Lesson Plans & Worksheets Reviewed by Teachers

We found 1,901 reviewed resources

Genetics, Genetics, and More Genetics: Exploring Independent Assortment and Non-Mendelian Genetics

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Two individuals share 99.9 percent of their genetic codes, yet diversity is observed everywhere. Young scientists learn about diversity through hands-on activities and an experiment. They apply the concepts of independent assortment and...

Get Free Access See Review

Enzymes in Action

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Enzymes play a role in almost every function in the human body. Scholars explore three variables related to the use of enzymes. They observe a catalase reaction, experiment with substrates, and examine reactions rates.

Get Free Access See Review

Do You See What I See?

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

In only nine months, a small group of cells grows into a fully developed baby. Pupils learn about the development of an embryo to a fetus to a baby. They identify each step of weekly development. Young scientists look at ultrasounds to...

Get Free Access See Review

A Whole New World: The Search for Water

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Scholars find Earth won't support humans much longer and need to identify a planet with water to inhabit. They test four unknown samples and determine which is the closest to water. Then they explain and defend their results.

Get Free Access See Review

It's Not All Visible

Lesson Planet

6th - 10th

CCSS: Adaptable

Electromagnetic waves travel though empty space, something no other wave type can accomplish. Young scientists learn more about the entire spectrum of electromagnetic waves. They sort cards and apply their knowledge to create models of...

Get Free Access See Review

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Lesson Planet

8th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Seventy thousand different types of soil exist in the United States alone. Young scientists learn about the importance of soil to the food supply. They test soil for a variety of factors and determine the best place to set up a community...

Get Free Access See Review

Grandma's Learning to Text

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Evolution happens over generations, so how do we observe it? Scholars learn to look for patterns and create cladograms. Then they apply those lessons to the evolution of technology over many generations.

Get Free Access See Review

From the Dark, Damp Places

Lesson Planet

10th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Mosses and liverworts do not have any vascular tissue, unlike other plants. Young scientists learn more about these rootless plants through hands-on dissection and research on their life cycles as they get their hands dirty for a fun...

Get Free Access See Review

Fragrant Pheromones

Lesson Planet

7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Young scientists learn the importance of experimental design and the key elements of an experiment. Through observing videos and designing their own experiments, scholars apply each lesson plan they learn.

Get Free Access See Review

Beyond the Slinky

Lesson Planet

8th - 11th

CCSS: Adaptable

Scholars observe the effects of microwaves before starting a series of eight hands-on investigations. Then they sort waves by wavelengths and learn what connects microwaves to visible light to water waves and more to finish the lesson.

Get Free Access See Review

All Work and No Play

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Car crashes provide a good method for studying kinetic energy transfer. Scholars explore energy through hands-on simulated crashes. They work together to design their own experiments and apply the knowledge gained to a situation that...

Get Free Access See Review

How EGG-ceptional Are We?

Lesson Planet

7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Are women's eggs similar to chicken eggs? Scholars compare eggs from a variety of species to better understand embryonic development. Connections to evolution through hands-on activities help to cement the new vocabulary introduced.

Get Free Access See Review

Happy, Sad, Sleepy, Mad

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Scholars learn not to overreact as they classify chemical reactions. Starting with learning the basics of classification and moving onto applying all of the correct scientific vocabulary, young scientists master chemical reactions. Six...

Get Free Access See Review

Drought and the Dust Bowl

Lesson Planet

9th - 11th

CCSS: Adaptable

What caused the dust bowl, and should we worry about it happening again? Scholars look at various data to come up with their hypotheses. Then, they experiment to find some of the factors that contributed. Finally, the video has them look...

Get Free Access See Review

Cystic Fibrosis: A DNA Case Study

Lesson Planet

9th - 10th

CCSS: Adaptable

Around six percent of babies are born with serious genetic disorders. Young scientists learn more about what causes these disorders and the effect they have. They begin with a case study of cystic fibrosis before expanding to research...

Get Free Access See Review

A Trait Accompli: An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics

Lesson Planet

9th - 10th

CCSS: Adaptable

Young scientists learn the laws of genetics through data collection and research. They use discussions and online resources to develop an understanding of the related vocabulary.

Get Free Access See Review

All Charged Up

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Most have felt a static electricity shock, but what actually causes it? Scholars observe, develop a hypothesis, experiment, and learn about static electricity. Through multiple short writing samples, they describe static electricity in...

Get Free Access See Review

What Are Mini Brains?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 6th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Scientists grow tiny brains outside an organism in their labs. How this is accomplished and why become the central focus of a video and discussion. After viewing the core lesson, ten questions check for content mastery and prepare young...

Get Free Access See Review

Could We Cure Aging During Your Lifetime?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

As human lifespans increase, more time is spent sick or in pain than ever before. A brief video introduces some research on how to reduce the amount of our lives that are disease free. Each of these methods offers some promise for a...

Get Free Access See Review

How Does the Immune System Work?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

The human immune system doesn't always prevent us from getting sick, so what is it doing? Young scientists watch a short video explaining what the immune system is and how it works. Then, they answer eight questions to prepare for an...

