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Find Gizmos organized by grade level and topic.
See How FREE Gizmos WorkCell Types
Explore a wide variety of cells, from bacteria to human neurons, using a compound light microscope. Select a sample to study, then focus on the sample using the coarse and fine focus...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFrog Dissection
- New!
Use a scalpel, forceps, and pins to dissect realistic male and female frogs. Organs can be removed and placed into organ system diagrams. Once the dissections are complete, the frog organ...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDistance-Time Graphs
Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner complete a 40-yard dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the speed...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEstimating Population Size
Adjust the number of fish in a lake to be tagged and the number of fish to be recaptured. Use the number of tagged fish in the catch to estimate the number of fish in the lake.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Mapping
Use a sonar on a boat to remotely measure the depth of an ocean at various locations. Describe multiple points on the ocean floor using their latitude, longitude, and depth. View maps of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDisease Spread
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
Observe the spread of disease through a group of people. The methods of transmission can be chosen and include person-to-person, airborne, and foodborne as well as any combination thereof....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFood Chain
In this ecosystem consisting of hawks, snakes, rabbits and grass, the population of each species can be studied as part of a food chain. Disease can be introduced for any species, and the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTriple Beam Balance
Learn how to determine the mass of an object using a triple beam balance. The mass of a variety of objects can be determined using this simulated version of a common real-world laboratory...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFree-Fall Laboratory
Investigate the motion of an object as it falls to the ground. A variety of objects can be compared, and their motion can be observed in a vacuum, in normal air, and in denser air. The...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPeriod of a Pendulum
Practice measuring the period of a pendulum. Perform experiments to determine how mass, length, gravitational acceleration, and angle affect the period of a pendulum.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhotosynthesis Lab
Study photosynthesis in a variety of conditions. Oxygen production is used to measure the rate of photosynthesis. Light intensity, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and wavelength of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFan Cart Physics
Gain an understanding of Newton's Laws by experimenting with a cart (on which up to three fans are placed) on a linear track. The cart has a mass, as does each fan. The fans exert a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons: Why do we have them?
Learn why the temperature in the summertime is higher than it is in the winter by studying the amount of light striking the Earth. Experiment with a plate detector to measure the amount of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoLaser Reflection
Point a laser at a mirror and compare the angle of the incoming beam to the angle of reflection. A protractor can be used to measure the angles of incidence and reflection, and the angle of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoElement Builder
Use protons, neutrons, and electrons to build elements. As the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons changes, information such as the name and symbol of the element, the Z, N, and A...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRelative Humidity
Measure the temperature on wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine relative humidity. Measure the dew point by cooling a bucket of water until condensation forms on the surface. See how...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFreezing Point of Salt Water
Control the temperature of a beaker of water. As the temperature drops below the freezing point, a transformation of state will occur that can be viewed on a molecular level. Salt can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoH-R Diagram
A collection of stars visible from Earth can be arranged and classified based on their color, temperature, luminosity, radius, and mass. This can be done using one or two-dimensional...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWater Cycle
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRock Classification
Try to classify a dozen different rock samples based on their appearance. Common characteristics of each major rock type are described. Rocks also can be classified by where they formed.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolar System Explorer
Survey the solar system, observing the length of a year and the orbital path of each object. The positions of the eight official planets are displayed, as well as one dwarf planet, Pluto....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHousehold Energy Usage
Explore the energy used by many household appliances, such as television sets, hair dryers, lights, computers, etc. Make estimates for how long each item is used on a daily basis to get an...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMouse Genetics (One Trait)
Breed "pure" mice with known genotypes that exhibit specific fur colors, and learn how traits are passed on via dominant and recessive genes. Mice can be stored in cages for future...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Structure
- Updated!
Select a sample cell from an animal, plant, or bacterium and view the cell under a microscope. Select each organelle on the image to learn more about its structure and function. Closeup...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPenumbra Effect
Observe the partial shadows cast by a rectangular block lit by multiple light sources. The number of light sources ranges from one to five, and individual lights can be turned on or off....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoReading Topographic Maps
Understand how topographic maps work by creating a three-dimensional landscape and observing the corresponding contour lines. See how mountains, depressions, valleys and cliffs are...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoIonic Bonds
Simulate ionic bonds between a variety of metals and nonmetals. Select a metal and a nonmetal atom, and transfer electrons from one to the other. Observe the effect of gaining and losing...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHearing: Frequency and Volume
Test your hearing range by listening to low-, medium-, and high-frequency sounds. Compare the relative loudness of sounds at each frequency to create an equal-loudness curve. In a quiet...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhase Changes
Explore the relationship between molecular motion, temperature, and phase changes. Compare the molecular structure of solids, liquids, and gases. Graph temperature changes as ice is melted...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhases of the Moon
FREE with no time limit!
Understand the phases of the Moon by observing the positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun. A view of the Moon from Earth is shown on the right as the Moon orbits Earth. Learn the names of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGrowing Plants
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
Investigate the growth of three common garden plants: tomatoes, beans, and turnips. You can change the amount of light each plant gets, the amount of water added each day, and the type of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCharge Launcher
Launch a charged particle into a chamber. Charged particles can be added into the chamber to influence the path of the moving particle. The launch speed can be changed as well. Try to match...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolar System
Explore our solar system and learn the characteristics of each planet. Compare the sizes of planets and their distances from the Sun. Observe the speeds of planetary orbits and measure how...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMineral Identification
Observe and measure the properties of a mineral sample, and then use a key to identify the mineral. Students can observe the color, luster, shape, density, hardness, streak, and reaction to...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPendulum Clock
FREE with no time limit!
Find the effect of length, mass, and angle on the period of a pendulum. The pendulum is attached to a clock that can be adjusted to tell time accurately. The clock can be located on Earth...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoLevers
Use a lever to lift a pig, turkey, or sheep. A strongman provides up to 1000 newtons of effort. The fulcrum, strongman, and animals can be moved to any position to create first-, second-,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPrairie Ecosystem
Observe the populations of grass, prairie dogs, ferrets and foxes in a prairie ecosystem. Investigate feeding relationships and determine the food chain. Bar graphs and line graphs show...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoAnts on a Slant (Inclined Plane)
Lift food using ants with the help of a slanted stick. The steepness of the stick, the number of ants, and the size of the item being lifted can be varied. Observe the effect of friction on...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFree Fall Tower
Recreate Galileo's famous experiment by dropping objects off the Tower of Pisa. You can drop ping pong balls, golf balls, soccer balls or watermelons. Objects can be dropped in air or no...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEnergy Conversions
Where does energy come from? How does energy get from one place to another? Find out how electrical current is generated and how living things get energy to move and grow. Trace the path of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHeat Absorption
Shine a powerful flashlight on a variety of materials, and measure how quickly each material heats up. See how the light angle, light color, type of material, and material color affect...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoInheritance
Create aliens with different traits and breed them to produce offspring. Determine which traits are passed down from parents to offspring and which traits are acquired. Offspring can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMeasuring Motion
Go on an African safari and observe a variety of animals walking and running across the savanna. Videotape the animals, and then play back the videotape to estimate animal speeds. Which...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhases of Water
Heat or cool a container of water and observe the phase changes that take place. Use a magnifying glass to observe water molecules as a solid, liquid, or gas. Compare the volumes of the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCirculatory System
Trace the path of blood through a beating heart and the network of blood vessels that supplies blood to the body. Take blood samples from different blood vessels to observe blood cells and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMeasuring Trees
Measure the height, diameter, and circumference of trees in a forest. Count growth rings to determine the age of each tree. Grow the trees for several years and investigate how growth is...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWaves
Observe and measure transverse, longitudinal, and combined waves on a model of a spring moved by a hand. Adjust the amplitude and frequency of the hand, and the tension and density of the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSled Wars
FREE with no time limit!
