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With over 500 online simulations, virtual labs, and interactive cases for math and science—there’s a Gizmo for just about everybody. Let’s find yours.
Water Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHydrologic Cycle
- Stem Case
Paanee, a city in Northeast India, has been experiencing higher rates of flooding than normal. This surge in flooding has been caused by an increase in the hydrologic cycle’s activity....
Lesson InfoNitrogen Cycle
- Stem Case
An infant on a farm has blue baby syndrome. As an EPA environmental engineer, students must find the cause of the baby's illness. Using environment data, students learn the importance of...
Lesson InfoWater Contamination
- Stem Case
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the role...
Lesson InfoWater Crisis
- Stem Case
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the...
Lesson InfoRock Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Play the role of a piece of rock moving through the rock cycle. Select a starting location and follow many possible paths throughout the cycle. Learn how rocks are formed, weathered,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhases of Water
5 Minute Preview
Heat or cool a container of water and observe the phase changes that take place. Use a magnifying glass to observe water molecules as a solid, liquid, or gas. Compare the volumes of the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCarbon Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Follow the path of a carbon atom through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Manipulate a simplified model to see how human activities and other factors affect the amount...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFreezing Point of Salt Water
5 Minute Preview
Control the temperature of a beaker of water. As the temperature drops below the freezing point, a transformation of state will occur that can be viewed on a molecular level. Salt can be...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWater Pollution
5 Minute Preview
Get to know the four main types of pollution present in the environment, and then look at a variety of real-world examples as you try to guess what type of pollution is represented by each...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDetermining Density via Water Displacement
5 Minute Preview
Drop objects in a beaker that is filled with water, and measure the water that flows over the edge. Using Archimedes' principle, determine the density of objects based on the amount of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoVirus Lytic Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Release a lytic virus in a group of cells and observe how cells are infected over time and eventually destroyed. Data related to the number of healthy cells, infected cells, and viruses can...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Energy Cycle
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration that occur within plant and animal cells. The cyclical nature of the two processes can be constructed visually, and the simplified...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDye Elimination
5 Minute Preview
When a foreign substance such as a drug is ingested, it often remains in the bloodstream for a long time. This Gizmo models the elimination of substances from the bloodstream using water...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPorosity
5 Minute Preview
Pour water on a variety of sediment samples to find how much water can be absorbed by the sample (porosity) and how easily water flows through the sample (permeability).
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEnergy Conversion in a System
5 Minute Preview
A falling cylinder is attached to a rotating propeller that stirs and heats the water in a beaker. The mass and height of the cylinder, as well as the quantity and initial temperature of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Grow Wisconsin Fast Plants® in a simulated lab environment. Explore the life cycles of these plants and how their growth is influenced by light, water, and crowding. Practice pollinating...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoParamecium Homeostasis
5 Minute Preview
Observe how a paramecium maintains stable internal conditions in a changing aquatic environment. Water moves into the organism by osmosis, and is pumped out by the contractile vacuole. The...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity Experiment: Slice and Dice
5 Minute Preview
Drop a chunk of material in a beaker of water and observe whether it sinks or floats. Cut the chunk into smaller pieces of any size, and observe what happens as they are dropped in the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds
5 Minute Preview
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
5 Minute Preview
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGermination
5 Minute Preview
Plant seeds and watch how many sprout. Examine what factors affect germination. Vary the amount of heat, water, and light the seeds get. Practice designing controlled experiments and using...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoErosion Rates
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Explore erosion in a simulated 3D environment. Observe how the landscape evolves over time as it is shaped by the forces of flowing water. Vary the initial landscape, rock type,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRelative Humidity
5 Minute Preview
Measure the temperature on wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine relative humidity. Measure the dew point by cooling a bucket of water until condensation forms on the surface. See how...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhase Changes
5 Minute Preview
Explore the relationship between molecular motion, temperature, and phase changes. Compare the molecular structure of solids, liquids, and gases. Graph temperature changes as ice is melted...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMeasuring Volume
5 Minute Preview
Measure the volume of liquids and solids using beakers, graduated cylinders, overflow cups, and rulers. Water can be poured from one container to another and objects can be added to...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolubility and Temperature
5 Minute Preview
Add varying amounts of a chemical to a beaker of water to create a solution, observe that the chemical dissolves in the water at first, and then measure the concentration of the solution at...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity
5 Minute Preview
Measure the mass and volume of a variety of objects, then place them into a beaker of liquid to see if they float or sink. Learn to predict whether objects will float or sink in water based...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHeat Transfer by Conduction
5 Minute Preview
An insulated beaker of hot water is connected to a beaker of cold water with a conducting bar, and over time the temperatures of the beakers equalize as heat is transferred through the bar....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoNuclear Reactions
5 Minute Preview
Explore examples of nuclear fusion and fission reactions. Follow the steps of the proton-proton chain, CNO cycle, and fission of uranium-235. Write balanced nuclear equations for each step,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEclipse
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Observe solar and lunar eclipses as the Moon orbits Earth. The full and partial shadows of the Moon and Earth can be displayed, and the Moon can also be dragged around Earth. See what the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRabbit Population by Season
5 Minute Preview
Observe the population of rabbits in an environment over many years. The land available to the rabbits and weather conditions can be adjusted to investigate the effects of urban sprawl and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFood Chain
5 Minute Preview
In this ecosystem consisting of hawks, snakes, rabbits and grass, the population of each species can be studied as part of a food chain. Disease can be introduced for any species, and the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Respiration
- Stem Case
As a medical toxicologist, students learn about cell respiration to save the life of a CIA agent that has been poisoned.