Get Free Access See Review

Who's at Risk for Colon Cancer?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Colon cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Scholars learn how colon cancer develops and spreads. They also learn risk factors, tests, and treatments before answering eight comprehension questions.

Get Free Access See Review

Why do Animals Form Swarms?

Lesson Planet

4 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Swarms contain no leader, yet often act with an intelligence higher than any individual member. Birds, insects, and fish all commonly swarm for a variety of reasons. Scholars learn about swarming behavior in a short video before...

Get Free Access See Review

Avoid Electric Shock Getting Out of a Car!

Lesson Planet

5 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Can you avoid static shocks? As part of a larger physics series, an electric video explains what a static shock is and why it happens. Then, the narrator offers an idea for reducing your shock when exiting a car. She also includes a few...

Get Free Access See Review

Are MRIs Safe?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

We know about radiation from airplanes, and x-rays, but are MRIs considered safe? An informative video offers an simplified overview of how an MRI works. Then a comparison between MRIs and fMRIs opens new understanding. Finally it...

Get Free Access See Review

Are Perpetual Motion Machines Possible?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

As part of a larger series, an informative video introduces the concept of perpetual motion machines and the science proving they don't work. The narrator then shares machines that appear to work and highlights the hidden sources of energy.

Get Free Access See Review

5 Amazing Stars We’ve Discovered in Space

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Scientists estimate as many as 400 billion stars may exist in our galaxy alone. As part of a larger physics series, an out-of-this-world video introduces five amazing stars. Each star holds the record in something!

Get Free Access See Review

The Black Hole Death Problem

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Did you know black holes aren't black? Learn more about space with an episode from a larger series exploring physics. We know more about black holes now than ever before in history, yet we aren't sure we really know anything at all.

Get Free Access See Review

5 Weird Ways to Put out a Candle

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

How many ways do you know to put out a candle? An entertaining video introduces strange ways that extinguish flames. It demonstrates each method and then explains the science behind why it works. The video also offers tips for safety...

Get Free Access See Review

How to Shrink a Quarter with Electricity

Lesson Planet

8 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Electrocuting metal until it shrinks sounds crazy, but it happens! Part of a larger physics playlist an intriguing video explains how an electromagnet shrinks any metal coin. The narrator discusses the electric and magnetic forces as...

Get Free Access See Review

What Are Antibubbles?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

How can you make bubbles filled with water floating in water? An interesting video introduces antibubbles as part of a larger series about physics. The narrator brings in physics students at different levels, college and PhD, to...

Get Free Access See Review

Does Height Matter in Sports?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Are all gymnasts short and all basketball players tall? The comparison of strength and height does benefit some sports. A sporty video as part of a larger series on physics introduces allometry and the application to sports and medicine.

Get Free Access See Review

How Do Touchscreens Work?

Lesson Planet

6 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Why can't we text when wearing wool gloves? The narrator explains the science behind touchscreens as part of a larger physics series. From sensors to translation, the complex process of sending a simple emoji comes to life.

Get Free Access See Review

Why Outlets Spark When Unplugging—EMF and Inductors

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Have you ever observed a spark when unplugging something? An engaging video series covering physics concepts tackles why this happens and if you should be concerned. Learn about inductors, Faraday's Law of Induction, and watch sparks fly!

Get Free Access See Review

Zero G Ferrofluid Fail

Lesson Planet

11 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

What is it like to go up in a zero gravity airplane? Physics Girl shares her experiences and the science experiments she brought along as part of her video series. From the way your body feels to the failed experiments, she laughs and...

Get Free Access See Review

New Results! Cosmic Quantum Bell Test

Lesson Planet

11 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

The topic of eliminating bias occurs in all branches of science. As part of a larger series on physics, an interesting video introduces viewers to one way quantum physicists approached this issue. She explains the problem with quantum...

Get Free Access See Review

The Ultraviolet Catastrophe

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

What do scientists do when their observations don't match the theory? An interesting video introduces the ultraviolet catastrophe as part of a larger series covering physics concepts. Starting with ultraviolet light and ending with...

Get Free Access See Review

Can Explosions Work in Space?

Lesson Planet

6 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Would an evil mastermind trying to take over the universe use explosives in space? A video that is part of a larger series approaches this question with physics of course! She explains the role of the atmosphere, the properties of waves,...

Get Free Access See Review

Impossible Zero G Skyscraper

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

What happens if you build a skyscraper so tall it breaks the laws of physics? This hypothetical scenario leads to an interesting discussion of Newtonian forces and the imaginary forces that explain them. As part of a larger series on...

Get Free Access See Review

Can You Solve These Physics Riddles? (Part 1/3)

Lesson Planet

4 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Physics Girl and Simone Giertz team up to challenge each other to answer science riddles as part of an extensive video series on physics. In a subset of three videos, both physics and electronics questions challenge viewers to apply past...

Get Free Access See Review

My Dad Was Hit by Lightning (Twice!)

Lesson Planet

8 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

You have a one in a million chance of being struck by lightning—and 90 percent of those who are struck survive! As part of a larger series on physics, the narrator interviews her father who has survived being hit by lightning twice. It...