Explore acceleration, speed, momentum, and energy by sending a sled down a hill into a group of snowmen. The starting height and mass of the sled can be changed, as well as the number of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoChemical Changes
Chemical changes result in the formation of new substances. But how can you tell if a chemical change has occurred? Explore this question by observing and measuring a variety of chemical...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoObserving Weather (Metric)
How do scientists measure and describe the weather? In this introductory lesson, students will practice using a thermometer, anemometer, rain gauge, and hygrometer to record weather...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSenses
- New!
Everything we know about the world comes through our senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. In the Senses Gizmo, explore how stimuli are detected by specialized cells, transmitted...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCrumple Zones
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Design a car to protect a test dummy in a collision. Adjust the length and stiffness of the crumple zone and the rigidity of the safety cell to determine how the car will deform during the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHoneybee Hive
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Explore life in the hive by meeting workers, drones, and the queen bee herself! Visit flower patches to determine the best sources of food, and then perform a waggle dance to let the other...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoProgrammable Rover
- New!
In this introduction to coding, program a rover to explore the surface of Mars. Start by using tiles to create simple programs involving moving forward or backward, turns, jumps, loops, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFingerprinting
- New!
Collect fingerprints from simulated crime scenes using a camera, fingerprinting powder, and tape. Classify fingerprints into groups and subgroups, then identify minutiae. Match collected...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEarthquake-Proof Homes
- New!
Design a house to withstand an earthquake and protect the people living inside. Select a location in San Francisco, then choose the design and materials for a foundation, frame, walls, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEvolution
- Stem Case
Working as a CDC researcher, students investigate an outbreak of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and determine how evolution was involved by tracing the source and cause of the...
Lesson Info STEM CasesEnzymes
- Stem Case
As a veterinary technician, students learn about enzymes to help a dog that has been eating normally but is losing a lot of weight.
Lesson Info STEM CasesComparing Earth and Venus
Observe the motions of Venus and Earth as the planets move around the Sun. Measure the length of a day and a year on Earth and Venus, and compare the length of a solar day to the length of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRabbit Population by Season
Observe the population of rabbits in an environment over many years. The land available to the rabbits and weather conditions can be adjusted to investigate the effects of urban sprawl and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMouse Genetics (Two Traits)
Breed "pure" mice with known genotypes that exhibit specific fur and eye colors, and learn how traits are passed on via dominant and recessive genes. Mice can be stored in cages for future...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPotential Energy on Shelves
Compare the potential energy of several objects when you place them on shelves of different heights. Learn that two objects at different heights can have the same potential energy, while...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRoller Coaster Physics
Adjust the hills on a toy-car roller coaster and watch what happens as the car careens toward an egg (that can be broken) at the end of the track. The heights of three hills can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBalancing Chemical Equations
Balance and classify five types of chemical reactions: synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, and combustion. While balancing the reactions, the number of atoms...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPeriod of Mass on a Spring
Measure the period of a mass on the end of a spring. Determine the effects of gravitational acceleration, mass, and the spring constant on the period of the spring. Create an equation for...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Division
Begin with a single cell and watch as mitosis and cell division occurs. The cells will go through the steps of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. The...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoNatural Selection
You are a bird hunting moths (both dark and light) that live on trees. As you capture the moths most easily visible against the tree surface, the moth populations change, illustrating the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoIdentifying Nutrients
Use a variety of real-world lab tests to analyze common food samples in order to determine if the food is a carbohydrate, a protein, or a lipid. Tests that can be performed include:...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Energy Cycle
FREE with no time limit!
Explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration that occur within plant and animal cells. The cyclical nature of the two processes can be constructed visually, and the simplified...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMoonrise, Moonset, and Phases
Gain an understanding of moonrise and moonset times by observing the relative positions of Earth and the Moon along with a view of the Moon from Earth. A line shows the horizon for a person...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun
Observe the motions of the Earth, Moon and Sun in three dimensions to explain Sunrise and Sunset, and to see how we define a day, a month, and a year. Compare times of Sunrise and Sunset...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBuilding Topographic Maps
Build a topographic map by flooding a three dimensional landscape with water and drawing contour lines. Draw a profile of a landscape based on the topographic map.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoColligative Properties
Determine how the physical properties of a solvent are dependent on the number of solute particles present. Measure the vapor pressure, boiling point, freezing point, and osmotic pressure...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCovalent Bonds
Choose a substance, and then move electrons between atoms to form covalent bonds and build molecules. Observe the orbits of shared electrons in single, double, and triple covalent bonds....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDye Elimination
When a foreign substance such as a drug is ingested, it often remains in the bloodstream for a long time. This Gizmo models the elimination of substances from the bloodstream using water...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSound Beats and Sine Waves
Listen to and see interference patterns produced by sound waves with similar frequencies. Test your ability to distinguish and match sounds as musicians do when they tune their instruments....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRefraction
Determine the angle of refraction for a light beam moving from one medium to another. The angle of incidence and each index of refraction can be varied. Using the tools provided, the angle...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoStar Spectra
Analyze the spectra of a variety of stars. Determine the elements that are represented in each spectrum, and use this information to infer the temperature and classification of the star....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPulley Lab
Use a pulley system to lift a heavy weight to a certain height. Measure the force required to lift the weight using up to three fixed and three movable pulleys. The weight to be lifted and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBasic Prism
Shine white light or a single-color beam through a prism. Explore how a prism refracts light and investigate the factors that affect the amount of refraction. The index of refraction of the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDistance-Time Graphs - Metric
Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner complete a 40-meter dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMagnetism
Drag bar magnets and a variety of other objects onto a piece of paper. Click Play to release the objects to see if they are attracted together, repelled apart, or unaffected. You can also...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Tides
Develop an understanding of ocean tides by comparing the depth of water near a dock to the positions of the Moon, Sun, and Earth. Determine the influence of the Moon and Sun on tides, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGermination
Plant seeds and watch how many sprout. Examine what factors affect germination. Vary the amount of heat, water, and light the seeds get. Practice designing controlled experiments and using...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCircuit Builder
FREE with no time limit!
