 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
BrainPOP
Common Sense Media says
Videos and activities are fun, accurate, and valuable.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that BrainPOP is a paid subscription site (with some free content available to anyone) that contains animated content, much of which is aligned to state education standards. BrainPOP is designed for kids in fourth grade and up. Lessons begin with a brief animated video and include a wide variety of school- and life-related topics, some that are difficult but handled quite sensitively, including lessons on terrorism, war, sexual reproduction, and alcoholism. There's also a companion site for younger kids, an educational game site called GameUp, and a Spanish language site. Families pay $99 a year or monthly with a year commitment; homeschooling families, schools, and other organizations pay more.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn accurate, age-appropriate information about specific topics within the Sciences, Math, English, Social Studies, Engineering & Technology, Health, and Arts & Music. From gravity to famous scientists and cell phones to soccer, BrainPOP helps kids learn through videos, games, and quizzes. Kids can also use their critical thinking skills to make connections between topics in the same and in different subject areas, helping kids build the concept that most learning, if not all, is interconnected. BrainPOP is a standout website for helping kids learn a well-rounded variety of information.
Subjects
- Language & Readingtext analysis, vocabulary, writing, writing clearly
- Mathaddition, algebra, arithmetic, calculus, division, equations, fractions, geometry, graphing, measurement, money, multiplication, numbers, patterns, probability, ratio, statistics, subtraction
- Scienceanimals, engineering, astronomy, biology, chemistry, ecosystems, electricity, energy, geology, gravity, life cycle, physics, plants, rocks and minerals, substance properties, weather
- Social Studiescitizenship, cultural understanding, events, exploration, geography, global awareness, government, historical figures, history
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningmaking conclusions, part-whole relationships, thinking critically
- Creativity
- Self-Direction
- Emotional Development
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Tech Skills
- Health & Fitness
What's it about?
Although there is limited free content, to get the most benefit from this site consider trying the free trial subscription. If your kid likes BrainPOP's format and content, purchase the subscription. Once your kid chooses a topic (such as history, math or health) and a video within that topic, they press play and watch the few minutes-long video. Each video is accompanied by interactive activities, quizzes and games to reinforce what kids have learned in the video. BrainPOP provides kids with smart, often funny, videos and excellent follow-up activities, too.
Is it any good?
BrainPOP is a standard-bearer for quality, self-directed online educational content for older grade school-age kids. This interactive site includes videos, audio prompts, and graphics in a blended format that will be very familiar to most kids. Kids can spend hours on this site exploring many of the main topics that contain more sub-categories, like the science and math sections. There are some sensitive topics addressed here, such as war and terrorism, but kids are warned to get a parent or teacher to watch that video with them prior to clicking play. A year's subscription is worth it because there's at least a year's worth of content for a kid to explore on BrainPOP.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about any of the videos on BrainPOP that pique your kid's interest, but especially those that are emotionally or intellectually challenging, such as those that address difficult times in history like war and terrorism, social problems, as well as personal health and physical development and videos that contain warnings about smoking cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol use.
Talk about the different ways of learning. Do you remember more when you have an activity to do after watching a related video?
Families can also talk about other educational sites that benefit learning and where to find reliable information online.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn accurate, age-appropriate information about specific topics within the Sciences, Math, English, Social Studies, Engineering & Technology, Health, and Arts & Music. From gravity to famous scientists and cell phones to soccer, BrainPOP helps kids learn through videos, games, and quizzes. Kids can also use their critical thinking skills to make connections between topics in the same and in different subject areas, helping kids build the concept that most learning, if not all, is interconnected. BrainPOP is a standout website for helping kids learn a well-rounded variety of information.
