The Big "Why"

What does it take to prepare for a construction project? In an engineering lesson, youngsters examine how a Ferris wheel can turn and carry a load without falling apart. After reading up on big wheel designs, they create a model using...

Now that your class has read all of Esperanza Rising, take the time to tackle big metaphors and themes. Pupils will participate in an activity called Chalk Talk, in which they circulate around the room in small groups and add comments to...

Some patterns are so small, we can't see them without the help of technology. The same is true for cosmic microwave background radiation. During this activity and discussion, scholars examine both anisotropic and isotropic items and...

An informative video covers the density of the particles just after the Big Bang, as well as the concept that whenever a particle was released it would merge with something else. Sal develops the concept of being able to receive and...

Sal explains the Big Bang and the spatial concepts of infinity versus a 'sphere' of expanding matter in detail.

Though dated with references to the Bush Administration, this lesson would be a good way to discuss current issues, particularly gun control. Using an article from The New York Times (linked to this lesson), students answer discussion...

How can a bodily function be contagious? It is a question scientists and psychologists are still grappling with, but some of the leading hypotheses are presented here in the case of the contagious yawn. Most likely, it is something we...

There are millions of plant and animal species on the planet, but why do we need so many? Follow along with this short video as it explains how biodiversity helps strengthen ecosystems, allowing them to adapt to change so that life...

Is gluten-free just a fad? What is gluten anyway, and why can't some of us process it? This is the perfect video to break down the anatomy of gluten and the various diseases and symptoms caused by the notorious protein, as well as to...

Let this sink in: oceans cover more than 70% of the planet! This video teaches many facts about the ocean using creative graphs to convey the vastness of its features. The ocean contains the longest mountain chain, the tallest...