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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 Gizmo

Seasons: 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 Gizmo

Beat 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 Info

Eclipse

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 Gizmo

Phases 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 Gizmo

Summer 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 Gizmo

Moonrise, 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 Gizmo

Beam 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 Gizmo

Beam 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 Gizmo

Coriolis 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 Gizmo

3D 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 Gizmo

Pendulum 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 Gizmo

Seasons: 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 Gizmo

Weight 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 Gizmo

Plate 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 Gizmo

2D 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 Gizmo

Tides

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 Gizmo

Tides - 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 Gizmo

Ocean 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 Gizmo

Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems

  • Stem Case
Video Preview

The Bay Area of California experiences frequent earthquakes. Earthquakes are unpredictable and cause enormous damage that leads to casualties. Students take on the role of an earth...

Lesson Info

Building Pangaea

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Rock 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 Gizmo

Seasons 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 Gizmo

Ocean 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 Gizmo

Solar System

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 Gizmo

Seasons 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 Gizmo

Magnetic 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 Gizmo

Flood 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 Gizmo

Weather 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 Gizmo

Coastal 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 Gizmo

Solar 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....

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Natural 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 Gizmo

Center 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 Gizmo

Weather 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 Gizmo

Coastal 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 Gizmo

Weathering

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 Gizmo

Holiday Snowflake Designer

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 Gizmo

Gravity 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 Gizmo

Freezing 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 Gizmo

Rock 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 Gizmo

Household 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 Gizmo

Water 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 Gizmo

Earthquake-Proof Homes

  • New!

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 Gizmo

Star 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 Gizmo

Orbital 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 Gizmo

Greenhouse 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 Gizmo

Porosity

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 Gizmo

Greenhouse 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 Gizmo

H-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 Gizmo

Hurricane Motion

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Reading 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 Gizmo

Hurricane 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 Gizmo

Mineral 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 Gizmo

Relative 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 Gizmo

Penumbra 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 Gizmo

Building 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 Gizmo

Convection 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 Gizmo

Save a Satellite

  • Stem Case
Video Preview

Students acting as spacecraft navigation engineers apply their knowledge of Newton’s Third Law of Motion to launch a communication satellite into a stable orbit around Earth. When students...

Lesson Info

Cargo 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 Gizmo

Water 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 Gizmo

Unit 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 Gizmo

Air 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 Gizmo

Inclined 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 Gizmo

Solubility 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 Gizmo

Density 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 Gizmo

Effect 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 Gizmo

Additive 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 Gizmo

Laser 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 Gizmo

Uniform 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 Gizmo

pH 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 Gizmo

pH 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 Gizmo

Temperature 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 Gizmo

Roller 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 Gizmo

DNA 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 Gizmo

Determining 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 Gizmo

Pith 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 Gizmo

Pulley 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 Gizmo

Temperature 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 Gizmo

Magnetism

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 Gizmo

Flower 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 Gizmo

Pattern 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 Gizmo

Waves

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 Gizmo

Erosion 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 Gizmo

Sticky 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 Gizmo

Ideal 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 Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Fingerprinting

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Molecule 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 Gizmo

Eyes 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 Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light

  • New!

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 Gizmo

Disease Spread

  • Updated!

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 Gizmo

Rainfall 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 Gizmo

Subtractive 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 Gizmo

Pollination: 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 Gizmo

Stoichiometry

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Hardy-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 Gizmo