Lesson InfoOcean Mapping
5 Minute Preview
Use a sonar on a boat to remotely measure the depth of an ocean at various locations. Describe multiple points on the ocean floor using their latitude, longitude, and depth. View maps of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Division
5 Minute Preview
Begin with a single cell and watch as mitosis and cell division occurs. The cells will go through the steps of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. The...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBuilding Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
Build a topographic map by flooding a three dimensional landscape with water and drawing contour lines. Draw a profile of a landscape based on the topographic map.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoH-R Diagram
5 Minute Preview
A collection of stars visible from Earth can be arranged and classified based on their color, temperature, luminosity, radius, and mass. This can be done using one or two-dimensional...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhotosynthesis Lab
5 Minute Preview
Study photosynthesis in a variety of conditions. Oxygen production is used to measure the rate of photosynthesis. Light intensity, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and wavelength of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCalorimetry Lab
5 Minute Preview
Investigate how calorimetry can be used to find relative specific heat values when different substances are mixed with water. Modify initial mass and temperature values to see effects on...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoConduction and Convection
5 Minute Preview
Two flasks hold colored water, one yellow and the other blue. Set the starting temperature of each flask, choose a type of material to connect the flasks, and see how quickly the flasks...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides
5 Minute Preview
Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space,...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEffect of Environment on New Life Form
5 Minute Preview
Using the scientific method, control the environmental conditions for a fictional alien organism in order to learn how the organism responds to changes in conditions. Sunlight, water, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides - Metric
5 Minute Preview
Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Tides
5 Minute Preview
Develop an understanding of ocean tides by comparing the depth of water near a dock to the positions of the Moon, Sun, and Earth. Determine the influence of the Moon and Sun on tides, and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGMOs and the Environment
- New!
5 Minute Preview
In this follow-up to the Genetic Engineering Gizmo, explore how farmers can maximize yield while limiting ecosystem damage using genetically modified corn. Choose the corn type to plant and...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSticky Molecules
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Learn about molecular polarity and how polarity gives rise to intermolecular forces. Measure four macroscopic properties of liquids (cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDehydration Synthesis
5 Minute Preview
Build a glucose molecule, atom-by-atom, to learn about chemical bonds and the structure of glucose. Explore the processes of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis in carbohydrate molecules.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoArchimedes' Principle
5 Minute Preview
Place weights into a boat and see how far the boat sinks into a tank of liquid. The depth of the boat can be measured, as well as the amount of liquid displaced. The dimensions of the boat...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHoneybee Hive
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore life in the hive by meeting workers, drones, and the queen bee herself! Visit flower patches to determine the best sources of food, and then perform a waggle dance to let the other...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoForest Ecosystem
5 Minute Preview
Observe and manipulate the populations of four creatures (trees, deer, bears, and mushrooms) in a forest. Investigate the feeding relationships (food web) in the forest. Determine which...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPrairie Ecosystem
5 Minute Preview
Observe the populations of grass, prairie dogs, ferrets and foxes in a prairie ecosystem. Investigate feeding relationships and determine the food chain. Bar graphs and line graphs show...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeed Germination
5 Minute Preview
Perform experiments with several seed types to see what conditions yield the highest germination (sprouting) rate. Three different types of seeds can be studied, and the temperature, water...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoReading Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
Understand how topographic maps work by creating a three-dimensional landscape and observing the corresponding contour lines. See how mountains, depressions, valleys and cliffs are...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoColligative Properties
5 Minute Preview
Determine how the physical properties of a solvent are dependent on the number of solute particles present. Measure the vapor pressure, boiling point, freezing point, and osmotic pressure...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHuman Homeostasis
5 Minute Preview
Adjust the levels of clothing, perspiration, and exercise to maintain a stable internal temperature as the external temperature changes. Water and blood sugar levels need to be replenished...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPolarity and Intermolecular Forces
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Combine various metal and nonmetal atoms to observe how the electronegativity difference determines the polarity of chemical bonds. Place molecules into an electric field to experimentally...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHeat Absorption
5 Minute Preview
Shine a powerful flashlight on a variety of materials, and measure how quickly each material heats up. See how the light angle, light color, type of material, and material color affect...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeathering
5 Minute Preview
Weathering is the breakdown of rock at Earth's surface through physical or chemical means. Students will learn about the different types of mechanical and chemical weathering, then use a...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 2 - Mystery Parent
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
In this follow-up to Fast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics, continue to explore inheritance of traits in Wisconsin Fast Plants. Infer the genotype of a "mystery P2 parent" of a set of Fast...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Carbon Equilibrium
- Stem Case
Mussel farmers in the Arctic Ocean have reported problems with their mussels. They have noticed that the mussel shells have eroded and become brittle. Students take on the role of a marine...
