Units and Measurement

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, host Jessi and her robot friend Squeaks demonstrate a classic and exciting science experiment: inflating a balloon using a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar. The video breaks down the experiment step-by-step, making it easy for young learners to follow along, while simultaneously explaining the underlying scientific principles. It uses clear analogies, such as baking cookies, to simplify complex ideas like chemical changes. The video explores key chemistry themes including the definitions of "reactants" and "products," and the three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. It visually demonstrates how mixing a solid (baking soda) and a liquid (vinegar) creates a new substance—a gas (carbon dioxide)—which fills the balloon. The content encourages observation and critical thinking by asking students to predict what might happen if variables are changed. This resource is highly valuable for elementary classrooms as an introduction to chemistry and the scientific method. It provides a safe, accessible, and dramatic demonstration of abstract concepts. Teachers can use this video to anchor lessons on states of matter, to model how to set up an experiment, or as a hook for a unit on chemical reactions. The clear definitions and visual aids make it an excellent tool for building scientific vocabulary.

This educational video introduces students to the Scientific Method, presenting it as a structured way to investigate the world and solve problems like a detective. The host breaks down the process into five clear steps: stating a question, gathering information, forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experimentation, and analyzing results to draw conclusions. The video uses a relatable and engaging example—investigating how bubbles are formed—to demonstrate each step in practice, making abstract concepts concrete for young learners.

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, host Jessi and her robot mouse friend Squeaks demonstrate how to make homemade ice cream using basic kitchen ingredients and the power of chemistry. The video guides viewers through a hands-on experiment that transforms liquid cream into solid ice cream without using a freezer, relying instead on a chemical reaction between ice and salt. The content focuses heavily on the scientific concepts of states of matter and freezing point depression. It explains in accessible terms why salt is added to ice (similar to salting icy roads in winter) and how this process lowers the freezing temperature of water. The video uses clear animations to visualize how melting ice draws heat away from the cream mixture, allowing it to freeze rapidly. This video is an excellent resource for elementary science classrooms as it combines a fun, edible reward with rigorous scientific inquiry. It provides a perfect practical application for lessons on phase changes, temperature, and following procedural texts. Teachers can use this video to introduce thermodynamics or simply as a guide for a beloved classroom activity that reinforces measuring skills and observation.

This educational science video provides a comprehensive introduction to solutions, solubility, and the molecular properties of water. Through a blend of clear animations and a guided laboratory experiment, the presenter explains the relationship between solvents and solutes, using lemonade as an initial analogy to define these terms. The video delves into the chemistry of water, illustrating how its polar nature and hydrogen bonds allow it to act as a universal solvent for other polar substances, while repelling nonpolar substances like oil. Key themes include the definitions of mixtures and solutions, the distinction between polar and nonpolar molecules, and the scientific method. The video breaks down the atomic structure of water molecules to explain *why* dissolving happens, visualizing how positive and negative charges interact. It then transitions into a practical demonstration, walking students through a four-part experiment testing salt, pepper, sugar, and oil to determine their solubility in water. For the classroom, this video serves as an excellent bridge between theoretical chemistry concepts and practical application. It models proper lab safety and experimental procedure, including hypothesis generation and observation. Teachers can use the built-in pause points to facilitate class discussions, allowing students to make predictions before seeing the results. The content is ideal for introducing unit on matter, mixtures, or basic chemistry.

This educational video explores the fundamental scientific principle of the Conservation of Mass. Through engaging visuals and clear examples, the host investigates whether matter can ever truly disappear or be created from nothing. The video distinguishes between physical changes (like dissolving sugar in tea) and chemical changes (like baking a cake), explaining how matter behaves in each scenario. It specifically addresses the common misconception that when something dissolves or evaporates, it is gone forever. The content breaks down complex terminology into accessible concepts, defining key terms such as reactants, products, and physical versus chemical changes. It uses a concrete experiment—weighing sugar and water before and after mixing—to provide empirical evidence that mass remains constant even when visible properties change. The narrative connects everyday observations, like a glass of water evaporating or sugar dissolving, to the broader scientific law that mass is never made or lost. For educators, this video is an excellent tool for introducing the particle nature of matter and the law of conservation of mass. It provides a ready-made demonstration that can be replicated in the classroom and offers clear definitions of vocabulary essential for upper elementary and middle school science curricula. The visual proof provided by the digital scale reading serves as a powerful anchor for students grappling with abstract concepts of invisible matter.