Subjects
- Language & Reading: text analysis, vocabulary, writing, writing clearly
- Math: addition, algebra, arithmetic, calculus, division, equations, fractions, geometry, graphing, measurement, money, multiplication, numbers, patterns, probability, ratio, statistics, subtraction
- Science: animals, engineering, astronomy, biology, chemistry, ecosystems, electricity, energy, geology, gravity, life cycle, physics, plants, rocks and minerals, substance properties, weather
- Social Studies: citizenship, cultural understanding, events, exploration, geography, global awareness, government, historical figures, history
- Arts: acting, choreography, dance, drawing, film, music, painting, photography, rhythm, singing, theater
- Hobbies: sports
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning: making conclusions, part-whole relationships, thinking critically
- Creativity:
- Self-Direction:
- Emotional Development:
- Communication:
- Collaboration:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Tech Skills:
- Health & Fitness:
How kids will learn
Kids will learn by watching the engaging, sometimes funny, short videos starring characters Tim & Moby. Kids can also complete the activities related to the topic, including playing games and taking quizzes. BrainPOP's learning approach is to introduce a broad range of diverse topics to kids in ways that provide accurate information and empowers them to use that information in ways that promote recall. BrainPOP also provides more educational game options in their GameUp section, as well as a site for teachers.
How parents can help
- If your kid is studying a certain topic in school, especially if it's one with which they're struggling, try viewing a BrainPOP video on that topic together for an alternative explanation.
- Consider using BrainPOP as a supplemental learning tool, perhaps daily over summer break, for a well-rounded knowledge base.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
January 14, 2013
AGE
BrainPop!
I didn't know about BrainPop until I went to middle school. I instantly loved it. It's a really good website for learning. I don't have to pay for membership because my school has a login username and password which I can use anytime, anywhere. All my teachers use it everyday and it's fun. Tim and Moby are entertaining and even though Moby doesn't speak English, you can tell what he's saying because of Tim. There's a joke at the end of each video (but sometimes corny). There's a 9/11 video, but you get a warning that it contains harsh topics before you watch the actual video and you can choose not to. Everything Tim and Moby teach is very educational. There's also a gaming section, where users can play educational games. They're pretty fun. I recommend Argument Wars. It's really fun. Overall, this website is really fun and educational. You should definitely get a membership.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 14 years old
January 15, 2013
AGE
Great site
I think it's a great learning site but sometimes they say the word "sex"
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Kid, 12 years old
January 15, 2013
AGE
silvonadux
I used to homeschool with my mom and we found brainpop! This is a totally safe website that explanes ways to do math,(division, fractions, geometry, algebra, etc.) more stuff for school, (world studies, art, music, culture, science, computers, etc.) and even things in our everyday life! (bullying, internet safety, hobbies, puberty, health, athsma/ allergies,cyberbullying, etc. etc. etc.) some schools use them for examples sometimes! And they have little quizes and activities and even some humor in most of their videos. To make a long review short, I'd say that THIS IS THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT'S FUN!!!
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Kid, 9 years old
January 16, 2013
AGE
Nice, but should be free for everyone
This website is awesome, but you have to buy a membership to unlock everything. However, you can play games for free, watch some videos, or get a 5 day free trial. 5 stars!
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Kid, 11 years old
January 20, 2013
AGE
OK but the people just want money
Its THE best website for kids but the one problem is you need to pay about $12 for a WEEK of membership but overall its perfect for leaarning for your child
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Educator
January 15, 2013
AGE
Great Website!
I love BrainPOP! It is fun and interactive and very informative, even for high schoolers. I highly recommend it!
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Kid, 10 years old
February 8, 2013
AGE
Thanks,Tim!
This site has everything.Its aimed towards 4th grade and up,so I think you should use brainpop jr if you have younger kids.I use the app and the games on the website all the time!(the app is $0.99)
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Kid, 9 years old
January 17, 2013
AGE
awesome ∞ ←→ (infinity) times!!!!!!!!
this is great for people who are homeschooled. math, health ,social studies,reading,science, language arts,and every day life
***brainpop jr+brainpop+brainpop esl***
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Parent of 9 year old
March 3, 2013
AGE
My 9 year old son loves brain pop
We discovered Brain Pop only in the last month. My 9 year old will watch videos for Language arts,math,science,history, and PE. He loves it and it makes even those most boring language fun. He only watches videos when scheduled for a certain area he is working on through virtual/homeschooling. It helps him learn, but he watches it more for the fun characters.
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Teen, 13 years old
March 21, 2013
AGE
Great for Learning!
This website is great for learning! The videos are very helpful. The way Tim explains stuff is easy for kids and teens to understand. It isn't complicated. Plus the end of each video usually includes some humor, so that will draw kids in. I recommend this for ages 8 and up.
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| Genre: | Educational |
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