Get Free Access See Review

World's First Electric Generator

Lesson Planet

4 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Michael Faraday built the first electric generator more than 180 years ago. People on the street explore the same concepts pupils do while watching the informative video. An explanation of the scientific principles behind magnetism,...

Get Free Access See Review

Why Do Venomous Animals Live In Warm Climates?

Lesson Planet

12 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Mexico, Brazil, and Australia include the highest numbers of venomous species. An engaging video takes on the idea that venomous animals live in warm climates as part of a larger science series. It discusses possible reasons why this is...

Get Free Access See Review

World's Roundest Object!

Lesson Planet

12 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The definition of a kilogram is debatable. An informative video (as part of a larger playlist) shares the problem with the current definition of a kilogram. It explains why the concept became a challenge to explain as well as multiple...

Get Free Access See Review

Do Aliens Exist?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Many people believe in aliens, but what does the science say about life on another planet? Part of a larger series, an interesting video discusses the concept with people on the street and scientists, finding vastly different answers. It...

Get Free Access See Review

What Is NOT Random?

Lesson Planet

10 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Twelve fundamental particles exist in our universe, and they interact in exactly four ways. Does this mean we should be able to predict the future? We know entropy increases, but how does that impact us? These questions and more become...

Get Free Access See Review

How Much Information?

Lesson Planet

6 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

How much information can we process? How much information is stored inside us? These questions, and many more, inspired an inquisitive installment from a larger video series. From verbal and written language to DNA and computers,...

Get Free Access See Review

How Were the Pyramids Built?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Were the pyramids really built using slave labor? New research offers another possibility. In Egypt, many mysteries surround these monuments, and a constructive video (part of a larger series) attempts to answer some. It discusses where...

Get Free Access See Review

Ice Spikes Explained

Lesson Planet

4 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Sometimes ice freezes with spikes growing out of the top. A brief video provides a scientific explanation for this. Then, it discusses the two different possible futures if ice didn't behave this way.

Get Free Access See Review

The Science of Six Degrees of Separation

Lesson Planet

9 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The concept of everyone on earth being separated by only six degrees of social connections originated more than 100 years ago. Connect the dots using an installment from an engaging video series that takes a look at various social...

Get Free Access See Review

The Speed of Life

Lesson Planet

8 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Time appears to go faster the older we get, but why? A timeless video explores this concept psychologically and scientifically. Through an experiment and neuroscience, viewers better understand the paradox of aging.

Get Free Access See Review

The Most Amazing Thing About Trees

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

When water goes up a tube 10 meters, it creates a perfect vacuum in the tube above that point, and the water can go no higher. So how does a tree get water to the top? Part of a larger series, an intriguing video installment poses this...

Get Free Access See Review

How To Clean Up Space Junk

Lesson Planet

6 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

NASA tracks around 20,000 pieces of debris orbiting Earth. The garbage humans leave in space cause problems for space exploration, satellites, and communication. One group of scientists hopes to clean up the junk and make this planet...

Get Free Access See Review

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle Explained

Lesson Planet

4 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Quantum physics relies on Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, yet many don't fully understand it. A brief video installment from a larger playlist explores the principle with a laser light and a slit for it to pass through. It describes...

Get Free Access See Review

How To Make Colour with Holes

Lesson Planet

6 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Nature inspiring technology isn't new, but butterflies inspiring new nanotechnology excites everyone. As part of a larger playlist, an engaging video explains how we see color and the relationship with both magnetic and electric fields....

Get Free Access See Review

How Does a Quantum Computer Work?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Did you know quantum computers aren't always faster than classical computers? See why this is in a video installment that discusses the way quantum computers work. It explains the applications of quantum computing as well as the...

Get Free Access See Review

How Special Relativity Makes Magnets Work

Lesson Planet

4 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Galileo established relativity, and Einstein developed the laws of special relativity to more fully explain physics. A brief video explains how special relativity relates to electromagnetism. Through simple illustrations, complex...

Get Free Access See Review

Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors?

Lesson Planet

8 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

It appears everyone has a cell phone, but are they damaging our health? A thought-provoking video addresses this question by pulling together multiple studies from around the world. It explains the methodology and conclusions of each.

Get Free Access See Review

What Exactly is the Present?

Lesson Planet

8 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

How do our minds define the present? Is it a second, a split second, or a moment? Our minds play tricks on us when it comes to aligning audio and visual cues. Learn more about why this happens, how our brains correct the error, and how...

Get Free Access See Review

Welding in Space

Lesson Planet

7 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

After the first American space walk, the hatch would not close on the spacecraft. Engineers later identified the problem as cold welding. An out-of-this-world video shows scholars how this discovery led to many changes in space crafts as...

Get Free Access See Review

The Next Mission to Mars: Mars 2020

Lesson Planet

9 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

In July of 2020, NASA plans to launch a new Mars rover. An out-of-this-world video explores this exciting mission. It describes goals of the mission and the many challenges involved. It also offers hope for new findings and new...

Get Free Access See Review

DNA Doesn’t Look Like What You Think!

