Activities

Explore UT is open to the general public with online programming that is accessible to all. Activities specifically designed for K-12 students include an indication of a suggested grade level, denoting the difficulty of the concept or activity presented. Some programs will require participants to join virtual platforms (Zoom, Brazen, etc.). Children who are participating in these programs must be monitored by an adult chaperone (parent, guardian or a teacher) in order to join the virtual platform. Some may require verification that a chaperone will be present in order to register for participation.
 
Anytime

Your Brain on Social Media

Spending more time than ever in front of a screen? Learn how screen time and social media can impact your brain. Dell Med students Anne Nguyen, Ananya Roy, and Karina Albab have created a video discussing the positive and negative mental health outcomes of social media use.

Dell Medical School Science
Anytime

Wild Weather in Central Texas

A look at the basic definitions of weather and climate and the actual elements of weather (things we observe and forecast) as well a brief look at the various weather hazards that we experience here in Central Texas.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

What’s Cooking?

Take the "Which Nutrition Job Best Fits Your Personality?" quiz and then discover more about nutrition professions by navigating through fun interviews with future Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

College of Natural Sciences Science
Anytime

Emergency Preparedness for Families

The discovery module on emergency preparedness will help teach kids and families about how to be prepared for emergencies such as fires, floods, winter storms, and man-made disasters. This short program will cover important information, such as a checklist on how to build an emergency kit, tips to remain safe in different types of emergencies, the dos and don’ts of certain unsafe situations, emergency numbers to keep on hand, and a mix of games and quizzes to engage viewers and facilitate learning. By being aware of the different roles, resources, and responsibilities involved in emergency preparedness and disasters, you can help keep yourself, your family, and community safe.

School of Nursing Science
Anytime

Create Your Own Mini Brain Model

Dell Med neurologist Dr. Steve Steffensen helps Central Texas K-12 students gain a hands-on understanding of the brain by creating their own mini brain models. Try it out at home with easy to find materials!

Dell Medical School Science
Anytime

Hurricanes and the Texas Coast

Hurricanes, one of the most powerful natural hazards, are intense low-pressure weather systems that form in tropical waters. In this presentation you will learn more about hurricanes and how these powerful storms have impacted the Texas coastal environment.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

Discover how Plants Talk, Move and Feel

Join Greg Clark from the Freshman Research Initiative Cell Signaling team to discover how plants have unexpected abilities to sense and respond to stimuli and "talk with" each other and with animals. Learn how plants sense and respond to changes in their environment and how plants are able to communicate using a chemical language.

College of Natural Sciences Science
Anytime

Computing for All

The Texas Advanced Computing Center at UT Austin is home to some of the fastest supercomputers in the world. Researchers and students use cutting-edge technologies to help advance knowledge on climate change, space debris, and urban waterways.

Texas Advanced Computing Center Science
Anytime

Why Do We Need Reliable Water Sources?

Join the campers from the 2020 Dell Medical School Health Sciences Virtual Summer Camps to learn about cholera and the importance of reliable sources of clean water for public health.

Dell Medical School Science
Anytime

Switch On

Join Dr. Scott Tinker on an amazing global adventure to remote corners of Africa, Asia and Latin America to meet leaders, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens working to eradicate 'energy poverty' in their countries. In a journey that's enlightening and emotional, uplifting and unforgettable, Switch On will change the way you look at energy and the developing world forever. The entire documentary is approximately one hour and 20 minutes long. Links to the Switch On Energy Poverty video series which are approximately 20 minutes long each are also included in this educational resource.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

Build a Lung Model

Building a model of the human lungs and diaphragm using balloons to understand how they work. Our lungs are vital to our body's respiratory system and our ability to acquire oxygen. The bottom balloon works like your diaphragm, which is a strong muscle that expands and contracts, causing the lungs to fill with air and then emptying it.

