Content rich movies
How I Use It
I use the movies with a whole class, sometimes stopping to address ideas and questions. My students take turns answering the quiz questions on our interactive whiteboard. If they are not sure of an answer, they can poll their classmates for assistance; this keeps involvement for all high. Students can also record their own answers.
Brain Pop has hundreds of short movies in seven subject areas: Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health and Tech. "Today's Featured Movie" is a short, content rich animation with human and robot narrators, Tim and Moby. The movies give good explanations and definitions of concepts. There are full-screen and closed-captioning options. Movies may be paused for discussion. Each movie is accompanied by a quiz which can be taken in multiple formats including using student response systems. I just viewed "Underground Railroad," in which misconceptions are addressed and explanations are illustrated. Helpful maps, graphics, vocabulary and examples give students lots of contextual information.