Create circuits using batteries, light bulbs, switches, fuses, and a variety of materials. Examine series and parallel circuits, conductors and insulators, and the effects of battery...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoForest Ecosystem
Observe and manipulate the populations of four creatures (trees, deer, bears, and mushrooms) in a forest. Investigate the feeding relationships (food web) in the forest. Determine which...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEclipse
FREE with no time limit!
Observe solar and lunar eclipses as the Moon orbits Earth. The full and partial shadows of the Moon and Earth can be displayed, and the Moon can also be dragged around Earth. See what the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGravity Pitch
Imagine a gigantic pitcher standing on Earth, ready to hurl a huge baseball. What will happen as the ball is thrown harder and harder? Find out with the Gravity Pitch Gizmo. Observe the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeight and Mass
Use a balance to measure mass and a spring scale to measure the weight of objects. Compare the masses and weights of objects on Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPattern Finder
Observe frogs jumping around on colored lily pads. Find, test, and reason about patterns you see in their jumping.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPond Ecosystem
Measure the temperature and oxygen content of a pond over the course of a day. Then go fishing to see what types of fish live in the pond. Many different ponds can be investigated to...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRadiation
Use a powerful flashlight to pop a kernel of popcorn. A lens focuses light on the kernel. The temperature of the filament and the distance between the flashlight and lens can be changed....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRipple Tank
Study wave motion, diffraction, interference, and refraction in a simulated ripple tank. A wide variety of scenarios can be chosen, including barriers with one or two gaps, multiple wave...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMeasuring Volume
Measure the volume of liquids and solids using beakers, graduated cylinders, overflow cups, and rulers. Water can be poured from one container to another and objects can be added to...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDigestive System
Digestion is a complex process, involving a wide variety of organs and chemicals that work together to break down food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate wastes. But have you ever wondered...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTrebuchet
Design your own trebuchet to fling a projectile at a castle wall. All of the dimensions of the trebuchet can be adjusted, as well as the masses of the counterweight and payload. Select a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoObserving Weather (Customary)
How do scientists measure and describe the weather? In this introductory lesson, students will practice using a thermometer, anemometer, rain gauge, and hygrometer to record weather...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGenetic Engineering
- New!
Use genetic engineering techniques to create corn plants resistant to insect pests or tolerant of herbicides. Identify useful genes from bacteria, insert the desired gene into a corn plant,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoIsotopes
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Explore what isotopes are by adding protons and neutrons to the nucleus of an atom. Plot both stable and radioactive isotopes on a graph of neutrons vs. protons, and explore how the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDNA Profiling
- New!
Learn how DNA is compared to identify individuals. Identify the sections of DNA that tend to differ and use PCR to amplify these segments. Then use gel electrophoresis to create DNA...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color
- New!
Observe how different colors of light are reflected or absorbed by colored objects. Determine that white light is a combination of different colors of light, and that one or more component...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMolecule Builder
- New!
Create molecules using building blocks of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements. Connect atoms by bonds, then create double or triple bonds if desired. For each completed...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFlood and Storm-Proof Homes
- New!
Build a home to survive a flood or a hurricane and protect the people inside. Choose materials and a design for the foundation, frame, walls, and roof of the house. Add "extras" such as...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoChemical and Physical Changes
- Stem Case
The Secret Service recently arrested suspects accused of counterfeiting coins from 1915 valued at $50,000 each. The students act as a forensic scientist to investigate the crime scene and...
Lesson Info STEM CasesSight vs. Sound Reactions
Measure your reaction time by clicking your mouse as quickly as possible when visual or auditory stimuli are presented. The individual response times are recorded, as well as the mean and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSimple Harmonic Motion
Observe two different forms of simple harmonic motion: a pendulum and a spring supporting a mass. Use a stopwatch to measure the period of each device as you adjust the mass hanging from...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDistance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs
Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner run a 40-yard dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the velocity...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity Laboratory
With a scale to measure mass, a graduated cylinder to measure volume, and a large beaker of liquid to observe flotation, the relationship between mass, volume, density, and flotation can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDoppler Shift
Observe sound waves emitted from a moving vehicle. Measure the frequency of sound waves in front of and behind the vehicle as it moves, illustrating the Doppler effect. The frequency of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides
Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolubility and Temperature
Add varying amounts of a chemical to a beaker of water to create a solution, observe that the chemical dissolves in the water at first, and then measure the concentration of the solution at...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHerschel Experiment
Shine sunlight through a prism and use a thermometer to measure the temperature in different regions of the spectrum. The thermometer can be dragged through the visible spectrum and beyond....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEffect of Environment on New Life Form
Using the scientific method, control the environmental conditions for a fictional alien organism in order to learn how the organism responds to changes in conditions. Sunlight, water, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCircuits
Build electrical circuits using batteries, light bulbs, resistors, fuses, wires, and a switch. An ammeter, a voltmeter and an ohmmeter are available for measuring current, voltage and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGravitational Force
Drag two objects around and observe the gravitational force between them as their positions change. The mass of each object can be adjusted, and the gravitational force is displayed both as...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMystery Powder Analysis
Perform multiple experiments using several common powders such as corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and gelatin. The results of the research on the known powders can then be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRock Cycle
Play the role of a piece of rock moving through the rock cycle. Select a starting location and follow many possible paths throughout the cycle. Learn how rocks are formed, weathered,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWater Pollution
Get to know the four main types of pollution present in the environment, and then look at a variety of real-world examples as you try to guess what type of pollution is represented by each...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoChicken Genetics
Breed "pure" chickens with known genotypes that exhibit specific feather colors, and learn how traits are passed on via codominant genes. Chickens can be stored in cages for future...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoChemical Equations
Practice balancing chemical equations by changing the coefficients of reactants and products. As the equation is manipulated, the amount of each element is shown as individual atoms,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons in 3D
Gain an understanding of the causes of seasons by observing Earth as it orbits the Sun in three dimensions. Observe the path of the Sun across the sky on any date and from any location....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDehydration Synthesis
Build a glucose molecule, atom-by-atom, to learn about chemical bonds and the structure of glucose. Explore the processes of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis in carbohydrate molecules.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoParamecium Homeostasis
Observe how a paramecium maintains stable internal conditions in a changing aquatic environment. Water moves into the organism by osmosis, and is pumped out by the contractile vacuole. The...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDrug Dosage
A drug prescription must be carefully planned to maximize benefit while avoiding an overdose. In this Gizmo, you can give a patient one or more pills and monitor the levels of medication in...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEvolution: Mutation and Selection
Observe evolution in a fictional population of bugs. Set the background to any color, and see natural selection taking place. Inheritance of color occurs according to Mendel's laws and...
