[♪♪] ♪ ELINOR: Wherever I go, ♪ I see things that I want to know.

♪ ♪ Wherever I am, ♪ ♪ I find things that I want to understand.

♪ ♪ Go and explore, listen and see, ♪ ♪ just follow your curiosity.

♪ ♪ ALL: Elinor wonders why!

♪ ♪ ELINOR: Why do birds sing and how do they fly?

♪ ♪ ALL: Elinor wonders why!

♪ ♪ ELINOR: Why do ants march and where do they hide?

♪ ♪ There's so much to learn, ♪ ♪ wherever you turn, ♪ just listen and see, ♪ ♪ and follow your curiosity.

♪ [♪♪] ♪ ALL: Elinor wonders why!

♪ ♪ ELINOR: Ask a question, what will you find?

♪ ♪ ALL: Elinor Wonders Why!

♪ ♪ ELINOR: Just listen and see, come and wonder with me.

[♪♪] ELINOR: "Follow That Roly Poly" ELINOR: Welcome Explorers Olive, Ari, Sally, and Tito.

It's time for the Explorers' pledge.

KIDS: An Explorer is brave, an Explorer is kind.

An Explorer is curious, who knows what we'll find!

KIDS: [cheer] TITO: Wow, I can't wait to go on an Explorer adventure...

I'll be brave and kind and... Uuhhhm.... What does curious mean?

ELINOR: Good question, Tito.

Curious means you really want to find out about new things.

OLIVE: Yep, we explorers are verrrrrry curious, so we ask lots of questions.

TITO: Fun!

Uuuh.... What kind of questions?

ARI: Any kind of question, like the one you just asked.

TITO: Oh.

[giggles] Yay me!

KIDS: [cheer] ELINOR: Okay, Explorers, now that we've said our pledge, it's time for the best part of the Club.

Exploring!!

Follow me!

[♪] TITO: This is sooo exciting!!

Where are we going to explore today?

ELINOR: Hmm, well... that depends on what we want to see.

OLIVE: I'd like to see some interesting new plants.

ARI: I want to see cool new animals, like lizards or bugs.

SALLY: I just want to find some sticks.

ARI: Huh?

SALLY: What?

I love sticks.

ELINOR: Well, I want to be like the great explorers.

Exploring the sea.

Or a jungle.

Or even a new city!!

ARI: Uhh, Elinor, I don't think we can go that far.

OLIVE: My Mom said we're supposed to stay... around the woods near the Clubhouse.

TITO: Yeah, and I'm supposed to be home for lunch.

ELINOR: [sigh] You're right...

But we can still explore.

Come on.

[♪] KIDS: [sing-song] ♪ Let's go exploring, ♪ exploring, exploring... ♪ ♪ Let's go exploring, ♪ exploring, exploring... ♪ ARI: Whooaa!

ARI: Huh?

Something hit me!

OLIVE: I saw it!

I think it was that little rock.

ARI: Yep that must be it.

OLIVE: Whoa.

ELINOR: What are you all looking at?

OLIVE: A rock.

ELINOR: A rock?

But Explorers, we have so much more to explore... new plants, new animals, a jungle, the sea, a new city... and... and sticks.

ARI: Yeah, but this is a really cool rock, Elinor.

Look!

ELINOR: Oooooh, you're right, Ari.

I've never seen a rock like this one before.

It's tiny and round and has lots of lines on it.

ARI: Wait a minute, is this rock moving?

TITO: I thought rocks don't move, right?

ELINOR: We need more observations.

ELINOR: [gasp] It has legs!

TITO: A rock with legs?

I'm scared.

OLIVE: You don't have to worry, Tito.

Explorers are brave, remember?

TITO: Oh yeah.

ELINOR: You know what, this isn't a rock at all.

It looks like some kind of bug.

ARI: That is so coooool!

OLIVE: It has one, two, three, four, five, six, seven pairs of legs?

OLIVE: Hmmmm.

Let me check my Nature Book.

Hmmm... Ok, so... Hmmm... Forest Animals... OLIVE: Oh!

I think we found a Roly Poly!

OLIVE: Listen to this.

