redsquirrel Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 I am considering Brainpop and Brainpop jr. Is it something that can be used educationally or is it more of a fun extra? What ages does it work best for? How do you make it work for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Both my girls love brainpop. I use it in several ways... As busywork -- I let them choose whatever they want to watch if I just need them occupied. They do have to answer the review questions. As a supplement -- I will have the kids use it alongside other materials... For instance, if we're studying about Egypt, they watch the video about King Tut... if we're looking about angles, they watch the video about angles. They answer the review questions and check out the other activities or cartoon. As an actual unit -- I've used the videos on disease and body systems to make a "Health" unit. I made a list of the topics I wanted them to view. After watching the video and doing the review questions, they wrote a few sentences and drew a picture about each topic in their portfolio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Same here. Sometimes I assign videos related to our current history or science topic. Otherwise, dd chooses the topic in an assigned area. I usually require either written or oral narration as follow-up. I find the videos to be a great intro. to topics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NittanyJen Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 I support all the PP's so far. This week we have been using BP for review. We are starting to wrap up a year of chemistry with my 8 and 11YO with a few weeks of gee whiz bang experiments and demos... Stuff fom Steve Spangler, Supercharged Science (yes, we did the burning dollar bill last night; it was spectacular), The Happy Scientist, etc, and they have to volunteer ideas about what principles are being put to work. They alo get to pick 1-2 BP videos per day on any chem topic to watch and take the quiz as a kind of year review of concepts we have covered. Just at a time when the chem topic could be getting worn out, it's getting fun all over again :). BrainPOP is one component of that after a year of a lot of reading, note booking, diagram drawing, writing definitions, and writing up lab reports! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie131 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 My grade 1 son loves both brain pop and brain pop jr. We have a free subscription through our school, but it would be worth paying for if we didn't. I have mostly just let him explore the topics he is interested in on his own, but have also pulled videos in that are related to our topics. He has learned so much from it. He would probably spend all of his time on that website if I let him :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 Thanks for the input. I was concerned it was dressed up cartoons. I will check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 (edited) My older two (but still little) LOVE it. Funny story: After watching a nutrition video, Abby has een fascinated with how many calories are in certain foods. It was odd when my five-year-old just turned down a Dum-Dum at the doctor's because it had "too many calories and grams of sugar and that's not good." :001_huh: The PA student kind of stared me down until the pedi came in and vouched for me as a mom. Edited April 7, 2012 by blondeviolin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelBee Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I use it for all of my kids and the girl I tutor. We love it! Once a year in july or august u can get brainpop and discovery streaming subscriptions for 59.00 for both! It is through http://www.onlineg3.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaffodilDreams Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 We use it as a fun extra. Dd8 enjoys it immensely and voluntarily spends time with it. I don't want to kill that for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Same here, for fun and learning... wouldn't pay full price but $60 for both brainpops and Discovery Education is a great deal from G3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raesrose Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 BrainPop Jr. is how I bribe my 6 year old son to finish his work some days. ;) He loves it. I originally thought it was kind of pricey, but he has learned so much and enjoys watching the videos, the cartoons and playing the games. It has definitely been worth the cost to us. I'm glad I splurged on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briartell Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellers Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 I have the free BrainPop iPhone app. My son watches a freebie most days. We use it for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrunchyGirl Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Same here, for fun and learning... wouldn't pay full price but $60 for both brainpops and Discovery Education is a great deal from G3. Sorry, I'm a little new to this. What's G3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelBee Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Sorry, I'm a little new to this. What's G3? I linked it earlier in thread. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 I use it to reinforce something we're studying anyway. I have the 5 th grader do the " test" to make sure he's not zoning out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrunchyGirl Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 I linked it earlier in thread. :) Whoops! Thank you. I have serious pregnancy brain these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketgirl Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 We use it mostly as a supplement. When we worked on biomes and matter, for example, we used it to explain what we were learning, in another way. We often use the extra activities with it. We've been using it now for 2 years. My 2nd grader will use it independently: go into the science section, watch a lesson, complete activities & print them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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