Ep 12. That Doesn't Float My Boat

That Doesn't Float My Boat is the twelfth episode of season one of FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman, a popular educational children's show that teaches science, math, and other subjects through fun challenges and adventures. In this episode, Ruff Ruffman and his team of young contestants set out to learn about buoyancy – the ability of an object to float in water.

The episode begins with Ruff Ruffman receiving a package from his grandma, who sends him a toy boat kit with instructions to build it and have a race. Excited to try out his new boat, Ruff sets up a race in a nearby pond. However, he quickly realizes that his boat is sinking, and he needs to figure out why.

To solve the problem, Ruff enlists the help of his FETCH! contestants – Brian, Jay, and Rosario. He challenges them to build their own boats that will float the longest. Ruff also invites a buoyancy expert, Dr. Cynthia Upthorpe, to teach the kids about the science behind why some things float and others sink.

The contestants begin by brainstorming designs for their boats and collecting materials. Brian decides to use foam blocks as his boat's buoyancy source, while Rosario opts for a plastic bottle filled with water. Jay, on the other hand, designs a boat with an inflatable raft attached, which he believes will provide buoyancy.

Once the boats are built, the kids put their designs to the test in a series of challenges. In the first challenge, they have to make their boats float with a single block of foam, and in the second challenge, they must race their boats around a course filled with obstacles.

Throughout the challenges, Ruff Ruffman and Dr. Upthorpe provide the contestants with tips on how to use the principles of buoyancy to their advantage. They explain how the shape and weight distribution of a boat affects its buoyancy, and demonstrate how to adjust these variables to make a boat float better.

As the challenges progress, it becomes clear that the contestants have very different strategies for achieving buoyancy. Brian's boat proves to be a strong competitor, thanks to its lightweight design and efficient use of foam blocks. Rosario's boat, while not as fast as Brian's, proves to be very stable and difficult to tip over. Jay's boat, however, struggles to stay afloat, as the inflatable raft proves to be heavier than he anticipated.

In the end, one contestant emerges as the winner of the buoyancy challenge, and Ruff Ruffman learns an important lesson about the importance of weight distribution and shape when it comes to constructing a successful boat.

Overall, That Doesn't Float My Boat is a fun and educational episode of FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman that teaches kids about an important scientific concept in a way that is easy to understand and engaging. With its focus on problem-solving and hands-on experimentation, the episode encourages kids to think creatively and use their imaginations to solve real-world problems.