Lesson Info Launch Gizmo2D Eclipse
FREE with no time limit!
Manipulate the position of the Moon to model solar and lunar eclipses. View Earth's shadow, the Moon's shadow, or both. Observe the Moon and Sun from Earth during a partial and total...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoArchimedes' Principle
Place weights into a boat and see how far the boat sinks into a tank of liquid. The depth of the boat can be measured, as well as the amount of liquid displaced. The dimensions of the boat...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoLongitudinal Waves
Observe the propagation of longitudinal (compression) waves in a closed or open tube with evenly-spaced dividers. The strength and frequency of the waves can be manipulated, or waves can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoForce and Fan Carts
Explore the laws of motion using a simple fan cart. Use the buttons to select the speed of the fan and the surface, and press Play to begin. You can drag up to three objects onto the fan...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFlower Pollination
Observe the steps of pollination and fertilization in flowering plants. Help with many parts of the process by dragging pollen grains to the stigma, dragging sperm to the ovules, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPulleys
Lift a variety of heavy objects (armchair, safe, piano) using pulleys and a rope. Systems of one, two, four, or six pulleys can be used. Up to six people can be used to pull on the rope,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWheel and Axle
Use a wheel and axle to move a heavy load. Find out how many athletes it takes to move the load under different conditions. The radii of the wheel and the axle can be adjusted to help study...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoConduction and Convection
Two flasks hold colored water, one yellow and the other blue. Set the starting temperature of each flask, choose a type of material to connect the flasks, and see how quickly the flasks...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBig Bang Theory - Hubble's Law
Follow in the footsteps of Edwin Hubble to discover evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory. First, observe Cepheid variable stars in different galaxies to determine their distances. Then,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCarbon Cycle
Follow the path of a carbon atom through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Manipulate a simplified model to see how human activities and other factors affect the amount...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoComparing Climates (Metric)
- New!
Compare average temperatures, precipitation, humidity, and wind speed for a variety of locations across the globe. Explore the influence of latitude, proximity to oceans, elevation, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGMOs and the Environment
- New!
In this follow-up to the Genetic Engineering Gizmo, explore how farmers can maximize yield while limiting ecosystem damage using genetically modified corn. Choose the corn type to plant and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Grow Wisconsin Fast Plants® in a simulated lab environment. Explore the life cycles of these plants and how their growth is influenced by light, water, and crowding. Practice pollinating...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoAverage Atomic Mass
- New!
The atomic mass for each element listed in the periodic table is actually the weighted average mass of all of the different isotopes of the element. In the Average Atomic Mass Gizmo, use a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEyes and Vision 2 - Focusing Light
- New!
Once light enters the eye, it must be focused on the retina. Manipulate the pupil diameter to regulate the amount of light that enters then eye, then change the lens shape to focus light....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhotosynthesis
- Stem Case
As a marine biologist students learn about photosynthesis to help scientists in Australia determine why the coral in the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching.
Lesson Info STEM CasesElectrons and Chemical Reactions
- Stem Case
The Secret Service has arrested suspects accused of counterfeiting coins from 1915 valued at $50,000 each. The students act as a forensic scientist to investigate the crime scene and...
Lesson Info STEM CasesFruit Production
- Stem Case
As an agricultural scientist, students help a strawberry farmer who is having problems with low fruit production. Students learn about the factors involved in fruit production including...
Lesson Info STEM CasesAir Track
Adjust the mass and velocity of two gliders on a frictionless air track. Measure the velocity, momentum, and kinetic energy of each glider as they approach each other and collide....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoReverse the Field
Measure the time required to write a word when the mouse behaves in a normal fashion and when the direction of motion is reversed from left to right, up to down, or both. Run several...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBeam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions)
FREE with no time limit!
Apply ratios and proportions to find the weight of a person on the moon (or on another planet). Weigh an object on Earth and on the moon and weigh the person on Earth. Then set up and solve...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTemperature and Sex Determination
Observe the sex ratios of birds and geckos as they hatch in an incubator. Vary the temperature of the incubator and measure the percentages of male and female hatchlings to determine if...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHeat Transfer by Conduction
An insulated beaker of hot water is connected to a beaker of cold water with a conducting bar, and over time the temperatures of the beakers equalize as heat is transferred through the bar....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRainfall and Bird Beaks
Study the thickness of birds' beaks over a five-year period as you control the yearly rainfall on an isolated island. As the environmental conditions change, the species must adapt (a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoAdditive Colors
Control the intensity of red, green, and blue spotlights. Additive colors can be observed where the spotlights overlap. The RGB value of any point can be measured. Just about any color can...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDetermining a Spring Constant
Place a pan on the end of a hanging spring. Measure how much the spring stretches when various masses are added to the pan. Create a graph of displacement vs. mass to determine the spring...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPorosity
Pour water on a variety of sediment samples to find how much water can be absorbed by the sample (porosity) and how easily water flows through the sample (permeability).
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity Experiment: Slice and Dice
Drop a chunk of material in a beaker of water and observe whether it sinks or floats. Cut the chunk into smaller pieces of any size, and observe what happens as they are dropped in the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPollination: Flower to Fruit
Label a diagram that illustrates the anatomy of a flower, and understand the function of each structure. Compare the processes of self pollination and cross pollination, and explore how...
Lesson Info Launch Gizmo3D Eclipse
FREE with no time limit!
Observe the motions of the Earth, Moon and Sun in three dimensions to investigate the causes and frequency of eclipses. Observe Earth's shadow crossing the Moon during a lunar eclipse, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons Around the World
Use a three dimensional view of the Earth, Moon and Sun to explore seasonal changes at a variety of locations. Strengthen your knowledge of global climate patterns by comparing solar...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoAdvanced Circuits
Build compound circuits with series and parallel elements. Calculate voltages, resistance, and current across each component using Ohm's law and the equivalent resistance equation. Check...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoAtwood Machine
Measure the height and velocity of two objects connected by a massless rope over a pulley. Observe the forces acting on each mass throughout the simulation. Calculate the acceleration of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCollision Theory
FREE with no time limit!
