JoVE K12 | Standards Aligned Science Videos for High & Middle School

Most Watched in High School

01:32

Science Inquiry: Testing Ideas with Evidence

Science inquiry uses evidence to test ideas and refine them over time. Biologists and other scientists begin with observations made by the senses or by scientific tools. Those observations lead to a question and then to a hypothesis, which is a testable possible explanation.

A good hypothesis must be falsifiable, which means it can be disproven if it is wrong. Scientists also think about the null hypothesis, which is the opposite idea being tested. In the slug and cabbage example, one...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 32 seconds

Concept

00:55

Muscle Fibers, Tendons, and Contraction

Skeletal muscle moves the body by pulling on bones through tendons. Tendons are the connective tissue that attaches skeletal muscle to bones. When skeletal muscles contract, they create voluntary movement.

Skeletal muscle is wrapped in layers of connective tissue. The outer layer is the epimysium, which helps protect the muscle. Beneath it, the perimysium surrounds and groups fasciculi, which are bundles of skeletal muscle cells called myocytes. These cells are also called skeletal muscle...

Video Duration: 55 seconds

Concept

01:06

Understanding Force in Motion

Force is a push or pull that acts on an object. It has both magnitude and direction, so force is a vector quantity. In everyday life, force appears when we open a door, walk down a street, lift a fork, or touch a baby's face.

Forces also shape matter at the smallest scales. The atoms in our bodies are held together by electrical forces. The nucleus of an atom is held together by nuclear force, which is the strongest force known to us.

The study of motion is called kinematics. Kinematics...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 6 seconds

Concept

02:32

Electron Sea Model in Metals

Electron sea model explains how metallic bonding holds metals together. In this model, most metal atoms do not have enough valence electrons to form ionic or covalent bonds in the usual way. Their valence electrons are held loosely because metals have low electronegativity, and their ionization energy is low, so electrons are removed easily.

When a metal atom loses these outer electrons, it becomes a positively charged metal ion. The freed electrons form a delocalized electron cloud around...

Video Duration: 2 minutes and 32 seconds

Concept

01:30

Plant vs Animal Cell Division and Specialization

Plant and animal cells differ in how they divide, organize into tissues, and specialize for different jobs. Both cell types divide by mitosis in non-gametic cells and by meiosis in gametic cells, but the details are not the same. These differences help explain how each cell type supports growth and reproduction.

During cell division, animal cells use centrosomes to organize spindle fibers and separate chromosomes. Plant cells do not have centrosomes. Instead, they use a microtubule-organizing...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 30 seconds

Concept

01:18

Electron Orbitals and Energy Levels

Electron orbitals show where electrons are most likely to be found around the atomic nucleus. They also help explain energy levels, orbital shapes, and three-dimensional orientation. In an atom, electron location is described first by a shell, or principal energy level. It is then described by a subshell within that shell and by the individual orbitals inside each subshell.

The first shell is closest to the nucleus. It has only one subshell and one spherical orbital, called the 1s orbital.

Video Duration: 1 minute and 18 seconds

Concept

01:09

Biological Hierarchy from Atoms to Biosphere

Biological organization describes how living things are arranged from the smallest parts to the largest Earth system. Each level adds complexity and builds on the level before it. The hierarchy begins with atoms and ends with the biosphere.

Atoms are the smallest units of ordinary matter. They contain a nucleus and electrons. Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds form molecules, and those bonds are often covalent, ionic, or metallic. Biomolecules are molecules found in living...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 9 seconds

Concept

02:56

Cell Types and Organelles

Cells are the basic units of life, and their structures help explain how living things work. Cell theory says that every living organism is made of one or more cells, cells are the functional units of organisms, and new cells come from preexisting cells. Cells also share key features, including a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, DNA, and ribosomes.

The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer that surrounds the cell. It separates the cell from its environment and controls what enters and leaves.

