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
5
Suppose you wanted to break this rock in two—and you weren’t in a rush. Instead of using tools to break it open, can you think of a way that a plant could help you do it?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
5
Drop a seed into a crack. Wait for a tree to sprout. Then wait another 20 years. As the tree grows, its roots will break the rock!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
5
Tree roots don’t just break boulders. Seeds can sprout between stone blocks in buildings too. Check out these ancient—and modern—buildings! I wonder what they’ll look like in 100 years!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
4
This brick sidewalk has an opening for a tree to grow in. What do you think the tree will look like as it gets older?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
4
Roots can grow into any crack. Over time, the cracks shape the way the roots grow.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
3
This isn’t a purple house. It’s a house covered in purple flowers from flowering vines! How long do you think it takes vines to grow?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
3
In just over a month, vines covered this little house. Why do you think the vines climbed on the house? Are they searching for something?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
3
Other plants, like trees, grow tall so that their leaves are closer to the sunlight. Vines need light too! So they get tall by climbing up trees and buildings!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
2
Trees may not seem like they are unstoppable. After all, you can just cut them down. But what happens to the stump after you cut down a tree?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
2
Sometimes, trees grow back! A tree’s roots may have enough food to create a new sprout, like these. Even when a tree falls over...
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
2
...it can grow back! These fallen trees have roots in the ground. Their branches have grown straight up, each trying to become a tree.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
1
Someone thought it was a good idea to nail this sign to a tree. What do you think? Do you have any idea what might happen?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
1
Check it out! Trees are unstoppable! If something gets in a tree’s way, the tree might just grow around it! Weird! But that’s not all...
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
Some people add googly eyes to make trees look like they are munching on the things that got in their way. Yum!
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?

I pulled three questions from my jar. Which question do you want to explore next week?

  • Why do lightbulbs get hot?

    -Lyric, 3rd Grade

  • How are pianos made?

    -Vivian, 1st Grade

  • How high can birds fly?

    -Nova, 2nd Grade

Do any plants eat animals?

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!