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
What animals do these eyes belong to? (Some you may know, but some may be harder to guess!)
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
The first three eyes belong to a hawk, a viper (snake), and a type of fly!
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
The rest of the eyes belong to a goat, a type of spider (a jumping spider), and an octopus!
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Watch this video carefully. What do you notice about the bird’s eye?
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Many animals have an extra layer over their eye that closes. It’s like a different way to blink, cleaning the eye and keeping it wet!
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
In most animals, the extra layer is completely clear or a little white-looking--but this frog’s extra layer has a pattern on it!
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
This fish has two parts to each eye. Any ideas why? How could this be helpful to the fish? Take a guess.
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
They live at the water’s surface, where air and water meet. It’s like they have four eyes: two look above the water, two look below.
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
People move their eyes to look in different directions. But one type of animal can move its eyes in a very, very strange way…
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Chameleons can look in completely different directions at the same time! They can even see behind themselves!
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
This gecko is licking its eye! It isn’t an accident--geckos do this all the time. How could licking its eyes be helpful to a gecko?
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Geckos can’t blink or make tears! Since eyes need to stay wet, geckos lick them. This also helps the geckos clean their eyes.
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
This grasshopper can’t blink or make tears either. It cleans its eyes by using its leg. And check out what this crab does!
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?

  • How is cheese made?

    -Glenn, 2nd Grade

  • Why do animals have tails?

    -Eowyn, 4th Grade

  • How many stars are in the sky?

    -Danna, 3rd Grade

Why do we have tears when we cry?

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!