Video Duration: 2 minutes and 56 seconds

lab_manual

01:29

Electronegativity and Covalent Bond Polarity

Covalent bonds form when two atoms share electrons to fill their valence shells. The way those shared electrons are pulled depends on electronegativity, which is an atom’s ability to attract electrons in a bond. When atoms have similar electronegativities, they form nonpolar covalent bonds. When their electronegativities differ, the bond is polar because the electrons are shared unevenly.

The number of covalent bonds an atom can make depends on its valence electrons. Oxygen has six valence...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 29 seconds

Concept

Most Watched in Middle School

01:29

Graphing and Analyzing Data

Graphing and Analyzing DataGraphs help scientists recognize patterns, make predictions, and explain observations. Organizing data into a graph makes it easier to understand and communicate scientific findings.Different types of graphs represent different kinds of information:Line Graphs – Show changes over time, such as the speed of a moving object.Bar Graphs – Compare values, like the strength of different materials.Pie Charts – Represent parts of a whole, such as how energy is used in a...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 29 seconds

Concept

01:29

Interior of the Sun

Interior of the SunThe Sun is a massive ball of hot gases that provides light and heat to Earth. Scientists study its interior to understand how it produces energy and influences space weather. By learning about its layers, they can predict solar storms and determine how the Sun impacts our planet. Although we cannot see inside the Sun, advanced technology allows scientists to model and study its inner structure.Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting DataScientists...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 29 seconds

Concept

01:18

DNA Structure

DNA StructureDNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. Its double-helix structure, discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick, allows it to store and transmit genetic information efficiently. DNA is composed of nucleotides, each containing a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine). These nitrogenous...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 18 seconds

Concept

01:15

Cell Membrane

Cell membraneThe cell membrane is a thin, flexible, semipermeable layer that surrounds the cell, regulating what enters and exits. It serves as a protective barrier, allowing essential materials—such as oxygen, nutrients, and water, to pass through while preventing harmful substances from entering. Because it is semipermeable, the membrane only allows certain molecules to pass based on size, charge, or necessity. This selective permeability plays a crucial role in maintaining a stable internal...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 15 seconds

Concept

01:20

Global Positioning System

Global Positioning SystemGlobal Positioning System (GPS) helps people find locations with speed and precision. It works by using satellites in space that send signals to receivers on Earth. These signals allow GPS to determine precise positions anywhere in the world. GPS is widely used for travel, outdoor activities, and research. Understanding how GPS works helps us navigate efficiently and make smarter travel decisions.Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using ModelsScientists...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 20 seconds

Concept

01:13

Eclipses

EclipsesAn eclipse occurs when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another. There are two main types of eclipses: solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking sunlight. A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth's shadow to cover the Moon. Studying eclipses helps scientists learn more about the movement of celestial bodies and how shadows are formed in...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 13 seconds

Concept

01:15

Cell Cycle

Cell CycleCells go through a series of stages called the cell cycle, which allows them to grow, function, and divide. This cycle consists of the interphase and the mitotic phase (M phase). Interphase includes G1 (cell growth and normal functions), S (DNA replication), and G2 (preparation for division). Some cells enter G0, a resting phase where they do not divide. The M phase includes mitosis, where the nucleus divides, and cytokinesis, which splits the cytoplasm. Mitosis supports growth and...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 15 seconds

Concept

01:17

Density and Volume

Density and VolumeDensity and volume are important properties that help us understand the nature of matter. Volume measures the amount of space an object occupies, while density describes how much mass is in a given volume. These concepts explain why some objects float while others sink and how different materials behave in various environments.Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Developing and Using ModelsYou can explore density and volume by creating models that demonstrate these...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 17 seconds

Concept

01:20

Bohr's Atomic Model

Bohr’s Atomic ModelProposed by Niels Bohr in 1913, Bohr’s atomic model describes how electrons move in specific orbits around an atom’s nucleus. This model introduced the concept that electrons exist in fixed energy levels and can transition between them by absorbing or releasing energy. Bohr’s model improved upon earlier atomic theories and helped explain atomic spectra, which are the unique patterns of light emitted by different elements. Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Developing...

Video Duration: 1 minute and 20 seconds

Concept