Lesson InfoHeredity and Traits
- Free!
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
Video PreviewAs a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend...
Lesson InfoProtecting Permafrost: Heat Transfer Highway
- Stem Case
Thawing permafrost threatens the stability of critical infrastructure in the Arctic community of Frostville, Alaska. Students take on the role of a civil engineer to design heat transfer...
Lesson InfoCovalent Bonds
5 Minute Preview
Choose a substance, and then move electrons between atoms to form covalent bonds and build molecules. Observe the orbits of shared electrons in single, double, and triple covalent bonds....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHomeostasis
5 Minute Preview
Control a simulated person running on a treadmill. Your challenge is to use clothing, exercise, and sweat to maintain a constant body temperature as air temperature goes up and down....
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFeel the Heat
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Have you ever used a glove warmer to keep your hands warm? How about an instant cold pack to treat an injury? In the Feel the Heat Gizmo, create your own hot and cold packs using various...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGrowing Plants
- Updated!
5 Minute Preview
Investigate the growth of three common garden plants: tomatoes, beans, and turnips. You can change the amount of light each plant gets, the amount of water added each day, and the type of...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhotosynthesis
- Stem Case
As a marine biologist students learn about photosynthesis to help scientists in Australia determine why the coral in the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching.
Lesson InfoHomeostasis
- Stem Case
In the role of a physician assistant, students help a young man, named Anthony, who has Type II diabetes and high blood pressure. Students must make a diagnosis and then must apply the...
Lesson InfoOsmosis
- Stem Case
As a veterinarian, students help a young calf, named Clark, who is having seizures. To determine the cause, the students fly into Clark's brain to learn about osmosis and apply their...
Lesson InfoHeredity and Traits
- Free!
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
Video PreviewAs a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend...
Lesson InfoHoneybee Hive
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore life in the hive by meeting workers, drones, and the queen bee herself! Visit flower patches to determine the best sources of food, and then perform a waggle dance to let the other...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Energy Cycle
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration that occur within plant and animal cells. The cyclical nature of the two processes can be constructed visually, and the simplified...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Grow Wisconsin Fast Plants® in a simulated lab environment. Explore the life cycles of these plants and how their growth is influenced by light, water, and crowding. Practice pollinating...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 2 - Mystery Parent
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
In this follow-up to Fast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics, continue to explore inheritance of traits in Wisconsin Fast Plants. Infer the genotype of a "mystery P2 parent" of a set of Fast...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEclipse
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Observe solar and lunar eclipses as the Moon orbits Earth. The full and partial shadows of the Moon and Earth can be displayed, and the Moon can also be dragged around Earth. See what the...
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHydrologic Cycle
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Paanee, a city in Northeast India, has been experiencing higher rates of flooding than normal. This surge in flooding has been caused by an increase in the hydrologic cycle’s activity....
Lesson InfoNitrogen Cycle
- Stem Case
Video Preview
An infant on a farm has blue baby syndrome. As an EPA environmental engineer, students must find the cause of the baby's illness. Using environment data, students learn the importance of...
Lesson InfoWater Contamination
- Stem Case
Video Preview
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the role...
Lesson InfoWater Crisis: Stoichiometry
- Stem Case
Video Preview
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the...
Lesson InfoCell Respiration
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a medical toxicologist, students learn about cell respiration to save the life of a CIA agent that has been poisoned.