Roly Polys, or Pill Bugs, actually aren't bugs at all.

KIDS: huh?

OLIVE: They are similar to lobsters and crabs... but they live under logs and rocks.

ELINOR: Really?

That is sooo interesting.

OLIVE: And it says here that Roly Polys roll up into a ball to protect themselves when they're feeling nervous.

ARI: Yikes!

I don't think the Roly Poly is nervous anymore.

Now it's just... [laughs] tickly!

[laughs] Whoa!

There ya go, little Roly Poly.

TITO: Where's it going now?

ELINOR: Let's find out...

Follow that Roly Poly!

KIDS: [oof] ARI: Sorry!

KIDS: [oof] ARI: The Roly Poly doesn't go very fast.

OLIVE: That's because it's so small.

And it seems to be checking things out.

[♪] ELINOR: You're right Olive.

I think it's exploring.

TITO: Just like us!

OLIVE: Hmm...

I wonder what things look like... to a little Roly Poly.

ELINOR: Let's find out.

Let's be Roly Polies, and observe things from the ground, just like a Roly Poly does.

SALLY: That puddle looks like an ocean.

TITO: The grass looks like a jungle from down here.

ARI: Wow!

This rock looks just like a mountain!

Climb it, Roly Poly, all the way to the top!

OLIVE: Yep, it's exploring for sure.

You go, Roly Poly.

ELINOR: I know!

Let's make this Roly Poly a member of the Exploring Club.

OLIVE: [gasp] Great idea, Elinor!

Only... Roly Poly's don't talk, so it can't say the Exploring Pledge.

ELINOR: Then let's do the Explorers Pledge for him.

Ready?

KIDS: An Explorer is brave, an Explorer is kind!

An Explorer is curious, who knows what we'll find!

ARI: Welcome to the Club, Roly Pol-uh-oh... OLIVE: Where'd the Roly Poly go?

ELINOR: There it is!!

TITO: [gasp] It's gone!

OLIVE: It went under the log.

[gasp] Let's go see it come out the other side.

ELINOR: Come on Explorer Roly Poly, we're waiting for you so we can keep exploring!

ARI: Roly Poly...?

TITO: It's not coming out.

OLIVE: Maybe it's stuck under there.

[humming] ELINOR: Look at that!

There are all kinds of animals under this log!

ARI: What are all those things?

ELINOR: We definitely need more observations!

ELINOR: Whoa, there are worms and beetles... and spiders... ARI: [gasp] and more roly polies.

ELINOR: Look at all the legs on this one.

OLIVE: Hmm... Let me check my nature book.

That's a millipede.

ELINOR: Bye Mrs. Millipede.

TITO: They're all munching on that old log.

It's like their lunch room.

SALLY: And these ants are walking over a puddle... on a stick.

Just like I wanted!

OLIVE: Those little plants that are growing out of the log... must look just like trees to them.

ELINOR: There are all kinds of animals under this log.

ARI: Maybe this is their town.

Just like we live in Animal Town.

ARI: We'll call it Log Town!

ELINOR: Wow, it's so much fun to explore.

[♪♪] KIDS: ♪ Explore, Explore, ♪ ♪ just walk out the door!

♪ ♪ The whole world is there, ♪ ♪ what are you waiting for?

♪ ♪ Explore, explore, ♪ then explore some more, ♪ You don't know what you'll find until you explore.

♪ ELINOR: ♪ Who knows where you'll go, ♪ ♪ and what you will see, ♪ OLIVE: ♪ It could be a forest, a cave or the sea, ♪ ARI: ♪ You might climb a mountain, ♪ ♪ or wade through a bog ♪ ELINOR: ♪ Or you might find a town under a rock or a log!

♪ ALL: ♪ Explore, Explore, ♪ ♪ just walk out the door!

♪ ♪ The whole world is there, ♪ ♪ what are you waiting for?

♪ ♪ Explore, explore, ♪ ♪ then explore some more, ♪ ♪ You don't know what you'll find until you explore.

♪ ARI: Hey!

Where are they going?

KIDS: [gasp] OLIVE: They're all hiding.

Look, the Roly Polies are all rolled up.

TITO: They must be nervous.

