Earth Events

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, Jessi and her robot mouse friend Squeaks investigate a fundamental question about the ground beneath our feet: where does soil come from? While students might know that birds come from eggs and trees grow from seeds, the origin of soil is less obvious. The video breaks down the geological and biological recipes for making dirt, explaining how nature constantly manufactures soil through slow, powerful processes involving wind, water, and living organisms. Key scientific concepts explored include weathering—the breakdown of rocks into smaller particles—and the vital role of organic matter. The video details specific weathering agents like crashing waves, freezing ice, and plant roots, illustrating how massive boulders eventually become tiny grains of sand or clay. It also introduces the concept of nutrients derived from decomposing plant and animal matter, teaching students how to identify healthy, fertile soil based on its color and texture. This video is an excellent resource for early elementary earth science lessons. It simplifies abstract geological timescales and complex decomposition processes into concrete, observable examples. Teachers can use this video to launch outdoor inquiry activities, guiding students to act as "soil scientists" who examine local dirt for evidence of organic matter and weathering, thereby connecting classroom science to their immediate environment.

This engaging earth science video explores the fascinating geological history of our planet, specifically focusing on how the Earth's surface has changed over millions of years. It introduces students to the concept of the Earth as a giant puzzle, explaining the connection between the historical theory of Continental Drift and the modern theory of Plate Tectonics. The narrator guides viewers through the scientific journey of Alfred Wegener, whose initial hypothesis about a supercontinent called Pangaea was rejected until fossil and rock evidence later confirmed that continents do indeed move.

In this comprehensive compilation from SciShow Kids, Jessi and her robot rat friend Squeaks take students on a journey to explore everything about Earth's water. The video is divided into three distinct segments: first, investigating where the water in our faucets comes from by exploring groundwater, rivers, oceans, and glaciers; second, a debate between puppet characters Bill and Webb about whether wind or water is a stronger force of nature, leading to a lesson on erosion and landforms; and third, a theatrical performance that dramatizes the stages of the water cycle. Key themes include the geography of water (rivers, lakes, oceans), the states of matter (liquid water, solid ice, water vapor), and the geological forces of erosion and weathering. The video covers specific landforms like the Grand Canyon, sand dunes, and stone arches, explaining how they were formed over millions of years. It also breaks down the water cycle into its four main components: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection, using a play-within-a-video format to model these abstract concepts. This video is highly valuable for elementary science classrooms as it connects everyday experiences (turning on a tap, seeing rain) to global systems. It models scientific inquiry through Squeaks' hypothesis testing and uses engaging visual aids—including maps, real-world footage, and puppetry—to make complex topics like geological time and phase changes accessible. The variety of segments allows teachers to use the video as a whole or break it down to teach specific units on hydrology, geology, or weather.

This engaging video takes students on a "time-traveling" journey through the history of life on Earth, breaking down the vast expanse of geologic time into understandable segments. Hosted by an energetic presenter, the video uses a recurring timeline graphic and rich visuals to illustrate the four major eons and eras: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. It explains how scientists divide time based on major shifts in life forms rather than equal time increments, providing a clear framework for understanding Earth's biological history. Key themes include the evolution of cellular life from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, the colonization of land by plants and animals, and the cyclical nature of mass extinctions followed by rapid diversification. The video details specific periods like the Cambrian Explosion, the Carboniferous period (source of fossil fuels), and the Age of Dinosaurs, while also highlighting critical evolutionary milestones like the development of oxygen by cyanobacteria and the rise of mammals. It emphasizes adaptation, environmental changes, and the relatively short time humans have existed compared to Earth's history. For educators, this video serves as an excellent anchor for units on evolution, Earth science, or biology. It visualizes abstract concepts like "deep time" through a proportional pie chart and linear timeline, making the billions of years of Earth's history graspable for students. The clear segmentation of eras allows teachers to pause and focus on specific time periods, while the discussion of mass extinctions provides natural entry points for exploring climate change and environmental stability.

This virtual field trip takes students on an immersive journey to Bryce Canyon National Park in southwestern Utah to explore its unique geological and biological features. The video serves as a comprehensive case study for understanding Earth science concepts, specifically focusing on the twin forces of weathering and erosion. Viewers are guided through the park's high-altitude ecosystems, observing the distinct flora and fauna that thrive in this high desert environment before diving deep into the geological history of the landscape. The content meticulously explains the formation of the park's most iconic structures: the hoodoos. Through clear narration and helpful animations, the video breaks down the mechanism of frost wedging—a physical weathering process where water freezes and expands within rock cracks. It illustrates the geological lifecycle of the landscape, showing how flat plateaus erode into narrow fins, which eventually weather down into the spire-like hoodoos that define the canyon today. Ideally suited for upper elementary and middle school science curriculums, this video provides real-world examples of abstract geological concepts. Teachers can use it to visualize the difference between weathering (breaking down) and erosion (moving away), discuss the impact of climate on landscapes, and explore how physical forces shape the Earth's surface over millions of years.

