History of Science Teacher Resources

Behind the closed doors of natural history museums lies a hidden world of scientific research and discovery that goes unseen for visitors. Follow along as this short video explores different scientific mysteries that have been...

Spice up a nutrition, biology, or cooking class with this hot topic: the science behind the spiciness of many beloved foods. There are actually two different types of spice, depending on the chemical compound causing the pain:...

A read-aloud anthology focuses on Earth's history. Over three weeks, young scholars listen to and discuss stories about the layers of the Earth, minerals, fossils, different kinds of rocks, and dinosaurs. After the lesson's text, each...

Medieval Chinese scientists were the masters of invention! Explore the wonders of the Far East through the eighth installment in a 15-part History of Science series. The resource covers contributions to science and technology by dynasty,...

Medieval medicine is a mash-up of multicultural ideas! How did early doctors learn to do no harm? The ninth video in a 15-part series about the History of Medicine uncovers the fundamental teachings that sparked intense anatomical study...

How did scientists move beyond the medical ideas of Galen? Dissect the past with the 15th installment in a History of Science video series. Topics include Vesalius' dissections, the microscope, and mapping the human body.

If the word alchemy makes you think of wizards gathered around bubbling cauldrons, you're not completely wrong! Introduce scholars to the history of chemistry during part 10 of a 15-part History of Science series. The video takes viewers...

How old is Earth and how do scientists know the answer? Throughout history, many researchers, scholars, and leaders answered this question with varying degrees of accuracy. The 20th episode of Crash Course History of Science introduces...

How did the vast Roman society contribute to science? See the wonders of the Appian Way all while examining the Roman thought process during video six in the History of Science series. The narrator compares the Roman view of doing...

"Have respect for the dead!" Scholars investigate how science and religion often clash. As they look into the laws of science and the laws of religion, the legal ramifications at the federal level of both play into an argument they...

Ever wonder where the ideas of land management and forestry came from? Welcome to ancient India! Travel back in time using a video, the fourth in the History of Science series. The narrator describes the relationship between science and...

How did early scientists arrive at the notion that everything was made of atoms? Meet the Presocratics during the second installment in an engaging History of Science series. Viewers discover how these pioneers developed a model for...

How are so many medieval buildings still standing today? And, how did ancient builders learn such skills? Discover the amazing feats of medieval engineers with part 11 in a 15-installment History of Science series. The narrator describes...

Every living creature can leave a fossil record, yet most fossils belong to extinct organisms rather than ones currently living. Scholars learn about dating rock layers, fossils, and the environment of the past. Pupils understand that...

Young scholars write a rap or hip-hop lyric about the life of a famous Black American. They explore famous Black Americans in history and explore how the rap form compares to other forms of poetic expression.

Earth didn't always have oxygen, so what caused the change that allows humans to live here? Learn about the change in O2 levels throughout geological history through an interactive graph. Each section offers greater detail on the changes...

Genetic variation makes for stronger species, but for a mammalian species, humans are disturbingly closely related. Help your class explore human ancestry and genealogy using the 15th video in a 16-part series. It describes how we became...

Is the progression of human complexity due to eating meat? The 14th video in a 16-part series attempts to answer this and other thought-provoking questions. It relates the process of human evolution and innovation to our ability to learn...

The brain is a complex and mysterious organ. The history of brain research dates back to the early asylums where often unethical experiments took place. The narrator of a short video describes these experiments and their discoveries and...

Can competing biological theories both be correct? Explore the two theories many scientists believed were opposing in a Crash Course History of Science video. The narrator covers both Darwin's and Mendel's genetics theories, the...

Climate change fears are nothing new—scientists have been concerned about the issue since the early 1900s. Viewers learn the history of the study of climate in a quick but thorough video lesson. The instructor describes where climate...

How do we know what we know? Examine the asker of this, and many other questions, during the 14th installment in a 15-part History of Science video series. The narrator explains the important contributions made by Galileo, Bacon, and...

The scientific revolution went out with a bang, thanks to some impressive intellectuals! Newton's and Leibniz's noteworthy discoveries unfold in the 17th installment in a lengthy History of Science series. Viewers witness the birth of...

Back in 1492, when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, he discovered more than a new world! Part 16 in an ongoing History of Science series explores the Columbian Exchange and other major events in the Spanish colonial period. Viewers learn...