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Lesson Planet
Project PARKA: Planting AntaRctica in KAnsas
What happens in the Antarctic doesn't stay in the Antarctic. A thought-provoking collection of four lessons examines how climate change is affecting the Antarctic and the rest of the world's oceans. Although designed for Kansas' Student...
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The Building Blocks of Life
During every moment of life, billions of cells are working tirelessly to keep you alive, not to mention all the cells in every blade of grass and other living things. Augment your middle school or high school unit on animal and plant...
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Crash Course: Biology
Imagine an entire biology course in one collection of 40 videos! Based on the AP Biology curriculum, viewers learn about the things that make up living things and the processes that keep organisms alive. They also learn how to identify...
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Climate Change: Lines of Evidence
The National Research Council’s video “Climate Change: Lines of Evidence” details the current knowledge scientists have developed about recent climate change and the causes of these changes. For this collection the video is broken into...
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Chemistry Lessons
A collection of 26 videos provides young chemists with help with concepts and topics that many find confusing. The narrator offers clear explanations, practical advice, and uses multiple examples to ensure understanding. Great for ...
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Biology Junction PowerPoint Presentations
Add a little power to your biology classes with a collection of 18 colorful presentations that cover everything from an introduction to the scientific method to lab safety rules, from acids to vaporization, Although designed as an AP...
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Fresh Solutions: Water Use and Conservation
Water, water, everywhere but there is less of it available to drink! The ten resources in this collection examine water waste in manufacturing, depleted aquifers, water usage, and desalination and recycling methods. Students watch...
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Minute Physics: Intro to Special Relativity Course
Special relativity is a physical theory that explains the relationship between space and time. A collection of eight videos makes this complex—and at times confusing—concept a little easier to understand. Simple drawings illustrate each...
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Evolution and Speciation
A collection of five Nature League videos explores evolution and speciation. Four evolution types, in-breeding, out-breeding, and how engineers have designed technology, household items, and medicines inspired by nature. Host Britt...
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Adaptations
Viewers learn about adaptations of plants, animals, and humans through a collection of four Animal League videos. Host Britt Garner discusses behavioral and physical adaptations like camouflage. Also featured are unique adaptions like...
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What is Life?
A Nature League series of five videos, hosted by Brit Garner of the SciShow, make up a collection that models how scientists conduct investigations. The first video addresses the definition of life, it's characteristics, and the...
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Literacy in Science/Technical Subjects: 9-10th Grade ELA Common Core
Reading and interpreting scientific texts successfully requires more than science knowledge. The Common Core Standards for literacy in science/technical subjects revolve around helping students understand scientific texts, symbols, and...
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The Blueprints of Your Life
Brown eyes, blue eyes, and green eyes don't just happen by luck. Find out more about genetics with a collection of high school level presentations, videos, and lessons.
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It's Electrifyin'!
Why exactly does rubbing a balloon on your head make your hair stick up? A set of fun, applicable electricity experiments and lessons is sure to put some sparks into your curriculum!
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The Systems of Our Bodies
Every bite we take and breath we inhale serves to keep us alive. But how does each body system work with each other? Use these lessons, videos, and apps to explore the ever-busy systems in our bodies.
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What Is the Coldest Thing in the World?
A video that demonstrates the process for cooling atoms launches a journey to comprehend physics. After watching the video, class members answer multiple-choice and short-answer questions to prepare for a whole-class discussion of the...
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Are Naked Mole Rats the Strangest Mammals?
Imagine a mammal with the metabolism of a plant! This strange mammal appears cold-blooded like a reptile and demonstrates the social life of an insect. A short video examines learning the incredible adaptations of the naked mole rat.
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What Causes Insomnia?
Scientists estimate anywhere from two to thirty percent of the world's population suffers from insomnia at any given time. A short video details the causes of insomnia, what happens to sufferers, and offers some possible solutions.
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How One Scientist Averted a National Health Crisis
Between 1957 and 1962, thousands of infants born in Canada, Great Britain, and Germany had serious deformities due to thalidomide, a drug marketed to pregnant women as a mild sleeping aid and to relieve pregnancy nausea. However, the...
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What Would It Be like to Live on the Moon?
