Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

Science curriculum for K—5th grades.

90 sec
  • Hands-on — lead students in the doing of science and engineering.
  • Standards-aligned science lessons — Cover core standards in 1-2 hours of science per week.
  • Less prep, more learning — prep in minutes not hours. Captivate your students with short videos and discussion questions.

Sign up now to try Mystery Science for free.

Sign up

Learn more

Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

Sign up now for tons of free lessons like this one!

Back

Mini-lessons

Video Bonus Vote
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
This kid is going fishing. That doesn’t look like a normal boat though. What is he sitting in?
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
It’s a giant lily pad, originally from the Amazon rainforest! These lily pads are strong enough to hold kids! Look how big they can grow!
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Check out what the underside of the rainforest lily pad looks like! Other rainforest plants have giant leaves too--check them out!
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
Palm trees have branches with lots of skinny leaves (leaflets). Think like an inventor. What could you make out of these?
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Watch as this person weaves (braids) the leaves. See if you can figure out what the person is making before the video ends!
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
People weave palm leaves to make many different things. In Indonesia, people create these amazing wedding decorations!
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
Some leaves have amazing colors and patterns! But...
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
...this wiggly, white pattern wasn’t always on this leaf! What do you think happened to the leaf? Where did the pattern come from?
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
The pattern was made by a little insect--a leaf miner--having lunch! It walks in a wiggly path as it eats the inside of the leaf!
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
Check out these strange things on these leaves. What do you think they are? Take a guess.
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
These are called galls. Insects laid tiny eggs in these leaves, then the eggs made the leaves grow strange, colorful shapes (galls)!
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Watch as a person touches this plant! (Wait to see what happens!) How do you think folding up its leaves could help the plant?
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Some animals eat leaves. But when this plant “closes up,” it looks like there are fewer yummy leaves to eat. The leaves reopen later!
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Most plants don’t seem to move at all. But if you fast forward time... check out how much these houseplants move during 1 day!
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?

Voting for this episode is now closed. Would you like to vote on the most recent poll?

We pulled three questions from our jar. Which question do you want to explore?

  • Why do pandas only eat bamboo?

    -Korban, 3rd Grade

  • What is a drought?

    -Aaliyah, 2nd Grade

  • How do windmills work?

    -Junichiro, Kindergarten

Can trees talk to each other?

Watch the video to discover the answer and don't forget to vote for next week's question. There are mysteries all around us. Have fun and stay curious!