Discover Resources
Browse curated homeschool resources from the community
Managing Resources Unit
Individuals, communities, and countries depend on a variety of different resources to help them thrive: electricity, timber, oil, water, and food, to name a few. Because these basic resources are such a large part of our daily lives, it is important that we manage them responsibly to ensure future generations have what they need. Human civilization heavily impacts the environment and the rich natural resources we depend on. All communities face the challenge of managing resources responsibly, not only for themselves, but for the sake of the world around them. Learn more about how individuals and communities can manage their resources to support themselves and the world around them.
How Bees Help Plants Have Sex Fernanda s Valdovinos
Plants have a hard time finding mates -- their inability to get up and move around tends to inhibit them. Luckily for plants, bees and other pollinator species (including butterflies, moths and birds) help matchmake these lonely plants in exchange for food. Fernanda S. Valdovinos explains how these intricate pollination networks work and how it can all change from one season to the next.
The World s English Mania Jay Walker
Jay Walker explains why two billion people around the world are trying to learn English. He shares photos and spine-tingling audio of Chinese students rehearsing English -- "the world's second language" -- by the thousands.
The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting Level 5
Handwriting Level 5 is for children in fifth grade. This course focuses on cursive but also has pages to help refine print handwriting. The text size for cursive writing gets smaller as the course progresses. This course also helps children memorize grammar rules and definitions. The Good and the Beautiful handwriting
Sheena Iyengar on the Art of Choosing
Sheena Iyengar studies how we make choices -- and how we feel about the choices we make. At TEDGlobal, she talks about both trivial choices (Coke v. Pepsi) and profound ones, and shares her groundbreaking research that has uncovered some surprising attitudes about our decisions. Sheena Iyengar studies how people choose (and what makes us think we're good at it).
How Did Trains Standardize Time in the United States William Heuisler
If you live in the United States, you may live in the Eastern Standard Time Zone. Or maybe you live in Mountain Standard Time or one of the other standardized time zones. But these time zones have not always been around. In fact, it's a fairly recent development. William Heuisler explains the history of time and how trains changed everything.
The Great Brain Debate Ted Altschuler
Throughout history, scientists have proposed conflicting ideas on how the brain carries out functions like perception, memory, and movement. Is each of these tasks carried out by a specific area of the brain? Or do multiple areas work together to accomplish them? Ted Altschuler investigates both sides of the debate.
What is a Vector David Huynh
Physicists, air traffic controllers, and video game creators all have at least one thing in common: vectors. But what exactly are they, and why do they matter? David Huynh explains how vectors are a prime example of the elegance, beauty, and fundamental usefulness of mathematics.
The Good and the Beautiful Handwriting Level 4
Handwriting Level 4 is for children in fourth grade. This course focuses primarily on cementing correct cursive letter formation and on teaching how to write cursive words and sentences using a unique colored dot system developed by Jenny Phillips. This technique makes it easy for children to correctly learn cursive wi
The History of Tattoos Addison Anderson
If you have a tattoo, you’re part of a rich cultural history that dates back at least 8,000 years. Where did this practice of body modification come from, and how has its function changed over time? Addison Anderson tracks the history of getting inked.
Under the Hood the Chemistry of Cars Cynthia Chubbuck
There are over one billion cars in the world right now, getting people from point A to point B. But cars aren’t just a mode of transportation; they also teach an excellent lesson in chemistry. Cynthia Chubbuck navigates the intricate chemistry performed in our car engines that keep them from getting too hot or too cold.
Why is Yawning Contagious Claudia Aguirre
*Yaaawwwwwn* Did just reading the word make you feel like yawning yourself? Known as contagious yawning, the reasons behind this phenomenon have been attributed to both the physiological and psychological. It's been observed in children as young as four and even in dogs! Claudia Aguirre visits the many intriguing theories that might explain contagious yawning.
It s a Church it s a Mosque it s Hagia Sophia Kelly Wall
If walls could talk, Turkey's Hagia Sophia would have an abundance of stories to tell. Once a church, then a mosque, and later a museum, this world marvel has stood the test of time and war, surviving centuries of conquest by some of history’s greatest empires. Kelly Wall takes us through the history of each layer of this great jewel of human desire.
The Quest to Understand Consciousness Antonio Damasio
Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness -- that is a marvelous fact -- but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self.
What Caused the Fall of One of the Most Influential Empires in History Mostafa Minawi
Under cover of darkness in 1909, Sultan Abdulhamid II left Istanbul – bringing an end to his reign. For almost six centuries, his family had ruled the Ottoman Empire, spanning regions in North Africa, southeastern Europe, and the Middle East. But the end of this dynasty had been brewing for years. What happened to this once-powerful empire? Mostafa Minawi traces the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
Beware Online Filter Bubbles Eli Pariser
As web companies strive to tailor their services (including news and search results) to our personal tastes, there's a dangerous unintended consequence: We get trapped in a "filter bubble" and don't get exposed to information that could challenge or broaden our worldview. Eli Pariser argues powerfully that this will ultimately prove to be bad for us and bad for democracy.
A Brief History of Graffiti Kelly Wall
Spray-painted subway cars, tagged bridges, mural-covered walls – graffiti pops up boldly throughout our cities. And it turns out: it’s nothing new. Graffiti has been around for thousands of years. And across that span of time, it’s raised the same questions we debate now: Is it art? Is it vandalism? Kelly Wall describes the history of graffiti.
How Quantum Mechanics Explains Global Warming Lieven Scheire
You’ve probably heard that carbon dioxide is warming the Earth. But how exactly is it doing it? Lieven Scheire uses a rainbow, a light bulb and a bit of quantum physics to describe the science behind global warming.
A Riddle of Ice and Fire Dragons Henri Picciotto
It’s your first day as Center Realm’s official cartographer, and you’ve already got a big problem. Center Realm is home to three elder dragons: two ice, one fire, and they’ve lived in harmony for centuries. But scouts have sighted three fire dragons and five ice dragons flying towards the region. Can you figure out where to place the new dragons? Henri Picciotto shows how.
Less Stuff More Happiness Graham Hill
Writer and designer Graham Hill asks: Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness? He makes the case for taking up less space, and lays out three rules for editing your life.
Toward a Science of Simplicity George Whitesides
Simplicity: We know it when we see it -- but what is it, exactly? In this funny, philosophical talk, George Whitesides chisels out an answer.