Will the next generation have the option of living on the moon? Discover the challenges and adjustments required to live in such a harsh environment with a short video that describes some of the obstacles scientists must overcome in...
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How Do We Study Living Brains?
Out of all vertebrates, the largest brain when compared to body size belongs to humans. Studying the working brain presents challenges to scientists. Learn about three of the most common tests used to understand how the living brain...
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Why Are Fish Fish-Shaped?
Some species of fish are more closely related to humans than they are to other species of fish! How did so many species, that aren't closely related, develop the same body shape? A short video explains the evolution of fish.
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What Is Dust Made Of?
We find dust almost everywhere, but have you ever considered it fascinating? Dust contains a variety of materials and varies greatly based on location. After learning about dust, scholars answer multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
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What Causes Constipation?
Chronic constipation includes those people with fewer than five bowel movements per week. Understanding the causes of constipation helps determine appropriate treatments. Changes in diet, schedule, stress, and age alter the way our body...
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How to Build a Dark Matter Detector
Scientists measure dark matter based on gravity, but how do we find something that can't be detected by anything on the electromagnetic spectrum? Understanding what doesn't work leads to new tests and machines in the search for dark...
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Photosynthesis Investigation
Can scientists increase the rate of photosynthesis to help clean the air? Scholars complete an experiment determining net photosynthesis. Then, they apply knowledge from the activity to design their own investigations of the factors that...
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Seasonal Science: Thundersnow
Let it snow, let it snow, let it ... thundersnow? Explore the thundersnow phenomenon with a video and lesson as part of the Seasonal Science series. The video describes what causes the unique weather event, explains just how rare these...
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The Other Explosion You Should Know About
Scientists replace incorrect ideas when new evidence appears, but what happens when scientists reject the new evidence? Learn the story of the Avalon explosion and the scientists who resisted the fossils proving it existed as one part of...
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How the Turtle Got Its Shell
Does a shell define a turtle, or are there turtles without shells? Learn about the evolution of the unique reptile and the mystery that surrounds this identifiable feature as part of a larger series of videos. As various disciplines...
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The Most Useful Fossils in the World
One of the most abundant fossils on earth confused paleontologists for more than one hundred years. Viewers learn about the mystery and discoveries related to conodonts in a video from PBS as part of its Eons series.
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What a Dinosaur Looks like under a Microscope
How do scientists determine the age of a dinosaur when it died? Viewers earn how scientists make slides of dinosaur fossils and how they use these images to determine age at death. Part of a larger Eons series from PBS, these beautiful...
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Inside the Dinosaur Library
Where do fossils that aren't on display in a museum go? Learn about the dinosaur collections at the Museum of the Rockies as part of the larger PBS Eons series of videos. The collections manager explains how they care for fossils and...
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What Was the Ancestor of Everything?
As part of evolution species branch off of others species. But what did the original limb look like? Young scientists discover the exciting study of the last universal common ancestor as they hear from specialists in multiple scientific...
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How the Squid Lost Its Shell
The ancestors of squid and octopus used shells as a form of defense. Pupils learn how cephalopods evolved without shells and the adaptations required to survive without one. Viewers learn how scientists know about these changes and the...
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How the Chalicothere Split In Two
How is it that the same animal, living in the same place, at the same time, evolved into two different species? As part of a larger series, an engaging video explains the rise of the chalicothere, the split in evolution, and eventually...
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The Weird, Watery Tale of Spinosaurus
While scientists have know about dinosaurs that flew in the air, lived on land, and swam in the water, a episode from the PBS Eons series reveals recent discoveries of a dinosaur that was semi-aquatic—the first known semi-aquatic...
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The Age of Reptiles in Three Acts
Reptiles survived the largest extinction event on the planet and then they grew into the most dominant class of the Mesozoic Era. They quickly evolved into giants on land, sea, and air. In an episode of the PBS Eons series viewers learn...
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From the Fall of Dinos to the Rise of Humans
We live in the Cenozoic Era, and most of the animals we recognize first appeared in this era. However, the animals that existed at the start of the era bear little resemblance to present day. As one part of a larger series, individuals...
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That Time It Rained for Two Million Years
What would happen if all of the land on Earth received as much rainfall as the temperate rain forest? The vast desserts would be altered, the animals would adapt or die, and the types of plants available would quickly shift. This is what...