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

DNA forms a double helix, but that is not what it looks like. A fact-filled video takes on this inaccuracy as part of an extensive playlist on biology. It shares the recent discoveries about what DNA looks like as well as the many...

Get Free Access See Review

Orchid Mantis: Looks That Kill

Lesson Planet

4 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Rather than hunting for food, the orchid mantis entices the prey to come to it. A cool video discusses this type of mimicry as part of a larger biology playlist. The orchid mantis appears like any typical orchid to us, but it stands out...

Get Free Access See Review

Nature's Living Fireworks!

Lesson Planet

5 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Seventy-five percent of ocean species create their own light. Bioluminescence stars in an enlightening biology video that takes a look at some cool species. From fireflies to deep sea creatures, the video explores the process,...

Get Free Access See Review

A Mammoth Undertaking: The Science of De-Extinction!

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

If scientists could use biotechnology to bring back extinct species, should it? A thought-provoking video explores the technical and ethical considerations of this question as part of a larger biology playlist. It explains what would be...

Get Free Access See Review

CRISPR and the Future of Human Evolution

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Will survival of the fittest be replaced by designer babies and eugenics in the near future? The technology exists now, but scientists still debate how to best use it. The future of the human race depends on the decisions made, but no...

Get Free Access See Review

Where Did Humans Come From?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Part of a biology playlist, the video discusses human ancestry and represents the first in a smaller four-part series exploring humans. It describes the fossils found, where the fit on the family tree, and why there are so many missing...

Get Free Access See Review

The Superb Owl!

Lesson Planet

5 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

What if we described an animal like we describe a football team competing in the big game? A cool video attempts to do just that as part of a larger biology playlist. It discusses an owl with superb adaptations and anatomy to survive in...

Get Free Access See Review

How Many Species Are There?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Scientists discover over 15,000 new species each year. Despite studying life on our planet for all of human history, we still don't know how many species exist on Earth. An informative video from a biology playlist presents the dilemma,...

Get Free Access See Review

Pigeon Story: How the Rock Dove Became the Sky Rat

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

After training, pigeons can recognize correctly spelled words among misspelled words. In addition, they can use number sense to count, memorize thousands of pictures, and use navigational aids humans don't understand. As part of a larger...

Get Free Access See Review

The Surprising Origin of Thanksgiving Foods

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Many of the foods pilgrims ate include foods people still eat at American Thanksgiving celebrations today. The turkey, a domesticated animal native to the Americas, often finds itself the center of attention on this holiday. Today's corn...

Get Free Access See Review

We've Got Ants in Our Plants!

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Some ants are so aggressive, they can repel an elephant. Viewers learn this fact and more in an engaging video that is part of a larger playlist on biology. It discusses the relationships between ants and plants. While plants provide...

Get Free Access See Review

Is Sugar a Drug?

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Did you know that sugar stimulates the same areas of the brain as cocaine and heroin? As part of a biology playlist, the thought-provoking video discusses if sugar should be considered a drug. It talks about our need for sugar, our...

Get Free Access See Review

How Baby Sea Turtles Find Their Way Home

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Sea turtles return to the beach they were born on more than a decade later to lay eggs. An interesting video explains this phenomenon as part of an extensive playlist covering biology. It describes what scientists know and don't know...

Get Free Access See Review

Why Do More Species Live Near the Equator?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The tropics contain about 40 percent of the area on Earth. Viewers take a trip to Peru as an entrancing video from a larger biology playlist explores the region. It explains the facts and theories about the biodiversity near the equator....

Get Free Access See Review

Your Microbiome: The Invisible Creatures That Keep You Alive!

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Humans are born without any bacteria, yet have acquired the majority of the microbiome expected for adulthood by the age of three. A biology video introduces the human microbiome, and describes when the microbiome begins developing, how...

Get Free Access See Review

Are We All Related?

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

All humans alive today descended from the same woman who lived just 150,000 years ago. A thought-provoking video explains this concept as part of a larger biology playlist. It lists the location where the woman lived as well as where our...

Get Free Access See Review

How The Toilet Changed History

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

In 2017, one in every three people still don't have access to a toilet. As part of a playlist on biology, an interesting video explains this global health topic. It describes society before toilets, disease research throughout history,...

Get Free Access See Review

Is This A New Species?!

Lesson Planet

10 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Which makes a better name for a new species: Hermit Crab Caterpillar or Sir Leafs-a-Lot? Exploring a rainforest in Peru, the video helps viewers discover a unique species as part of a larger biology playlist. As scientists learn more...

Get Free Access See Review

Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Concussions?

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Woodpeckers withstand more than 4,000 Gs without getting a concussion, yet humans only withstand up to 300 without getting one. An eye-opening video explains the difference in anatomy between humans and woodpecker brains as part of a...

Get Free Access See Review

Why Don't Ants Get Stuck In Traffic?

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Ants head out in the morning to collect food and all return at the end of the day, yet they don't have traffic jams. An intriguing resource compares ant travel patterns to human travel patterns as part of a biology playlist. It discusses...

Get Free Access See Review

Fact vs. Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law… Explained!