This engaging science video explains the geological causes of earthquakes for young learners using clear analogies and visual demonstrations. Hosted by Jessi from SciShow Kids, the video breaks down complex concepts like plate tectonics, faults, and seismic pressure into digestible segments suitable for elementary students. It transforms the scary concept of the ground shaking into a understandable scientific phenomenon driven by the movement of Earth's crust. The content covers key geological topics including the layers of the Earth, tectonic plates, fault lines, and how pressure builds up underground. It uses relatable comparisons—such as a jigsaw puzzle to explain tectonic plates and a stuck door to explain pressure release—to help students visualize processes they cannot see. The video also introduces specific vocabulary like "crust," "plates," "fault," and "pressure." Teachers can use this video as a perfect introduction to earth science units, specifically for lessons on geology, natural disasters, or changes to the Earth's surface. It provides excellent visual models that can be easily replicated in the classroom with simple manipulatives, making abstract large-scale concepts concrete for young minds.

Join host Jessi and her puppet friend Sam the Bat as they explore the geology of the Red Planet to answer a big question: What is the largest volcano in the solar system? This engaging video introduces students to Olympus Mons on Mars, comparing its massive scale to Earth's volcanoes like Mauna Loa and Mount Everest. Through this comparison, the video simplifies complex geological concepts, specifically focusing on the differences between Earth's active plate tectonics and Mars' stationary crust. The content covers key earth science themes including volcanic formation, the layers of the Earth (crust and mantle), and plate tectonics. It uses clear animations to demonstrate how "hot spots" create chains of islands on Earth due to moving plates, contrasting this with how a stationary crust on Mars allowed a single volcano to grow continuously for millions of years. The video also touches on planetary scale, measurement, and the atmosphere. This resource is highly valuable for elementary science classrooms as it bridges the gap between Earth science and astronomy. It provides a concrete, visual explanation for why planetary landscapes look different, helping students understand that the geological rules they learn about Earth can be tested and compared against other worlds. The friendly banter and clear graphics make abstract concepts like millions of years and tectonic movement accessible and memorable for young learners.

This engaging episode of SciShow Kids explores the science behind shooting stars, meteors, and asteroids, breaking down complex astronomical concepts for young learners. Hosted by Jessi and her robot mouse friend Squeaks, the video explains what happens when space rocks hit Earth's atmosphere, distinguishing between meteors (shooting stars), meteorites (rocks that land), and asteroids. It also touches upon the historical impact of the asteroid that contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs and explains why the Moon is covered in craters compared to Earth. The video covers key themes in astronomy and geology, specifically focusing on the Earth's atmosphere as a protective shield and the mechanics of impact craters. It visualizes the difference between an object burning up in the atmosphere versus striking the surface. The narrative seamlessly transitions from observation (looking at the night sky) to experimentation, demonstrating how craters form using simple household materials. For educators, this video is a dual-purpose tool: it serves as a conceptual introduction to space rocks and atmospheric science, and as a step-by-step instructional guide for a hands-on laboratory activity. The "Make Your Own Crater" experiment demonstrated in the second half allows students to model geological processes, making abstract concepts concrete. It encourages prediction, observation, and variable testing, which are fundamental scientific inquiry skills.

This educational video from SciShow Kids explores the fascinating science behind geysers, using Yellowstone's Old Faithful as a primary example. Hosted by Jessi and her robot rat friend Squeaks, the video distinguishes geysers from volcanoes and explains the specific geological conditions required for geysers to form. It breaks down complex earth science concepts—such as magma, underground reservoirs, and pressure—into age-appropriate explanations aided by clear animations and real-world analogies.

This engaging educational video introduces young students to the geology of glaciers through a blend of animation, real-world imagery, and a hands-on experiment. Hosted by a friendly presenter and his robot mouse companion, Squeaks, the video explains how glaciers form from packed snow over centuries, how they move due to their immense weight, and the significant impact they have on the Earth's landscape. It simplifies complex geological timescales and processes into bite-sized concepts suitable for elementary learners. The content covers key geological terms and phenomena including glacial till, striations, and moraines. A central feature of the video is a step-by-step demonstration of how to build a scientific model using simple household items—ice cubes, dirt, and modeling clay—to simulate how glaciers scrape, scratch, and carve the land. This practical application bridges the gap between abstract definitions and observable physical evidence found in nature, such as scratched bedrock and lake formations. Teachers can use this video to launch a unit on Earth science, landforms, or erosion. The clear instructions for the "mini-glacier" experiment make it an ideal guide for a classroom activity where students create their own models. Additionally, the video encourages scientific inquiry by teaching students how to look for clues in their local environment to understand Earth's history, promoting observation skills and critical thinking about how landscapes change over time.

This engaging educational video hosted by Jessi and her puppet friend Sam explores the fascinating world of volcanoes. It moves beyond the common misconception of volcanoes as just "scary exploding mountains" to explain the geological science behind them. The video covers the anatomy of a volcano, the difference between magma and lava, and the various shapes volcanoes can take, such as stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes, and fissures.

This engaging educational video introduces students to sedimentary rocks, one of the three major rock groups. Through a conversation between host Savannah and her puppet friend Sam, the video explains how these rocks are formed from the accumulation of sediments like sand, shells, and pebbles over millions of years. It breaks down the process of erosion and weathering, explaining how wind and water transport materials that eventually settle in layers at the bottom of bodies of water to become solid rock through pressure.