Grade levels: Upper Elementary (4-6)

The Big Question: “Can kids go into space?”

Synopsis: Harrison wants to go to space, but first he’ll have to learn how to float in zero gravity, sleep “standing up,” and figure out how a rocket works. Fortunately, he knows some real astronauts who can help him out.

My Great Challenge: Challengers in a “zero gravity” rig compete to see who can fix a broken satellite the fastest.

In the Field: At the Canadian Space Agency, Harrison samples astronaut food and learns how to “catch” a delivery of space groceries with the Canadarm2 robotic arm.

Synopsis: Harrison’s little sister decided to “improve” Harrison’s show by mixing up all the clips – and adding sparkly dancing unicorns. Now Harrison has to put his show clips back in order. As he goes through them, he notices that his sister picked clips that show how weird and surprising science is. Maybe she arranged them well after all (except for the sparkly unicorns, of course!).

Synopsis: As Harrison prepares for his school science fair, he realizes that science is all around us. Highlights from this past season, including questions about the sun, plants, teeth and spiders, help prove his point.

The Big Question: “How come humans don’t have scales?”

Synopsis: Harrison investigates the stuff that holds us in: skin. With help from a special-effects make-up artist, he finds out the science behind scabs and bruises, and even learns how to make cool fish-monster scales.

My Great Challenge: Are parts of our skin more sensitive than others? Blindfolded challengers have to identify mystery objects rubbed against their foot, leg, and hands.

In the Field: Harrison goes to the beach with a skin scientist to test how sunscreen can protect UV-sensitive Frisbees from turning purple.

The Big Question: “How can you break things with a karate chop?”

Synopsis: Harrison is on a quest to break a karate board with his bare hand, but first he’ll need some expert help – from a materials engineer and a karate master – to understand the science behind why things break. Hiii-yaaa!

My Great Challenge: Kids compete in an egg-drop challenge, to see what kind of padding materials can protect a raw egg when it’s dropped from a great height.

In the Field: Harrison has a dynamite time at a rock quarry when an expert helps him blow up rocks with real explosives!

The Big Question: “How do flowers poop?”

Synopsis: Hold on to your nose! Harrison decides to do a show about, well, you know. He’s visited by a paleontologist who brings million-year-old fossils of dinosaur poop.

My Great Challenge: Challengers have to pick apart fake animal poop to find bones, berries, and grass, and then guess whether the animal who made the poop was an herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore.

In the Field: Harrison and an animal biologist collect real animal poop in the woods, and then examine it in the lab. P-U!

The Big Question: “Is a Ferrari faster than a cheetah?”

Synopsis: Harrison finds out how a car works when a teenage race car driver brings her mini Formula 1 to Harrison’s house.

My Great Challenge: Challengers race remote-controlled cars along a track filled with obstacles to understand how road conditions can make driving hazardous.

In the Field: Harrison goes to a race track and gets to drive a real Ferrari! Then, with an expert driving instructor at the wheel, they burn rubber to see who’s faster – the Ferrari or a cheetah?

The Big Question: “Why don’t people have wild animals as pets?”

Synopsis: Harrison starts a pet-sitting service, but he’s soon overwhelmed by how much work it is – especially when one of the pets turns out to be surprisingly wild. Fortunately, a zoo-owner friend helps him out.

My Great Challenge: Harrison’s studio is full of real animals – a bird, dog, hamster, and a cat. Challengers have to match various pet foods, toys, and other pet-care items to the correct pet before time’s up.

In the Field: Harrison visits a professional dog-trainer to get help with a particularly unruly puppy.

The Big Question: “Why can’t everything be solar powered?”

Synopsis: Harrison takes a close look at the biggest star in our solar system – the sun, and learns that everything DOES run (at least indirectly) on solar power. Without the sun, we wouldn’t… we couldn’t, even be here!

My Great Challenge: Before watches were invented, people used the sun as a clock. Harrison puts two challengers to the test to see if they can tell the time the ancient way.

In the Field: Harrison takes a solar-powered boat cruise with its inventor.

The Big Question: “What would happen if you never cut your fingernails? Would they grow forever?”

Synopsis: Every living creature that is born grows up. But HOW do they grow, and WHY do they stop growing? Harrison finds out if girls grow faster than boys and if you can make yourself grow taller. He also uncovers the real difference between humans and other creatures, and how scientists are working to make us more like salamanders.

My Great Challenge: “Are you my Mommy?” Challengers race to match up photos of baby animals to their grown-up parents.

In the Field: Harrison sees his future! The Vancouver Film School turns Harrison into an 80-year-old man!