Lesson Planet

7 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Gravity exists as both a scientific theory and a scientific law. For those struggling with the difference between scientific facts, theories, hypothesis, and laws, an informative video comes to the rescue. It offers a definition of each...

Get Free Access See Review

The Strange Case of the Buzzsaw Jaws

Lesson Planet

4 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Shark teeth in Idaho, China, and Russia confused scientists for hundreds of years. A spiral of sharp teeth presented the first clue, but where would they even go on a shark? Learn more about the strange case in a video that is part of a...

Get Free Access See Review

The Search for the Earliest Life

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Life existed on Earth more than four billion years ago, much earlier than scientists predicted. Eons presents a lively video as part of a larger series. It explains the recent findings on multiple continents that alter the timeline of...

Get Free Access See Review

A Brief History of Geologic Time

Lesson Planet

12 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

How do scientists know the history of Earth before humans—or any mammals—existed? An epic "Eons" series video explains the larger history of geologic time. It highlights the eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages scientists use to divide...

Get Free Access See Review

Chemistry: What Is a Metal? (Metallic Bonds)

Lesson Planet

4 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Metals offer unique properties thanks to the structure of their valence electrons. The Socratica chemistry playlist includes this video explaining what a metal is and the properties of metals. It focuses on their structures, features,...

Get Free Access See Review

Hydrophobic Surfaces—Deposition and Analysis

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Couches, carpets, and even computer keyboards now advertise they are spill-resistant, but what does that mean? Scholars use physical and chemical methods to coat surfaces with thin films to test their hydrophobic properties. Then they...

Get Free Access See Review

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

Lesson Planet

7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

At one point, all mammals carried only two color receptors, but now most humans carry three. An informative presentation and hands-on activity demonstrate how this evolved through genetics. By participating in the activity, pupils...

Get Free Access See Review

Why Star Stuff Matters: Crash Course Big History #202

Lesson Planet

11 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Carbon makes all life on Earth possible, not to mention most technology and progress. The 12th video in a 16-part series explains the significance of being made of star stuff. From the formation of chemical elements to the rise in...

Get Free Access See Review

Why Human Ancestry Matters: Crash Course Big History #205

Lesson Planet

10 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

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...

Get Free Access See Review

Why Human Evolution Matters: Crash Course Big History #204

Lesson Planet

11 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

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...

Get Free Access See Review

Migrations and Intensification: Crash Course Big History #7

Lesson Planet

14 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

What happens when the earth reaches its carrying capacity of humans? As human populations grow, societies change from hunters and gatherers to agriculture to the industrial age and beyond. A video takes a global perspective of migration...

Get Free Access See Review

Why the Evolutionary Epic Matters: Crash Course Big History #203

Lesson Planet

12 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Imagine a world where the only animals roaming the earth are domesticated. One day, we might not have to imagine the scenario of no wild animals—and that day approaches faster than predicted. A video explains the evolution from...

Get Free Access See Review

The Modern Revolution: Crash Course Big History #8

Lesson Planet

14 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Will advances in technology save us from exhausting the Earth's resources? Throughout history, progress helped us revolutionize society. The video discusses the growth in collective learning, exploration, machinery, communications,...

Get Free Access See Review

The Sun and The Earth: Crash Course Big History #3

Lesson Planet

15 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Amaze your class with the fact that more than 1,000 confirmed planets exist. The video explains the formation and development of planets, especially the earth. It covers the solar nebula, birth of the sun, and the development of the...

Get Free Access See Review

The Big Bang: Crash Course Big History #1

Lesson Planet

14 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Theoretical physicists say that space and time are one thing created by the Big Bang. According to them, nothing happened in the time before the Big Bang because time did not exist. The first Crash Course-Big History video in a 16-part...

Get Free Access See Review

Cell Membranes Are Way More Complicated Than You Think

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Cell membranes contain many contradictions; for example, they are both oily and strong. The video explains the parts of a cell membrane, the function of each part, and discusses the contradictions. It highlights what happens when...

Get Free Access See Review

The Amazing Ways Plants Defend Themselves

Lesson Planet

6 mins 7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Plants can't run away from their predators, so they develop unique ways to defend themselves. The video presents many different defensive techniques that plants use. It also discusses how animals respond to these traits.

Get Free Access See Review

How Ingenious Animals Have Engineered Air Conditioning

Lesson Planet

5 mins 4th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Humans aren't the only species to build structures with air conditioning—we weren't even the first! The video explains how a variety of species that live under and above ground design their structures to allow for air circulation. It...

Get Free Access See Review

What Causes Kidney Stones?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Could you imagine having a kidney stone the size of a coconut? Viewers learn about the largest kidney stone ever recorded in a video that explains what kidney stones are and how they form. Then, it details multiple procedures to treat or...

Get Free Access See Review

What is Entropy?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Entropy, often misunderstood yet easily proven through mathematics, caused confusion for many years. A video explains entropy through simple models. It demonstrates the mathematical proof behind the phenomenon.

Get Free Access See Review

Plants Use An Internet Made of Fungus

Lesson Planet

4 mins 7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

If a tree is infected with bugs in a forest, can it warn the neighboring trees? Amazingly, this communication happens regularly. Scholars observe the phenomenon and learn how scientists discovered the way fungus works as a neural network...

