Mystery Science is a digital, K-5, ready-to-use multimedia science and STEM curriculum resource used in more than 50% of United States’ elementary schools each month. This powerful resource helps educators turn the conventional approach of answering children’s questions on its head to support the academic growth of millions of students across the country.
Mystery Science features simple-to-use science lessons that inspire students to love science. Each lesson begins with a question and students explore these questions through interactive videos that foster a sense of wonder by actively supporting student engagement in accompanying discussion prompts. Each lesson is accompanied by a hands-on lab that utilizes simple science supplies. Mystery Science contains everything teachers need to get students engaged in hands-on science and make that subject the best class of the day. This simple approach, and the services’ ease of use, makes science instruction easy and fun for both educators and students.
Available in English and Spanish, Mystery Science is used in many ways with the purpose of inspiring students to stay curious.
Formats/platforms used:
Mystery Science is a standalone product for use in any learning environment. It is also available on Discovery Education’s award-winning K-12 learning platform.
Together, Mystery Science and Discovery Education provide the best resources for all teachers, whether they have 5 minutes or 2+ hours for science instruction. The Daily Learning Platform offers engaging STEM careers content that introduces students to a variety of career paths, while Mystery Science deepens understanding through hands-on STEM experience rooted in real-world phenomena.
The combination of award-winning products allows schools and districts to:
- Grow student understanding of science through hands-on explorations to deepen the connection between the digital and physical world.
- Align to any teacher's instructional needs with a wide range of resources to meet them where they are – whether they are expert teachers or new teachers who are just getting started!
- Ensure that every school in the district has access to high-quality STEM, enrichment, and Career and Technical Education resources that are easy to use and readily available.
- Illustrate a clear pathway to excellence in teaching hands-on science in the spirit of NGSS and state standards.
Primary website’s URL:
https://www.discoveryeducation.com/programs/science/mystery-science/
Problem solved:
Mystery Science provides simple-to-use lessons aligned to learning standards. Each lesson begins with a question that students find interesting, and students explore these questions through interactive videos fostering a sense of wonder and actively supporting student engagement in accompanying discussion prompts and labs using simple science supplies.
Mystery Science contains everything teachers need to engage students in hands-on science. Video-based, open-and-go core, national and states standard-aligned, and mini lessons, driven by questions from real students, guide the exploration of the world around us and inspire curiosity. Through hands-on science and engineering activities, Mystery Science makes science fun to learn, easy to teach, and memorable for all, in person or at a distance. This solves the problem of educators finding relevant, engaging, and effective science teaching resources.
Grade/age range:
Mystery Science is designed for students in grades K-5.
Core or supplemental:
Mystery Science has a lesson that aligns with every NGSS performance expectation, and each of our Mysteries supports at least one performance expectations of the NGSS.
The service also has an NGSS alignment document that shows how Mystery Science supports the core ideas, practices, and cross-cutting concepts. In each Mystery, students are engaging in the scientific & engineering practices in order to develop an understanding of the disciplinary core ideas of the NGSS. Each Mystery also includes opportunities to make connections to the cross-cutting concepts.
Standards:
Mystery Science is aligned to NGSS and state standards. For example, Mystery Science Texas is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards and makes it easier than ever to integrate highly engaging digital resources into K-5 science instruction across the Lone Star state. Specially designed for Texas schools and districts, Discovery Education Science for Texas combines deep, rigorous science content that is fully aligned to the TEKS, ready-to-use activities, and interactives with new, easy-to-use lessons available through Mystery Science—all in one dynamic platform to better serve teachers and students.
Hawaii’s Kihei Elementary School relies upon Mystery Science to aid in the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards and promote hands-on learning. Iowa’s Southwest Valley Community School District uses Mystery Science for K-5 science across the district. In another example, Oklahoma’s Yukon Public Schools relies upon Mystery Science to capitalize on students’ sense of wonder and natural curiosity.
Lesson time needed:
5 minutes – 2 hours.
Pricing model:
Mystery Science is available for purchase at the district and state level. Single year and multi-year memberships are available. Learn more here: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/programs/science/mystery-science/
Mystery Packs make it even easier to teach hands-on science. Packs include all the materials needed to teach a year of Mystery Science content for 30 students. Learn more here: https://mysteryscience.com/packs
Mystery Science and Mystery Packs are also available for purchase through ESSER funds.
Additional services needed:
Mystery Science is available for purchase alone or with Discovery Education’s award-winning K-12 learning platform.
What makes Mystery Science unique?
Mystery Science features simple-to-use science lessons that inspire student curiosity and are easy for teachers to use. Lessons highlight engaging phenomenon using student questions and compelling storytelling. Each lesson includes an interactive exploration and a hands-on lab with materials that are easily sourced. Mystery Science is a continually evolving resource, with new lessons and mini-lessons added on a regular basis, ensuring that content is relevant and up-to-date.
Mystery Science contains everything teachers need to get students engaged in hands-on science and make that subject the best class of the day. This simple approach, and the services’ ease of use, makes science instruction easy and fun for both educators and students.
Characteristics:
Mystery Science is carefully designed to have a smooth and easy-to-use student and educator experience. The Mystery Science product design team runs educator testing and feedback sessions weekly to understand teachers’ experiences, challenges, needs, and motivations. Each feature of Mystery Science has been reviewed with teachers and iterated on based on their feedback while also inspired by cutting edge innovations in digital teaching and learning practices and pedagogies.
Mystery Science is a K-5 science curriculum is designed to engage students in inquiry-based learning and help them develop a deep understanding of scientific concepts and practices. Mystery Science is designed to be engaging and accessible for all students, regardless of their prior knowledge or experience with science.
Mystery Science emphasizes inquiry-based learning, where students investigate real-world phenomena and use their knowledge of scientific concepts and practices to make sense of the world around them. This approach can help students develop critical thinking skills and a deep understanding of scientific concepts.
Using Mystery Science can help students develop a strong foundation in science that will prepare them for success in later grades. Mystery Science also allows for flexible implementation depending on the needs and resources of schools.
Here’s what users are saying:
“Mystery Science brings a science expert into your classroom to help delivery simple, clever, and fun activities. Each lesson is framed by an age-appropriate, high-interest scenario that is guaranteed to engage learners from the very start. It’s NextGen all the way and it’s FUN!”
-- David, Science Teacher
“I love this resource and it is the BEST out of everything I’ve ever seen or used. Thank you for what you’re doing for science education.”
-- Courtney, 4th grade teacher, South Carolina
“Just started our first unit (The Human Machine) and both my students and I are hooked. Adding in the anchoring layer is a GAME CHANGER! Thank you Mystery Science for always stepping up your game. I’ve been obsessed with your resources for years, but this year really seems to be incredible.”
-- Molly, 4th grade teacher, IL
"I use mystery science videos and science lessons with the 5th, kinder and first graders especially. The videos are first-rate. The science vocabulary and content are aligned with the Texas TEKS. The variety of content make mystery science interesting and unique. Not your regular YouTube video."
-- Debbie, K-5 teacher, TX
