11 Great Science YouTube Channels

Need some independent options for learning science at home? YouTube science channels to the rescue! 

Here are 11 great YouTube channels for learning science at home.

(Helpful Hint: You can go to "Playlists" on any of these channels to see a more organized format for all of that channel's videos.)

(Disclaimer: I do not have experience with every single channel on this list. As far as I can tell, these channels are all appropriate for students, but if not please let me know and I will remove it from the list! The ones I have personal experience with are The Action Lab, Smarter Every Day, Physics Girl, The Sci Guys, and Mark Rober.)

• The Action Lab. "The Action Lab is a channel dedicated to performing exciting experiments and answering questions you never thought to ask! I'll put things in my hydraulic press, vacuum chamber and perform countless other experiments just to watch cool phenomenon." The creator of this channel has a PhD in Chemical Engineering. We love his videos!

• Smarter Every Day.  "I explore the world using science. That's pretty much all there is to it. Watch 2 videos. If you learn something AWESOME, please subscribe if you feel like I earned it." We have really enjoyed this channel's videos. 

• Physics Girl. "Physics Girl is a YouTube channel created by Dianna Cowern that adventures into the physical sciences with experiments, demonstrations, and cool new discoveries. Physics Girl has videos for every atom and eve." She has some really great videos.

• Crash Course Kids. "Welcome to Crash Course Kids! This bi-weekly show from the producers of Crash Course is all about gradeschool science. We'll look at Earth, Habitats, Space, Chemical Reactions, Engineering, and much much more with host Sabrina Cruz."

• The Sci Guys. "The goal of our YouTube channel is to explore, educate, and spread all the amazing wonders of science with everyone young and old. Our first series is Science at Home. Which will focus on experiments and demonstrations that can be completed from home either by yourself or with your family. We will explain the science behind each of the experiments, what supplies you need and how to do the experiments yourself."

• Applied Science. "Subscribe to see interesting applications of science and technology. You'll see how an electron microscope was built in a home shop, how an X-ray backscatter system works, how to make aerogel, and many other hi-tech projects. Topics usually include electromechanical systems, chemistry, and electronics." 

• Minute Physics. "Simply put: cool physics and other sweet science. "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." ~Rutherford via Einstein? (wikiquote)"

• The Backyard Scientist. "I like to make videos on all the crazy stuff I do. From exploding arrows, to making instruments, molten aluminum to science/chemistry experiments - I do it so you don't have to!" 

• Periodic Videos. "Your ultimate channel for all things chemistry. A video about each element on the periodic table. And we upload new videos every week about science news, interesting molecules and other stuff from the world of chemistry."

• Mark Rober. "Former NASA engineer. Current YouTuber and friend of science." Mark has some pretty cool (and crazy!) videos.

• Make Science Fun. "Science and Engineering based videos aimed to Excite, Engage and Educate."

FREE Online Math Resources for Temporary (and Not So Temporary!) Homeschoolers

Suddenly new to homeschooling due to social distancing? Don't panic. Hopefully I can help. Take a deep breath, and take it one step at a time. 

This is the first of a series of posts of online resources that will (hopefully) help you teach your kids at home for the remainder of the school year. Most (if not all) of the resources are free or almost free. Bonus! I also tried to choose resources that are flexible enough that they can easily be used at this point in the school year as opposed to a full year curriculum.

I suggest starting with the subject each child needs the most and find what works. Then, add in the next weakest subject. Then, one by one, subject by subject, your children will get a home education for the rest of the school year. 

Again, don't panic. Deep breath. You CAN do this! And remember, one of the best things about homeschooling is its flexibility. Is the math/language arts/history/xyz not working for your child? Toss it to the curb and try another one until you find what works. It takes most homeschooling families a while to find their groove, and that's ok. Also, what works for one child may not work for another.  And that's ok, too. You can pick and choose what works for your family and situation. 

I will start with the dreaded subject for most homeschooling moms: Math! (dun, dun, dun!)

ONLINE MATH RESOURCES:

• Xtra Math  - A Free Web Program for students, parents, and teachers

• Math with Khan Academy - We used Khan Academy math to fill in one spring a few years ago when the math we were using just wasn't working for us. Both my kiddos liked it. Kahn Academy has lots of courses (all subjects) through high school. (A heads up on Khan Academy: sometimes they like to sneak political ideology into their lessons, which can be annoying/frustrating, particularly if you think politics don't really belong in, say, a language arts lesson for a 5th grader. Just something to be aware of!)

• Education.com - This website has printable worksheets, online games, and guided lessons (all subjects) for Preschool through 5th grade. You can filter by grade, subject, or lesson type. (Note: you can only download/print/play? a very limited amount of resources per month with a free account. However, you can get 50% off a Premium subscription right now for a limited time. At 50% off, membership prices range from $5.00 to $8.50 for the first month.)

• Mammoth Math Online Practice - free online practice for various math concepts, including addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, telling time, angles, greatest common factor, and more. 

• HelpingWithMath.com is for anyone who needs help with math or who wants to help others with math at the K-8 level. It provides math resources that help students to practice what they are learning at home and at school. 

• FreeEducationalResources.com - Free math resources for preschool through 6th grade

If needed, you can find even more math resources on my Homeschool Math Pinterest board!