Science-U @home
Pull Back Cars
Can you transform a toy car into a pull back car?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Activities Grades 9 to 12
Susan Levy on Advances in Autism Research
Listen as Susan Levy discusses advances in autism research.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Sweetness
Students will explore the nature of sweetness and create a scale to measure and compare the sweetness of several types of foods and drinks.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Solar Oven S’mores
Harness the sun’s energy to treat your tastebuds! Transform a pizza box into a solar oven to make a s’more.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Healthcare Crisis: Who’s at Risk?
In this lesson plan, students research the critical problem that approximately 1/3 of Americans are without adequate or any healthcare insurance.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
The Rise of Social Networking
In this video segment from FRONTLINE: “Digital Nation,” teens talk about why they use social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Caterpillar Senses
How do hungry caterpillars find food?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Seasons on Earth
Students study satellite data and explore an example of long-term climate change to learn about the seasons, changes in climate, and the role of Earth’s tilted axis.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Women’s History Month Collection
This collection celebrates Women’s History Month by focusing on women and girls around the world.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Women in Science Profiles
Learn about five women in STEM careers, and watch them answer questions from students like you.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
The Plants and the Bees
Here’s how the vascular plants (ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms) reproduce, from ancient to modern times.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Watershed Lesson Plan
Learn about watersheds, the factors which can pollute them, the modern-day problems facing watersheds (including pollution), and the ways in which watersheds can be protected, in this lesson plan from Liquid Assets.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Cryptology Files
Cryptologists solve puzzles and crack codes to find solutions. This game from WPSU puts you in the role of a cryptologist to decode clues using pre-algebra skills and track down spies around the world.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Geospatial Revolution
The Geospatial Revolution Project, from WPSU Penn State public broadcasting, provides schools with a look into GPS data gathering, which influences nearly everything. Explore these resources!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
History Detectives – Blacks on the Battlefield
Spotlight on a letter from a young Union soldier interested in a commission with an African American regiment.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Geospatial Revolution
The Geospatial Revolution Project, from WPSU Penn State public broadcasting, provides schools with a look into GPS data gathering, which influences nearly everything. Explore these resources here!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Set Up a Healthy Media Relationship
Navigating technology in our homes has certainly become more interesting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some ideas on how to think about your family’s relationship with technology.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Cryptology Files Game
Take on the role of cryptologists to decode clues using pre-algebraic substitution and order of operations.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
WPSU Women in Science Profiles
Watch as WPSU Profiles these five women with careers in STEM fields.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Citrus Peel Roses
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these beautiful citrus peel roses! Place them in a bowl with other dried items for decoration.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Can You Get Power from a Lemon?
Try it yourself with our step-by-step instructions and guided scientific questions available in the downloadable support materials.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Snowpack Drinking Water
Find out how climate change is significantly altering the precious water source from snowpack in the mountains.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare as performed at Penn State, including lesson plans to teach each Act and Scene.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Jim Lovell at the Morehead Planetarium
The astronaut returns to the planetarium that had trained him in the art of celestial navigation before his two moon missions.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
The Half Mile Long Microscope
Learn how scientists turn a half-mile long particle accelerator into a microscope in this video from SciTech Now.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
How do voters decide?