Observe a chemical reaction with and without a catalyst. Determine the effects of concentration, temperature, surface area, and catalysts on reaction rates. Reactant and product...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEvolution: Natural and Artificial Selection
Observe evolution in a fictional population of bugs. Set the background to any color, and see natural selection taking place. Compare the processes of natural and artificial selection....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDoppler Shift Advanced
Derive an equation to calculate the frequency of an oncoming sound source and a receding sound source. Also, calculate the Doppler shift that results from a moving observer and a stationary...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOrbital Motion - Kepler's Laws
Learn Kepler's three laws of planetary motion by examining the orbit of a planet around a star. The initial position, velocity, and mass of the planet can be varied as well as the mass of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRay Tracing (Lenses)
Observe light rays that pass through a convex or concave lens. Manipulate the position of an object and the focal length of the lens and measure the distance and size of the resulting image.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhased Array
Observe the wave fronts produced by four closely-spaced emitters. The spacing and phase shift of each wave source can be adjusted, as well as the wave velocity. With all four sources you...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoInclined Plane - Simple Machine
Investigate how an inclined plane redirects and reduces the force pulling a brick downward, with or without friction. A toy car can apply a variable upward force on the brick, and the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides - Metric
Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeather Maps - Metric
Learn about standard symbols used in meteorology to construct weather maps. Rain, sleet, snow, temperature, cloud cover, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure can all be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHerschel Experiment - Metric
Shine sunlight through a prism and use a thermometer to measure the temperature in different regions of the spectrum. The thermometer can be dragged through the visible spectrum and beyond....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDistance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs - Metric
Create a graph of a runner's position versus time and watch the runner run a 40-meter dash based on the graph you made. Notice the connection between the slope of the line and the velocity...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGraphing Skills
Create a graph (bar graph, line graph, pie chart, or scatter plot) based on a given data set. Title the graph, label the axes, and choose a scale. Adjust the graph to fit the data, and then...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBuilding Pangaea
In 1915, Alfred Wegener proposed that all of Earth's continents were once joined in an ancient supercontinent he called Pangaea. Wegener's idea of moving continents led to the modern theory...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMelting Points
Every substance has unique transition points, or temperatures at which one phase (solid, liquid, or gas) transitions to another. Use a realistic melting point apparatus to measure the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoNuclear Reactions
Explore examples of nuclear fusion and fission reactions. Follow the steps of the proton-proton chain, CNO cycle, and fission of uranium-235. Write balanced nuclear equations for each step,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMeiosis
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Explore how sex cells are produced by the process of meiosis. Compare meiosis in male and female germ cells, and use crossovers to increase the number of possible gamete genotypes. Using...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoComparing Climates (Customary)
Compare average temperatures, precipitation, humidity, and wind speed for a variety of locations across the globe. Explore the influence of latitude, proximity to oceans, elevation, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMoles
- New!
Understand the definition of a mole and determine the Avogadro constant by adding atoms or formula units to a balance until the mass in grams is equal to the atomic or formula mass....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 2 - Mystery Parent
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
In this follow-up to Fast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics, continue to explore inheritance of traits in Wisconsin Fast Plants. Infer the genotype of a "mystery P2 parent" of a set of Fast...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMuscles and Bones
- New!
See how muscles, bones, and connective tissue work together to allow movement. Observe how muscle contraction arises from the interactions of thin and thick filaments in muscle cells. Using...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light
- New!
Observe how photoreceptors on the retina are stimulated by different colors of light. Determine that cone cells are stimulated by specific colors of light and enable us to see color, while...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Respiration
- Stem Case
As a medical toxicologist, students learn about cell respiration to save the life of a CIA agent that has been poisoned.
Lesson Info STEM CasesSound Off, Please!: Designing Solutions to Reduce Noise Pollution
- Stem Case
As an acoustic engineer, students will work with an urban planner to learn how noise pollution impacts a community. Students will develop a system model to test design solutions. Wave...
Lesson Info STEM CasesGolf Range
Try to get a hole in one by adjusting the velocity and launch angle of a golf ball. Explore the physics of projectile motion in a frictional or ideal setting. Horizontal and vertical...
Lesson Info Launch Gizmo2D Collisions
Investigate elastic collisions in two dimensions using two frictionless pucks. The mass, velocity, and initial position of each puck can be modified to create a variety of scenarios.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoLimiting Reactants
Explore the concepts of limiting reactants, excess reactants, and theoretical yield in a chemical reaction. Select one of two different reactions, choose the number of molecules of each...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGreenhouse Effect
Within this simulated region of land, daytime's rising temperature and the falling temperature at night can be measured, along with heat flow in and out of the system. The level of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeed Germination
Perform experiments with several seed types to see what conditions yield the highest germination (sprouting) rate. Three different types of seeds can be studied, and the temperature, water...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEnergy of a Pendulum
Perform experiments with a pendulum to gain an understanding of energy conservation in simple harmonic motion. The mass, length, and gravitational acceleration of the pendulum can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity via Comparison
Using four beakers of liquids with known densities, estimate the density of a variety of objects. Place each object into each beaker to see whether it sinks or floats, and then use this...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSubtractive Colors
Move spots of yellow, cyan, and magenta pigment on a white surface. As the colors overlap, other colors can be seen due to color subtraction. The color of most things you see--such as cars,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoVectors
Manipulate the magnitudes and directions of two vectors to generate a sum and learn vector addition. The x and y components can be displayed, along with the dot product of the two vectors.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDiffusion
Explore the motion of particles as they bounce around from one side of a room to the other through an adjustable gap or partition. The mass of the particles can be adjusted, as well as the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBoyle's Law and Charles's Law
Investigate the properties of an ideal gas by performing experiments in which the temperature is held constant (Boyle's Law), and others in which the pressure remains fixed (Charles's Law)....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeather Maps
Learn about standard symbols used in meteorology to construct weather maps. Rain, sleet, snow, temperature, cloud cover, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure can all be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRNA and Protein Synthesis
- Updated!