Get Free Access See Review

The Science of Smog

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

In 1952, a mysterious fog killed an estimated 4,000 people in London, raising awareness of the relationship between air quality and public health. An interesting video explains two different types of smog, describing the conditions...

Get Free Access See Review

Could We Create Dark Matter?

Lesson Planet

6 mins 9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Dark matter makes up 85 percent of our universe. The video explains current scientific research to create and better understand dark matter. The narrator explains the research into the large hadron collider with easily understandable...

Get Free Access See Review

How to Squeeze Electricity Out of Crystals

Lesson Planet

5 mins 7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

It is possible to generate electricity by squeezing a single sugar crystal. A short video explains how this is possible and the way this knowledge has changed our society. From sonar devices to renewable energy, generations rely on this...

Get Free Access See Review

Is There a Reproducibility Crisis in Science?

Lesson Planet

5 mins 7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Less than 25 percent of published research proves reproducible. The video discusses the importance of duplicating results, introduces the challenge related to this task, and examines the issue from multiple points of view, allowing for...

Get Free Access See Review

Probabilities, Dihybrid and Test Crosses

Lesson Planet

8 mins 9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Epistasis originated from genetics but now applies to biochemistry, computational biology, and evolutionary biology. The video introduces epistasis as it relates to genetics. It also discusses dihybrid crosses, test crosses, polygenic...

Get Free Access See Review

Mystery Disease

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

How did scientists determine the cause of illness before technology? Science scholars play the role of medical researcher in an engaging guided inquiry activity. Using observations, technical reading, and Punnett squares, learners...

Get Free Access See Review

Mystery of the Crooked Cell

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Designed

Can your class solve the Mystery of the Crooked Cell? Junior geneticists collaborate to learn about sickle cell anemia in a fascinating lesson plan. The included materials help them to examine the genetic factors behind the disease...

Get Free Access See Review

Calculating Pi with Darts

Lesson Planet

6 mins 6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Can pi be calculated through a game of darts? The video shows why this works mathematically and the issues surrounding the methodology. Once participants overcome errors, success through physics and mathematics leads to celebration.

Get Free Access See Review

Population Biology

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The carrying capacity of an environment varies based on the organisms that live there. Using a virtual lab simulation, scholars test two protists living in their own environments and a third environment where both protists live. They...

Get Free Access See Review

Preparation and Combustion of Biodiesel

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The United States is the world's largest producer of biofuel. During an in-class investigation, young scientists produce their own biodiesel. They burn a sample of it to determine the heat of combustion. Then they discuss the results...

Get Free Access See Review

Lost City Chemistry Detectives

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

In 1977, scientists discovered hot springs in the middle of deep, cold ocean waters near the Galapagos Islands. Scholars research the chemical reactions that explain what scientists found at the Lost City. A discussion connects many...

Get Free Access See Review

I Can't Breathe!

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The Gulf of Mexico dead zone, an area of low oxygen that kills marine life, costs the United States $82 million every year. Young scientists research anoxic ocean environments then come up with a hypothesis for the cause of the Gulf of...

Get Free Access See Review

The Intertropical Convergence Zone

Lesson Planet

3rd - 11th

CCSS: Adaptable

Young scientists know it is hotter along the equator, but why is it also rainier? Through the process of completing two experiments and a worksheet, scholars discover the answer is the intertropical convergence zone. First, they...

Get Free Access See Review

Energy Content of Foods

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Why do athletes load up on carbohydrates the evening before a competition? The activity helps answer this question as it relates the type of food to the amount of energy it contains. After a discussion, scholars perform an experiment to...

Get Free Access See Review

What's So Special about Bottled Drinking Water?

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Is artesian water designed to be better, or is it just from wells similar to those in the city of Artesium? This experiment looks at many different types of bottled waters, including artesian. Using a soap mixture, scholars test to see...

Get Free Access See Review

The RNA Decoder Ring: Deciphering the Language of Life

Lesson Planet

5th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Secret messages aren't just for spies, your body also uses them to write your proteins. After assembling an RNA decoder ring, pupils practice transcribing DNA to mRNA, then translate the mRNA to amino acid sequence instructions. The...

Get Free Access See Review

Fibers, Dyes, and the Environment

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Nanofibers can be made through electrospinning or force spinning in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Pupils study the role of fibers and dye on the environment through a series of five hands-on activities. Then,...

Get Free Access See Review

Harmonic Motion: Pendulum Lab

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Several times throughout history, groups of soldiers marching in rhythm across a suspension bridge have caused it to collapse. Scholars experiment with pendulums, resonance, and force to determine why this would happen. First, pupils...

Get Free Access See Review

Shedding a "Little" Light on Cancer Surgery

Lesson Planet

10th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Many types of cancer treatments now depend on nanotechnology—a big "little" discovery. Scholars begin by removing "malignant" tissue from simulated brains, one using fluorescent markers thanks to nanotechnology and one without. This...