Doppler 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 Gizmo

Ray 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 Gizmo

Inclined 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 Gizmo

Growing 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 Gizmo
Comparing Earth and Venus
Seasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun
  • Stem Case
Beat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy
Eclipse
Phases of the Moon
Summer and Winter
Moonrise, Moonset, and Phases
Beam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions) - Metric
Beam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions)
  • New!
Coriolis Effect
3D Eclipse
Pendulum Clock
Seasons: Why do we have them?
Weight and Mass
Plate Tectonics
2D Eclipse
Tides
Tides - Metric
Ocean Tides
  • Stem Case
Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems
  • Free!
Building Pangaea
Rock Cycle
Seasons Around the World
Ocean Mapping
Solar System
Seasons in 3D
Magnetic Induction
  • New!
Flood and Storm-Proof Homes
Weather Maps
Coastal Winds and Clouds
Solar System Explorer
Natural Selection
Center of Mass
Weather Maps - Metric
Coastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
Weathering
Holiday Snowflake Designer
Gravity Pitch
Freezing Point of Salt Water
Rock Classification
Household Energy Usage
Water Pollution
  • New!
Earthquake-Proof Homes
Star Spectra
Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws
Greenhouse Effect
Porosity
Greenhouse Effect - Metric
H-R Diagram
  • Free!
Hurricane Motion
Reading Topographic Maps
Hurricane Motion - Metric
Mineral Identification
Relative Humidity
Penumbra Effect
Building Topographic Maps
  • New!
Convection Cells
  • Stem Case
Save a Satellite
Cargo Captain (Multi-digit Subtraction)
Water Cycle
Unit Conversions 2 - Scientific Notation and Significant Digits
Air Track
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Solubility and Temperature
Density via Comparison
Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Additive Colors
Laser Reflection
Uniform Circular Motion
pH Analysis
pH Analysis: Quad Color Indicator
Temperature and Sex Determination
Roller Coaster Physics
DNA Analysis
Determining a Spring Constant
Pith Ball Lab
Pulley Lab
Temperature and Sex Determination - Metric
Magnetism
Flower Pollination
Pattern Finder
Waves
  • New!
Erosion Rates
  • New!
Sticky Molecules
  • New!
Ideal Gas Law
  • Free!
  • New!
Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color
  • Free!
  • New!
Fingerprinting
  • New!
Molecule Builder
  • New!
Eyes and Vision 2 - Focusing Light
  • New!
Eyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light
  • Updated!
Disease Spread
Rainfall and Bird Beaks
Subtractive Colors
Pollination: Flower to Fruit
  • Free!
Stoichiometry
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Doppler Shift Advanced
Ray Tracing (Mirrors)
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
  • Updated!
Growing Plants

Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Building Pangaea

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Hurricane Motion

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Stoichiometry

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo

Fingerprinting

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo
  • Free!
  • New!
Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color
  • Free!
Building Pangaea
  • Free!
Hurricane Motion
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Stoichiometry
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Fingerprinting

Beat 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 Info

Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems

  • Stem Case

Video Preview

The Bay Area of California experiences frequent earthquakes. Earthquakes are unpredictable and cause enormous damage that leads to casualties. Students take on the role of an earth...

Lesson Info

Save a Satellite

  • Stem Case

Video Preview

Students acting as spacecraft navigation engineers apply their knowledge of Newton’s Third Law of Motion to launch a communication satellite into a stable orbit around Earth. When students...

Lesson Info
  • Stem Case
Beat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy
  • Stem Case
Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems
  • Stem Case
Save a Satellite
Screenshot of Comparing Earth and Venus Gizmo

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 a sidereal day.

Lesson Info Launch Gizmo
Screenshot of Seasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun Gizmo

Seasons: 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Beat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy Gizmo

Beat 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 Info
Screenshot of Eclipse Gizmo

Eclipse

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.

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Screenshot of Phases of the Moon Gizmo

Phases 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.

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Screenshot of Summer and Winter Gizmo

Summer 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.

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Screenshot of Moonrise, Moonset, and Phases Gizmo

Moonrise, 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.

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Screenshot of Beam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions) - Metric Gizmo

Beam 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.

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Screenshot of Beam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions) Gizmo

Beam 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.

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Screenshot of Coriolis Effect Gizmo

Coriolis 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.

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Screenshot of 3D Eclipse  Gizmo

3D 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.

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Screenshot of Pendulum Clock Gizmo

Pendulum 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.

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Screenshot of Seasons: Why do we have them? Gizmo

Seasons: 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.

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Screenshot of Weight and Mass Gizmo

Weight 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.

