Posts on “ Science ”

On Saturday, our own Maia Weinstock represented BrainPOP at the inaugural Science Online Teen unconference in New York City. An offshoot of the popular Science Online held each year in North Carolina, the event’s aim was to get New York-area teens thinking and talking about STEM education, STEM careers, and the ways in which STEM topics are communicated online. The day started out with a rousing keynote speech by Hilary Mason, chief scientist at bit.ly and co-founder of HackNY. Mason discussed how certain well-respected scientists of the past questioned established facts of the day, and how technology has become an incredibly disruptive force within just about every facet of society, especially within the past decade. She challenged the future leaders in the audience to re-think what they know about how the Internet is shaping the future of science, information, technology, and journalism. Next up were interactive sessions and workshops led by teens and professionals in a number of STEM-related fields. Maia led a panel discussion on women in STEM, and participated as well in an excellent session on educational science video games led by 18-year-old Erik Martin. Additional sessions covered a slew of intriguing topics, from “The future of how we learn”… Read the Rest»

Inspired by the Educate to Innovate Campaign, President Obama’s initiative to promote a renewed focus on STEM education, the National STEM Video Game Challenge is a multi-year competition whose goal is to motivate interest in STEM learning among America’s youth by tapping into students’ natural passion for playing and making video games. CALLING ALL TEACHERS with STUDENT GAMERS!  ENCOURAGE your students to ENTER THE CHALLENGE! BrainPOP is once again a proud outreach partner for the challenge and our site is a terrific starting place for you to prepare your students to participate.  Use our STEM Spotlight to introduce key concepts that might inspire your students as entry points for developing game content. In addition, check out GameUp for examples of STEM-based educational games and begin thinking about turning content knowledge into games.  We’ve got lesson plans to help get you up and running, or listen to a webinar and read our blog posts that can help you consider the best ways to bring game design into your classroom.    

Can you train a dog to drool on command? Find out in the Pavlov’s Dog game in BrainPOP’s GameUp! Show your students the Conditioning movie, then let them explore conditioned reflexes through game play. The object of the game is to train Pavlov’s dog to respond to a signal that it will associate with being fed. The simulation will allow students to experience Pavlov’s findings on how animals (and humans) can be trained to respond in a certain way to a particular stimulus. You can find more information about this game on the NobelPrize.org site, or check out our lesson plan for detailed instructions for incorporating the Pavlov’s Dog game into your instruction. How do you teach conditioned reflexes to your students? Share your ideas in the comments!

In addition the many movie topic pages on the solar system, BrainPOP also has three dynamic games to help students learn about space in a fun and interactive way! Build a Solar System allows students to build their own solar system. They can try to find a perfect balance or create a system unlike any we’ve ever seen! Fly to Mars is a simulation that allows students to launch a spacecraft from Earth to Mars. They’ll need to carefully monitor the position of both planets as they orbit and think carefully about the timing of their launch. Drake Equation is a chance for students to explore the likelihood of intelligent life beyond our solar system. Students answer questions to see what our chances are of being alone in the universe. Each game page links to related movie topics pages and a lesson plan which provides ideas for integrating the game into instruction. Teaching about the solar system has never been easier! Do you have other cool activities and lesson plans for teaching about space and the solar system? Share your ideas in the comments below, or submit a lesson plan!

In Simple Machines, the newest science game featured on GameUp, there are spare robot parts all over the Museum. It’s the job of Twitch to go and collect them. It won’t be easy, and that’s the problem: our adorable-but-lazy friend likes things easier. It’s up to you and Twitch to use found objects to create simple machines, devices that will help him solve challenges with a minimum of force, collect the parts and stay out of trouble. Playing this games allows for playful explorations of inclines, planes, pulleys, force, levers, gravity and gears! Special thanks to our friends at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago for developing this great addition to GameUp!  

BrainPOP Educators continue to submit interesting quizzes using the BrainPOP Mixer™ tool.   One of our recent favorites is from @jodonnell from Raymond W. Kershaw Elementary School in New Jersey, who created a “famous scientist” quiz prompting students to match an individual scientist with his or her invention or discovery.  What a cool way to use a multiple choice!  For additional creative ideas to use the mixer, check out these other user stories, or share some of your own in the Mixer user group!