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Why Triassic Animals Were Just the Weirdest
Normally when two species look similar, they are closely related. However, this doesn't seem to apply to the Triassic animals. Learn why these familiar looking animals are not actually related to today's animals. Viewers come to...
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Where Did Viruses Come From?
When did things start going viral? Travel back through eons of history and learn about the origins of viruses. Part of a larger series, the lesson discusses what scientists already know and how they study viruses. The video also details...
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Drug Adherence and Resistance
The FDA approved more than 25 drugs to treat HIV—and often people must use them in combination. One of the largest challenges with these medications happens due to patient error. Class members use an interactive to learn about drug...
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Quantum Entanglement and Spooky Action at a Distance
Can we communicate at a speed faster than light? Part of a video series, this enthralling installment introduces the idea of Einstein's spooky action. Then, it relates and expands the concept of quantum entanglement. The results of new...
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Should This Lake Exist?
The largest body of water in California, the Salton Sea, was created by accident. An interesting installment of a video series shares the history of the lake, which is now home to the second-most diverse group of birds in America. From...
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Surprising Applications of the Magnus Effect
In 1852, a German physicist, Magnus, talked about an effect first described by Isaac Newton in 1672. Part of a series, an interesting video explains the Magnus effect and previous attempts to apply it to transportation. It also shows a...
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Filling Our Land with Landfills
Though it consists of only 5 percent of the world population, the US generates 40 percent of the world's waste. Scholars learn about landfills, their safety, and other options for handling solid waste. They use experiments and research...
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Dragon Delivery
Consider the riddle of dragon genetics. Young scientists simulate being dragon parents and determining which traits their child will have. Then they learn of a new relative and must determine how they are related using probability and...
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Who Can See Who?
While only briefly mentioned in most Physics books, plane mirrors and their applications offer the basics necessary for future studies. While working through an interactive, pupils demonstrate knowledge of both reflection and its forms....
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Law of Reflection
Reflection seems simple to understand, but without a complete understanding, pupils struggle with ray diagrams, specular versus diffuse reflection, total internal reflection, and image formation. An engaging interactive provides three...
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Sensors in Chemistry
The Environmental Protection Agency monitors sensors to track air pollution and set clean air standards. Enthusiastic young scientists use similar sensors to gather data in their area and then apply the gas laws and conservation of...
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Virus Wars
Unending war, battles on every front, increasing offenses and defenses as the sides adjust to each other ... these phrases describe your body fighting viruses. From a common cold to deadly Ebola, cells adjust and defend life themselves....
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Protein Synthesis
The smallest man-made factory measures less than 400 square feet. The smallest nature-made factory is inside your body. An engaging video describes the factory inside your cells. The narrator details transcription and translation along...
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The RNA Origin of Life
Scientists believe RNA is the origin of all life on Earth, carrying genetic information long before DNA developed. Viewers comprehend this idea as they learn the functions of RNA, DNA, and proteins. Evolution of RNA, cells, molecules,...
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The RNA Enigma
Folding a fitted sheet seems impossible, but folding RNA seems like a game. Viewers learn how they can help scientists prevent or cure diseases. It emphasizes the need for human help because computers struggle with these puzzles.
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NOVA Evolution Lab Lesson Plan
It doesn't matter if you look on land, in the air, underground, or in water—evolution is everywhere. Scholars complete worksheets with multiple question types as they progress through six online missions creating phylogenic trees.
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NOVA Evolution Lab Game
Many scholars study phylogenetic trees without understanding how they are made. Through an online game, young scientists use the given data to create phylogenetic trees of increasing complexity. They rely on the trees they create to...
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Cannibalism in the Animal Kingdom
Many consider cannibalism to be the last resort before starvation. During an engaging video, scholars gain knowledge of cannibalism in the animal kingdom. It addresses common misconceptions and recently discovered patterns before pupils...
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What Causes Body Odor?
Can your diet change the smell of your armpits? Scholars learn the truth behind this and other factors that influence body odor. It covers the biology of what is happening as well as the ways to prevent or cover the offensive odor. To...
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The Science of Skin
Almost one fifth of your weight is in your skin, but why does it weigh so much? Viewers learn about the integumentary system and the many functions it performs constantly to keep them safe. Then, they answer multiple choice and...
