Be Smart
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...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Heart Function
The left and right side of the heart must work together flawlessly—that's a lot to coordinate! An animation video shows the operation of each ventricle of the heart and then shows the two parts coming together to complete the loop of...
SciShow
Why Do My Ears Pop?
Mysterious, annoying popping sound explained? Your class will be all ears! Learners discover the mechanism of ear popping with part 134 of a 143-part series. The host illustrates the parts of the ear, how they work together with the...
Scholasic
The Magic School Bus and the Missing Tooth
We chew with our teeth every day, but how much do we really know about them? Allow Ms. Frizzle to teach your kids a thing or two about teeth. Kids complete a prereading exercise, read the book, and respond to several prompts about the...
TED-Ed
What is a Fungus?
After watching a short film about the anatomy and physiology of fungi, discuss with your class the seven provided Think questions, or make up your own. The animation is in the style of colorful artistic drawings and text that appears in...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Flowers
RJ hangs out in Zoe's garden as she explains pollination, flower anatomy, and fertilization. This cartoon-styled feature is sure to stay in your botanists' minds! Follow it with the dissection of large flowers, such as the lily.
TED-Ed
The Most Groundbreaking Scientist You've Never Heard Of
Nicolas Steno invented stratigraphy, compared the anatomy of various animals, broke ground for geology and evolutionary theory—and yet he is not often mentioned in the history books. Learn more about the scientists who laid the...
Curated OER
Human PreHistory 101: Prologue
The Khan Academy displays an animated and narrated clip about human prehistory and the relationships between us and our ancestors. The formal narration is balanced by the hand-drawn animation, making an attraction that is sure to hold...
Deep Look
How Mosquitoes Use Six Needles to Suck Your Blood
How exactly to mosquitoes bite people and what do the bites look like up close? Mosquitoes use six different needles with multiple jobs in order to bite mammals. The high-definition video covers the anatomy of mosquito mouth parts and...
Curated OER
Egg Words Crossword Puzzle
This crossword puzzle is all about eggs! Learners use the given clues to fill in the squares in the puzzle. Since this is an online interactive resource, immediate feedback is available; although it only tells you whether you are wrong...
TED-Ed
Why Do Your Knuckles Pop?
Pop! Why does bending your joints in a certain way cause a cracking sound? This fascinating video delves into the synovial fluid and "bubbles" that exist in your in the space between stretched out joints, as well as debunks some popular...
The Brain Scoop
The Hero Shrew
No, the hero shrew doesn't fly or rescue people from burning buildings. In fact, scientists are not quite sure what it does with its amazing adaptation! Take a closer look at a rodent with a most unusual spine with a video from a larger...
The Brain Scoop
Horns vs. Antlers
Antlers and horns ... they're the same, right? Compare and contrast these two commonly misidentified structures using a video from an extensive playlist that explores mammals. It describes the two prominent protrusions in terms of...
TED-Ed
Debunking the Myths of OCD
Discover the distinction between OCD tendencies and the neurological disorder itself, as well as clues as to the causes of OCD, how people with OCD perceive their actions and anxieties, and finally how to treat the disorder.
TED-Ed
What Happens During a Stroke?
A stroke can severely impact a patients' speech, motor skills, and quality of life—if they survive the event in the first place. Learn what happens to the brain during a stroke, and how you can help if someone you see is experiencing a...
Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)
Fish Morphology
Life comes in all different shapes and sizes, and fish are no exception. Here, young scientists create fish prints as they learn how specific characteristics allow different species to survive in their particular habitats.
The Brain Scoop
Mammoths vs. Mastodons: Can We "De-Extinct" Them Both?
According to a popular movie series, de-extincting ancient species may not be the best idea! But, is it possible? Explore the prospect through a video that is part of a larger playlist covering mammals. The narrator compares the physical...
The Brain Scoop
Olinguito
Sometimes a brand new species of mammal is hiding right under our noses! Meet the olinguito, a raccoon-like mammal from South America. Part of a larger playlist on mammals, an interesting video discusses how a researcher from The...
The Brain Scoop
The Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo
When railroad workers arrived in Kenya in 1898, they were greeted by some very hungry lions. Introduce young ecologists to the man-eating lions of Tsavo with a video from an extensive playlist exploring mammals. Topics include unusual...
Be Smart
The Deadpool Salamander
Much like your favorite superhero, the axolotl has amazing super powers! Explore the extraordinary world of the salamander that never grows up in a video from a larger science playlist. Content includes axolotl behavior versus normal...
TED-Ed
Claws vs. Nails
Nail down the differences between claws and fingernails with an informative video that details the evolutionary changes that led some animals to develop nails while other creatures retained their sharp claws.
The Brain Scoop
Into the Bat Caves of Kenya: Part 2
Field research is dirty work! Join a team of research scientists from the Field Museum in the second installment of a two-part series that is part of a larger playlist exploring mammals. The team continues their search for bats in...
Deep Look
A Baby Dragonfly's Mouth Will Give You Nightmares
Dragonflies have existed for more than 320 million years and used to have a wingspan of more than two feet. An informative video helps viewers understand the adaptations of this insect to survive longer than the dinosaurs, and their...
Deep Look
If Your Hands Could Smell, You’d Be an Octopus
An octopus' tentacles are more like sticky, multipurpose tools than the simple leg-like appendages we view them as. Discover their amazing abilities, times eight, in an entertaining video. The narrator explains the senses located in each...