Posts on “ executive command ”

BrainPOP’s newest topic, ethics, provides an accessible, engaging storyline and a terrific entry point for students to frame and build skills focused on in the Common Core State Standards. Understanding the ethical dimension of reasoning will prepare students for critically evaluating a broad range of topics, from science and technology to history and literature. BrainPOP is making an strong effort to support implementation of the Common Core State Standards by creating new topic movies that consider changes in curriculum and performance based assessment. The Common Core standards for English Language Arts emphasize proficiency in making and evaluating arguments, problem-solving, and critical reasoning. Our ethics movie begins with age old questions – when you’re faced with a tough decision, how do you figure out what to do? What guidelines or examples do you use to make up your mind, and what happens when there’s more than one good way to act?  Tim and Moby offer some simple advice on what to do when you’re faced with tough choices about right and wrong, or good and bad. Students will consider some rules of thumb about ethical decision making, including ways to find a solution that does the most good while doing the least amount of harm. Ethics also primes students… Read the Rest»

The presidential election is just around the corner and GameUp has quite a few games that will engage your students while learning about the election process.  With a special election edition of “Budget Hero,” students will form a better understanding of the budget impact of President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney’s policies, as well as those plans championed by their running mates.  Additionally, our friends at iCivics have created some excellent election-focused interactive games that you can find on GameUp.  “Win the White House” takes students on the campaign trail to explore both the primary and general elections and the Electoral College.  Once they’ve secured the president’s seat, a round of “Executive Command” will give them the opportunity to exercise their power and learn about the day-to-day obligations of our nation’s leader. Not sure of where to begin?  All of our GameUp games have related teacher resources to support the use of these games in the classroom.  And, don’t forget to check out our election spotlight for additional games and movies that are linked to the election.

The popularity of gaming in the classroom is rapidly growing and more studies are proving that it’s not just fun, it actually helps students learn!  iCivics, the developer of GameUp games Supreme Decision, Executive Command, Court Quest, Win the White House, Law Craft, Branches of Power, and Argument Wars, has recently released a video showing how the use of iCivics’ games is being implemented in the Waco Independent School District. To collect data that supports the success of a curriculum that integrates the use of these games, iCivics joined with Baylor University to get their games into the classroom.  The movie begins by explaining some of the important concepts students can learn through playing these games and further goes on to discuss the experiences of students and teachers in Waco ISD.  The positive response from the students and teachers featured in this movie is truly inspiring and motivating.  Be sure to visit the iCivics teachers’ section where you can find a collection of useful resources on how you can integrate the use of their games into your own classroom.    

The popularity of gaming in the classroom is rapidly growing and more studies are proving that it’s not just fun, it actually helps students learn!  iCivics, the developer of GameUp games Supreme Decision, Executive Command, Court Quest, Win the White House, Law Craft, Branches of Power, and Argument Wars, has recently released a video showing how the use of iCivics’ games is being implemented in the Waco Independent School District. To collect data that supports the success of a curriculum that integrates the use of these games, iCivics joined with Baylor University to get their games into the classroom.  The movie begins by explaining some of the important concepts students can learn through playing these games and further goes on to discuss the experiences of students and teachers in Waco ISD.  The positive response from the students and teachers featured in this movie is truly inspiring and motivating.  Be sure to visit the iCivics teachers’ section where you can find a collection of useful resources on how you can integrate the use of their games into your own classroom.  

Guest Blogger Brian M. Adams teaches at Copeland Middle School in Rockaway, NJ. He is caretaker of historyknowledge.com. He is a certified nerd and has no relation to the Canadian rock star.   As a history teacher, review of civics is a must.  In searching for new means of doing so and trying to find a different place to start, I checked with some old friends, Tim and Moby.  At the bottom of the BrainPOP site, I saw an icon for GameUp.  I found a link to Executive Command and I was set.   All my classes met in the computer lab one day.  My goal was for the students to better understand what the jobs and duties of the president.  The students brainstormed previously learned information and after that they logged on to the game.  I gave the students no instruction on how to play, what were the goals or how to score points.   I gave them a sheet which asked four questions: How do you earn points? How do you lose points? What roles do you fill as president?  (Create a list) What conclusions can you make about serving as president?   The assignment led to great… Read the Rest»

Networks are buzzing, lawyers have prepared arguments, and the political parties are anxious to know how the results will impact the November presidential election! Today marks the beginning of Supreme Court hearing regarding the constitutionality of the 2010 Affordable Care Act in the United States.  Are your students talking about it too?  Do you need to explain some of the concepts behind the law, the court or the constitution? BrainPOP is here to help.  Take a look at today’s featured movie, Supreme Court,  to explore the structure of the highest court in the land.  Learn about the checks and balances between the branches of governments and check out our free games on GameUp: Law Craft, Court Quest, Supreme Decision and Executive Command.  Each of these role playing games are engaging, educational and make the student a decision maker.  By using BrainPOP movies and GameUp,  you help students better understand the US political structure, the impact of the hearings and . . .  have fun.