ARI: Of what?

OLIVE: Of us!

We probably look huge to them, Ari.

ARI: Oh, no!

Let's not make them nervous.

ELINOR: You're right.

Let's put the roof back on Log Town.

SALLY: Wait!

C'mon little bugs, get back inside the log.

TITO: Oh, sweet.

Now they won't be squished by accident... when we roll the log back over.

ELINOR: That was a really nice thing to do, Sally.

TITO: Perfect!

ARI: Bye, bye Roly Poly, thanks for showing us around Log Town.

[gasp] ELINOR: Wow, what a great day to go exploring.

OLIVE: I got to see plants that grow out of logs.

ARI: I got to meet a new animal, the Roly Poly, and we got to visit a whole new town under a log.

TITO: It was a real adventure!

SALLY: And I found some sticks!

KIDS: [laugh] OLIVE: Everyone got to explore what they wanted.

Except you, Elinor.

I'm sorry we didn't explore far away places... like real explorers.

ELINOR: That's ok, Olive.

We discovered cool new things nearby.

And we were real explorers.

Tito, you were brave when you first saw the Roly Poly.

And Sally, you were kind when you made sure... our Log Town friends were safe.

But most important... ARI: We were all curious!

KIDS: Yay!

Yeah!

TITO: Where are we going to explore tomorrow?

ARI: Well, we could explore the mess in my room.

Who knows what we'll find hiding under there.

Just sayin...

KIDS: [laugh] ELINOR: What are you doing with that pot, Ms. Mole?

MS. MOLE: I'm finding a nice spot for it in the closet.

OLIVE: A plant in the closet?

But don't plants need sunlight to help them grow?

MS. MOLE: They sure do, Olive!

But this is not a plant.

It's a mushroom!

MS. MOLE: Mushrooms actually like to grow in the dark.

ARI: Cool.

I didn't know mushrooms weren't plants!

MS. MOLE: That's right!

ARI: Wow!

MS. MOLE: Come on in and I'll read you a book... about the amazing world of mushrooms.

MS. MOLE: They don't need sunlight.

They like to grow in dark places, like under this log!

MS. MOLE: They get what they need from the ground... using their roots.

MS. MOLE: Mushrooms can grow in places where it's totally dark, like underground in a cave!

KIDS: Wow!

Ooooh.

OLIVE: I like how they are so many different colors.

MS. MOLE: Me too!

ELINOR: Look, that one is pink!

OLIVE: I see a blue one!

ARI: I spot a spotted mushroom!

MS. MOLE: And that's not even the most amazing color.

Some mushrooms can even glow in the dark.

ELINOR: What, really?

MS. MOLE: See for yourselves... ARI: [gasp] ELINOR: [gasp] ARI: Wow!

ARI: That is amazing!

OLIVE: I wish I could glow in the dark.

MS. MOLE: I think you kids are already plenty bright.

ALL: [laugh] [♪♪] ELINOR: "Rain Rain Don't Go Away" ARI: [effort] ARI: [effort] OLIVE: It's such a nice day today.

I'm so glad we're going to the park.

ARI: I know!

It's the perfect day to run and jump and... dance!

[sing-song] Pabadabadabah... Pa..Pabadabah.. Pabadabadabahpa... pabada pooh.. Pabadabadabah... Padaah!

KIDS: [laugh] OLIVE: Nice moves, Ari!

ARI: Whew!

All this sunny day dancing has made me thiiiirsty.

OLIVE: I have some water.

Here you go.

ARI: Ooooh!

Ahhh!

Thanks, Olive!

OLIVE: You're welcome.

I can't wait to get to the park to look at clouds.

Drawing them is one of my favorite things.

ARI: Oh, those are nice.

Very... cloudy.

OLIVE: Thanks.

KIDS: [giggle] OLIVE: C'mon!

[♪♪] ELINOR: Olive, Ari!

Look!

KIDS: [gasp] ELINOR: There's the frog we always see... on his favorite rock.

Hi Froggy!

Or should I say, "Ribbit?"

FROG: [ribbit] ELINOR: I think he answered me!

I guess I can speak "frog!"

