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

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

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

Mini-lessons

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
When you play Ping Pong, the ball can go all over the place and you have to chase after it! But...
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Think like an inventor! Could you invent a different way to play Ping Pong so that you wouldn’t have to chase the ball?
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
11-year-old Alexander Xiong invented this game. A ping pong ball is attached to a string so you never lose it! And no table is needed!
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
A company helped Alexander make his invention easier to use by clipping the string to a door frame. He calls the game Door Pong!
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Some inventions are just for fun! Think like an inventor! If you had a swing set, what could you do to make it even more fun?
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Here’s one idea. You could attach a hose to the swing so it’s like a waterfall! A 6-year-old named Seren came up with this idea!
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Here’s a different idea! You could attach a hose to the swing, but also add a timer. When the water falls, you never get wet!
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Some people hate waking up. They ignore their alarm clocks and stay in bed! What could you invent to get them out of bed?
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Here’s an idea. What about an alarm clock that SCARED you to wake up and get out of bed? What scary alarm could you invent?
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
9-year-old Krystal James invented this spider alarm clock! It’s called “The Licker”–it licks your face to wake you up!
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Riding a scooter is usually a solo activity! Think like an inventor! Could you invent a scooter that many people could ride at once?
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Hint: These men built this bicycle for four people! Look carefully at how it’s made. Does this give you any ideas for a scooter?
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
9-year-old Wendy Ridley invented a 4-person scooter. Its handle- bars adjust to different heights so short and tall people can ride!
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Check out how a regular washing machine works! Electricity gives the machine power to spin the clothes...
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Think like an inventor! What’s another way that you could spin this part of a washing machine if you didn’t have electricity?
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Here’s one idea! This washing machine works like a bike! One “wheel” of the bike has clothes inside. You power it with your feet!
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Remya, who lives in India, invented the pedal washing machine when she was 14 years old. She now invents things as her job!
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

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

Looking for a hands-on activity?

Try out a hands-on extension activity from Mystery Science.