Did you know that BrainPOP’s GameUp features two fun games to help students learn about cells? Both games are adaptable for students in grades 6 through 12. Cell Command (pictured above) provides students with the opportunity to virtually explore cell structures. During game play, students take the helm of a command center of a “cell ship,” working with crew members at their cellular stations. As students embark on different missions, they’ll assist crew members with their duties based on whatever cellular crises emerge. Along the way, crew members will increase their stats and earn station perks. Students will initially start the game as a lowly crew member, working on a single station and improving their own station skills. Completing missions will earn cell credits, allowing players to upgrade their cell ship, their own commander skills or the skills of their crew. By completing all missions the player will unlock Exploration mode and win the game, having learned key concepts in cell biology. More background information on the game can be found on the Filament Games website and in our Animal Cells Lesson Plan: Cell Command. Control of the Cell Cycle allows students to explore the cell cycle through a digital simulation. During game play, students will… Read the Rest»

Last week, Senior Manager of BrainPOP Educators Andrew Gardner presented at the Apple Store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  The topic was “iPad in the Classroom” and Andrew spoke about the device and the specific apps using the SMAR (Substitution, Modification, Augmentation and Redefinition) framework defined by Dr. Ruben Puentedura.  The rise of tablet computing and the rapid adaptation of the devices in schools, requires us to think deeply about best use.   “Substitution” apps do things that you can do with regular classroom tools, like reading a ebook, creating flashcards, or practicing fast facts and phonics.  ”Modification” and “Augmentation” apps do things similar to regular classroom tools but with added functionality, like an ebook that reads to you, an encyclopedia that calculates equations or a magazine that is built around your interests.  The most exciting category is Redefinition apps that do things previously impossible without the use of technology and the device, like building collaborative narrated digital slideshows or helping students with Autism learn social cues. BrainPOP’s favorite example of the using a “Redefinition” app is the first grade project that BrainPOP Educators Eliza Chung and Jan Bird submitted at the end of last school year. Using Puppet… Read the Rest»

You’ve come to expect BrainPOP movies to explain concepts and ideas with clarity, depth and respect. These qualities are especially important when explaining complex and sensitive topics, such as September 11th, the death of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Holocaust.  These difficult topics are also some of the most popular on BrainPOP, because they are difficult to explain concisely. Educators have come to realize that using the BrainPOP movie as an entry point to a conversation gives everyone a common reference point and a language by which to have meaningful dialogue. Our newest topic, Hiroshima and Nagasaki addresses America’s complicated and controversial action of dropping nuclear bombs in Japan during World War II.  Regardless of your opinion about the actions, this movie gives a clear and concise history sharing the unfortunate details and consequences while also addressing the possibilities for what could have happened had the bombs not been dropped. This topic crosses traditional “subject” areas by touching on the history, the science and the social effects of the event. The pensive and thoughtful movie can be a great resource when your students ask questions about World War II or nuclear catastrophe.

The beginning of August means the beginning of the school year is just around the corner and our Back to School spotlight has just want you need to get your students ready for a successful school year.  We’ve included topics such as Online Safety, Bullying, Washing Hands, Getting Help, and Friends so you can build a classroom community and support the optimum learning environment.  Give students a peek at some of the activities and skills they’ll cover throughout the school year with our Reading Skills, Research, Book Report, and Making Observations movies.  We’ve even included some lesson plans and graphic organizers to include in your back-to-school plans! August’s Nature of the Universe spotlight is out of this world!  Satisfy students’ curiosity of outer space with our Black Holes, Galaxies, and Constellations movies.  We’ve also included our very own BrainPOP created game, Chronopticon, as part of this spotlight so students can take an interactive approach to learning about the Earth-Moon-Sun system.  Since we’re lucky enough to experience two full moons this month (August 2nd and 31st), don’t forget to check out our Moon Phases movie to celebrate the occasion.