ARI: Ooh, ooh, let me try, let me try: Ribbit!

Ribbit!

ARI: Wait, was I speaking frog or toad?

ELINOR: Hmmmm...

I notice Froggy's pond looks kind of different today.

ARI: What do you mean, Elinor?

ELINOR: We can get closer to his rock... because the pond seems smaller and his rock seems taller.

OLIVE: Oh no, fish needs lots of water in the pond to swim.

ARI: Uh oh, where did it go?

ELINOR: And these plants are looking a little droopy.

OLIVE: And their leaves are turning brown.

They must be thirsty.

ARI: Op, hang on... Norma and Lulu are crossing.

ELINOR: But, are they crossing though?

OLIVE: I know snails are slow, but this is really slow.

ELINOR: Hmm... maybe they're thirsty, too?

Hmm... OLIVE: The ground is nice and dry here.

This is a nice spot for us to look at clouds.

ELINOR: There are so many pretty ones.

What shapes do you see?

ARI: Oooh, there's one.

It's... cloud shaped!

KIDS: [laugh] ELINOR: They're all cloud shaped!

I think that one looks like a fish!

OLIVE: A fish cloud!

ARI: And, that one looks like... a piece of pie!

ELINOR: Huh?

ARI: Oh... Or maybe I'm just hungry.

ELINOR: [giggles] OLIVE: [gasp] That one looks like a butterfly.

I'm gonna draw it.

ELINOR: What does that one look like to you, Ari?

It's soo big and dark.

ARI: I dunno.

I guess it looks like...

Uh, like like... ARI: Rain!

OLIVE: Rain?

ELINOR: I don't see anything shaped like rain... ELINOR: Ok, I see it now.

OLIVE: Aw... Oh, no!

It's raining.

ARI: So much for looking at clouds.

OLIVE: It's really raining hard.

We'd better go inside somewhere.

ARI: I know!

Quickly, follow me!

[♪] OLIVE: Awww...

I really wanted to look at clouds today.

And now we're getting all wet.

Who needs rain anyway?

ELINOR: Hmm, that's an interesting question, Olive.

Who does need rain?

ARI: Well, I think it's fun to get wet!

But I'm not sure why anyone needs rain.

ELINOR: I wonder... Let's figure out rains good for.

We need more observations!

OLIVE: Observations?

Now?

In the rain?

ELINOR: Why not?

The best time to observe rain is... when it's raining!

OLIVE: I guess that make sense.

I just don't like the "getting wet" part.

[♪] ARI: But Olive, this rain is warm and nice... it's like a giant outdoor shower!

ELINOR: Or a water fountain from the sky!

[humming] OLIVE: Uhh, why don't we go inside... and enjoy it through the window?

ARI: [singsong] Pabadabadah... padabadoobah!

Haha, this is awesome!

I can dance in the rain too!

Ta-dah!

ELINOR: Wow!

Olive, don't you want to figure out... what happens when it rains?

OLIVE: Wellll...

I know you get wet.

ELINOR: We'll be rain detectives.

Come on!!

[humming] [♪] OLIVE: I guess that does look like fun.

[humming] OLIVE: [giggle] OLIVE: [gasp] Hey, look!

These flowers over here opened up in the rain.

They must love the rain.

ELINOR: Let's see what else happens when it rains!

ARI: Yeah!

[giggles] [♪] ELINOR: Olive, watch out!

OLIVE: Oh!

OLIVE: Norma and Lulu are crossing the path again.

ELINOR: They're sure going a lot faster this time.

ARI: Maybe rain helps snails move faster?

ELINOR: Look at their shiny slime trails.

ARI: Ohhh...

I bet it's easier for the snails to move... when their bellies are wet.

ELINOR: So, the rain makes things better for snails, too.

OLIVE: And it makes Norma and Lulu all shiny!

FROG: [ribbit] ARI: Oh, hi, Froggy.

How do you like the rain?

Oh!

Sorry!

I mean, ribbit ribbit!

FROG: [ribbit] ELINOR: Look!

The rain is filling up the pond.

ARI: Whoa... no wonder Froggy looks so happy, He has more room to swim around!

And look at the fish!

They're swimming around a lot more too.

