NASA
STEMonstrations: Kinetic and Potential Energy
A roller coaster is the perfect model of the conversion between potential and kinetic energy. An installment from the STEMonstrations playlist introduces the concept of kinetic and potential energy in a quick video before challenging...
NASA
STEMonstrations: Surface Tension
Ever wonder how water bugs walk on water? A lesson in the STEMonstration provides a brief video presentation describing the concept of surface tension from the molecular level. Pupils then complete a hands-on activity measuring the...
PBS
How Volcanoes Froze the Earth (Twice)
Volcanoes contributing to freezing seems counterintuitive, but it's true. The freezing and thawing of the earth has happened multiple times in the planet's history. Scholars learn how the carbon cycle contributed to Earth's temperature...
PBS
When We Met Other Human Species
It seems the human species may have learned from its mistakes—when it comes to evolution, anyway. Examine the characteristics of ancient hominins in an installment of the PBS Eon series. The video instructor discusses fossil records to...
PBS
When Ichthyosaurs Led a Revolution in the Seas
During The Great Dying, 90 percent of life in the ocean died. A video lesson from the PBS Eon series describes how the oceans recovered. Viewers learn how some species adapted and thrived while others became extinct.
PBS
When the Synapsids Struck Back
As environments change so must their inhabitants, or extinction will prevail. An in-depth look at the evolution of the synapsids shows how one group overcame environmental changes and survived. The video lesson from the PBS Eon series...
PBS
The Croc That Ran on Hooves
A crocodile with hooves and razor-sharp teeth was really a thing—and there is proof. A video lesson from the PBS Eons series presents the fossil evidence and explores the reasons for the adaptations of the unique reptile. Scholars see a...
Smithsonian Institution
Natural Selection: Common Misconceptions
Overcoming pupil misconceptions is much harder than teaching a new topic. Anticipate misconceptions to avoid having to reteach and relearn by showing a lesson resource from the Good Thinking PD series that highlights common mistakes. A...
PBS
How Evolution Works (And How We Figured It Out)
The concept of evolution changed the way scientists view the world. Part of the PBS Ions series, a thorough video lesson explains the process of evolution by exploring the work of scientists like Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel. The...
PBS
The Hellacious Lives of the "Hell Pigs"
Some animals have more in common than meets the eye. An episode of the PBS Eon series analyzes the fossil records of a mammal nicknamed the hell pig. The lesson describes how evolutionary methods determine the genetic evolution of the...
PBS
The History of Climate Cycles (And the Woolly Rhino) Explained
Subtle changes in climate can have a significant effect on habitats. An installment of the PBS Eons series describes the history of climate changes. The instructor describes specific causes of the changes throughout history and how the...
PBS
The Ghostly Origins of the Big Cats
A lack of fossil records forces scientists to piece together the evolution of the big cats. The PBS Eons video lesson describes the processes scientists use to infer evolutionary details and predict possible species. Scholars get an...
PBS
When We Took over the World
Exactly how did humans become the top of the food chain? Follow archeologists through an analysis of the fossil records during a video presentation from the PBS Eons series. The ancient artifacts trace human evolution from Africa to the...
PBS
The Mystery behind the Biggest Bears of All Time
Bears come in many different shapes and sizes. Follow the evolution of the prehistoric bear through time in an episode from the PBS Eon series. The narrator discusses the evolution of the bear by examining adaptations and their...
Bite Sci-zed
Theory vs. Scientific Theory
Why do people have scientific theories but not scientific facts? A quick video presentation defines scientific theory and the components necessary for developing a theory. The presenter emphasizes the difference between scientific proof...
Bite Sci-zed
DNA Extraction!
Extracting DNA is probably easier than pupils think! A quick video demonstrates one method of extracting an individual's DNA. The presentation shows each step of the process as well as the results.
Bite Sci-zed
DNA and RNA, A Nucleic Acid Primer!
Every single cell in the human body is packed with genetic material! A video presentation provides a thorough overview of the components of this genetic material. An engaging instructor defines DNA and RNA and discusses its structure and...
Bite Sci-zed
Why Red Blood Cells Look Like Donuts
There are specific reasons for the intricate anatomy of the body, and the shape of the red blood cells is no exception! A video presentation explains the role of red blood cells and why their shape is important to function. The...
Bite Sci-zed
Longevity and Telomeres
Why do people age? Scholars explore the concept of telomeres and why they are so important in cells. They learn about the role of telomerase and why it is active in some cells—but not in others. The video also explains why some organisms...
Bite Sci-zed
Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fats
What are good fats and bad fats? Learn about the structure and function of lipids and how that relates to carbon bonding. Scholars explore the structural differences between saturated and unsaturated fats and examine relevant...
Bite Sci-zed
Viruses and the Common Cold!
What do you really know about the common cold? Introduce learners to viruses, their components, and how they use host cells to replicate and infect more cells. Pupils identify the type of virus that causes the common cold and get...
PBS
When We Tamed Fire
Was the first use of fire intentional or accidental? Although the answer to the question may never be known, we do know that the discovery of fire was a turning point in humans' evolution. Explore the history of fire use and its...
PBS
When We First Made Tools
The origin of technology began when early hominins began using tools so they could eat more easily. A video lesson presents the fossil evidence of tool usage of the ancestors of humans. Although tools began very simple, their evolution...
PBS
When Giant Scorpions Swarmed the Seas
Bigger and faster is not always better! Explore the characteristics of the ancestors of the current scorpions with an intriguing video. Scholars learn the connections of these changes to the environment of the different time periods.