This engaging episode of Crash Course Kids, hosted by Sabrina Cruz, introduces students to the scientific method of identifying matter through observation and measurement. Using a relatable narrative about tripping over an unknown object in the dark, the video guides viewers through an investigation to solve a "Measurement Mystery." It transitions from qualitative observations to quantitative data collection, emphasizing the importance of standard units. The video explores key themes such as the properties of matter (specifically length, width, height, and mass) and the International System of Units (Metric System). It explains why standard units like meters, centimeters, and grams are necessary for accurate scientific communication, contrasting them with non-standard units like "jellybeans." The distinction between simply observing an object and measuring it to gather specific data is a central focus. For educators, this video serves as an excellent hook for units on the physical properties of matter, measurement, or the metric system. It models scientific inquiry by asking a question ("What is this thing?"), gathering evidence through measurement, and using that evidence to draw a conclusion. The video is particularly useful for transitioning students from using non-standard measurement to using rulers and scales with precision.

This video provides a comprehensive introduction to scientific data collection and measurement using the metric system. It begins with a humorous scenario involving a baking mishap caused by confusing unit conversions, effectively illustrating the need for a standardized system of measurement. The host then clearly defines data and distinguishes between the two primary types: qualitative (descriptive qualities like color or texture) and quantitative (numerical values like height or count), providing vivid examples from nature for each. The core of the video breaks down the metric system, explaining the three base units—grams for mass, meters for length, and liters for volume—and how prefixes like kilo-, centi-, and milli- are used to scale these units based on powers of ten. The video details specific tools and techniques for measurement, including using digital balances for mass, rulers for length, and graduated cylinders for volume. It places special emphasis on proper laboratory techniques, such as reading the meniscus at eye level when measuring liquids. Finally, the video covers the concepts of accuracy and estimation in scientific measurement. It demonstrates how to interpret measurements that fall between the markings on a tool and stresses the importance of selecting the appropriate instrument for the task. This resource is an excellent primer for upper elementary and middle school students preparing for laboratory work, as it establishes the vocabulary and practical skills necessary for conducting precise scientific investigations.

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, host Jessi and her robot rat friend Squeaks teach viewers how to create their own watercolor paints using common kitchen ingredients. The video transforms a simple art project into a science experiment, demonstrating how baking soda, cornstarch, vinegar, and food coloring can be combined to create functional art supplies. The step-by-step tutorial guides children through the measuring and mixing process, highlighting the chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda along the way. Beyond the chemistry of making the paint base, the video explores fundamental color theory. It reviews primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and demonstrates how to mix them to create secondary colors (green, orange, purple). The visual demonstration clearly shows the color mixing process in an ice cube tray, reinforcing the concept that new colors are born from combining existing ones. This video is an excellent resource for early elementary classrooms as it bridges science, art, and math. Teachers can use it to introduce states of matter (solids, liquids, and gas bubbles), practice measurement skills, and teach color theory. It promotes hands-on learning and creativity, showing students that they can be 'makers' who engineer their own tools for expression rather than just consumers.

