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Bring Real-World Science to Afterschool and Summer Learning

Mission: Rainforest!

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

12 Activities

Mission: Rainforest!

Go2Science

K - 5

10 Hours 25 Minutes

Join Go2Science in the rainforests of Panama in Mission:Rainforest! Use the video-based activities to follow along with Beth and Curtis to research a big question about blue Morpho butterflies. Get students ready to use their observation skills, they might find some surprises along the way!

Start the adventure with Dr. Mitra, learning about blue Morpho butterflies and stating a hypothesis. Then, continue learning about animals and plants in habitats like the rainforest and ocean.

Discover Collection

What if science learning felt like an expedition? Imagine your youth exploring global locations, investigating intriguing phenomena, and tackling engineering challenges, all from your youth program, classroom, or home.

The new Go2Science collection on Mizzen begins with a 12-activity learning adventure set in the rainforests of Panama. Throughout the first four activities in this collection, youth start to test a hypothesis, design butterfly camouflage, engineer insect traps, and build life-size animal posters. Each activity blends hands-on creativity with scientific thinking, helping students investigate how animals interact with their environment.

Thanks to generous partners and donors funding access and equity, all learning resources on Mizzen are available completely free.

To Panama

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

To Panama

K - 5

50 Minutes

With so many questions in science, where does research begin? The hypothesis! Students learn about the hypothesis from entomologist, Dr. Mitra. Then, follow along as Beth and Curtis travel to their field location. Students will then use interactive maps and satellite images to virtually compare locations related to the mission.

Discover Activity

Butterfly Camouflage

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Butterfly Camouflage

K - 5

50 Minutes

Showing up bright and bold? Trying to blend in a bit? Butterfly wings can do both! In the field video, observe how animals use colors and patterns in their habitats. Next, create butterflies with wings that blend into a background when closed, but are flashy and attractive when open.

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Insect Traps

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Insect Traps

K - 5

50 Minutes

Let’s research respectfully! Use scavenged materials to create a model insect trap. Students will think about how to safely capture and release a specific insect and then design a model trap. Before getting started, watch Beth and Curtis demonstrate how this is done in the field using butterfly traps in the rainforest.

Discover Activity

Life-size Animal Posters

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Life-size Animal Posters

K - 5

50 Minutes

As they travel through new areas of the rainforest, Beth and Curtis share many of the animal species they see. Using their observations of rainforest animals, students will apply what they see by arranging and assembling life-size animal posters. Make just one or do them all. It’s up to you!

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Opposable Thumbs

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Opposable Thumbs

K - 5

50 Minutes

Animals have many adaptations that help them in their habitat. The monkeys Beth and Curtis saw playing in the trees had opposable thumbs and opposable big toes! Have you ever stopped to think about how useful your opposable thumbs are? Students play a game to test completing different tasks with and without opposable digits.

Discover Activity

No-sew T-shirt Bags

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

No-sew T-shirt Bags

K - 5

50 Minutes

Beth and Curtis were surprised to see so much plastic waste washed up on a remote tropical island. Did you know many shirts are made with plastics? Students use their creativity to turn old t-shirts into a useful and reusable bag!

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Safe Sloth Crossing

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Safe Sloth Crossing

K - 5

50 Minutes

Sloth crossing ahead! Beth and Curtis were worried the sloth they found would get hurt crossing the road. How can people help protect sloths? Design and construct a way for sloths to safely cross a road. Use observations from the video and new resources about sloths for the sloth crossing design.

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Sound Hide-and-Seek

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound Hide-and-Seek

K - 5

50 Minutes

Have you ever wondered about all the ways animals find their way around in nature? One way is through sound! In this sound hide-and-seek game, imagine how field researchers can listen in on bat sounds even though most of their sounds are too high pitched for us to hear with just our ears.

Discover Activity

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To Panama

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

To Panama

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

Butterfly Camouflage

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Butterfly Camouflage

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

Insect Traps

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Insect Traps

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

Life-size Animal Posters

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Life-size Animal Posters

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

Opposable Thumbs

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Opposable Thumbs

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

No-sew T-shirt Bags

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

No-sew T-shirt Bags

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

Safe Sloth Crossing

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Safe Sloth Crossing

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

Sound Hide-and-Seek

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Sound Hide-and-Seek

K - 5

50 Minutes

Discover Activity

Rainforest Biodiversity Game

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Rainforest Biodiversity Game

K - 5

50 Minutes

From the rainforests and pastures of Panama, Beth and Curtis observe a variety of animals in their habitats. What might happen if habitats change? Students play a game about biodiversity in changing habitats to learn more.

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Zip Line

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

Zip Line

K - 5

50 Minutes

Zip and zoom through this activity just like Beth and Curtis zip lined through the treetops of the rainforest! Teams create their own zip lines and test if they can transport Beth and Curtis from the highest point they can reach to the ground safely, stopping at platforms along the way.

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