Use this video and lesson plan to learn how voters make the important decision about who should lead their country.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Bouncing Egg
Turn a regular egg into a bouncing egg.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Documenting Winter Stories
Create a documentary to inform viewers about the winter in your area.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
WPSU Women in Science Profiles
The Women in Science Profiles created by WPSU highlight five women in STEM careers and their career journeys.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Make a Comet
Can you make a comet?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Holiday | Craft in America
HOLIDAY embraces familiar and new winter celebrations as part of our American experience with the handmade.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Marvelous Meringues
Change slimy egg whites to a fluffy foam to a crunchy solid!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
The Gift of Life
Ahmed Khatib was killed by the Israeli army in 2005. Ahmed’s father decided to donate his son’s organs and help the Jewish families who received them.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
5 Amazing Stars
While Jupiter and Saturn are aligning to create a bright “star” in the sky on December 21st, learn about five actual stars that light up the sky nightly.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Cryptology Files
Can you crack the code and stop an international smuggling ring? The activity integrates geography and algebra, and is best for grades 8 – 12.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Binary Bracelets
Using the binary code, you can show off your name on a really cool bracelet, keychain, or necklace.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Pull Back Cars
Can you transform any toy car into a pull back car?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Celebrate Japan’s Oshogatsu Holiday with Ozoni
Japanese celebrate Oshogatsu on the first day of the New Year. For this holiday families head over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Blood Pressure
What affects blood pressure? Gather a group of friends or family to find out!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Learn About Relatives
The holidays are a great chance for children to learn about family culture. Encourage them to mingle and learn their family history by having them engage with their relatives.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Marvelous Meringues
Change slimy egg whites to a fluffy foam to a crunchy solid!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
How does Tribal Government Work?
The Tribal Government on the Wind River Reservation is in a state of flux. In the accompanying lesson plans, learn how the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes govern their people. What is the relationship between Tribal, State, and Federal government?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Can you “water” plants with other liquids?
What happens when you replace water with other types of liquids?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Being Kind for Kindness’ Sake
In this daily news story, PBS NewsHour Extra looks at the impact and meaning of community service and why the winter break may be a more challenging time for students than many people may realize.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Pull Back Cars
Can you transform a toy car into a pull back car?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
To Vote or Not to Vote?
Students explore the history of voter suppression in the U.S. and arguments for the importance of voting.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Smooshy Slime
Make a squishy substance that is fun to stretch, shape, and smoosh.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Confronting Anti-Black Racism
Use these materials with middle and high school students to help them understand the long history of anti-Black racism in the United States, and think about ways to address it in their own families and communities.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Mentos® Explosion
How does a soda geyser work?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Strawberry DNA
Can you extract DNA from a strawberry?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Owl Pellets
What’s in an owl pellet?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Sweetness: The Botany of Desire
Students consider the nature of sweetness and create a scale that allows them to measure and compare the sweetness of several types of apples, potatoes and soft drinks.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Marvelous Meringues
Change slimy egg whites to a fluffy foam to a crunchy solid!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Doodle Cake Pops
Get creative with these doodle cake pops! Whether you have them ready before the party starts or allow your party guests to decorate as part of a craft, everyone will be delighted with these tasty treats.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Dental Decay
Test the acid levels in your favorite drinks with pH test strips, then soak shark teeth or eggshells in each drink to see if the acid weakens tooth enamel. Try it!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Virus Hunter
Jon Epstein is a virus hunter – he chases viruses that can cause outbreaks of infectious disease. Follow Jon as he hunts the path of the Nipah virus from fruit bats to humans in Bangladesh.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Binary Bracelets
Using the binary code, you can show off your name on a really cool bracelet, key chain, or necklace.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Why are your poems so dark?
Linda Pastan’s poems use very simple language and plain statements to describe everyday situations, but she ends up uncovering the dark worries and threats that hide just below that quiet surface of daily life.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Bouncing Egg
We all know what happens when you drop a regular egg on the ground. When you add vinegar (and some patience), you end up with a bouncy, squishy object!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Career Hacks for Workforce Readiness
Use this interactive collection to build strengths in key career skills, such as problem solving, leadership, communication, teamwork and collaboration, and critical thinking.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Marvelous Meringues
Your kitchen is a great place for family time and learning math and science! In this experiment, change slimy egg whites to a fluffy foam to a crunchy solid!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
How to Support Your Child for a Very Different School Year
There’s a lot we can do to bolster our children’s feelings of confidence and security as they head into a new year. This article has some practical ideas.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Lemon Batteries
Can you get power from a lemon?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Energy Transfer in a Roller Coaster
In this interactive lesson, students watch videos and use an interactive activity to learn how energy moves roller coaster cars along a track.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Owl Pellets
What do owls eat for dinner? Find out by dissecting their pellets!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Native America: Nature to Nations
Learn how Native Americans connected to their environment and how the early U.S. government got lessons from these connections.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Solar Oven S’mores
Can you cook a s’more without a fire or electricity?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Clouds and Weather
Learn about the relationships among the Sun, clouds, and weather in this video excerpt from NOVA’s Cloud Lab.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Can you “water” plants with other liquids?
