Science

Ever wonder what the number on the bottom of plastic items means? Learn about the plastic numbering system and why it came to be.

Travel to Belize with Marie McGrory to find out how she made it through (almost) the whole trip without single-use plastics.

Take the Kids vs. Plastic pledge to get your Planet Protector certificate and find out what you can do to fight trash.

Learn about Sally Ride and her incredible journey to become the first American woman astronaut to fly in space.

Adventure into a coral reef and discover creatures from the tiniest plants to the largest hunters. Watch, interact, and explore what makes a healthy underwater ecosystem.

Check out this video and article on Dorothy Vaughan, the supervisor of a group of boundary-breaking African American women whose calculations got astronauts into space.

Discover how scientists are counting chinstrap penguins in Antarctica. It's part of a global penguin census that will help researchers better understand the Antarctic environment.

Read all about penguins and puffins, then vote for your favorite!

Learn what a spacewalk is, why astronauts do them, and how they stay safe.

Find out what scientists are doing to develop a coronavirus vaccine as quickly as possible.

Watch these time-lapse videos to see earthworms and other small critters do the important work of bioturbation, the mixing up of soil and sediment.

Watch how the Straus Family Creamery transforms "cow pies" into renewable energy and compost to fertilize pastures.

Design and build boats that hold as many pennies as possible without sinking. All you need is aluminum foil and pennies!

Learn about the different parts of a computer with a fun maze activity and a cut-and-paste craft where you put all the computer parts together.

Design a tube that launches marshmallows, and consider how air pressure works to propel them higher, faster, and farther.

Don your wizard's cloak and conjure a cloud with some basic household items. Make sure to work with an adult on this one.

Reveal the secrets of photosynthesis by doing this simple experiment using some leaves and a bowl of water.

Try out this exciting outdoor activity. Ponder how and why it happens, using skills like observation and deduction.

Sunny out? Using card stock and foil, build a way to project images—like the sun on a piece of paper.

Create a paper rocket, then grab a straw and launch it! Record the distance traveled and modify your design. How far can it go?

Fold a piece of paper to find out how rockets can carry a starshade as big as a baseball diamond to take pictures in space.

Take the Kids vs. Plastic pledge to get your Planet Protector certificate and find out what you can do to fight trash.

Discover how scientists are counting chinstrap penguins in Antarctica. It's part of a global penguin census that will help researchers better understand the Antarctic environment.

Read all about penguins and puffins, then vote for your favorite!

Learn what a spacewalk is, why astronauts do them, and how they stay safe.

Find out what scientists are doing to develop a coronavirus vaccine as quickly as possible.

Can kelp farming help slow climate change? Learn about the pros and cons of producing this underwater resource.

Read this article about new, high-tech vests being developed to help service dogs communicate with people. Then consider some other potential uses for this technology.

Find out from an astronaut what it's like to take a 272-day trip to the International Space Station and then come home to a pandemic.

Explore types of animals and choose three to learn about. Write down some facts about each to share with your family.

Lay the foundation for lifelong curiosity about how the world works and why.

Get your mind swirling with these fascinating podcast episodes that ask wacky questions and find fascinating answers.

Listen to this kid-friendly podcast to find out whether llamas are ticklish, why baby teeth fall out, and so much more.

Tune into this quirky, daily podcast for curious minds. Complete the cool STEAM challenges to apply what you listened to.

Check out this podcast where kids' practical questions about the coronavirus get answered by real scientists.

Choose a podcast from Brains On! featuring science for kids and curious adults. There's no need to download anything—you can listen online!

Gather the whole family to hear LeVar Burton narrate Neil deGrasse Tyson's educational and entertaining read about the universe.

Adventure into a coral reef and discover creatures from the tiniest plants to the largest hunters. Watch, interact, and explore what makes a healthy underwater ecosystem.

Explore some of the most beautiful places in the USA, guided by National Park Rangers.

Play around with these brain-boosting interactives to find out fascinating facts about different parts and jobs of the human brain.

Take a virtual trip to Chicago to visit the Field Museum, and explore their animal exhibits using Street View.

Journey to Vietnam's Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park and the stunning Sơn Đoòng cave, the world's largest natural cave.

Follow Plum's directions and snap photos of the rainforest animals to learn more about them.

