5 Ways New Pause Points Make Learning Stick on BrainPOP Jr.

You asked, we listened! Pause Points are now available in BrainPOP Jr.!

In every movie, you’ll now find embedded, interactive moments that allow students to reflect, apply, or connect with what they’re learning — helping them build background knowledge, practice vocabulary, and deepen comprehension as they go. These built-in moments promote active learning, spark meaningful discussion, and provide opportunities for whole-group instruction, check-ins, and formative assessment, right in the flow of your existing instruction.

Each topic includes a set of open-ended questions based on Annie’s Notebook, and many of our most popular topics also include a second set of auto-graded multiple-choice questions, known as Checks for Understanding.

5 Ways Pause Points on BrainPOP Jr. Can Boost Instruction for Your Youngest Learners

1. Engage Prior Knowledge with Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended Pause Points are designed to spark conversation and surface student thinking before a concept is fully taught. These prompts invite students to share what they know, make predictions, or explain their ideas in their own words—by typing, drawing, or speaking their answers.

2. Prompt Students to Reflect and Respond 

Go beyond the movie to build background knowledge. Students now have built-in opportunities to stop and engage with what they’re learning. These short pauses help reinforce key ideas and encourage students to actively process new concepts in the moment.

3. Practice and Apply Tier 2 and 3 Vocabulary 

When students are asked to use academic vocabulary in context, it helps them remember and understand new words. Whether they’re describing an example, illustrating an idea, or selecting the correct answer, Pause Points provide repeated, meaningful exposure to tier 2 (academic terms found across subjects like ‘compare’ or ‘predict’) and tier 3 (subject-specific terms like ‘habitat’ and ‘evaporation’) vocabulary.

4. Check for Understanding in the Moment

Available at launch in select topics*, Checks for Understanding are auto-graded multiple-choice questions that give students a chance to show what they’ve learned in a low-stakes way. These auto-graded questions help reinforce comprehension and give teachers a snapshot of what’s sticking.

Teachers can view responses in their Assignment Report, making it easier to gauge student understanding and adjust instruction as needed.

*We will continue to add Checks for Understanding to BrainPOP Jr. movies throughout the school year.

5. Facilitate Interactive Whole-Class Discussions  

Pause Points are designed to fit naturally into how teachers already use BrainPOP Jr., especially during front-of-class instruction. Whether you’re using them to prompt a turn-and-talk, spark a group discussion, or guide a short wrap-up, these questions offer a simple, effective way to check in with your learners and keep students engaged in the topic together.

Try Pause Points in BrainPOP Jr. Today

It’s everything you already love about BrainPOP Jr., now with built-in moments that encourage students to pause, think, and engage more deeply with what they’re learning. Log in and try Pause Points today—your next movie moment just got a little more meaningful.

Pause Points aren’t just for our youngest learners! Students in grades 3–8 can also benefit from this powerful feature. Discover how Pause Points enhance engagement and deepen learning in BrainPOP for grades 3-8. 

Michelle Strom is associate director, product marketing at BrainPOP. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, and is a former classroom teacher.