Go through the process of synthesizing proteins through RNA transcription and translation. Learn about the many steps involved in protein synthesis including: unzipping of DNA, formation of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPlate Tectonics
Move the Earth's crust at various locations to observe the effects of the motion of the tectonic plates, including volcanic eruptions. Information about each of the major types of plate...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoulomb Force (Static)
Drag two charged particles around and observe the Coulomb force between them as their positions change. The charge of each object can be adjusted, and the force is displayed both...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCalorimetry Lab
Investigate how calorimetry can be used to find relative specific heat values when different substances are mixed with water. Modify initial mass and temperature values to see effects on...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoElectron Configuration
Create the electron configuration of any element by filling electron orbitals. Determine the relationship between electron configuration and atomic radius. Discover trends in atomic radii...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHuman Homeostasis
Adjust the levels of clothing, perspiration, and exercise to maintain a stable internal temperature as the external temperature changes. Water and blood sugar levels need to be replenished...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRay Tracing (Mirrors)
Observe light rays that reflect from a convex or concave mirror. Manipulate the position of an object and the focal length of the mirror and measure the distance and size of the resulting...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoReal-Time Histogram
Try to click your mouse once every 2 seconds. The time interval between each click is recorded, as well as the error and percent error. Data can be displayed in a table, histogram, or...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric
Study the thickness of birds' beaks over a five year period as you control the yearly rainfall on an isolated island. As the environmental conditions change, the species must adapt (a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTemperature and Sex Determination - Metric
Observe the sex ratios of birds and geckos as they hatch in an incubator. Vary the temperature of the incubator and measure the percentages of male and female hatchlings to determine if...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBeam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions) - Metric
Apply ratios and proportions to find the weight of a person on the moon (or on another planet). Weigh an object on Earth and on the moon and weigh the person on Earth. Then set up and solve...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity
Measure the mass and volume of a variety of objects, then place them into a beaker of liquid to see if they float or sink. Learn to predict whether objects will float or sink in water based...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoColor Absorption
Mix the primary colors of light by using red, green, and blue lights. Use pieces of colored glass to filter the light and create a wide variety of colors. Determine how light is absorbed...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSummer and Winter
Observe the tilt of Earth's axis and the angle that sunlight strikes Earth on June 21 and December 21. Compare day lengths, temperatures, and the angle of the Sun's rays for any latitude....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoUnit Conversions
Use unit conversion tiles to convert from one unit to another. Tiles can be flipped to cancel units. Convert between metric units or between metric and U.S. customary units. Solve distance,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Explore the abiotic factors that affect Caribbean coral reefs. Many factors can be manipulated in this simplified reef model, including ocean temperature and pH, storm severity, and input...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFeel the Heat
- New!
Have you ever used a glove warmer to keep your hands warm? How about an instant cold pack to treat an injury? In the Feel the Heat Gizmo, create your own hot and cold packs using various...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoConvection Cells
- New!
Explore the causes of convection by heating liquid and observing the resulting motion. The location and intensity of the heat source (or sources) can be varied, as well as the viscosity of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPolarity and Intermolecular Forces
- New!
Combine various metal and nonmetal atoms to observe how the electronegativity difference determines the polarity of chemical bonds. Place molecules into an electric field to experimentally...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTime Estimation
Try to estimate the passage of time by selecting a time interval, clicking the Start button, and clicking Stop when you think the interval has passed. The estimate and percent error are...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDetermining Density via Water Displacement
Drop objects in a beaker that is filled with water, and measure the water that flows over the edge. Using Archimedes' principle, determine the density of objects based on the amount of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEnergy Conversion in a System
A falling cylinder is attached to a rotating propeller that stirs and heats the water in a beaker. The mass and height of the cylinder, as well as the quantity and initial temperature of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOsmosis
Adjust the concentration of a solute on either side of a membrane in a cell and observe the system as it adjusts to the conditions through osmosis. The initial concentration of the solute...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoUniform Circular Motion
Measure the position, velocity, and acceleration (both components and magnitude) of an object undergoing circular motion. The radius and velocity of the object can be controlled, along with...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBuilding DNA
Construct a DNA molecule, examine its double-helix structure, and then go through the DNA replication process. Learn how each component fits into a DNA molecule, and see how a unique,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPith Ball Lab
Pith balls with positive, negative, or no electrical charge are suspended from strings. The charge and mass of the pith balls can be adjusted, along with the length of the string, which...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoStoichiometry
Solve problems in chemistry using dimensional analysis. Select appropriate tiles so that units in the question are converted into units of the answer. Tiles can be flipped, and answers...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Set the initial percentages of three types of parrots in a population and track changes in genotype and allele frequency through several generations. Analyze population data to develop an...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTemperature and Particle Motion
Observe the movement of particles of an ideal gas at a variety of temperatures. A histogram showing the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution is shown, and the most probable velocity,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFeed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Fire a banana cannon at a monkey in a tree. The monkey drops from the tree at the moment the banana is fired from the cannon. Determine where to aim the cannon so the monkey catches the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGreenhouse Effect - Metric
Within this simulated region of land, daytime's rising temperature and the falling temperature at night can be measured, along with heat flow in and out of the system. The amount of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHurricane Motion - Metric
Use data from up to three weather stations to predict the motion of a hurricane. The wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover and air pressure are provided for each station using standard...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPlants and Snails
Study the production and use of gases by plants and animals. Measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in a test tube containing snails and elodea (a type of plant) in both light and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDichotomous Keys
Use dichotomous keys to identify and classify five types of organisms: California albatrosses, Canadian Rockies buttercups, Texas venomous snakes, Virginia evergreens, and Florida...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoUnit Conversions 2 - Scientific Notation and Significant Digits
Use the Unit Conversions Gizmo to explore the concepts of scientific notation and significant digits. Convert numbers to and from scientific notation. Determine the number of significant...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
In this followup to the Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors activity, investigate the impacts of fishing, disease, and invasive species on a model Caribbean coral reef. Many variables can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeathering
Weathering is the breakdown of rock at Earth's surface through physical or chemical means. Students will learn about the different types of mechanical and chemical weathering, then use a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoReaction Energy
Exothermic chemical reactions release energy, while endothermic reactions absorb energy. But what causes some reactions to be exothermic, and others to be endothermic? In this simulation,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPeriodic Trends
- New!
Explore trends in atomic radius, ionization energy, and electron affinity in the periodic table. Measure atomic radius with a ruler and model ionization energy and electron affinity by...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSticky Molecules
- New!
Learn about molecular polarity and how polarity gives rise to intermolecular forces. Measure four macroscopic properties of liquids (cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoIdeal Gas Law
- New!
Explore relationships between amount, temperature, pressure, and volume for an ideal gas in a chamber with a moveable piston. Discover rules of proportionality contained in Boyle's law,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDiffusion
- Stem Case
As a physician assistant, students must learn about diffusion to save the life of a person poisoned by chlorine gas that was released into a small town following a train crash.
Lesson Info STEM CasesProtein Synthesis
- Stem Case
As a pediatrician, students learn about genes and protein synthesis to try to help a baby girl named Lucy who has an immunodeficiency disease.
Lesson Info STEM CasesProperties of Matter
- Stem Case
The Secret Service has arrested suspects accused of counterfeiting coins from the year 1915 valued at $50,000 each. The students act as a forensic scientist to investigate the crime scene...
Lesson Info STEM CasesWater Contamination
- Stem Case
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the role...