Lesson InfoOcean Carbon Equilibrium
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Mussel farmers in the Arctic Ocean have reported problems with their mussels. They have noticed that the mussel shells have eroded and become brittle. Students take on the role of a marine...
Lesson InfoHeredity and Traits
- Free!
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
Video Preview
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend...
Lesson InfoProtecting Permafrost: Heat Transfer Highway
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Thawing permafrost threatens the stability of critical infrastructure in the Arctic community of Frostville, Alaska. Students take on the role of a civil engineer to design heat transfer...
Lesson InfoPhotosynthesis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a marine biologist students learn about photosynthesis to help scientists in Australia determine why the coral in the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching.
Lesson InfoHomeostasis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
In the role of a physician assistant, students help a young man, named Anthony, who has Type II diabetes and high blood pressure. Students must make a diagnosis and then must apply the...
Lesson InfoOsmosis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a veterinarian, students help a young calf, named Clark, who is having seizures. To determine the cause, the students fly into Clark's brain to learn about osmosis and apply their...
Lesson InfoWater Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and learn how water resources are distributed in these locations.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHydrologic Cycle
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Paanee, a city in Northeast India, has been experiencing higher rates of flooding than normal. This surge in flooding has been caused by an increase in the hydrologic cycle’s activity. Students take on the role of a hydrologist to investigate why the hydrologic cycle’s rate has increased and what can be done to manage flooding and reduce flooding.
Lesson InfoNitrogen Cycle
- Stem Case
Video Preview
An infant on a farm has blue baby syndrome. As an EPA environmental engineer, students must find the cause of the baby's illness. Using environment data, students learn the importance of the nitrogen cycle and how human factors can impact nature.
Lesson InfoWater Contamination
- Stem Case
Video Preview
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the role of a civil engineer to investigate how the water treatment plant has failed to get rid of all the contaminants in the water and design a new method.
Lesson InfoWater Crisis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the role of an environmental chemist to investigate the source of legionella and use stoichiometry to decontaminate the water supply and remediate the disease outbreak.
Lesson InfoRock Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Play the role of a piece of rock moving through the rock cycle. Select a starting location and follow many possible paths throughout the cycle. Learn how rocks are formed, weathered, eroded, and reformed as they move from Earth's surface to locations deep within the crust.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhases of Water
5 Minute Preview
Heat or cool a container of water and observe the phase changes that take place. Use a magnifying glass to observe water molecules as a solid, liquid, or gas. Compare the volumes of the three phases of water.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCarbon Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Follow the path of a carbon atom through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Manipulate a simplified model to see how human activities and other factors affect the amount of atmospheric carbon today and in the future.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFreezing Point of Salt Water
5 Minute Preview
Control the temperature of a beaker of water. As the temperature drops below the freezing point, a transformation of state will occur that can be viewed on a molecular level. Salt can be added to the water to see its effect on the freezing point of water.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWater Pollution
5 Minute Preview
Get to know the four main types of pollution present in the environment, and then look at a variety of real-world examples as you try to guess what type of pollution is represented by each situation. All of the real-world situations can be viewed every day in different parts of the world.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDetermining Density via Water Displacement
5 Minute Preview
Drop objects in a beaker that is filled with water, and measure the water that flows over the edge. Using Archimedes' principle, determine the density of objects based on the amount of displaced water.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoVirus Lytic Cycle
5 Minute Preview
Release a lytic virus in a group of cells and observe how cells are infected over time and eventually destroyed. Data related to the number of healthy cells, infected cells, and viruses can be recorded over time to determine the time required for the virus to mature within a cell.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Energy Cycle
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration that occur within plant and animal cells. The cyclical nature of the two processes can be constructed visually, and the simplified photosynthesis and respiration formulae can be balanced.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDye Elimination
5 Minute Preview
When a foreign substance such as a drug is ingested, it often remains in the bloodstream for a long time. This Gizmo models the elimination of substances from the bloodstream using water and dye. Add dye to a container of water, and then add beakers of pure water while removing beakers of dyed water. The amount of dye remaining is recorded after each cycle. The volumes of all containers can be adjusted, as well as the amount of dye used. This provides a good example of exponential decay.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPorosity
5 Minute Preview
Pour water on a variety of sediment samples to find how much water can be absorbed by the sample (porosity) and how easily water flows through the sample (permeability).
