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
Olga Kostina had a plain wooden house. She decided to decorate it herself—using something that other people just throw away. Do you have any idea what she used?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
5
Did you notice that the patterns are made of brightly colored spots? Each spot is a colorful plastic bottle cap! Olga used over 30,000 bottle caps to decorate her house.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
5
Up close, this looks like just a bunch of bottle caps—7,000 bottle caps, in fact. But watch what this artist makes. When you stand back, your eye blends the colors together to make a picture!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
4
Plastic melts when it’s heated! You can squish that warm goo into any shape. When it cools, it hardens. Think like an inventor. What is something useful you could make from plastic goo?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
4
People have melted plastic trash and transformed it into furniture, into the shapes of bowls, plates, skateboards, and more! You can still see round spots on the skateboard from melted bottle caps!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
4
Using a tool that blows out hot air, this African artist melts colorful plastic bags. He melts them onto a board and it looks like paint! Rather than being trash in a dump, the plastic bags become art!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
3
Most beaches are made of sand and pebbles. This beach has sand, pebbles, and colorful bits that sparkle in the sun. What do you think those bits are made of? Where did they come from?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
3
Years ago, glass factories dumped thousands of broken bottles on this beach. The glass pieces became rounder as they tumbled in waves. But there are other ways to turn beach trash into treasure...
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
3
Some artists collect plastic trash from beaches. With this trash, they create amazing sculptures. Taking plastic litter off the beach protects sea animals that can be harmed by it.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
3
What’s better than turning ocean trash into a boat? A community in Kenya, Africa, gathered hundreds of plastic sandals left on beaches. They melted that plastic and shaped it into a boat!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
2
This man is searching the dump for stuff to use in a special project. Watch what he’s doing. What do you think his project could be?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
2
These bands, called Junketra and the Taz Junk Band, make music with
instruments made of junk! Think like an inventor! What could you use
from the trash to make a musical instrument?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
2
You could play a tune on glass bottles from the trash. Put water in
the bottles to change the notes that they play. Make cardboard box
drums, plastic bag noises, and more! Use your imagination!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
Plastic bags are one of the worst kinds of litter. Animals eat them and get sick. The wind blows them everywhere. What a mess! Do you have any ideas on how to fix this problem?
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
Isatou Ceesay had an idea. She made string from plastic bags, then made purses with the string! The women in her town in Africa make purses to sell. No one throws plastic bags away anymore!
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
Here are more useful things made of plastic bags! Imagine how the artists made each one.
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Video trouble?
1
Think about all the ways people have made use of garbage. Now try to make something from trash from your home. You can make something new—and help the Earth by throwing less away.
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

What do garbage trucks do with garbage?

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!