POG-Nosticators

Episode Description: Max and Molly try to decode a mysterious POG message hidden in the Statue of Liberty's torch, but they are overwhelmed by permutations—until a clue from a previous mission shines new light. The clues lead them to 16th-century France, where they use a clever time trick to gain the trust of famed psychic, Nostradamus. Can he help them catch a POG Mole without blowing their cover? Math Concepts: Permutations without repetition (factorials); Simple multiplication and pattern building with factorials (7! = 5040; 8! = 40,320) History/Geography Concepts: Introduction to Nostradamus: his visions, writings, and court life in 16th-century France; Catherine de Medici and King Henri II’s court; Palace intrigue and the role of advisors in Renaissance politics; Zen koans and Buddhist philosophy