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEnergy Conversion in a System
5 Minute Preview
A falling cylinder is attached to a rotating propeller that stirs and heats the water in a beaker. The mass and height of the cylinder, as well as the quantity and initial temperature of water can be adjusted. The temperature of the water is measured as energy is converted from one form to another.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Grow Wisconsin Fast Plants® in a simulated lab environment. Explore the life cycles of these plants and how their growth is influenced by light, water, and crowding. Practice pollinating the plants using bee sticks, then observe the traits of the offspring plants. Use Punnett squares to model the inheritance of genes for stem color and leaf color for these plants.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoParamecium Homeostasis
5 Minute Preview
Observe how a paramecium maintains stable internal conditions in a changing aquatic environment. Water moves into the organism by osmosis, and is pumped out by the contractile vacuole. The concentration of solutes in the water will determine the rate of contractions in the paramecium.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity Experiment: Slice and Dice
5 Minute Preview
Drop a chunk of material in a beaker of water and observe whether it sinks or floats. Cut the chunk into smaller pieces of any size, and observe what happens as they are dropped in the beaker. The mass and volume of each chunk can be measured to gain a clear understanding of density and buoyancy.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds
5 Minute Preview
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night. Explain the origin of land breezes and sea breezes.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCoastal Winds and Clouds - Metric
5 Minute Preview
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night. Explain the origin of land breezes and sea breezes.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGermination
5 Minute Preview
Plant seeds and watch how many sprout. Examine what factors affect germination. Vary the amount of heat, water, and light the seeds get. Practice designing controlled experiments and using the scientific method.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoErosion Rates
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Explore erosion in a simulated 3D environment. Observe how the landscape evolves over time as it is shaped by the forces of flowing water. Vary the initial landscape, rock type, precipitation amount, average temperature, and vegetation and measure how each variable affects the rate of erosion and resulting landscape features.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRelative Humidity
5 Minute Preview
Measure the temperature on wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine relative humidity. Measure the dew point by cooling a bucket of water until condensation forms on the surface. See how the relative humidity and dew point change over the course of a day.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhase Changes
5 Minute Preview
Explore the relationship between molecular motion, temperature, and phase changes. Compare the molecular structure of solids, liquids, and gases. Graph temperature changes as ice is melted and water is boiled. Find the effect of altitude on phase changes. The starting temperature, ice volume, altitude, and rate of heating or cooling can be adjusted.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoMeasuring Volume
5 Minute Preview
Measure the volume of liquids and solids using beakers, graduated cylinders, overflow cups, and rulers. Water can be poured from one container to another and objects can be added to containers. A pipette can be used to transfer small amounts of water, and a magnifier can be used to observe the meniscus in a graduated cylinder. Test your volume-measurement skills in the "Practice" mode of the Gizmo.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSolubility and Temperature
5 Minute Preview
Add varying amounts of a chemical to a beaker of water to create a solution, observe that the chemical dissolves in the water at first, and then measure the concentration of the solution at the saturation point. Either potassium nitrate or sodium chloride can be added to the water, and the temperature of the water can be adjusted.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDensity
5 Minute Preview
Measure the mass and volume of a variety of objects, then place them into a beaker of liquid to see if they float or sink. Learn to predict whether objects will float or sink in water based on their mass and volume. Compare how objects float or sink in a variety of liquids, including gasoline, oil, seawater, and corn syrup.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHeat Transfer by Conduction
5 Minute Preview
An insulated beaker of hot water is connected to a beaker of cold water with a conducting bar, and over time the temperatures of the beakers equalize as heat is transferred through the bar. Four materials (aluminum, copper, steel, and glass) are available for the bar.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoNuclear Reactions
5 Minute Preview
Explore examples of nuclear fusion and fission reactions. Follow the steps of the proton-proton chain, CNO cycle, and fission of uranium-235. Write balanced nuclear equations for each step, and compare the energy produced in each process.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEclipse
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Observe solar and lunar eclipses as the Moon orbits Earth. The full and partial shadows of the Moon and Earth can be displayed, and the Moon can also be dragged around Earth. See what the Moon and Sun look like from Earth during partial and total eclipses.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoRabbit Population by Season
5 Minute Preview
Observe the population of rabbits in an environment over many years. The land available to the rabbits and weather conditions can be adjusted to investigate the effects of urban sprawl and unusual weather on wildlife populations.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFood Chain
5 Minute Preview
In this ecosystem consisting of hawks, snakes, rabbits and grass, the population of each species can be studied as part of a food chain. Disease can be introduced for any species, and the number of animals can be increased or decreased at any time, just like in the real world.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Respiration
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a medical toxicologist, students learn about cell respiration to save the life of a CIA agent that has been poisoned.
