Presidential Inauguration
This episode of Social Studies Shorts explores what happens on this exciting day and looks at interesting moments from past inaugurations.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Activities Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
History of Magnification
Understand the unpredictable way that innovation works, and explore the cascade of advancements in disease control and astronomy that 16th-century innovations in lens making prompted.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Square Bubbles
Is a bubble always round?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Bird Journal
Winter is a fun time to watch birds in your yard. Many feathered friends even enjoy the snow, and you can keep track of them with this journal.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
STEM Careers Collection
Watch as some people in STEM careers profile their positions in STEM and what it entails.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Density Tower
Make colorful layers using liquids of varying densities, then experiment to see which items sink or float to each layer!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Spiced Oatmeal Muffins
This hearty and healthy snack will power your child’s daily adventures.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
New Year’s Eve Origami Popper
To close out the year and welcome a new one, celebrate with some paper poppers! And learn how to say “Happy New Year” in different languages.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Mission: Materials Science
The Penn State Center for Nanoscale Science is developing a new interactive website with informal educational content to explore how materials have unexpected behaviors that lead to new, innovative technologies.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Kindness Campaign
Watch and listen to these inspiring one of a kind kindness stories. Then download the Kindness Bingo cards to spread kindness in your community!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
The Detective’s Notebook Game
You get to be a detective! Sort through clues in a story to predict what will happen next.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Pattern Power
Practice creating and replicating patterns—an important math skill—with this simple activity.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Energy Carousel
Make your own carousel toy while exploring some basic energy concepts.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
All About Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration, but anyone can find meaning in the holiday. Check out the origins of the tradition, and how it is observed today.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Thankful Tree
Celebrate the beauty of fall by creating a festive centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Reaction Time
Who in your family has the quickest reaction time? Thanksgiving is the perfect time to experiment with different family members!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Pancake Science
Work on some serious math and science lessons while making pancakes.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Who are the Northern Arapaho?
In this video and accompanying lesson plans, students will learn how the Northern Arapaho came to Wyoming, what are the Arapaho values, and why were Arapaho tribal names changed?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Do leaves breathe?
In this experiment, create an environment where you can see this carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange happening in leaves!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Create a Kindness Tree
Kindness can grow! Create a Kindness Tree in your house to watch your kind acts multiply.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Energy Carousel
Make your own carousel toy while exploring some basic energy concepts.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Arthur and Francine Go to War
Watch this Arthur episode to learn about the complexities of the voting process.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Bouncing Egg
Turn a regular egg into a bouncing egg.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
How to Use Children’s Books to Talk About Race and Racism
Picture books help create a safe place to start when talking to children about race and racism. Use this list of suggested books to start your conversation.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Foam Fountain
Create a fantastic foaming fountain with a few household ingredients!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Build it From Nature
The natural world serves as inspiration for human inventions, such as scuba fins, the Bullet Train, and VELCRO. Use this worksheet to learn more examples, and then search for more in your neighborhood.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Bumblebee Bonanza
What do bumblebees do all day?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
DragonFly TV – Leaves
Why do leaves change color in the Fall? In this video, the students explore to find out!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Pancake Science
Work on some serious math and science lessons while making pancakes.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Chef Cookie Pops
Create these delightful desserts for your cooking-themed party! Let every little guest enjoy their very own delicious ‘chef’ cookie pop.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Blood Pressure
Learn how to use a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff to measure blood pressure. Can different activities change blood pressure? Gather a group of friends and try it!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Personal Protective Equipment Explained
In this episode of Things Explained, we talk with a Georgia nurse who is caring for coronavirus patients and examine why PPE is in such high demand during the global pandemic.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Pattern Power
Practice creating and replicating patterns—an important math skill—with this simple activity.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Play a Storytelling Game
In this activity, your child will use her imagination and practice storytelling by rolling homemade dice to tell a unique story!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Square Bubbles
Most bubble wands are circular, so is that why bubbles come out round?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
DIY Fun Time Spinners
Sometimes parents need children to play quietly while they work or take a break. Create a Fun Time Spinner with activities your child can do alone, and one with family activities!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Pancake Science
Breakfast can be a learning experience! Work on some serious math and science lessons while making pancakes.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Helping Kids Cope with Back to School Anxiety
“STOP” is a 4-step plan you can use to gain more control over anxiety-causing situations like back-to-school.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Pull Back Cars
Can you transform a toy car into a pull back car?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Exploring Hot and Cold Changes
You and your child can investigate what happens when you heat solid materials and then cool the materials.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Bumblebee Bonanza
What do bumblebees do all day?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Nature Paint Brushes
You need a paintbrush to paint your nature-y masterpiece! What will you use to make your paintbrush?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Air Pressure Rockets
How do you launch a rocket without using fuel?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Exploring Weather
Does your child like to splash in rain puddles or watch the clouds as they move across the sky? You can help your child learn about weather by making a simple weather chart together and observing the weather with all their senses!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Do leaves breathe?
