Pokémon Learning League
Pokémon Learning League is a web-based educational series that uses characters from the Pokémon anime to teach students in the areas of science, math, language arts, and life skills. The site is aimed at American children in grades 3 to 6. The site was free when it was first set up in 2006 but is only viewable through a paid subscription service from January 1, 2007 on.
It should be noted that there are many variations from the main anime canon, including the existence of the PokéPilot. Additionally, the fourth wall is often broken by the characters either asking for help or thanking the person doing the lesson.
Mission Guides
Mission Guides are characters created specifically for Pokémon Learning League to assist the student in four types of subject matter. As such, they don't appear in any media outside of Pokémon Learning League.
- Ada is the Mission Guide for Mathematics.
- Lex is the Mission Guide for Language Arts.
- Quinn is the Mission Guide for Life Skills.
- Siara is the Mission Guide for Science.
Lessons
Lessons in Pokémon Learning League are divided up into three parts.
Watch
In the Watch segments, students are introduced to one or more characters from the Pokémon anime who have a problem. They then turn to the PokéPilot (and thus, the Mission Guide for that particular content area) to help them solve their problem.
Try
In the Try segments, students follow a guided practice along with the characters from the Watch segment. The Try segment reinforces the lesson taught in Watch, often mirroring the order that the process was followed there.
Apply
In the Apply segments, students play a game on their own (with minimal interference from the Mission Guide or any character) and apply the skill or skills that they have been taught. The Apply segments often end in a short video that shows the anime characters solving their problem.
Lesson synopsis
Math
Ada appears in all of these lessons.
Types of Angles
Ash and Brock are camping and want to pitch a tent, but are having trouble with the directions, as it is presented in various degrees.
Characters who appear in this episode are:
PEMDAS (Order of Operations)
Team Rocket has targeted Oak's Lab and has stolen a chest of Poké Balls. As they escape, they accidentally close the lid, only to find that it is locked with a special lock that has number combinations hidden within very complex math problems. The chest is later found by Ash and May, who must solve the puzzles using the order of operations.
Characters who appear in this episode are:
Fractions
Ash and May are traveling through a forest when they decide to take a snack break. They find out that they only have one Watmel berry. So they decide to split it so that each pokémon gets an equal share of the berry.
Characters that appear in this episode are
Discounts
While Ash was watching Brawly surf, a big wave wipes him out, and his surfboard is broken. So Ash decides to buy a him a new surfboard for him. The only problem is that he isn't sure which shop would have the least expensive board.
Characters that appear in this episode are
Interestingly, the pokémon world's currency is refered here as pokédollars, and are worth the equivalent of a U.S dollar rather then the Japanese yen as in the games.
Area of a Circle
Misty's Psyduck is standing on the rim of a tank of water, naturally he falls in and struggles to get out. Misty helps him out and then decides to put a cover on the tanks of the gym. The only problem is that she has to find the area for the top of the circular tanks.
Characters that appear in this episode are
Add and Subtract Fractions
While Brock is making dinner for everyone, May decides to surprise them by making a cake. However, she only has two measuring cups to measure with. So she contacts Ada to learn about how add and subract fractions.
Characters that appear in this episode are
This episode suggests that May is usually a terrible cook.
Equivalent Fractions
As Ash's group is traveling, Ash suggest that they stop to take a break. He lets Corphish out so he could eat something as well. Corphish then grabs onto Ash's backpack and the cans of pokémon food fall out and off a cliff into a river. Now that they're low on food, they decide to split it so each person gets a fair share. Only they can't figure out how to split up the grapes and the loaf of bread.
Characters that appear in this episode are
Percents
Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
Science
Siara appears in all of these lessons.
Lunar Cycle
Ash and May are heading towards a Pokémon contest arena, but it is getting late and are afraid that they'll have to continue in the dark. Ash is confident that the moon will be bright enough for them, but May isn't so sure about this, so they contact Siara about this.
Characters that appear in this episode are:
Notably, this was the first episode made.
The Atom
Ash and May are traveling to another gym, and Ash is eager to get there quick. However, they are stopped by a wild Plusle and Minun who show them a very tiny mushroom. Ash speculates that it may be the smallest thing ever. They then learn that there are in fact things that are even smaller.
Characters that appear in this episode are:
Language Arts
Lex appears in all of these lessons.
Story Elements
Ash and his friends are traveling through a forest, May is complaining that they have been walking for a while and asks Max for directions. They find out that they have been walking in circles. Ash suggests that they climb a mountain to get a better view of the area. They all agree and race to the top. They finally spot the next town, only for the weather to change for the worse. To avoid the rain, they take shelter inside a cave. The gang realizes that they had quite an adventure and decide to contact Lex and tell him about their experience. Lex then teaches the group about the parts of a story.
Characters that appear in this episode are:
Similes and Metaphors
Ash and Brock are backstage with Eevee at a pokémon show. May finds out that for this competition, descriptions must be written about the Pokémon being entered. They contact Lex who teaches the group about Similes and Metaphors.
Characters that appear in this episode are:
- Ash Ketchum
- May
- Brock
- May's Eevee
- "Girl" (no name given)
Life Skills
Quinn appears in all of these lessons.
Teamwork
Ash and May were in a double battle and lost. As they argue about the battle. Team Rocket spies on them and formulate a plan to steal their Pokémon by forming battle partnerships with Ash and May separately, with Jessie teaming up with May (in disguise), and James teaming up with Ash (also in disguise). Max has a bad feeling about this, which later materializes as Team Rocket's plan works and they end up with both Pikachu and Skitty. Ash and May are still arguing, so Max calls Quinn and learns about teamwork.
Characters that appear in this episode are:
I Messages
Ash and Quinn were talking to each other over the PokéPilot, when Max and May get into a particularly nasty argument over Skitty who tore up one of Max's books, and mean words are exchanged. Quinn recalls similar arguments he had with his older sister, and using the PokéPilot, plays back parts of the argument and points out what Max and May could have said so they get their point across without them sounding mean to one another and how the conflict could have been resolved with "I messages".
Characters that appear in this episode are:
- Ash Ketchum
- Max
- May
- Ash's Pikachu
- May's Skitty
- May's Munchlax (flashback)
