BrainPOP science implementation guide

Implementation Guide BrainPOP Science units include 4 activity types: Investigations | 40-60 minutes

Standards-aligned lessons that cover a concept end-to-end; each Investigation begins with a real-world phenomenon and culminates in a student-constructed explanation (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning)

Engineering Projects | 90-120 minutes

Problem-based design challenges that guide students through the engineering design process; projects incorporate science concepts and hands-on prototyping with everyday materials

Quizzes | 5-10 minutes

Formative assessments designed to provide immediate feedback; each quiz includes 4–5 auto-graded questions

Individual Resources | 5-20 minutes

Short, versatile activities that highlight one concept or skill; resources are designed to supplement existing lessons and provide extra practice Engagement Resources: Movies, Phenomena Interactive Resources: Data Manipulatives, Simulations, BrainPOP 3D Worlds™

Literacy-Building Resources: Related Readings, Primary Sources, Vocabulary, Worksheets, Sound Bytes

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Implementation Guide

Need help deciding which activity to use?

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Resource Type

Ways to Implement

*See examples on page 3

Phenomena

Real-world images and videos

Use to: engage, explore initial ideas, warm up, launch a discussion

Sound Bytes

Short audio recordings that explore science history and trivia

Vocabulary

Key terms introduced via context clues and images

Use to: engage, build literacy skills

Use to: build literacy skills, review for an assessment

Movies

Classic BrainPOP animations with Tim, Moby, and the rest of the BrainPOP crew

orksheets

Diagrams, tables, and text with scaffolded question sets

5-10 minutes W

BrainPOP 3D Worlds™

Use to: engage, introduce new content, launch a discussion, review for an assessment

Use to: build literacy skills; practice interpreting data, diagrams, and tables

Virtual landscapes where students can observe scientists in action and explore natural phenomena

Use to: engage, practice making scientific observations

Primary Resources

Quizzes

Simulations

15-20 minutes

Data Manipulatives

Related Readings

0-60 minutes

Investigations

0+ minutes

Engineering Projects

4

6

Images and videos of science artifacts and phenomena

Use to: reinforce content, build literacy skills

Short, formative assessments

Use to: assess understanding, support data-informed instruction

Interactive models from PhET and Field Day

Use to: explore before direct instruction, reinforce hard-to-see concepts, collect and analyze data

Interactive graphs and charts created from real-world data

Use to: build data literacy

Engaging informational texts

Use to: reinforce content, launch a class discussion, enrich instruction

Comprehensive lessons that incorporate science writing (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) and real-world phenomena

Use to: introduce a topic, reinforce content, practice evidence-based writing, incorporate science practices

Problem-based design challenges using everyday materials and hands-on prototyping

Use to: review science content, incorporate science practices, enrich instruction, support hands-on learning

Activities include a variety of question types Questions are scaffolded to support students as they build towards bigger, more complex ideas. The questions associated

Auto-graded: multiple choice, multiple select, fill-in-thesentence, fill-in-the-table, classification, match list, label imag

with Investigations, Projects, Quizzes, and resources are designed to reflect those seen on state assessments and to help prepare students for high school. Question types include:

Open-ended: short answer, Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (in Investigations)

© 2025 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Implementation Guide

Resource Examples Phenomena

Sound Bytes

Vocabulary

Movies

Worksheets

BrainPOP 3D Worlds™

Primary Resources

Quizzes

Simulations

Data Manipulatives

© 2025 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Related Readings