Lesson Info STEM CasesHalf-life
Investigate the decay of a radioactive substance. The half-life and the number of radioactive atoms can be adjusted, and theoretical or random decay can be observed. Data can be interpreted...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHurricane Motion
Use data from up to three weather stations to predict the motion of a hurricane. The wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover and air pressure are provided for each station using standard...
Lesson Info Launch GizmopH Analysis
Test the acidity of common substances using pH paper. Materials including soap, lemon juice, milk, and oven cleaner can be tested by comparing the color of pH strips to a standard scale.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMicroevolution
Observe the effect of predators on a population of parrots with three possible genotypes. The initial percentages and fitness levels of each genotype can be set. Determine how initial...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTorque and Moment of Inertia
One of the simplest machines is a see-saw lever. Place up to eight objects on the lever at different locations and try to balance it. Calculate net torque and moment of inertia based on the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHuman Evolution - Skull Analysis
Compare the skulls of a variety of significant human ancestors, or hominids. Use available tools to measure lengths, areas, and angles of important features. Each skull can be viewed from...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMagnetic Induction
Measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field at different locations in a laboratory. Compare the strength of the induced magnetic field to Earth's magnetic field. The direction...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTitration
Measure the quantity of a known solution needed to neutralize an acid or base of unknown concentration. Use this information to calculate the unknown concentration. A variety of indicators...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEquilibrium and Concentration
Observe how reactants and products interact in reversible reactions. The initial amount of each substance can be manipulated, as well as the pressure on the chamber. The amounts,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRiver Erosion
- New!
Explore how river erosion affects landscapes in the short term and over long periods of time. Describe the features of mountain streams and meandering rivers, and use a floating barrel to...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEcosystems
- Stem Case
As a national park ranger, students must restore the ecosystem of a park back to normal. They interact with populations of many organisms including wolves, deer and bees. Students learn the...
Lesson Info STEM CasesHomeostasis
- Stem Case
In the role of a physician assistant, students help a young man, named Anthony, who has Type II diabetes and high blood pressure. Students must make a diagnosis and then must apply the...
Lesson Info STEM CasesMeowsis
- Stem Case
As a geneticist in an animal hospital, students learn about genetic changes in meiosis to determine the reason why a male cat can have calico fur coloring.
Lesson Info STEM CasesSmelling in the Rain: Designing Solutions to Improve Air Quality
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
A respiratory physiologist is concerned about the number of asthma attacks in children within her community. On certain days, the number is higher than the respiratory physiologist might...
Lesson Info STEM CasesInclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Investigate the energy and motion of a block sliding down an inclined plane, with or without friction. The ramp angle can be varied and a variety of materials for the block and ramp can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoVirus Lytic Cycle
Release a lytic virus in a group of cells and observe how cells are infected over time and eventually destroyed. Data related to the number of healthy cells, infected cells, and viruses can...
Lesson Info Launch GizmopH Analysis: Quad Color Indicator
Test the acidity of many common everyday substances using pH paper (four color indicators). Materials including soap, lemon juice, milk, and oven cleaner can be tested by comparing the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMoment of Inertia
Place masses on a circular table and see how fast it spins when struck by a piston. Discover the relationships between angular velocity, mass, radius and moment of inertia for collections...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHomeostasis
Control a simulated person running on a treadmill. Your challenge is to use clothing, exercise, and sweat to maintain a constant body temperature as air temperature goes up and down....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoElectromagnetic Induction
Explore how a changing magnetic field can induce an electric current. A magnet can be moved up or down at a constant velocity below a loop of wire, or the loop of wire may be dragged in any...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoErosion Rates
- New!
Explore erosion in a simulated 3D environment. Observe how the landscape evolves over time as it is shaped by the forces of flowing water. Vary the initial landscape, rock type,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoriolis Effect
- New!
The Coriolis effect causes winds to be deflected as they move across Earth's surface, resulting in circular patterns of winds. This effect is caused by two factors, Earth's rotation and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoNitrogen Cycle
- Stem Case
An infant on a farm has blue baby syndrome. As an EPA environmental engineer, students must find the cause of the baby's illness. Using environment data, students learn the importance of...
Lesson Info STEM CasesEarthquakes 1 - Recording Station
Using an earthquake recording station, learn how to determine the distance between the station and an earthquake based on the time difference between the arrival of the primary and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDNA Analysis
Scan the DNA of frogs to produce DNA sequences. Use the DNA sequences to identify possible identical twins and to determine which sections of DNA code for skin color, eye color, and the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoNuclear Decay
Observe the five main types of nuclear decay: alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay, positron emission, and electron capture. Write nuclear equations by determining the mass numbers and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoInclined Plane - Rolling Objects
Observe and compare objects of different shapes as they roll or slide down an inclined plane. Compare the percentages of translational and rotational kinetic energy for each object, and see...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEquilibrium and Pressure
Observe how reactants and products interact in reversible reactions. The amounts of each substance can be manipulated, as well as the pressure on the chamber. This lesson focuses on partial...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEmbryo Development
- New!
Explore how a fertilized cell develops into an embryo, a fetus, and eventually an adult organism. Compare embryo development in different vertebrate species and try to guess which embryo...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCladograms
- New!
Based on the similarities and differences between different organisms, create branching diagrams called cladograms to show how they are related. Use both morphological data (physical...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEcosystems
- Stem Case
As a national park ranger, students must restore the ecosystem of a park back to normal. They interact with populations of many organisms including wolves, deer and bees. Students learn the...
Lesson Info STEM CasesHeredity and Traits
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend...
Lesson Info STEM CasesEarthquakes 2 - Determination of Epicenter
Locate the epicenter of an earthquake by analyzing seismic data from three recording stations. Measure difference in P- and S-wave arrival times, then use data from the Earthquakes 1 -...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHuman Karyotyping
Sort and pair the images of human chromosomes obtained in a scan. Find differences in the scans of the various patients to find out specific things that can cause disease, as well as...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhotoelectric Effect
Shoot a beam of light at a metal plate in a virtual lab and observe the effect on surface electrons. The type of metal as well as the wavelength and amount of light can be adjusted. An...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCenter of Mass
Drag blocks onto a two-dimensional surface and observe the effects on the center of mass. Use a grid to calculate the coordinates of the center of mass. Investigate predefined shapes or...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEcosystems
- Stem Case
As a national park ranger, students must restore the ecosystem of a park back to normal. They interact with populations of many organisms including wolves, deer and bees. Students learn the...
Lesson Info STEM CasesOsmosis
- Stem Case
As a veterinarian, students help a young calf, named Clark, who is having seizures. To determine the cause, the students fly into Clark's brain to learn about osmosis and apply their...
Lesson Info STEM CasesFruit Production
- Stem Case
As an agricultural scientist, students help a strawberry farmer who is having problems with low fruit production. Students learn about the factors involved in fruit production including...
