Ever feel like more of a juggler than a teacher? With so much going on in the classroom and so little time to prep, lesson planning often ends up happening in the evenings and on the weekends. Even if you would like to do more hands-on activities with your students, it often seems like it’s impossible to make it happen.
The truth is, time is your most valuable resource. Khan Academy’s downloadable high school science activities, created in partnership with the Adobe Foundation, help you get more of it. It’s like finding extra time in the back of the supply closet.
Created by teachers, for teachers
Khan Academy’s downloadable science activities are carefully researched and developed by our team of former teachers, science researchers, and experts in science education. We’ve done the work and put in the time to create chemistry and physics activities that meet national standards and fit easily into your lesson plans. We’ve brainstormed experiments that illustrate important concepts and phenomena while also engaging students—activities like “How do engineers design roller coasters?” and “How do we know when dinosaurs lived on Earth?” We’ve chosen materials that are inexpensive and easily accessible. We’ve worked through the logistics of each experiment and, most importantly, we’ve tested our work in classrooms to ensure our downloadable science activities are both fun and informative.
Subjects that engage students
Listening to lectures and reading about science are important, but sometimes passive engagement leaves many students drawing on their shoes and sneaking looks at their phones. A study by the University of Chicago showed that when students physically experience scientific concepts, they understand them more fully. Actually doing science by participating in hands-on science activities and experiments not only gets students excited to learn and helps them gain an understanding of the subject but also ensures they retain that knowledge afterward.
Pro tip: Need an engaging activity for your high school science class that’s planned and ready to go? Download this free science activity created by Khan Academy and the Adobe Foundation: “How can a big log turn into a tiny pile of ash when it burns?”
Easy-to-use materials
It’s not just the experiment itself that makes our hands-on science activities rewarding for both students and teachers. Each activity comes with a thorough teacher’s guide that includes a materials list, an answer key, and suggestions for how to help multilingual learners and students with disabilities. The student guide provides step-by-step instructions, printable worksheets, and opportunities for further exploration, so interested students can continue to deepen their understanding of the concepts.
Loved by students and teachers alike
We test our science activities in the classroom and get feedback from students and teachers to ensure the activities are effective and engaging—and to help us continue to improve. Here’s what a few of them had to say:
“I really like this lab. It is simple, interesting, affordable, and explains and gives knowledge. I look forward to doing more labs similar to this one!” — Student participant, “Why Does Food in a Refrigerator Stay Fresh for Longer?”
“…using slow-motion video…gave the lesson a contemporary, technological edge that improved students’ comprehension of the workings of their design.” — 9th-grade science teacher, “How Do Engineers Design Rescue Cushions To Save Lives?”
“Students were able to think creatively and apply their knowledge in novel ways by having the chance to design and test their own creations.” — 9th-grade science teacher, “How Do Engineers Design Rescue Cushions To Save Lives?”
Make science come alive in your classroom with these free hands-on activities!
Students love hands-on science, and teachers know that it develops critical thinking skills, fosters creativity and collaboration, and improves assessment outcomes. Khan Academy’s free science activities help you incorporate more hands-on science into your classroom while freeing up your time for other things like one-on-one time with students. You may even discover you have time to eat your lunch.