OLIVE: Do you think the fish know it's raining?

ELINOR: Sure, looks like it, and they must be happy... to have their pond full of fresh water.

ELINOR: I think we figured out what happens when it rains and who needs the rain.

Lots of plants and animals.

OLIVE: Yeah, rain waters the plants and fills the ponds for the frogs and the fish to live in.

ARI: And it even helps snails move better!

ELINOR: We solved the mystery, rain detectives!

[♪♪] ALL: ♪ Why do we need the rain, ♪ ♪ to fall down from the sky?

♪ ♪ Why do we need the rain, ♪ ♪ Why can't it just stay dry?

♪ OLIVE: ♪ Rain makes the grass green, ♪ ♪ It waters every tree, ♪ ARI: ♪ Rain helps the flowers bloom, ♪ ♪ for all the birds and bees.

♪ ARI: ♪ Frogs and slugs and snails, ♪ ♪ Move better when they're wet, ♪ ALL: ♪ Fish need water in their pond, ♪ ♪ Let's not forget.

♪ ♪ Oh no!

♪ ALL: ♪ Why do we need the rain?

♪ ♪ To fall down from the sky?

♪ ♪ Why do we need the rain?

♪ ♪ Why can't it just stay dry!

♪ KIDS: [giggle] OLIVE: That was so much fun.

I'm going to draw what we learned in my notebook.

OLIVE: Oh, no.

ELINOR: [gasp] OLIVE: My notebook is all wet!

How am I going to draw in it?

ARI: I bet my mom can help you.

Come on!

KIDS: [laughter] FROG: [ribbit, ribbit] [♪] MRS.

BAT: Your notebook will be dry in no time, Olive.

OLIVE: Wow, thanks, Mrs.

Bat!

MRS.

BAT: No worries.

Rain is wet, you can't avoid it.

The good thing is, you can always get dry.

ELINOR: All this rain talk is making me thirsty.

May we have water to drink, please, Mrs.

Bat?

MRS.

BAT: Sure Elinor, I'll be right back.

ELINOR: Thanks!

OLIVE: I just thought of something.

When we want water, we can just get it from the kitchen... or from our water bottles.

But when frogs or ponds or snails need water, they have to wait for rain!

ELINOR: You're right!

That means rain is extra important to them.

MRS.

BAT: And for us too.

We're all part of the same forest.

Here's some water.

And also some run gear and umbrellas to keep you all dry, if you go back outside.

OLIVE: Thanks, Mrs.

Bat.

Now that I know the rain is good for plants and animals, it's so much fun to play in it.

ARI: [singsong] Pada, pada po oh, padabadabadadah... dadaaa!

Ok, who's ready to go back... and play in the rain some more?

ARI: Ooh, Me!

Me!

Me!

Me!

Me... Me!

KIDS: [laugh] ELINOR: I'm ready!

OLIVE: Me too!

[♪] ARI: Then, let's go play in the rain!

[birds chirping] ELINOR: [gasp] ARI: Sunshine?!!

ELINOR: Where'd all the rain go?

ARI: Just when we got all rain coated and rain booted, there's no more rain.

OLIVE: Awww.

[birds chirping] ELINOR: That's okay!

We can still be rain detectives.

Things look so different when they're wet.

Look!

OLIVE: Ooooh!

You're right.

The plants look greener and shinier.

OLIVE: Whoa, that spiderweb has raindrops sticking to it.

It looks so sparkly.

ELINOR: [sniff] And the air smells really fresh.

OLIVE: Wow, the rain gives us so much.

Hey!

ARI: [giggles] Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

ELINOR: [giggle] That's okay, Ari.

OLIVE: I think you found the best thing rain gives us.

OLIVE: Puddles!!!!!

ELINOR: Yay!

KIDS: Woohoo!!

OLIVE: Yeah!

ELINOR: Hey!

[giggles] ELINOR: Woohoo!!

[giggles] ARI: Whooa, whooa!

OLIVE: [laughs] KIDS: [cheer] [♪♪] [♪♪] - [Announcer] Elinor Wonders Why is made possible in part by a Ready to Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and by viewers like you.

Thank you.