Get Free Access See Review

The Tide is High, but I’m Holding On… Using ICESat Data to Investigate Sea Level Rise

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Based on the rate of melting observed from 2003-2007 in Greenland, it would take less than 10 minutes to fill the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium. The 17th lesson plan in a series of 21 has scholars use the ICESat data to understand the ice mass...

Get Free Access See Review

Ramp: Forces and Motion

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Use the ramp, if you feel so inclined. Young scientists explore four simulations related to inclined planes. They include an introduction, friction, force graphs, and a robot moving company example. Pupils push objects up and down a...

Get Free Access See Review

Magnet and Compass

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Both magnetic poles on the earth move, but can you make the magnetic poles on a magnet move? The simulation compares the magnetic field of a bar magnet to the magnetic field of the earth. A compass measures the changes as scholars vary...

Get Free Access See Review

Virtual Fetal Pig Dissection

Lesson Planet

9th - Higher Ed

CCSS: Adaptable

Pigs and humans have the same metabolism level and similar organs and systems, which is why they are often used in scientific laboratories. This worthy virtual dissection of a fetal pig divides into eight chapters: anatomical references,...

Get Free Access See Review

Projectile Motion

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Have you ever wanted to shoot someone out of a canon? This simulation gives you that chance! In addition to a human, you can shoot a car, a piano, a cannon ball, and many other items. Scholars set the angle, initial speed, mass, air...

Get Free Access See Review

Ohm's Law

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Why did Mr. Ohm marry Mrs. Ohm? He couldn't resistor. An electrifying simulation allows scholars to control both voltage and resistance in order to see the current change. The formula is displayed and as you increase one variable, it...

Get Free Access See Review

My Solar System

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Orbit diagrams appear to be a work of mathematical art. The simulation helps scholars build their own systems of planets, stars, moons, etc., to observe their orbits. By altering their positions, velocities, and masses, a variety of...

Get Free Access See Review

Microwaves

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

How does a microwave heat up food when the inside of the microwave doesn't get hot like the inside of an oven does? The simulation directly answers this question. Scholars adjust the amplitude and frequency of a microwave to view the...

Get Free Access See Review

Magnets and Electromagnets

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Some things are naturally magnetic, but can you make something magnetic? An attractive simulation challenges scholars to use a battery and a wire to make a magnet. Additional challenges include increasing the strength of the magnet and...

Get Free Access See Review

Lasers

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Laser is actual an acronym that stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Scholars use the simulator to create their own lasers. They pump a chamber with a photon beam and manage the states of energy in...

Get Free Access See Review

Hooke's Law

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Everything from pens to cars use springs — some are just on a larger scale! An interactive simulation encourages pupils to stretch and compress springs while observing the changes to force, displacement, and potential energy. Then they...

Get Free Access See Review

Is It Getting Hot in Here, or Is It Just Me?

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Currently, only 2.1% of global warming is felt on continents, while over 93% is felt in the oceans. The fourth lesson in the series of 21 on global warming is composed of three activities that build off one another. In the first...

Get Free Access See Review

The Moving Man

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Here is a simulation that encourages scholars to move a little man back and forth for the purpose of plotting the motion with three variables. Then they set the instructions and watch to see if the man performs the way they expected.

Get Free Access See Review

Models of the Hydrogen Atom

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

An engaging simulation encourages scholars to discover if the Bohr model of an atom is correct. They shoot light at a hydrogen atom in various conditions to see which of the many models is plausible or inadequate.

Get Free Access See Review

Masses and Springs

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Have you ever stretched out a Slinkie so much it wouldn't go back to its original shape? Slinkies, like all springs, follow Hooke's Law. A simulation uses springs and masses to demonstrate kinetic, potential, and thermal energy. It...

Get Free Access See Review

Lunar Lander

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

If scientists can master landing a helicopter on a specific spot, landing a module on the moon shouldn't be that difficult, right? A simulation allows scholars to practice landing on the moon using the actual mass, thrust, fuel...

Get Free Access See Review

Gravity And Orbits

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Have you ever wanted to turn off gravity? This simulation allows learners to do just that in addition to altering other variables. Scholars can move the sun, Earth, moon, and space station to see how distance affects gravitational pull....

Get Free Access See Review

It's A Bird...It's A Plane...It's...CARBON!

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

An interesting lesson takes pupils on a trip through the carbon cycle. A reading passage allows scholars to take notes and make choices about what happens to the carbon on its journey. This third lesson in a series of 21 discusses...

Get Free Access See Review

Forces and Motion: Basics

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

How is tug of war related to pushing a refrigerator? Here's a simulation connects these two activities with Newton's First Law of Motion. Four different simulations allow scholars to explore net force with tug of war, motion with pushing...

Get Free Access See Review

Conceptualizing Module III

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Many researchers focus on one impact of climate change in isolation, but researchers gain a global perspective when they come together. A timely lesson teaches scholars about the projected impacts of global temperature increases. Then...

Get Free Access See Review

When It Rains It Pours More Drought and More Heavy Rainfall

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Which is worse — drought or flooding? Neither is helpful to the environment, and both are increasing due to climate change. The 16th lesson in a series of 21 covers the average precipitation trends for two different climates within the...

