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With over 500 online simulations, virtual labs, and interactive cases for math and science—there’s a Gizmo for just about everybody. Let’s find yours.
Comparing Earth and Venus
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSeasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoBeat 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 InfoEclipse
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPhases of the Moon
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSummer and Winter
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoMoonrise, Moonset, and Phases
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoBeam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions) - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoBeam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions)
5 Minute Preview
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
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoCoriolis Effect
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPendulum Clock
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSeasons: Why do we have them?
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoWeight and Mass
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPlate Tectonics
5 Minute Preview
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 Gizmo2D Eclipse
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoTides
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoTides - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoOcean Tides
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoBuilding Pangaea
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoRock Cycle
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSeasons Around the World
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoOcean Mapping
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSolar System
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSeasons in 3D
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoMagnetic Induction
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoWeathering
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoFlood and Storm-Proof Homes
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoWeather Maps
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSolar System Explorer
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoNatural Selection
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoCenter of Mass
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoWeather Maps - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoGravity Pitch
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoHoliday Snowflake Designer
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Fold paper and cut in a certain way to make symmetrical snowflakes with six sides (similar to what can be found in nature) or with eight sides (an easier folding method). This simulation...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFreezing Point of Salt Water
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoRock Classification
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoHousehold Energy Usage
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoWater Pollution
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoEarthquake-Proof Homes
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoStar Spectra
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoOrbital Motion - Kepler's Laws
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoGreenhouse Effect
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPorosity
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoGreenhouse Effect - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoH-R Diagram
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoHurricane Motion
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoReading Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoHurricane Motion - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoMineral Identification
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoConvection Cells
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoRelative Humidity
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPenumbra Effect
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoBuilding Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoCargo Captain (Multi-digit Subtraction)
5 Minute Preview
You are the captain of an interplanetary cargo ship, delivering important supplies to the outer planets. The cargo can be stored in barrels, crates, and holds. (There are 10 barrels in a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWater Cycle
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoUnit Conversions 2 - Scientific Notation and Significant Digits
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoAir Track
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoInclined Plane - Sliding Objects
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSolubility and Temperature
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoDensity via Comparison
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoEffect of Environment on New Life Form
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoAdditive Colors
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoLaser Reflection
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoUniform Circular Motion
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmopH Analysis
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmopH Analysis: Quad Color Indicator
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoTemperature and Sex Determination
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoRoller Coaster Physics
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoDNA Analysis
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoDetermining a Spring Constant
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPith Ball Lab
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPulley Lab
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoTemperature and Sex Determination - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoMagnetism
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoFlower Pollination
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPattern Finder
5 Minute Preview
Observe frogs jumping around on colored lily pads. Find, test, and reason about patterns you see in their jumping.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWaves
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoErosion Rates
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSticky Molecules
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoEyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoFingerprinting
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoMolecule Builder
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoEyes and Vision 2 - Focusing Light
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoEyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoDisease Spread
- Free!
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoRainfall and Bird Beaks
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoSubtractive Colors
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPollination: Flower to Fruit
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoStoichiometry
5 Minute Preview
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
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoDoppler Shift Advanced
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoRay Tracing (Mirrors)
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoInclined Plane - Simple Machine
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoGrowing Plants
- Updated!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoGermination
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoLevers
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoHoliday Snowflake Designer
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Fold paper and cut in a certain way to make symmetrical snowflakes with six sides (similar to what can be found in nature) or with eight sides (an easier folding method). This simulation...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolar System
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoEyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoMagnetism
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoEarthquake-Proof Homes
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoDisease Spread
- Free!
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoBeat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy
- Stem Case
Video Preview
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 InfoComparing Earth and Venus
5 Minute Preview
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 a sidereal day.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun
5 Minute Preview
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 for different dates and locations. Relate shadows to the position of the Sun in the sky, and relate shadows to compass directions.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBeat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy
- Stem Case
Video Preview
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. Students are hired as the city's Chief Heat Officer to investigate and solve the problem. As the Chief Heat Officer, students look at land uses, surface air temperatures, and building materials across Lake City. Students will develop a system model to test several design solutions and give the mayor a proposal to beat the heat.
