Video-Based Science Exploration Menu Covering Biology, Chemistry & Earth–Space Concepts.

Embark on a Spine-Chilling Scientific Adventure this Halloween Season!

Introducing an exhilarating remote learning experience that combines the thrill of Halloween with the wonders of science. This Google Slides lesson unveils a treasure trove of 10 kid-friendly YouTube videos, each delving into the eerie and mysterious phenomena associated with the season.

Ghastly Encounters and Frightening Facts:

1. Ghostly Investigations: Students can unravel the scientific explanations behind ghostly encounters. Are they mere illusions, or is there something more unearthly at play?

2. Vampire Lore Unveiled: Dive deep into the legends of vampires and discover the real diseases that may have given rise to these blood-sucking tales.

3. Genetic Secrets of Black Cats: Unearth the genetics behind the iconic black cats that have bewitched Halloween lore for centuries.

...and much more!

Choose Your Haunting Quest:

Students are bestowed with the power to choose their own adventure. With a simple click on a captivating holiday icon, they'll be transported to a slide housing a video link and intriguing questions. From there, they'll immerse themselves in the spine-tingling mysteries of Halloween.

Flexibility Reigns:

While the assignment suggests completing 4 out of the 10 activities, the choice ultimately lies with the students. They have the freedom to embark on as many hair-raising journeys as they dare

Ignite curiosity, kindle a passion for science, and infuse a dash of Halloween spirit into the learning experience. This choice board promises an unforgettable fusion of education and entertainment. Unravel the secrets of Halloween with this thrilling Google Slides lesson. Get it now and watch as students embark on a scientific quest like never before! Happy haunting!

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SCHOOL/DISTRICT ALLOWS YOUTUBE ACCESS BEFORE PURCHASE.

Grade Recommendation

Best Fit:

• Middle School: Grades 6–8

• High School: Grades 9–10 (as enrichment, sub plans, or early-unit engagement)

Why:

• Tasks rely on viewing, comprehension, explanation, and curiosity-based exploration

• Videos cover a wide content range but are accessible to grades 6+

• Works especially well for mixed-ability classrooms and flexible learning days

Cross-Curricular Connections & Extensions

Cross-Curricular Connections

ELA:

• Students summarize content

• Evaluate scientific claims from videos

• Compare/contrast different Halloween-themed science phenomena

Social Studies / Anthropology:

• “How to Make a Mummy” → Egyptian history, funerary practices

• “Science of Vampires” → Folklore, cultural mythology

Art:

• Students create illustrations of scientific phenomena (e.g., ghost particles, pumpkin growth stages)

Health / Psychology:

• “Chemistry of Fear” → Brain physiology and emotional response systems

Extensions

• Add a CER (Claim–Evidence–Reasoning) response for any completed video

• Have students design their own Halloween-themed experiment

• Create a mini-presentation summarizing two related topics (e.g., ghosts + full moon myths)

• Use as a science station rotation activity during October

Join the Lesson Laboratory and Teach for Tomorrow!

NGSS Standards (Including CCCs + SEPs)

Because this is a choice board covering multiple disciplines, the lesson aligns broadly to the SEPs and CCCs, and partially to multiple NGSS content strands depending on which videos students choose.

Science & Engineering Practices (SEPs)

• Analyzing and Interpreting Data: Understanding video explanations and scientific evidence

• Constructing Explanations: Explaining phenomena such as fear responses or lunar cycles

• Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information: Watching and synthesizing scientific media

Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)

• Cause and Effect:

  • Why fear responses occur

  • Why full moons affect tides/illumination

  • Why spider silk is difficult to synthesize

• Structure and Function:

  • Vampire adaptations in nature (bats)

  • Pumpkin anatomy

  • Spider silk proteins

• Energy and Matter:

  • Chemistry of candy

  • Biological decomposition

Potential NGSS Performance Expectations (vary by topic chosen)

These PEs may be met depending on student choice:

MS-LS1-1 – Structures and functions in organisms (pumpkins, mummies, bats).
MS-LS1-8 – Brain and sensory processing (chemistry of fear).
MS-LS2-1 – Ecosystem interactions (bats, black cats).
MS-PS1-2 – Chemical reactions (candy chemistry).
MS-ESS1-1 – Earth–Moon–Sun system (full moon).
HS-LS1-2 – Interacting body systems (fear responses).
HS-LS1-3 – Homeostasis (ghost explanations related to perception).
HS-LS2-2 – Ecosystem dynamics (species like spiders, bats).

Because students choose different options, the lesson is flexibly aligned, but still strongly NGSS-supported.

Common Core Standards

This lesson integrates Common Core literacy skills due to the video analysis and explanatory tasks.

ELA – Reading and Writing in Science

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7 / RST.9-10.7
Integrate visual and textual information from scientific videos.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2 / WHST.9-10.2
Write explanatory texts describing scientific phenomena featured in the videos.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.9 / WHST.9-10.9
Use evidence from multimedia sources in written explanations.