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CSI Wildlife
Can DNA fingerprinting prevent the extinction of elephants? Young scientists learn about DNA fingerprinting before applying their knowledge to case studies of elephant poaching. The first case requires them to match the DNA from a tusk...
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Plant Structures Lab Stations
In China, hibiscus is known as the shoe flower because it is used to polish shoes, while in Hawaii, it is honored as the state flower. Young scientists learn about the structure and function of flowers. They dissect hibiscus flowers,...
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The Monster Mash
Young scientists create monsters by applying their knowledge of transcription and translation. They randomly find the DNA, assign it a codon, and build monsters piece by piece.
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The Last Supper: Identifying Macromolecules
Why do medical examiners always state the contents of a person's stomach? Scholars learn about the importance of macromolecules through a case study of stomach contents. They perform multiple tests to determine a conclusion before they...
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"Something Old, Something New..."
Young scientists learn about DNA replication through a video and model creation. They answer analysis questions before exploring the role of mutations and then complete a summative assessment.
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Genetics, Genetics, and More Genetics: Exploring Independent Assortment and Non-Mendelian Genetics
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...
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Enzymes in Action
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.
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Do You See What I See?
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...
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A Whole New World: The Search for Water
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.
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It's Not All Visible
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...
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
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...
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Grandma's Learning to Text
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.
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From the Dark, Damp Places
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...
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Fragrant Pheromones
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 they learn.
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Beyond the Slinky
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...
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All Work and No Play
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...
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How EGG-ceptional Are We?
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.
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Happy, Sad, Sleepy, Mad
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...
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Drought and the Dust Bowl
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...
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Cystic Fibrosis: A DNA Case Study
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...
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A Trait Accompli: An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics
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.
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All Charged Up
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...
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What Are Mini Brains?
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...
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Could We Cure Aging During Your Lifetime?
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...
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How Does the Immune System Work?
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...
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Who's at Risk for Colon Cancer?
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.
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Why do Animals Form Swarms?
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...
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Avoid Electric Shock Getting Out of a Car!
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...
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Are MRIs Safe?
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...
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Are Perpetual Motion Machines Possible?
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.
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5 Amazing Stars We’ve Discovered in Space
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!
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The Black Hole Death Problem
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.
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5 Weird Ways to Put out a Candle
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...
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How to Shrink a Quarter with Electricity
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...
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What Are Antibubbles?
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...
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Does Height Matter in Sports?
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.
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How Do Touchscreens Work?
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.
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Why Outlets Spark When Unplugging—EMF and Inductors
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!
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Zero G Ferrofluid Fail
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...
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New Results! Cosmic Quantum Bell Test
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...
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The Ultraviolet Catastrophe
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...
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Can Explosions Work in Space?
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,...
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Impossible Zero G Skyscraper
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...
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Can You Solve These Physics Riddles? (Part 1/3)
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...
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My Dad Was Hit by Lightning (Twice!)
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...
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World's First Electric Generator
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,...
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Why Do Venomous Animals Live In Warm Climates?
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...
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World's Roundest Object!
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...
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Do Aliens Exist?
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...
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What Is NOT Random?
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...
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How Much Information?
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,...
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How Were the Pyramids Built?
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...
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Ice Spikes Explained
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.
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The Science of Six Degrees of Separation
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...
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The Speed of Life
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.
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The Most Amazing Thing About Trees
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...
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How To Clean Up Space Junk
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...
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Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle Explained
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...
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How To Make Colour with Holes
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....
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How Does a Quantum Computer Work?
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...
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How Special Relativity Makes Magnets Work
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...
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Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors?
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.
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What Exactly is the Present?
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...
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Welding in Space
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...
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The Next Mission to Mars: Mars 2020
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...
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DNA Doesn’t Look Like What You Think!
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...
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Orchid Mantis: Looks That Kill
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...
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Nature's Living Fireworks!
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,...
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A Mammoth Undertaking: The Science of De-Extinction!
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...
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CRISPR and the Future of Human Evolution
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...
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Where Did Humans Come From?
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...
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The Superb Owl!
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...
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How Many Species Are There?
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,...
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Pigeon Story: How the Rock Dove Became the Sky Rat
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...