This educational video provides a clear, step-by-step tutorial on how to calculate percent error and absolute error, essential skills for analyzing data in science laboratories. The narrator uses specific examples involving the density of aluminum and iron to demonstrate the difference between measured (experimental) values and accepted (actual) values. The video breaks down the mathematical formulas required, showing how to handle absolute values and convert decimals to percentages. Key themes include data analysis, scientific measurement, and mathematical applications in science. The video distinguishes between simple "error" (which can be positive or negative) and "percent error" (which is always positive due to absolute value). It walks viewers through substituting values into the formula: |Measured - Actual| / Actual × 100%, emphasizing the importance of order of operations and correct calculator usage. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent flipped classroom tool or post-lab support for chemistry and physics students. It allows students to self-pace their learning of error analysis, a concept often struggled with in early laboratory courses. The clear handwriting and spoken explanations make abstract formulas concrete, helping students understand not just how to plug in numbers, but what the resulting percentage actually represents regarding the accuracy of their experiments.

In this engaging general science lesson, host Justin breaks down the fundamental concept of matter, explaining that almost everything in the universe—from squirrels to water bottles—is made of it. The video simplifies abstract physical science concepts by defining matter through two main criteria: having mass and taking up space (volume). Through clear visual examples and animations, students learn to distinguish between objects with different masses and volumes, understanding that size doesn't always equal mass. The lesson explores key themes including the definitions of mass versus volume, the distinction between matter and non-matter (like ideas and light), and the physical properties of gases. A significant portion of the video demonstrates that air is indeed matter through a practical balloon experiment, addressing a common student misconception. It concludes by zooming in to the microscopic level, introducing atoms as the basic building blocks of all matter. This video is an excellent resource for elementary and middle school science classrooms introducing physical science. It includes built-in pause points for student reflection and note-taking, making it ready-to-use for direct instruction. Teachers can use the comparative examples (like the bowling ball vs. beach ball) to spark classroom debates about density and mass, while the segment on atoms provides a perfect segue into more advanced chemistry topics.

This comprehensive educational video provides a detailed exploration of common materials found in our everyday world, including wood, paper, rubber, metal, ceramics, glass, fabric, and plastic. It systematically breaks down each material category, explaining where it originates—whether from natural sources like trees and minerals or synthetic sources like fossil fuels—and how it is processed into usable forms. The narration clearly connects raw materials to the finished products students encounter daily, demystifying the manufacturing processes behind items like tires, windows, and clothing. Key themes include the relationship between a material's physical properties and its function, such as why metal is used for bridges while glass is used for windows. The video delves into specific characteristics like durability, flexibility, transparency, and conductivity. Significantly, it also addresses the environmental impact of material choices, contrasting sustainable forestry practices with the ecological challenges posed by single-use plastics and the importance of recycling. For educators, this video serves as an excellent anchor for physical science units on matter and its interactions. It supports classroom applications ranging from basic sorting and classification activities for younger students to more complex discussions about sustainability, engineering design choices, and the lifecycle of products for older elementary students. The clear visual examples and structured format make it easy to pause and discuss specific sections, facilitating deep learning about why engineers and designers choose specific materials for specific jobs.

This energetic animated music video provides a comprehensive introduction to the concept of matter, setting fundamental physical science concepts to a catchy, rhythmic beat. Through a cast of colorful animated characters and clear visual diagrams, the song defines matter as anything that has mass and takes up space, distinguishing it from forms of energy like light and sound. The video breaks down the composition of matter into atoms and molecules, visualizing protons, neutrons, and electrons in a way that makes abstract atomic theory accessible to young learners. The content covers several critical curriculum standards, including the three primary states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and the phase changes between them (melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation). It progresses to more advanced topics by distinguishing between physical changes—where the substance remains the same, like tearing paper—and chemical changes—where new substances are formed, illustrated by rusting locks, burning wood, and cooking food. The lyrics also introduce key properties used to describe matter, such as mass, volume, density, and texture. For educators, this video serves as an excellent engagement hook or review tool for units on physical science. The repetitive nature of the chorus helps reinforce the definition of matter, while the specific visual examples provide concrete anchors for difficult vocabulary. It successfully bridges the gap between simple observation (what things look like) and scientific explanation (molecular structure and chemical reactions), making it a versatile resource for upper elementary and middle school science classrooms.