BrainPOP is an educational technology platform with a robust set of learning content that transcends grade levels and academic subject areas. Provides lesson plans, videos, games and quizzes to support teaching and learning.
For an overview of BrainPOP and its many features, see What is BrainPOP and how can it be used for teaching?
Here is an example high school lesson plan on proportional relationships that is based on the content available on the BrainPOP platform. Please note that this is just an idea for developing BrainPOP content for a lesson, as the platform is quite comprehensive.
Subject: Math
Issue: Proportional relationships
Grade Band: Middle School
Learning objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Describe a proportional relationship
- Create an image that demonstrates proportional relationships.
BrainPOP Lesson Plan: Initial Instruction
To begin the lesson, use a slideshow edtech tool like Google Slides Show students images that illustrate a proportional relationship using real-world examples that students can easily identify. If you want to add a survey aspect to the presentation, use the Solid-Add inside Google Slide, or you can use mentimeter instead of displaying the initial instructional content.
After you have defined and described what a proportional relationship is, “show” students what it “looks like” in their lives. For example, you can show them a graph that demonstrates the proportional relationship between arcade games and the number of tickets needed to play each game (i.e., 1 arcade game equals 2 tickets, 2 arcade games equals 4 tickets, and so on). ). Another example you could share with students is online gaming (i.e. 1 daily quest completed on Roblox equals 10 coins, 2 daily missions equals 20 coins, and so on).
BrainPOP Commitment
After you have completed the initial instruction on proportional relationships, allow students to participate in the BrainPOP platform page aligned with proportional relationships. On the page, have students first watch the movie and then explore the other activities, including games, vocabulary, and related readings. You can also have students make a map, engage in creative coding, or make a movie.
You will notice that there is a lesson plan button in the upper right corner of the page that provides more details on those three activities. And you can always use them as a base and modify them according to your own creativity and instructional needs.
Independent learning
After students have interacted with the content on the BrainPOP platform, give them space to demonstrate their learning. More specifically, ask students to choose any real-life area to focus on (you can remind them of the beginning of the lesson during which you provided the arcade and Roblox examples).
Once students have selected their area of focus, ask them to visually demonstrate two different proportional relationships. Students should also include their own definition of what a proportional relationship is. It may be helpful to provide a free edtech infographic tool for students to create their images, such as canva.
How does BrainPOP connect to academic standards?
BrainPOP has a robust academic standards alignment feature that is prominently connected to content and lessons. In addition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), there is alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), as well as the international educational standards of Australia, Canada, England and Scotland.
What if students want to participate with BrainPOP at home?
An online section is available within the BrainPOP platform dedicated to at-home activities organized by grade groups. In addition to the activity ideas that can be accessed through Google Docs, there is a PDF with family tips, distance learning plans, and video tutorials.
BrainPOP is an engaging and comprehensive platform with learning content for all ages and subjects. Try this lesson plan and see if it helps you improve your teaching and learning in your classroom.