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The Surprising Origin of Thanksgiving Foods
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...
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We've Got Ants in Our Plants!
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...
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Is Sugar a Drug?
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...
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How Baby Sea Turtles Find Their Way Home
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...
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Why Do More Species Live Near the Equator?
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....
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Your Microbiome: The Invisible Creatures That Keep You Alive!
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...
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Are We All Related?
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...
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How The Toilet Changed History
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,...
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Is This A New Species?!
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...
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Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Concussions?
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...
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Why Don't Ants Get Stuck In Traffic?
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...
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Fact vs. Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law… Explained!
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...
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Significant Figures | Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide Sig Figs
Selecting the proper measurement requires thought; for example, an odometer shouldn't be used to measure millimeters due to a lack of preciseness. An informative video from a Socratica playlist explains the importance of significant...
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The Strange Case of the Buzzsaw Jaws
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...
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The Search for the Earliest Life
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...
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A Brief History of Geologic Time
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...
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Chemistry: What Is a Metal? (Metallic Bonds)
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,...
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Hydrophobic Surfaces—Deposition and Analysis
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...
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Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation
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...
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Why Star Stuff Matters: Crash Course Big History #202
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...
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Why Human Ancestry Matters: Crash Course Big History #205
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...
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Why Human Evolution Matters: Crash Course Big History #204
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...
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Migrations and Intensification: Crash Course Big History #7
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...
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Why the Evolutionary Epic Matters: Crash Course Big History #203
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...
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The Modern Revolution: Crash Course Big History #8
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,...
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The Sun and The Earth: Crash Course Big History #3
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...
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The Big Bang: Crash Course Big History #1
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...
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Cell Membranes Are Way More Complicated Than You Think
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...
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The Amazing Ways Plants Defend Themselves
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.
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How Ingenious Animals Have Engineered Air Conditioning
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...
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What Causes Kidney Stones?
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...
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What is Entropy?
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.
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Plants Use An Internet Made of Fungus
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...
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The Science of Smog
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...
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Could We Create Dark Matter?
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...
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How to Squeeze Electricity Out of Crystals
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...
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Is There a Reproducibility Crisis in Science?
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...
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Probabilities, Dihybrid and Test Crosses
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...
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Mystery Disease
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...
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Mystery of the Crooked Cell
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...
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Calculating Pi with Darts
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.
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Why is the Universe Flat?
British astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle first coined the term the Big Bang in 1950. The theory explains much of what we have observed in the universe, but it does leave some things unexplained. The video discusses the Cosmic Inflation theory...
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Five Amazing Stars We've Discovered in Space
Between 100 billion and 400 billion stars exist in the Milky Way Galaxy. The video discuses five amazing stars with unique characteristics. Most pupils know about red giants but need to learn more about hybrid stars—here is a great video...
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Population Biology
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...
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Electrolysis of Water
Young scientists know that water is H2O, but can they prove it? Through a simple electrolysis of water demonstration, scholars see the two gases produced as a result of a chemical reaction. Because this reaction doesn't happen...
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Preparation and Combustion of Biodiesel
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...
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Mud is Mud...or is it?
We know that the type of soil varies by location, but does the seafloor sediment also vary, or is it all the same? Scholars compare photos of the seafloor from two different locations: the Savannah Scarp and the Charleston Bump. Through...
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Lost City Chemistry Detectives
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...
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I Can't Breathe!
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...
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The Intertropical Convergence Zone
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...
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Energy Content of Foods
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...
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What's So Special about Bottled Drinking Water?
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...
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The RNA Decoder Ring: Deciphering the Language of Life
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...
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Fibers, Dyes, and the Environment
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,...
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Harmonic Motion: Pendulum Lab
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...
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Shedding a "Little" Light on Cancer Surgery
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...
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The Tide is High, but I’m Holding On… Using ICESat Data to Investigate Sea Level Rise
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 in a series of 21 has scholars use the ICESat data to understand the ice mass...
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Ramp: Forces and Motion
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...
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Magnet and Compass
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...
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Virtual Fetal Pig Dissection
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,...
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Projectile Motion
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...
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Ohm's Law
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...
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My Solar System
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...
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Microwaves
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...
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Magnets and Electromagnets
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...
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Lasers
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...
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Hooke's Law
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...