Lesson InfoEclipse
5 Minute Preview
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 Moon and Sun look like from Earth during partial and total eclipses.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhases of the Moon
5 Minute Preview
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 Moon phases and in what order they occur. Click Play to watch the Moon go around, or click Pause and drag the Moon yourself.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSummer and Winter
5 Minute Preview
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. The tilt of the Earth's axis can be varied to see how this would affect seasons.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMoonrise, Moonset, and Phases
5 Minute Preview
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 standing on Earth so that moonrise and moonset times can be determined.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBeam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions) - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 the proportion of the Earth weights to the moon weights.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBeam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions)
5 Minute Preview
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 the proportion of the Earth weights to the moon weights.
Lesson Info Launch Gizmo3D Eclipse
5 Minute Preview
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 the path of the Moon's shadow across Earth's surface during a solar eclipse. The angle of the Moon's orbit can be adjusted, as well as the distance of the Moon from the Earth.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoriolis Effect
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 frame of reference. In the Coriolis Effect Gizmo, students will build their understanding of this phenomenon using the analogy of two kids playing catch: first on a train, then on a merry-go-round, and finally on Earth's surface.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPendulum Clock
5 Minute Preview
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 or Jupiter to determine the effect of gravity.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons: Why do we have them?
5 Minute Preview
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 light striking the plate as the angle of the plate is adjusted (and then use a group of plates placed at different locations on the Earth) and measure the incoming radiation on each plate.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeight and Mass
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoPlate Tectonics
5 Minute Preview
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 boundaries is shown, along with their locations on Earth.
Lesson Info Launch Gizmo2D Eclipse
5 Minute Preview
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 eclipse. The sizes of the three bodies and the Earth-Moon distance can be adjusted.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides
5 Minute Preview
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, and water depths can be recorded from a dock by the ocean.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 water depths can be recorded from a dock by the ocean.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Tides
5 Minute Preview
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 compare spring tides to neap tides.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBuilding Pangaea
5 Minute Preview
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 of plate tectonics. Create your own version of Pangaea by fitting Earth's landmasses together like puzzle pieces. Use evidence from fossils, rocks, and glaciers to refine your map.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRock Cycle
5 Minute Preview
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, eroded, and reformed as they move from Earth's surface to locations deep within the crust.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons Around the World
5 Minute Preview
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 energy input at the Poles to the Equator. Manipulate Earth's axis to increase or diminish seasonal changes.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Mapping
5 Minute Preview
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 ocean depth in two and three dimensions, and use these maps to plot a safe route for ships to follow.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolar System
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 long each planet takes to go around the Sun.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeasons in 3D
5 Minute Preview
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. Create graphs of solar intensity and day length, and use collected data to describe and explain seasonal changes.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMagnetic Induction
5 Minute Preview
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 and magnitude of the inducting current can be adjusted.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeathering
5 Minute Preview
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 simulation to model the effects of weathering on different types of rocks in varying climate conditions.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFlood and Storm-Proof Homes
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 sand bags, storm shutters, and roof clips. Test your house in a flood or storm and see how well your design worked.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeather Maps
5 Minute Preview
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 recorded at two different weather stations on a map. Describe weather patterns characteristic of high-pressure systems, low-pressure systems, warm fronts, and cold fronts.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds
5 Minute Preview
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. Explain the origin of land breezes and sea breezes.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolar System Explorer
5 Minute Preview
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. Learn about Kepler's Laws and how planets are classified.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoNatural Selection
5 Minute Preview
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 effects of natural selection.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCenter of Mass
5 Minute Preview
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 your own arrangements of blocks.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeather Maps - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 recorded at two different weather stations on a map. Describe weather patterns characteristic of high-pressure systems, low-pressure systems, warm fronts, and cold fronts.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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. Explain the origin of land breezes and sea breezes.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGravity Pitch
5 Minute Preview
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 path of the ball when it is thrown at different velocities. Throw the ball on different planets to see how each planet's gravity affects the ball.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHoliday Snowflake Designer
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Fold paper and cut in a certain way to make symmetrical snowflakes with six sides (similar to what can be found in nature) or with eight sides (an easier folding method). This simulation allows you to cut virtual paper on the computer screen with round dot or square dot "scissors" of various sizes before using physical paper.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFreezing Point of Salt Water
5 Minute Preview
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 added to the water to see its effect on the freezing point of water.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRock Classification
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoHousehold Energy Usage
5 Minute Preview
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 estimate for the total power consumed during a day, a week, a month, and a year, and how that relates to consumer costs and environmental impact.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWater Pollution
5 Minute Preview