Lesson InfoOcean Mapping
5 Minute Preview
Use a sonar on a boat to remotely measure the depth of an ocean at various locations. Describe multiple points on the ocean floor using their latitude, longitude, and depth. View maps of ocean depth in two and three dimensions, and use these maps to plot a safe route for ships to follow.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Division
5 Minute Preview
Begin with a single cell and watch as mitosis and cell division occurs. The cells will go through the steps of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. The length of the cell cycle can be controlled, and data related to the number of cells present and their current phase can be recorded.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoBuilding Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
Build a topographic map by flooding a three dimensional landscape with water and drawing contour lines. Draw a profile of a landscape based on the topographic map.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoH-R Diagram
5 Minute Preview
A collection of stars visible from Earth can be arranged and classified based on their color, temperature, luminosity, radius, and mass. This can be done using one or two-dimensional plots, including a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of luminosity vs. temperature.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhotosynthesis Lab
5 Minute Preview
Study photosynthesis in a variety of conditions. Oxygen production is used to measure the rate of photosynthesis. Light intensity, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and wavelength of light can all be varied. Determine which conditions are ideal for photosynthesis, and understand how limiting factors affect oxygen production.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCalorimetry Lab
5 Minute Preview
Investigate how calorimetry can be used to find relative specific heat values when different substances are mixed with water. Modify initial mass and temperature values to see effects on the system. One or any combination of the substances can be mixed with water. A dynamic graph (temperature vs. time) shows temperatures of the individual substances after mixing.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoConduction and Convection
5 Minute Preview
Two flasks hold colored water, one yellow and the other blue. Set the starting temperature of each flask, choose a type of material to connect the flasks, and see how quickly the flasks heat up or cool down. The flasks can be connected with a hollow pipe, allowing the water in the flasks to mix, or a solid chunk that transfers heat but prevents mixing.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides
5 Minute Preview
Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space, and water depths can be recorded from a dock by the ocean.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEffect of Environment on New Life Form
5 Minute Preview
Using the scientific method, control the environmental conditions for a fictional alien organism in order to learn how the organism responds to changes in conditions. Sunlight, water, and temperature can be varied to determine their effects on the shape of the aliens.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoTides - Metric
5 Minute Preview
Gain an understanding of high, low, spring, and neap tides on Earth by observing the tidal heights and the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Tidal bulges can be observed from space, and water depths can be recorded from a dock by the ocean.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Tides
5 Minute Preview
Develop an understanding of ocean tides by comparing the depth of water near a dock to the positions of the Moon, Sun, and Earth. Determine the influence of the Moon and Sun on tides, and compare spring tides to neap tides.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGMOs and the Environment
- New!
5 Minute Preview
In this follow-up to the Genetic Engineering Gizmo, explore how farmers can maximize yield while limiting ecosystem damage using genetically modified corn. Choose the corn type to plant and the amount of herbicide and insecticide to use, then measure corn yields and monitor wildlife populations and diversity. Observe the long-term effects of pollutants on a nearby stream ecosystem.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSticky Molecules
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Learn about molecular polarity and how polarity gives rise to intermolecular forces. Measure four macroscopic properties of liquids (cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary rise). Compare these properties for different liquids and relate them to whether the substances are polar or nonpolar.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoDehydration Synthesis
5 Minute Preview
Build a glucose molecule, atom-by-atom, to learn about chemical bonds and the structure of glucose. Explore the processes of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis in carbohydrate molecules.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoArchimedes' Principle
5 Minute Preview
Place weights into a boat and see how far the boat sinks into a tank of liquid. The depth of the boat can be measured, as well as the amount of liquid displaced. The dimensions of the boat and the density of the liquid can be adjusted. See how much weight the boat can hold before it sinks to the bottom!
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHoneybee Hive
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore life in the hive by meeting workers, drones, and the queen bee herself! Visit flower patches to determine the best sources of food, and then perform a waggle dance to let the other bees know where to go. Can you help the bees find enough food to save the hive?
