Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
The Power of a Great Introduction Carolyn Mohr
Never underestimate the power of an intriguing start. When analyzing the literary greats like Charles Dickens and Kurt Vonnegut, be inspired by their craft and learn how to write a tantalizing introduction and strong thesis.
How Does Math Guide Our Ships at Sea George Christoph
Without math, would our seafaring ancestors ever have seen the world? Great mathematical thinkers and their revolutionary discoveries have an incredible story. Explore the beginnings of logarithms through the history of navigation, adventure and new worlds.
Why Were Graham Crackers Designed to Taste Bad Stephanie Honchell Smith
In the 1800s, minister Sylvester Graham believed Americans had a big problem— not just with their bodies, but their souls. He argued that overindulgence was fueling their baser desires, making them immoral and oversexed. To curb this corruption, puritanical reformers advocated for foods they thought curbed a variety of appetites. Stephanie Honchell Smith details the invention of Graham crackers.
Can You Solve the Alien Probe Riddle Dan Finkel
Your team has developed a probe to study an alien monolith. It needs protective coatings — in red, purple and green — to cope with the environments it passes through. Can you figure out how to apply the colors so the probe survives the trip? Dan Finkel shows how.
The Story Behind Your Glasses Eva Timothy
What scientific thinkers and achievements have led to vast improvements in optics over the centuries? Discover the fascinating ways that our understanding of light informs the world in which we live.
Is Our Climate Headed for Mathematical Chaos Victor J Donnay
Scientists have warned that as CO2 levels in the atmosphere rise an increase in Earth’s temperature by even two degrees could lead to catastrophic effects across the world. But how can such a tiny, measurable change in one factor lead to huge, unpredictable changes elsewhere? Victor J. Donnay uses billiards to illustrate tipping points, chaotic motion and their implications on climate change.
Does Your Vote Count the Electoral College Explained Christina Greer
You vote, but then what? Discover how your individual vote contributes to the popular vote and your state’s electoral vote in different ways--and see how votes are counted on both state and national levels.
One of the Most Controversial Medical Procedures in History Jenell Johnson
In 1935, researchers found that after removing the frontal lobes of two chimps, they no longer experienced frustration or anxiety. Neurologist Egas Moniz believed that replicating this in humans could cure mental illness— leading to one of the most controversial and destructive medical treatments of the 20th century: the lobotomy. Jenell Johnson uncovers the history of the procedure.
The Twisting Tale of Dna Judith Hauck
What do a man, a mushroom, and an elephant have in common? A very long and simple double helix molecule makes us more similar and much more different than any other living thing. But, how does a simple molecule determine the form and function of so many different living things?
What s Invisible More Than You Think John Lloyd
Gravity. The stars in day. Thoughts. The human genome. Time. Atoms. So much of what really matters in the world is impossible to see. A stunning animation of John Lloyd's classic TEDTalk from 2009, which will make you question what you actually know.
1207 1 a Bennet Brianh264
How can bottles and balloons help explain the different laws that govern gas? See how Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law, and Avogadro’s Law help us understand the laws that govern gas properties.
Does Stress Cause Pimples Claudia Aguirre
Which came first: the stress or the pimples? The physical reactions to stress can cause major breakouts, which, in turn, can be even more stressful! Claudia Aguirre gives just one more reason to get that stress under control.
Can You Survive a Komodo Dragon Bite Achmad Ariefiandy
Clambering through the bush on one of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands, suddenly you spy a Komodo dragon in the clearing ahead. Forked tongue flickering; sharp, saw-like teeth glimmering; and strong, scaly body stretching up to 3 meters, Komodo dragons are formidable. So, what should you do? Are you doomed? Achmad Ariefiandy shares what we know about the world's largest lizards.
How Did English Evolve Kate Gardoqui
What is the difference between "a hearty welcome" and "a cordial reception"? In a brief, action-packed history of the English language, Kate Gardoqui explains why these semantically equal phrases evoke such different images.
Dark Matter How Does it Explain a Star s Speed Don Lincoln
All the stars in a spiral galaxy rotate around a center -- but to astronomers, the speed that each star travels wasn't making sense. Why didn't stars slow down toward the edges as expected? Don Lincoln explains how a mysterious force called dark matter is (possibly) the answer -- and why the search for an answer matters.
Can You Solve the Seven Planets Riddle Edwin F Meyer
Your interstellar police squad has tracked a group of criminals to a cluster of seven planets. Now you must apprehend them before their reinforcements arrive. Of course, the fugitives won’t just stay put – they’ll try to dodge you by moving from planet to planet. Can you devise a sequence for searching the planets that’s guaranteed to catch them in ten warps or less? Edwin F. Meyer shows how.
What s a Smartphone Made of Kim Preshoff
As of 2018, there are around 2.5 billion smartphone users in the world. If we broke open all the newest phones and split them into their component parts, that would produce around 85,000 kg of gold, 875,000 of silver, and 40,000,000 of copper. How did this precious cache get into our phones--and can we reclaim it? Kim Preshoff investigates the sustainability of phone production.
Can You Solve the Vampire Hunter Riddle Dan Finkel
You’ve stealthily descended into the darkness of a vampire cave, setting a sequence of mirrors as you go. When the sun reaches the right angle in the sky, a beam of light will ricochet along the mirrors, strike a diffuser, and illuminate the great chamber where the vampires sleep. Can you place the diffuser correctly and flood the lair with sunlight? Dan Finkel shows how.
A Guide to the Energy of the Earth Joshua M Sneideman
Energy is neither created nor destroyed — and yet the global demand for it continues to increase. But where does energy come from, and where does it go? Joshua M. Sneideman examines the many ways in which energy cycles through our planet, from the sun to our food chain to electricity and beyond.
How Life Came to Land Tierney Thys
Spiders and crustaceans, also known as arthropods, led the charge from water to land--now outnumbering all terrestrial animals. But what about arthropods makes them so adaptable to life on land? Marine biologist Tierney Thys, and Noé Sardet and Sharif Mirshak of the Plankton Chronicles Project, shows us a world of fascinating animals and their habitats.