Find out how you can save the planet's resources for future generations by conserving energy, food, and water and by making your purchases last longer.

Take a trip around the globe and notice that the Earth actually knows its ABC's! Explore different areas that look like letters from outer space.

Practice recycling by sorting items into the correct bins.

Search for six microbes in this online coloring activity. Pick a different color to represent each virus. Are you able to identify the missing one?

Listen to the different sounds animals make and guess which one it is. Then take a virtual trip to see where it lives.

Illustrate difficult-to-understand concepts with this huge collection of excellent (and free!) science and math simulations.

Compare and contrast two separate informational texts about plants with unique adaptations for survival.

Determine which foods are the fattiest in this hands-on experiment. Grab a brown paper bag and some of your favorite snacks to find out!

Try these engaging, one-hour introductory computer science tutorials, appropriate for all ages. There are hundreds of activities and tutorials in over 45 languages.

Tour the depths of the ocean to find out how scientists explore regions that are hard to reach and discover the creatures that exist beneath.

Learn the fundamentals of computer science with drag-and-drop blocks. Create your own drawings and games.

Discover how mucus is actually beneficial to our health. Watch the videos to learn more, and grab some Jell-O to conduct an experiment at home.

Discover why cats purr. Is that sound a lawn mower or your cat? Play the bonus to learn more amazing facts about these furry felines.

Design solutions to save a town from an invasion of mosquitos. What could have brought them there? Use the problem solver's sheet to find out!

Make a paper model of the solar system that helps you visualize Earth’s yearly orbit around the Sun.

Find out how to communicate over a distance in this hands on activity. Grab some markers and a flashlight and get your secret message out.

Watch the video to discover the answer and learn a little about lava along the way.

Test your reflex skills with these fast but fun experiments. Discover how long it will take your body to get the message from your brain.

Ever wonder what the number on the bottom of plastic items means? Learn about the plastic numbering system and why it came to be.

Travel to Belize with Marie McGrory to find out how she made it through (almost) the whole trip without single-use plastics.

Learn about Sally Ride and her incredible journey to become the first American woman astronaut to fly in space.

Check out this video and article on Dorothy Vaughan, the supervisor of a group of boundary-breaking African American women whose calculations got astronauts into space.

Watch these time-lapse videos to see earthworms and other small critters do the important work of bioturbation, the mixing up of soil and sediment.

Watch how the Straus Family Creamery transforms "cow pies" into renewable energy and compost to fertilize pastures.

Visit this inspiring garden made of plastic waste. How can you use old toys or plastics from the recycling bin to make your own sculpture garden?

Watch how Ocean Sole is cleaning up the ocean by taking washed-up flip-flops and transforming them into beautiful sculptures.

Journey up to the International Space Station and join two real-life astronauts orbiting the planet as they answer kids' fun, quirky, and fascinating questions.

Find out about the genius African American inventor who contributed to the creation of the lightbulb, telephone, and more.

Where do inventors come up with their great ideas? Find out how mechanical engineer Eben Bayer thought of a compostable alternative to Styrofoam.

Find inspiration in the story of science educator and graduate student Adania Flemming, who studies marine life at the University of Florida.

Explore the educational challenges other kids are doing, and try some yourself. Make and upload videos only with permission!

Find high-quality, standards-based resources relating to science, geography, world history, engineering, cartography, current events, and more.

Browse this site's videos featuring inspiring women discussing their work. Which careers seem most interesting to you? How might you pursue them?

Build knowledge with these high-quality, daily instructional video lessons for ELA (grades K–8), math (grades K–12), and science (grades 3–5).

Learn computer science from home with lessons for all grades and abilities, from pre-readers to AP-level programming students.

Choose a subject and specific topic to practice or learn some math, science, or social studies.

Explore all of these fun resources to learn more about the natural world.

Read and discuss articles on cutting-edge science discoveries written by scientists and reviewed by kids and teens.

Take a deeper look at the natural systems that sustain life on earth and find new ways to participate as good players in the system.

Play! Explore! Create! And discover the wonders of our amazing planet with your friends from Plum Landing.

Explore types of animals and choose three to learn about. Write down some facts about each to share with your family.

Listen to any episode of the Wow in the World podcast, and turn it into a STEAM learning adventure with this free printable!

Learn what plants need and design a journal to keep your drawings and other important information you've learned.