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?
Could an artist draw a picture using fire? How? Hint: When wood burns, it becomes darker, almost black.
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
This special tool burns wood! The tip of it is extremely hot. The dark lines in these drawings are the burnt areas.
5
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
It got so hot in this guy's car that he was able to cook breakfast! How else could you cook food without fire?
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
These people are using the heat from lava to cook steak and hot dogs. Looks like it works well!
4
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Something strange is going on here. What do you think is happening to all this mud?
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
This mud is boiling! Lava is so hot that even if it's deep underground, it can still boil the mud on the surface!
3
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Check out these geysers. What do you think is causing the water to shoot out like that?
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Underground lava boils water and makes steam. When the pressure is too much, the water erupts like a volcano!
2
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Slide Image
Here’s one last surprising thing about heat! What do you think will happen once the candles are lit?
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Heat can make things move! The heat from the fire pushes air up and makes the paper spin! Try this with an adult!
1
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Hot air balloons work the same way! Fire heats up the air inside the balloon, making the air and balloon rise up!
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 is it so hard for firefighters to put out wildfires?

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!