Most seeds need warmth, light, and water to start growing. But what happens when you replace water with other types of liquids? Test them out using this experiment!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Rain Gardens
This video and support materials shows how a rain garden at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest slows down the flow of water from the forest’s parking lot and helps prevent soil erosion.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Bath Fizzies
Splish splash, let’s do science in the bath! Make your own bath fizzies and have fun exploring chemical reactions while taking a relaxing soak!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Water Filter
Can you make muddy water crystal clear?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Solar Oven S’mores
Transform a pizza box into a solar oven to make a s’more (melted chocolate and marshmallow between two graham crackers).
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
The Science of Summer
Get ready for summer by exploring the science behind some of your favorite summer activities.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Pull Back Cars
Pull back vehicles use springs to store energy. When the vehicle is released, the energy stored in the spring moves the vehicle forward. Can you make any toy vehicle into a pull back vehicle?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Invent Apps to Help Others
Design your own app to address a problem facing your school or community.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Bouncing Egg
We all know what happens when you drop a regular egg on the ground. When you add vinegar (and some patience), you end up with a bouncy, squishy object!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Confront Racism
There resources will help you understand the long history of anti-Black racism in the United States, and think about ways to address it in your family and communities.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Caterpillar Senses
It doesn’t look like caterpillars have ears, noses, and eyes like humans. So how do they find food? Try this experiment to learn how caterpillars use their senses.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Write a Poem in Two Voices about Bees
A poem written in two voices allows you to experience a new perspective. Try this activity to make connections about your personal experiences with our pollinating friends.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Bath Fizzies
Splish splash, let’s do science in the bath! Make your own bath fizzies and have fun exploring chemical reactions while taking a relaxing soak!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Uncovering Overt and Systemic Racism
Use these materials from PBS NewsHour with middle and high school students to help them understand the long history of anti-Black racism in the United States.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Mars Egg Lander
NASA faced a huge challenge when they safely landed the Mars Exploration Rovers on the surface of Mars. Can you design a capsule that would protect a raw egg dropped from several stories to the ground? Try it!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Making Music with Iconic Women of Country
Iconic Women of Country premieres on Monday, June 1, at 9:30 p.m. on WPSU. If you’re inspired to learn more, try writing country music lyrics with this activity.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Marvelous Meringues
Go from slimy egg white to fluffy foam to a crunchy solid and delicious cookie while learning about the science behind the marvelous meringue.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Decoding Algebra
Do you have questions while solving your algebra problems from home? This collection from PBS Learning Media contains videos on many topics covered in algebra that just might answer your questions!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Mars Egg Lander
NASA faced a huge challenge when they safely landed the MarsExploration Rovers on the surface of Mars. Can you design a capsule that would protect a raw egg dropped from several stories to the ground?
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Speaking Grief
WPSU’s Speaking Grief website contains resources on grief and grief support for all ages. Note: Please consider this subject matter may be upsetting for certain audiences.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Science-U @home
Can You “Water” Plants with Other Liquids?
Most seeds need warmth, light, and water to start growing. But what happens when you replace water with other types of liquids? Test them out using this experiment!
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Deadly Carnivorous Plants
Watch Plants Behaving Badly at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12 on WPSU’s main broadcast channel to learn more about carnivorous plants, and learn even with this video and discussion questions.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
Crash Course
Fast-paced, imaginative videos on science, social studies, history and literature.
Suggested for Grades 9 to 12