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 situation. All of the real-world situations can be viewed every day in different parts of the world.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEarthquake-Proof Homes
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 roof. Decide which extras to add to your home design. Test each house in an earthquake and assess the damages. Try to arrive at a house design that results in the least damage.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoStar Spectra
5 Minute Preview
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. Look for unusual features such as redshifted stars, nebulae, and stars with large planets.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOrbital Motion - Kepler's Laws
5 Minute Preview
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 the star. The foci and centers of orbits can be displayed and compared to the location of the star. The area swept out by the planet in a given time period can be measured, and data on orbital radii and periods can be plotted in several ways.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGreenhouse Effect
5 Minute Preview
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 greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere at any given time can be adjusted, allowing the long-term effects to be investigated.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPorosity
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoGreenhouse Effect - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere can be adjusted through time, and the long-term effects can be investigated.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoH-R Diagram
5 Minute Preview
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 plots, including a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of luminosity vs. temperature.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHurricane Motion
5 Minute Preview
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 weather symbols.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoReading Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
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 represented on topographic maps. Fill in the landscape with water to demonstrate that contours are lines of constant elevation.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHurricane Motion - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 weather symbols.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMineral Identification
5 Minute Preview
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 acid for each mineral. There are 26 mineral samples to identify.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoConvection Cells
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 the liquid. Use a probe to measure temperature and density in different areas and observe the motion of molecules in the liquid. Then, explore real-world examples of convection cells in Earth's mantle, oceans, and atmosphere.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRelative Humidity
5 Minute Preview
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 the relative humidity and dew point change over the course of a day.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPenumbra Effect
5 Minute Preview
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. The light spacing, block width, and distance from the lights to the block can be varied. Light intensity can be observed on a detector.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBuilding Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmoCargo Captain (Multi-digit Subtraction)
5 Minute Preview
You are the captain of an interplanetary cargo ship, delivering important supplies to the outer planets. The cargo can be stored in barrels, crates, and holds. (There are 10 barrels in a crate, and 10 crates in a hold.) Model multi-digit subtraction by unloading cargo on each planet.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWater Cycle
5 Minute Preview
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 learn how water resources are distributed in these locations.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoUnit Conversions 2 - Scientific Notation and Significant Digits
5 Minute Preview
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 digits in a measured value and in a calculation.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoAir Track
5 Minute Preview
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. Collisions can be elastic or inelastic.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoInclined Plane - Sliding Objects
5 Minute Preview
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 used. Potential and kinetic energy are reported as the block slides down the ramp. Two experiments can be run simultaneously to compare results as factors are varied.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolubility and Temperature
5 Minute Preview
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 the saturation point. Either potassium nitrate or sodium chloride can be added to the water, and the temperature of the water can be adjusted.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity via Comparison
5 Minute Preview
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 information to compare the densities of the objects.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEffect of Environment on New Life Form
5 Minute Preview
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 temperature can be varied to determine their effects on the shape of the aliens.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoAdditive Colors
5 Minute Preview
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 be created by mixing varying amounts of red, green, and blue light.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoLaser Reflection
5 Minute Preview
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 the mirror can be adjusted. A beam splitter can be used to split the beam. Both plane and irregular mirrors can be used.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoUniform Circular Motion
5 Minute Preview
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 the mass of the object. The forces acting on the object also can be recorded.
Lesson Info Launch GizmopH Analysis
5 Minute Preview
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 GizmopH Analysis: Quad Color Indicator
5 Minute Preview
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 color of the pH strips to the calibrated scale.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTemperature and Sex Determination
5 Minute Preview
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 temperature has an effect on sex.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRoller Coaster Physics
5 Minute Preview
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 manipulated, along with the mass of the car and the friction of the track. A graph of various variables of motion can be viewed as the car travels, including position, speed, acceleration, potential energy, kinetic energy, and total energy.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDNA Analysis
5 Minute Preview
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 presence or absence of spots.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDetermining a Spring Constant
5 Minute Preview
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 constant of the spring.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPith Ball Lab
5 Minute Preview
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 will cause the pith balls to change position. Distances can be measured as variables are adjusted, and the forces (Coulomb and gravitational) acting on the balls can be displayed.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPulley Lab
5 Minute Preview
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 the efficiency of the pulley system can be adjusted, and the height of the weight and the total input distance are reported.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTemperature and Sex Determination - Metric
5 Minute Preview
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 temperature has an effect on sex.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMagnetism
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 sprinkle iron filings over the magnets and other objects to view the magnetic field lines that are produced.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFlower Pollination
5 Minute Preview