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Screenshot of Plate Tectonics Gizmo

Plate 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.

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Screenshot of 2D Eclipse Gizmo

2D 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.

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Screenshot of Tides Gizmo

Tides

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.

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Screenshot of Tides - Metric Gizmo

Tides - 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.

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Screenshot of Ocean Tides Gizmo

Ocean 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems Gizmo

Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems

  • Stem Case

Video Preview

The Bay Area of California experiences frequent earthquakes. Earthquakes are unpredictable and cause enormous damage that leads to casualties. Students take on the role of an earth scientist to investigate the properties of seismic waves to develop an early warning system that warns citizens of an incoming earthquake and reduces casualties.

Lesson Info
Screenshot of Building Pangaea Gizmo

Building Pangaea

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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.

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Screenshot of Rock Cycle Gizmo

Rock 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.

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Screenshot of Seasons Around the World Gizmo

Seasons 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.

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Screenshot of Ocean Mapping Gizmo

Ocean 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Solar System Gizmo

Solar System

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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Seasons in 3D Gizmo

Seasons 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Magnetic Induction Gizmo

Magnetic 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Flood and Storm-Proof Homes Gizmo

Flood 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Weather Maps Gizmo

Weather 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Coastal Winds and Clouds Gizmo

Coastal 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.

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Screenshot of Solar System Explorer Gizmo

Solar 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.

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Screenshot of Natural Selection Gizmo

Natural 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.

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Screenshot of Center of Mass Gizmo

Center 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Weather Maps - Metric Gizmo

Weather 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Coastal Winds and Clouds - Metric Gizmo

Coastal 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.

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Screenshot of Weathering Gizmo

Weathering

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.

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Screenshot of Holiday Snowflake Designer Gizmo

Holiday Snowflake Designer

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.

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Screenshot of Gravity Pitch Gizmo

Gravity 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.

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Screenshot of Freezing Point of Salt Water Gizmo

Freezing 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.

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Screenshot of Rock Classification Gizmo

Rock 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Household Energy Usage Gizmo

Household 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.

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Screenshot of Water Pollution Gizmo

Water 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.

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Screenshot of Earthquake-Proof Homes Gizmo

Earthquake-Proof Homes

  • New!

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.

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Screenshot of Star Spectra Gizmo

Star 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws Gizmo

Orbital 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Greenhouse Effect Gizmo

Greenhouse 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.

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Screenshot of Porosity Gizmo

Porosity

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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Greenhouse Effect - Metric Gizmo

Greenhouse 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of H-R Diagram Gizmo

H-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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Hurricane Motion Gizmo

Hurricane Motion

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Reading Topographic Maps Gizmo

Reading 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.

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Screenshot of Hurricane Motion - Metric Gizmo

Hurricane 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.

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Screenshot of Mineral Identification Gizmo

Mineral 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Relative Humidity Gizmo

Relative 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.

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Screenshot of Penumbra Effect Gizmo

Penumbra 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Building Topographic Maps Gizmo

Building 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Convection Cells Gizmo

Convection 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.

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Screenshot of Save a Satellite Gizmo

Save a Satellite

  • Stem Case

Video Preview

Students acting as spacecraft navigation engineers apply their knowledge of Newton’s Third Law of Motion to launch a communication satellite into a stable orbit around Earth. When students learn of an impending collision with space debris, they must use their knowledge of gravitational forces and Newton’s Laws to correctly maneuver their satellite to a new, stable orbit.

Lesson Info
Screenshot of Cargo Captain (Multi-digit Subtraction) Gizmo

Cargo 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.

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Screenshot of Water Cycle Gizmo

Water 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.

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Screenshot of Unit Conversions 2 - Scientific Notation and Significant Digits Gizmo

Unit 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.

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Screenshot of Air Track Gizmo

Air 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.

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Screenshot of Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects Gizmo

Inclined 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.

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Screenshot of Solubility and Temperature Gizmo

Solubility 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.

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Screenshot of Density via Comparison Gizmo

Density 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.

