any of your work?
• How do you keep track of all your tasks?
• What’s the difference between a mechanic and a diesel mechanic?
• Do you think the computers inside of a vehicle are the same as the computers you use?
• What kinds of things can you take apart and put back together?

More Diesel & Mechanic Resources
These resources are from public media partner organizations – they’re educational, trustworthy, and will help you and your child learn more.

• Jet Engine Mechanic
• Mechanized Agriculture
• Electric Cars
• Mountain Boarding