Get Free Access See Review

Fluid Pressure and Flow

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

This simulation begins with an exploration of water pressure and atmospheric pressure. In the flow portion, scholars reshape a pipe and see fluid dynamics at work. The water tower portion encourages pupils to determine how water...

Get Free Access See Review

Energy Skate Park: Basics

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

Keep calm and half pipe. An exciting simulation teaches pupils about energy transfer from potential to kinetic and thermal as a skater moves through a half pipe or other track. After a brief introduction, scholars can build their own...

Get Free Access See Review

Energy Skate Park

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Apply the concepts of conservation of energy to a skater to introduce a fun way the concepts apply to real life. Scholars build tracks, ramps, and jumps then analyze the various types of energy and friction. For an added challenge,...

Get Free Access See Review

Ghost Town

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Around 93 percent of the reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have been bleached, and almost one quarter of them are now dead. Scholars research the sea temperatures, especially around the areas with coral reefs, to make connections...

Get Free Access See Review

Forces and Motion

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The average American will move 12 times, which results in a lot of moving furniture! Class members consider the forces required to move objects with a creative simulation that opens with the forces required to push a filing cabinet....

Get Free Access See Review

Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

"But still try, for who knows what is possible." - Michael Faraday. Faraday's advice features in a simulation that permits pupils to play with a bar magnet in order to make a light bulb glow connecting electromagnetic induction to...

Get Free Access See Review

Energy Forms and Changes

Lesson Planet

6th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Is the ice cooling down the water or is the water melting the ice? Here is a simulation that explores thermal energy transfer with iron, brick, and water. It demonstrates the flow of energy and what happens when each material is either...

Get Free Access See Review

Nutcracker Fantasy

Lesson Planet

7th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

The Clark's nutcracker bird hides seeds in 25,000 different sites every year to save for winter. Lesson demonstrates how difficult it would be to find these seeds months later when they need them for food. In the first of five lesson,...

Get Free Access See Review

Arctic Smorgasbord

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Though the walrus spends roughly one third of its time on land, it eats organisms that live on the bottom of the ocean. The first in a series of five, the instructional activity uses a variety of plant and animal cards to have scholars...

Get Free Access See Review

Phase Change: What Does Hot Cocoa Have to Do With Chemistry?

Lesson Planet

9th - 12th

CCSS: Adaptable

Hot cocoa is easy to make with only two ingredients, so what does it have to do with chemistry? The lesson begins with what seems like an obvious question. Then scholars perform simulations to focus on phase changes. Lastly, they...

Get Free Access See Review

See All

Content Curators

Grades

Subjects

Resource Types

Standards

What Members Say

We found 1,901 reviewed resources

What Is the Coldest Thing in the World?

Are Naked Mole Rats the Strangest Mammals?

What Causes Insomnia?

How One Scientist Averted a National Health Crisis

What Would It Be like to Live on the Moon?

How Do We Study Living Brains?

Why Are Fish Fish-Shaped?

What Is Dust Made Of?

What Causes Constipation?

How to Build a Dark Matter Detector

Photosynthesis Investigation

Seasonal Science: Thundersnow

The Other Explosion You Should Know About

How the Turtle Got Its Shell

The Most Useful Fossils in the World

What a Dinosaur Looks like under a Microscope

Inside the Dinosaur Library

What Was the Ancestor of Everything?

How the Squid Lost Its Shell

How the Chalicothere Split In Two

The Weird, Watery Tale of Spinosaurus

The Age of Reptiles in Three Acts

From the Fall of Dinos to the Rise of Humans

That Time It Rained for Two Million Years

Why Triassic Animals Were Just the Weirdest

Where Did Viruses Come From?

Drug Adherence and Resistance

Quantum Entanglement and Spooky Action at a Distance

Should This Lake Exist?

Surprising Applications of the Magnus Effect

Filling Our Land with Landfills

Dragon Delivery

Who Can See Who?

Law of Reflection

Sensors in Chemistry

Virus Wars

Protein Synthesis

The RNA Origin of Life

The RNA Enigma

NOVA Evolution Lab Lesson Plan

NOVA Evolution Lab Game

Cannibalism in the Animal Kingdom

What Causes Body Odor?

The Science of Skin

CSI Wildlife

Plant Structures Lab Stations

The Monster Mash

The Last Supper: Identifying Macromolecules

"Something Old, Something New..."

Genetics, Genetics, and More Genetics: Exploring Independent Assortment and Non-Mendelian Genetics

Enzymes in Action

Do You See What I See?

A Whole New World: The Search for Water

It's Not All Visible

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Grandma's Learning to Text

From the Dark, Damp Places

Fragrant Pheromones

Beyond the Slinky

All Work and No Play

How EGG-ceptional Are We?

Happy, Sad, Sleepy, Mad

Drought and the Dust Bowl

Cystic Fibrosis: A DNA Case Study

A Trait Accompli: An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics

All Charged Up

What Are Mini Brains?

Could We Cure Aging During Your Lifetime?

How Does the Immune System Work?

Who's at Risk for Colon Cancer?

Why do Animals Form Swarms?

Avoid Electric Shock Getting Out of a Car!

Are MRIs Safe?