Lesson Info Launch GizmoForest Ecosystem
5 Minute Preview
Observe and manipulate the populations of four creatures (trees, deer, bears, and mushrooms) in a forest. Investigate the feeding relationships (food web) in the forest. Determine which creatures are producers, consumers, and decomposers. Pictographs and line graphs show changes in populations over time.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPrairie Ecosystem
5 Minute Preview
Observe the populations of grass, prairie dogs, ferrets and foxes in a prairie ecosystem. Investigate feeding relationships and determine the food chain. Bar graphs and line graphs show changes in populations over time.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoSeed Germination
5 Minute Preview
Perform experiments with several seed types to see what conditions yield the highest germination (sprouting) rate. Three different types of seeds can be studied, and the temperature, water and light in the germination chamber can be controlled. No two trials will have the same result so repeated trials are recommended.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoReading Topographic Maps
5 Minute Preview
Understand how topographic maps work by creating a three-dimensional landscape and observing the corresponding contour lines. See how mountains, depressions, valleys and cliffs are represented on topographic maps. Fill in the landscape with water to demonstrate that contours are lines of constant elevation.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoColligative Properties
5 Minute Preview
Determine how the physical properties of a solvent are dependent on the number of solute particles present. Measure the vapor pressure, boiling point, freezing point, and osmotic pressure of pure water and a variety of solutions. Compare the effects of four solutes (sucrose, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride) on these physical properties.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHuman Homeostasis
5 Minute Preview
Adjust the levels of clothing, perspiration, and exercise to maintain a stable internal temperature as the external temperature changes. Water and blood sugar levels need to be replenished regularly, and fatigue occurs with heavy exercise. Severe hypothermia, heat stroke, or dehydration can result if internal stability is not maintained.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPolarity and Intermolecular Forces
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Combine various metal and nonmetal atoms to observe how the electronegativity difference determines the polarity of chemical bonds. Place molecules into an electric field to experimentally determine if they are polar or nonpolar. Create different mixtures of polar and nonpolar molecules to explore the intermolecular forces that arise between them.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHeat Absorption
5 Minute Preview
Shine a powerful flashlight on a variety of materials, and measure how quickly each material heats up. See how the light angle, light color, type of material, and material color affect heating. A glass cover can be added to simulate a greenhouse.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoWeathering
5 Minute Preview
Weathering is the breakdown of rock at Earth's surface through physical or chemical means. Students will learn about the different types of mechanical and chemical weathering, then use a simulation to model the effects of weathering on different types of rocks in varying climate conditions.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 2 - Mystery Parent
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
In this follow-up to Fast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics, continue to explore inheritance of traits in Wisconsin Fast Plants. Infer the genotype of a "mystery P2 parent" of a set of Fast Plants based on the traits of the P1, F1, and F2 plants. Then create designer Fast Plants by selectively breeding plants with desired traits.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoOcean Carbon Equilibrium
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Mussel farmers in the Arctic Ocean have reported problems with their mussels. They have noticed that the mussel shells have eroded and become brittle. Students take on the role of a marine chemist to analyze the changes to ocean carbon chemistry and equilibrium to determine the cause of the mussel shell erosion.
Lesson InfoHeredity and Traits
- Free!
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
Video Preview
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend their hives against the wasps. They then pick a new queen bee to pass on these traits to the bee colony.
Lesson InfoProtecting Permafrost: Heat Transfer Highway
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Thawing permafrost threatens the stability of critical infrastructure in the Arctic community of Frostville, Alaska. Students take on the role of a civil engineer to design heat transfer solutions to protect permafrost in a warming climate.
Lesson InfoCovalent Bonds
5 Minute Preview
Choose a substance, and then move electrons between atoms to form covalent bonds and build molecules. Observe the orbits of shared electrons in single, double, and triple covalent bonds. Compare the completed molecules to the corresponding Lewis diagrams.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHomeostasis
5 Minute Preview
Control a simulated person running on a treadmill. Your challenge is to use clothing, exercise, and sweat to maintain a constant body temperature as air temperature goes up and down. Sweating (perspiration) can be controlled automatically by the Gizmo or, for a challenge, manually by the user. Don't forget to eat and drink!
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFeel the Heat
- New!
5 Minute Preview
Have you ever used a glove warmer to keep your hands warm? How about an instant cold pack to treat an injury? In the Feel the Heat Gizmo, create your own hot and cold packs using various salts dissolved in water and different bag materials. Learn about exothermic and endothermic processes and how energy is absorbed or released when bonds are broken and new bonds form.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoGrowing Plants
- Updated!
5 Minute Preview
Investigate the growth of three common garden plants: tomatoes, beans, and turnips. You can change the amount of light each plant gets, the amount of water added each day, and the type of soil the seed is planted in. Observe the effect of each variable on plant height, plant mass, leaf color and leaf size. Determine what conditions produce the tallest and healthiest plants. Height and mass data are displayed on tables and graphs.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoPhotosynthesis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a marine biologist students learn about photosynthesis to help scientists in Australia determine why the coral in the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching.
Lesson InfoHomeostasis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
In the role of a physician assistant, students help a young man, named Anthony, who has Type II diabetes and high blood pressure. Students must make a diagnosis and then must apply the principles of filtration and homeostasis to help Anthony.
Lesson InfoOsmosis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a veterinarian, students help a young calf, named Clark, who is having seizures. To determine the cause, the students fly into Clark's brain to learn about osmosis and apply their learning to save Clark.