Lesson Info STEM CasesAnimal Group Behavior
- Stem Case
A farmer in Africa is having problems with elephants eating her corn and cotton crops. As a wildlife biologist, students learn about animal group behavior and relationships of elephants and...
Lesson Info STEM CasesAnimal Group Behavior
- Stem Case
A farmer in Africa is having problems with elephants eating her corn and cotton crops. As a wildlife biologist, students learn about animal group behavior and relationships of elephants and...
Lesson Info STEM CasesWater Crisis
- Stem Case
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the...
Lesson Info STEM CasesProtecting Permafrost: Heat Transfer Highway
- Stem Case
Thawing permafrost threatens the stability of critical infrastructure in the Arctic community of Frostville, Alaska. Students take on the role of a civil engineer to design heat transfer...
Lesson Info STEM CasesBohr Model: Introduction
Fire photons to determine the spectrum of a gas. Observe how an absorbed photon changes the orbit of an electron and how a photon is emitted from an excited electron. Calculate the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEnzymes
- Stem Case
As a veterinary technician, students learn about enzymes to help a dog that has been eating normally but is losing a lot of weight.
Lesson Info STEM CasesOcean Carbon Equilibrium
- Stem Case
Mussel farmers in the Arctic Ocean have reported problems with their mussels. They have noticed that the mussel shells have eroded and become brittle. Students take on the role of a marine...
Lesson Info STEM CasesHeredity and Traits
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend...
Lesson Info STEM CasesBohr Model of Hydrogen
Shoot a stream of photons through a container of hydrogen gas. Observe how photons of certain energies are absorbed, causing the electron to move to different orbits. Build the spectrum of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHydrologic Cycle
- Stem Case
Paanee, a city in Northeast India, has been experiencing higher rates of flooding than normal. This surge in flooding has been caused by an increase in the hydrologic cycle’s activity....
Lesson Info STEM CasesBeat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy
- Stem Case
Lake City's latest heat wave has more people in the hospital than ever before. Juan, a local student admitted to the hospital, lives in one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city....
Lesson Info STEM CasesDisease Spread
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
Observe the spread of disease through a group of people. The methods of transmission can be chosen and include person-to-person, airborne, and foodborne as well as any combination thereof....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhases of the Moon
FREE with no time limit!
Understand the phases of the Moon by observing the positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun. A view of the Moon from Earth is shown on the right as the Moon orbits Earth. Learn the names of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGrowing Plants
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
Investigate the growth of three common garden plants: tomatoes, beans, and turnips. You can change the amount of light each plant gets, the amount of water added each day, and the type of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPendulum Clock
FREE with no time limit!
Find the effect of length, mass, and angle on the period of a pendulum. The pendulum is attached to a clock that can be adjusted to tell time accurately. The clock can be located on Earth...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSled Wars
FREE with no time limit!
Explore acceleration, speed, momentum, and energy by sending a sled down a hill into a group of snowmen. The starting height and mass of the sled can be changed, as well as the number of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCrumple Zones
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Design a car to protect a test dummy in a collision. Adjust the length and stiffness of the crumple zone and the rigidity of the safety cell to determine how the car will deform during the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHoneybee Hive
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Explore life in the hive by meeting workers, drones, and the queen bee herself! Visit flower patches to determine the best sources of food, and then perform a waggle dance to let the other...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Energy Cycle
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Explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration that occur within plant and animal cells. The cyclical nature of the two processes can be constructed visually, and the simplified...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCircuit Builder
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Create circuits using batteries, light bulbs, switches, fuses, and a variety of materials. Examine series and parallel circuits, conductors and insulators, and the effects of battery...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEclipse
FREE with no time limit!
Observe solar and lunar eclipses as the Moon orbits Earth. The full and partial shadows of the Moon and Earth can be displayed, and the Moon can also be dragged around Earth. See what the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoIsotopes
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Explore what isotopes are by adding protons and neutrons to the nucleus of an atom. Plot both stable and radioactive isotopes on a graph of neutrons vs. protons, and explore how the...
Lesson Info Launch Gizmo2D Eclipse
FREE with no time limit!
Manipulate the position of the Moon to model solar and lunar eclipses. View Earth's shadow, the Moon's shadow, or both. Observe the Moon and Sun from Earth during a partial and total...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Grow Wisconsin Fast Plants® in a simulated lab environment. Explore the life cycles of these plants and how their growth is influenced by light, water, and crowding. Practice pollinating...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBeam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions)
FREE with no time limit!
Apply ratios and proportions to find the weight of a person on the moon (or on another planet). Weigh an object on Earth and on the moon and weigh the person on Earth. Then set up and solve...
Lesson Info Launch Gizmo3D Eclipse
FREE with no time limit!
Observe the motions of the Earth, Moon and Sun in three dimensions to investigate the causes and frequency of eclipses. Observe Earth's shadow crossing the Moon during a lunar eclipse, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCollision Theory
FREE with no time limit!
Observe a chemical reaction with and without a catalyst. Determine the effects of concentration, temperature, surface area, and catalysts on reaction rates. Reactant and product...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMeiosis
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
Explore how sex cells are produced by the process of meiosis. Compare meiosis in male and female germ cells, and use crossovers to increase the number of possible gamete genotypes. Using...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 2 - Mystery Parent
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
In this follow-up to Fast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics, continue to explore inheritance of traits in Wisconsin Fast Plants. Infer the genotype of a "mystery P2 parent" of a set of Fast...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSmelling in the Rain: Designing Solutions to Improve Air Quality
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
A respiratory physiologist is concerned about the number of asthma attacks in children within her community. On certain days, the number is higher than the respiratory physiologist might...
Lesson Info STEM CasesHeredity and Traits
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend...
Lesson Info STEM CasesHeredity and Traits
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend...
Lesson Info STEM CasesHow Free Gizmos Work
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Start teaching with 20-40 Free Gizmos. See the full list.
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Access lesson materials for Free Gizmos including teacher guides, lesson plans, and more.
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All other Gizmos are limited to a 5 Minute Preview and can only be used for 5 minutes a day.
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Free Gizmos change each semester. The new collection will be available January 1 and July 1.
About STEM Cases
Students assume the role of a scientist trying to solve a real world problem. They use scientific practices to collect and analyze data, and form and test a hypothesis as they solve the problems.
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Each STEM Case uses realtime reporting to show live student results.
Introduction to the Heatmap
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STEM Cases take between 30-90 minutes for students to complete, depending on the case.
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Student progress is automatically saved so that STEM Cases can be completed over multiple sessions.
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Multiple grade-appropriate versions, or levels, exist for each STEM Case.
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Each STEM Case level has an associated Handbook. These are interactive guides that focus on the science concepts underlying the case.
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