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 removing petals as the fruit begins to grow. Quiz yourself when you are done by dragging vocabulary words to the correct plant structure.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPattern Finder
5 Minute Preview
Observe frogs jumping around on colored lily pads. Find, test, and reason about patterns you see in their jumping.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWaves
5 Minute Preview
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 spring. The speed and power of the waves is reported, and the wavelength and amplitude can be measured.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoErosion Rates
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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, precipitation amount, average temperature, and vegetation and measure how each variable affects the rate of erosion and resulting landscape features.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSticky Molecules
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Learn about molecular polarity and how polarity gives rise to intermolecular forces. Measure four macroscopic properties of liquids (cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary rise). Compare these properties for different liquids and relate them to whether the substances are polar or nonpolar.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoIdeal Gas Law
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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, Charles's law, Avogadro's law, and Gay-Lussac's law. Use these relationships to derive the ideal gas law and calculate the value of the ideal gas constant.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 colors may be reflected when white light is shone on an object. Understand that we see an object when light reflected from the object enters our eye.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFingerprinting
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Collect fingerprints from simulated crime scenes using a camera, fingerprinting powder, and tape. Classify fingerprints into groups and subgroups, then identify minutiae. Match collected prints to the fingerprints of suspects to identify who left prints at the scene of the crime.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMolecule Builder
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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 molecule, write the chemical formula and, if the molecule is included in the database, observe the 3D structure. Create a variety of challenge molecules including cyclic molecules and isomers.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEyes and Vision 2 - Focusing Light
- New!
5 Minute Preview
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. Determine the changes in lens shape needed to maintain focus as the object distance changes. This is a followup to the Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Colors lesson.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 rod cells are stimulated by various colors and do not contribute to color vision. Experiment by varying the percentage of rod and cone cells in normal and dim light to see how rod cells help with night vision.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDisease Spread
- Free!
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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. The probability of each form of transmission and number of people in the group can also be adjusted.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRainfall and Bird Beaks
5 Minute Preview
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 real-world consequence) to avoid extinction.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSubtractive Colors
5 Minute Preview
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, leaves, paintings, houses, and clothes--are due to color subtraction. The intensity of the cyan, magenta, and yellow can be adjusted, and the RGB value at any location can be measured.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPollination: Flower to Fruit
5 Minute Preview
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 fertilization takes place in a flowering plant.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoStoichiometry
5 Minute Preview
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 can be calculated once the appropriate unit conversions have been applied.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
5 Minute Preview
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 understanding of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Determine how initial allele percentages will affect the equilibrium state of the population.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDoppler Shift Advanced
5 Minute Preview
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 sound source. The source velocity, sound velocity, observer velocity, and sound frequency can all be manipulated.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRay Tracing (Mirrors)
5 Minute Preview
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 image.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoInclined Plane - Simple Machine
5 Minute Preview
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 mechanical advantage and efficiency of the plane can be determined. A graph of force versus distance illustrates the concept of work.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGrowing Plants
- Updated!
5 Minute Preview
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 soil the seed is planted in. Observe the effect of each variable on plant height, plant mass, leaf color and leaf size. Determine what conditions produce the tallest and healthiest plants. Height and mass data are displayed on tables and graphs.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGermination
5 Minute Preview
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 the scientific method.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoLevers
5 Minute Preview
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-, or third-class levers.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHoliday Snowflake Designer
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Fold paper and cut in a certain way to make symmetrical snowflakes with six sides (similar to what can be found in nature) or with eight sides (an easier folding method). This simulation allows you to cut virtual paper on the computer screen with round dot or square dot "scissors" of various sizes before using physical paper.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolar System
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 long each planet takes to go around the Sun.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 rod cells are stimulated by various colors and do not contribute to color vision. Experiment by varying the percentage of rod and cone cells in normal and dim light to see how rod cells help with night vision.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMagnetism
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 sprinkle iron filings over the magnets and other objects to view the magnetic field lines that are produced.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEarthquake-Proof Homes
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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 roof. Decide which extras to add to your home design. Test each house in an earthquake and assess the damages. Try to arrive at a house design that results in the least damage.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDisease Spread
- Free!
- Updated!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
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. The probability of each form of transmission and number of people in the group can also be adjusted.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBeat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy
- Stem Case
Video Preview
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. Students are hired as the city's Chief Heat Officer to investigate and solve the problem. As the Chief Heat Officer, students look at land uses, surface air temperatures, and building materials across Lake City. Students will develop a system model to test several design solutions and give the mayor a proposal to beat the heat.
Lesson InfoFind Your Solution
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