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Screenshot of Effect of Environment on New Life Form Gizmo

Effect 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.

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Screenshot of Additive Colors Gizmo

Additive 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.

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Screenshot of Laser Reflection Gizmo

Laser 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.

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Screenshot of Uniform Circular Motion Gizmo

Uniform 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.

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Screenshot of pH Analysis Gizmo

pH 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.

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Screenshot of pH Analysis: Quad Color Indicator Gizmo

pH 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.

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Screenshot of Temperature and Sex Determination Gizmo

Temperature 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.

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Screenshot of Roller Coaster Physics Gizmo

Roller 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.

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Screenshot of DNA Analysis Gizmo

DNA 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.

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Screenshot of Determining a Spring Constant Gizmo

Determining 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.

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Screenshot of Pith Ball Lab Gizmo

Pith 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.

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Screenshot of Pulley Lab Gizmo

Pulley 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.

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Screenshot of Temperature and Sex Determination - Metric Gizmo

Temperature 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.

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Screenshot of Magnetism Gizmo

Magnetism

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.

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Screenshot of Flower Pollination Gizmo

Flower 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.

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Screenshot of Pattern Finder Gizmo

Pattern 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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Waves Gizmo

Waves

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.

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Screenshot of Erosion Rates Gizmo

Erosion 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.

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Screenshot of Sticky Molecules Gizmo

Sticky 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.

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Screenshot of Ideal Gas Law Gizmo

Ideal 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.

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Screenshot of Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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.

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Screenshot of Fingerprinting Gizmo

Fingerprinting

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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.

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Screenshot of Molecule Builder  Gizmo

Molecule 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.

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Screenshot of Eyes and Vision 2 - Focusing Light Gizmo

Eyes 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.

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Screenshot of Eyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 3 - Sensing Light

  • New!

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.

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Screenshot of Disease Spread Gizmo

Disease Spread

  • Updated!

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.

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Screenshot of Rainfall and Bird Beaks Gizmo

Rainfall 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.

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Screenshot of Subtractive Colors Gizmo

Subtractive 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.

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Screenshot of Pollination: Flower to Fruit Gizmo

Pollination: 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.

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Screenshot of Stoichiometry Gizmo

Stoichiometry

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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.

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Screenshot of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Gizmo

Hardy-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.

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Screenshot of Doppler Shift Advanced Gizmo

Doppler 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.

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Screenshot of Ray Tracing (Mirrors) Gizmo

Ray 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.

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Screenshot of Inclined Plane - Simple Machine Gizmo

Inclined 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.

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Screenshot of Growing Plants Gizmo

Growing 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.

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Screenshot of Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color Gizmo

Eyes and Vision 1 - Seeing Color

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Building Pangaea Gizmo

Building Pangaea

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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.

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Screenshot of Hurricane Motion Gizmo

Hurricane Motion

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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.

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Screenshot of Stoichiometry Gizmo

Stoichiometry

  • Free!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Fingerprinting Gizmo

Fingerprinting

  • Free!
  • New!

FREE with no time limit!

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 Gizmo
Screenshot of Beat the Heat: Tackling Urban Heat Islands Using the Science of Energy STEM Case

Beat 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 Info
Screenshot of Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems STEM Case

Shake it Off: Understanding Wave Properties to Develop Earthquake Alert Systems

  • Stem Case

Video Preview

The Bay Area of California experiences frequent earthquakes. Earthquakes are unpredictable and cause enormous damage that leads to casualties. Students take on the role of an earth scientist to investigate the properties of seismic waves to develop an early warning system that warns citizens of an incoming earthquake and reduces casualties.

Lesson Info
Screenshot of Save a Satellite STEM Case

Save a Satellite

  • Stem Case

Video Preview

Students acting as spacecraft navigation engineers apply their knowledge of Newton’s Third Law of Motion to launch a communication satellite into a stable orbit around Earth. When students learn of an impending collision with space debris, they must use their knowledge of gravitational forces and Newton’s Laws to correctly maneuver their satellite to a new, stable orbit.

Lesson Info

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