Updated July 2014
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BrainPOP: English

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Fun videos help teach most anything, from Poe to prepositional phrases

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
Skills
  • Communication & Collaboration
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
4–8
Common Sense says
Not yet reviewed
Teachers say (1 Review)
Common Sense Privacy Evaluation

The privacy evaluation process categorizes edtech tools into the following three tiers:

Use Responsibly

Indicates that the service meets the minimum criteria and more research should be completed prior to use.

Use Caution

Indicates that the service does not clearly define the safeguards to protect student information.

Not Recommended

Indicates that the service does not support encryption or lacks a detailed privacy policy.

Use Responsibly
Price:  Paid From $220.
Platforms:  Website

Take a look inside

4 images
From the homepage, click English.
The Famous Authors & Books page offers a wealth of great options.
A variety of teaching options are available -- no need to depend on the videos alone.
Most lesson ideas are broad and very adaptable.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

BrainPOP's English offering includes videos on the full range of ELA topics -- they're best used to supplement and support your existing curriculum. From Roald Dahl and Judy Blume to Charles Dickens and Homer; from nouns, etymology, and context clues to critical reasoning -- there's a lot here. These videos are engaging, high-quality and, despite the stated range of grades 3-12, seem best suited for grades 4-8. This is especially true if using the lessons to preview new content or reinforce a recent lesson -- these are probably the site's best uses.  

Instead of using the CCSS-alignment search, save yourself time and simply pick what looks interesting -- you can always click Lesson Ideas to see any aligned standards. Be ready to adapt the suggested plans to the needs of your students and your own teaching style. Some high school teachers might also find the videos useful as lesson previews. The FYI link with each lesson can also be useful for older students -- it offers a selection of related, complex informational excerpts.

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Standards:

Key Standards Supported

Reading Informational Text

  • RI.3.7

    Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).

  • RI.5.7

    Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

  • RI.8.7

    Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.

  • RI.9-10.7

    Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.

  • RI.11-12.7

    Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.

Writing

  • W.3.8

    Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

  • W.5.10

    Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

  • W.8.10

    Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

  • W.9-10.1

    Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

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Teacher Reviews

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Featured review by
Paige S. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Falcon Creek Middle School
Aurora, CO
BrainPop is an educational resource to reinforce key concepts that are taught in the English classroom.
My overall opinion is that this is an engaging tool to hook students or review content to students. I just learned about BrainPop, and I actually liked it so much that I wrote a grant through our PTCO for a school subscription. I was pleased when my grant was approved, and now all content-areas, both students and teachers, are enjoy learning through BrainPop. I especially like that students can access it through home too for additional support. I will admit that the videos are a little more geared for 6th grade or lower, but I think that 7th and 8th graders wouldn't mind watching a short cartoon to understand a concept again.
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