Cockrell School of Engineering Science
Anytime

Connect with IT@UT

Come learn about the technology we use everyday! We have two different sets of activities based on grade level. For our middle, junior, and high school students, we have a technology crossword and word search. For our younger elementary students, we have two activities. The first is a presentation about S.M.A.R.T. safety tips when using technology and the internet. 

Information Technology Services Science
Anytime

A Day in the Life of a Pre-Med Student

Meet three undergrad students on their medical school journey while they share their experiences as they prepare for medical school. They will walk you through their undergrad academic, extra-curricular, and leisure decisions and share what they’ve learned throughout their experience.

Dell Medical School Science
Anytime

Switch

Switch explores the world’s leading energy sites, from coal to solar, oil to biofuels, and gets straight answers from the international leaders driving energy today. This documentary is approximately one hour and 40 minutes long. Links to the Switch Energy lab video series are also included in this educational resource. 

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

Space: Fact vs. Fiction

This video presentation of Space: Fact vs. Fiction contrasts a number of common and not so common misconceptions about space by sharing the real facts about those issues. Issue topics include gravity, living in space, rockets, atmospheric entry, the costs and benefits of space exploration, the civilian space program, Star Trek and extra-terrestrials.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

This is Public Health

Public health professionals are leading the response to the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide. This video presentation will use the pandemic to answer the question “What is Public Health?” and provide high school teachers with resources to help them explore this dynamic and impactful field with their students. Participants will also learn about the UT Austin Undergraduate Public Health Program and meet some of UT Austin’s public health graduates!

College of Natural Sciences Science
Anytime

Livestrong at School

Education is a critical component of Livestrong Cancer Institutes’ mission and work. The goal of these programs is to reinvigorate cancer education at every age. Explore Livestrong Cancer Institutes’ podcast, curriculum, and program opportunities!

Dell Medical School Science
Anytime

Carbon Dioxide: Too Much of a Good Thing?

Many students have heard about the dangers of climate change, but don’t know how it happens or what we can do to reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that’s already in the air. Discover how scientists from the Gulf Coast Carbon Center hope to change this by educating communities about the greenhouse gas effect and the benefits of carbon capture and storage.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

Choose Your Own Nature Tour

This virtual nature tour of the UT campus and around Austin utilizes the format of a choose-your-own-adventure game. Players can choose where to go, what to see, and with which systems they want to interact. Along the way, adventurers can discover the variety of ecosystems that exist and the organisms that inhabit them.

College of Natural Sciences Science
March 5, 2021, 9 to 9:30 a.m.

Everybody Chill Live Performance

Join the UT Austin Physics Circus as they use do extremely "cool" science demos to show how temperature relates to the three states of matter. They might even show you how to turn a banana into a hammer.

College of Natural Sciences Science
March 5, 2021, 11 a.m. to noon

Mental Health Promotion and the Pandemic

Living during a pandemic presents challenges that none of us ever expected to deal with. With increased isolation, we may find ourselves swimming in worries or lacking motivation to complete tasks. Join us to learn how to identify strategies to improve your mental health. We'll share practical ways to put those strategies into practice, even when you are stuck at home on Zoom.

School of Nursing Science
March 6, 2021, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

I Think I Want to be a Nurse

Meet current UT nursing students as they answer common questions about what it is like to be a nursing student in nursing school.

School of Nursing Science
March 6, 2021, 11 a.m. to noon

The Life Saving Drug in the Opioid Epidemic

One of the major health issues facing our society is the epidemic caused from the overuse of opioid drugs. For many, it hits very close to home.  Would you know what to do if you found someone passed out on the couch – are they napping, did they drink too much, did they overdose on painkillers? Learn how to assess a potential overdose through our interactive opioid overdose rescue training.

College of Pharmacy Science
March 6, 2021, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Fire, Tungsten Wire, Glass Tubing and a One of a Kind Light Bulb

Join in for video demonstrations of glass blowing and live Q&A with UT Austin glassblowers. This show is part of the Girl Day at UT Austin experience. Learn more and register to join in.

College of Natural Sciences Science