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Use these lesson plans paired to articles from the December/January issue of Science News Explores to learn about how the geology of Venus compares to Earth’s and do a short electrostatics lab to help students understand what causes lightning and how it compares to a megaflash.

Lightning is a familiar natural phenomenon, but what causes it? In this activity, students will do a short electrostatics lab with sticky tape. They will also compare what happens in regular lightning with what happens in a megaflash.

Scientists noticed Venus’s weirdly shaped mountain ranges decades ago, but until recently their origin has remained a mystery. Learn how researchers apply computer-modeling technology to existing data, revealing patterns suggesting what might have created such geological features. Answer questions about plate tectonics and discuss how our knowledge of Earth-like processes can help us understand the mysterious geology of other planets.

Walking just 7,000 steps per day can lower a person’s risk of certain health issues, according to a new study. Even a small increase in steps per day lowered health risks.

Researchers are drawing inspiration from the brains of creatures from worms to humans to develop more efficient, more capable forms of AI.

In this activity, students will create their own dioramas. To do this, students will observe their local ecosystem and take pictures of parts of their ecosystem that they believe tell a story. Students will then learn about how dioramas can be used to tell scientific or historical stories and will convert their ecosystem stories into 3-dimensional dioramas.

Contraceptive pills for women emerged in 1960, followed by hormonal implants, patches, vaginal rings and IUDs. But no new contraceptive methods have become available for men. New research could change that in the next five to 10 years.

Scientists predict that, by 2060, one million U.S. adults per year will develop dementia. The new estimate surpasses previous estimates of how many people will struggle with memory, reasoning and language difficulties that interfere with life.

Check out these lesson plans paired to articles from the November issue of Science News to have students use models to understand matter, energy and forces during chemical reactions and learn how the frilly-footed ripple bug inspired scientists to invent a water-walking robot.

Students will consider how atoms and molecules interact with one another. Then they’ll analyze the effects of different types of energy on chemical reactions and how forces impact the motion of gas bubbles in a solution. Students will work in pairs to formalize their thinking using models to understand matter, energy and forces during chemical reactions.

Nature solved a great design ‘feet’ — and engineers are now taking notice. Inspired by water-striding insects, they’ve invented a fancy-footed, water-walking robot. Learn how researchers might look to nature for inspiration in design and invention. Answer questions about the value of analogies in explaining unfamiliar concepts, then discuss possible applications for fancy-footed robots.

Students will learn the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods by observing how covering the holes on a pickleball affects the ball’s drag and motion through the air. Students will leave this activity with an understanding that qualitative and quantitative research methods are both valid forms of research and that personal experiences and qualitative research often precede quantitative research methods.