Plants use their leaves to recycle carbon dioxide and turn it into food for themselves and oxygen for us. In this experiment, create an environment where you can see this carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange happening!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Watch a Seed Grow
When seeds are in the soil, it is impossible to observe all of their growth. Use fast-growing seeds in this experiment, and you and your child can closely monitor all of the stages of growth a seed experiences!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Magic Milk
What makes food coloring dance in milk?
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Make Glowing Water
Create “glowing water” by adding the contents of a non-toxic highlighter to water. This project is a great way to learn about bioluminescence in nature.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Mentos Explosion
What is the secret behind the reaction between carbonated cola and little mint candies that makes such an explosion? Try it!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Outdoor Water Blob
Make the perfect activity for hot summer days: a water blob!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Energy Carousel
Have you ever ridden on a carousel or merry-go-round at an amusement park? Usually, these rides are powered by electricity, but you can make your own carousel toy while exploring some basic energy concepts.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Forces of Gravity
In this interactive, student driven lesson, students watch videos about gravity and investigate the motion of falling objects on Earth and on the Moon.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Reaction Time
How fast does the eye send messages to the brain and the brain send messages to your hand muscles to react in time to catch a falling object? Find out using the ruler test!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Arthur Takes a Stand
Watch this episode of PBS Kid’s show Arthur, where Arthur thinks his school cafeteria worker is being treated unfairly and seeks guidance from Congressman John Lewis
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Bumblebee Bonanza
Penn State entomologists visited Science-U Nature Camp and took the campers to the Penn State Arboretum to observe bumblebees in action. Campers share how to safely observe bees.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Build a Bug Hotel
Try making your own insect home – or ‘hotel’ – out of upcycled items, to give bugs somewhere to live in your yard. They’ll repay you when they help control pests and pollinate your plants.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Density Tower
Make colorful layers using liquids of varying densities, then experiment to see which items sink or float to each layer!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Celebrate World Cultures with Let’s Go Luna!
Hear stories, play through situations, and learn how to make crafts from cultures near and far.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Air Pressure Rockets
Can you make a rocket and figure out how to launch it without any fuel? Try it!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Think Creatively Like Ben Franklin
This lesson will help you discover more about the many creative endeavors of Benjamin Franklin and imagine what his modern-day social media posts might look like.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Pancake Science
Math can be delicious? Cooking up a plate of fluffy buttermilk pancakes isn’t just a great life skill, it’s also an opportunity to work in some serious math and science lessons.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
The Return of Symmetric Al
Odd Squad airs at 5:00 p.m. weekdays, where you can see the zaniest, craziest team of kid investigators around! Help the Odd Squad solve the mystery of Symmetric Al with this printable activity.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Energy Carousel
Have you ever ridden on a carousel or merry-go-round at an amusement park? Usually, these rides are powered by electricity, but you can make your own carousel toy while exploring some basic energy concepts.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Practicing Teamwork with Arthur
These two simple games use household items to help children learn the importance of cooperation and working together.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Science-U @home
Do Leaves Breathe?
Plants use their leaves to recycle carbon dioxide and turn it into food for themselves and oxygen for us. In this experiment, create an environment where you can see this carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange happening!
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Exploring Animal Life
If you want to investigate your backyard like the Kratt brothers, this list of activities from PBS Parents can get you started.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
Design Squad Global
Be creative and help people with engineering at DESIGN SQUAD GLOBAL. Watch videos, play games, try activities, and share designs with the community.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
WPSU Games for Grades 3-5
Reading comprehension games by WPSU for kids in grades 3 to 5.
Suggested for Grades 4 to 8