Lesson InfoHeredity and Traits
- Free!
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
Video Preview
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend their hives against the wasps. They then pick a new queen bee to pass on these traits to the bee colony.
Lesson InfoHoneybee Hive
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore life in the hive by meeting workers, drones, and the queen bee herself! Visit flower patches to determine the best sources of food, and then perform a waggle dance to let the other bees know where to go. Can you help the bees find enough food to save the hive?
Lesson Info Launch GizmoCell Energy Cycle
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration that occur within plant and animal cells. The cyclical nature of the two processes can be constructed visually, and the simplified photosynthesis and respiration formulae can be balanced.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Grow Wisconsin Fast Plants® in a simulated lab environment. Explore the life cycles of these plants and how their growth is influenced by light, water, and crowding. Practice pollinating the plants using bee sticks, then observe the traits of the offspring plants. Use Punnett squares to model the inheritance of genes for stem color and leaf color for these plants.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoFast Plants® 2 - Mystery Parent
- Free!
- New!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
In this follow-up to Fast Plants® 1 - Growth and Genetics, continue to explore inheritance of traits in Wisconsin Fast Plants. Infer the genotype of a "mystery P2 parent" of a set of Fast Plants based on the traits of the P1, F1, and F2 plants. Then create designer Fast Plants by selectively breeding plants with desired traits.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoEclipse
- Free!
FREE with no time limit!
5 Minute Preview
Observe solar and lunar eclipses as the Moon orbits Earth. The full and partial shadows of the Moon and Earth can be displayed, and the Moon can also be dragged around Earth. See what the Moon and Sun look like from Earth during partial and total eclipses.
Lesson Info Launch GizmoHydrologic Cycle
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Paanee, a city in Northeast India, has been experiencing higher rates of flooding than normal. This surge in flooding has been caused by an increase in the hydrologic cycle’s activity. Students take on the role of a hydrologist to investigate why the hydrologic cycle’s rate has increased and what can be done to manage flooding and reduce flooding.
Lesson InfoNitrogen Cycle
- Stem Case
Video Preview
An infant on a farm has blue baby syndrome. As an EPA environmental engineer, students must find the cause of the baby's illness. Using environment data, students learn the importance of the nitrogen cycle and how human factors can impact nature.
Lesson InfoWater Contamination
- Stem Case
Video Preview
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the role of a civil engineer to investigate how the water treatment plant has failed to get rid of all the contaminants in the water and design a new method.
Lesson InfoWater Crisis: Stoichiometry
- Stem Case
Video Preview
There has been an outbreak of legionnaires’ disease in a small town. This disease is caused by legionella bacteria that proliferate in contaminated water supplies. Students take on the role of an environmental chemist to investigate the source of legionella and use stoichiometry to decontaminate the water supply and remediate the disease outbreak.
Lesson InfoCell Respiration
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a medical toxicologist, students learn about cell respiration to save the life of a CIA agent that has been poisoned.
Lesson InfoOcean Carbon Equilibrium
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Mussel farmers in the Arctic Ocean have reported problems with their mussels. They have noticed that the mussel shells have eroded and become brittle. Students take on the role of a marine chemist to analyze the changes to ocean carbon chemistry and equilibrium to determine the cause of the mussel shell erosion.
Lesson InfoHeredity and Traits
- Free!
- Stem Case
FREE with no time limit!
Video Preview
As a bee scientist, students help a honey farm that has low honey production due to wasps. Students learn about bees, heredity and traits to determine which traits will help the bees defend their hives against the wasps. They then pick a new queen bee to pass on these traits to the bee colony.
Lesson InfoProtecting Permafrost: Heat Transfer Highway
- Stem Case
Video Preview
Thawing permafrost threatens the stability of critical infrastructure in the Arctic community of Frostville, Alaska. Students take on the role of a civil engineer to design heat transfer solutions to protect permafrost in a warming climate.
Lesson InfoPhotosynthesis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a marine biologist students learn about photosynthesis to help scientists in Australia determine why the coral in the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching.
Lesson InfoHomeostasis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
In the role of a physician assistant, students help a young man, named Anthony, who has Type II diabetes and high blood pressure. Students must make a diagnosis and then must apply the principles of filtration and homeostasis to help Anthony.
Lesson InfoOsmosis
- Stem Case
Video Preview
As a veterinarian, students help a young calf, named Clark, who is having seizures. To determine the cause, the students fly into Clark's brain to learn about osmosis and apply their learning to save Clark.
Lesson InfoFind Your Solution
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