Do You Brain Pop?

Hey yall! Friday is so close I can smell it....almost there. I think I can, I think I can...

Do you know who these little characters are?

 

If you don't know who they are, you are living in the dark ages, my friend.

But if you are, in fact, living in the dark ages, then let me introduce you to Annie and her robot friend Moby.

These are the awesome little characters from Brain Pop Jr., my most favorite online resource.

We seriously watch a Brain Pop video 2-3 times a week...sometimes in a day! 

Take today for example. 

We had a little health lesson on sugar. First, we watched a Brain Pop video on how to eat healthy, and not eat or drink things with too much sugar. Then we completed a little activity that showed us how much sugar are in sodas, chocolate milk, and fruit punch.

 

This is how much sugar is in one can of Coke. Umm....does not that gross you out? Yuck. 

Then during English, we started learning about homophones. So how did I introduce my littles to homophones? Why, with Annie and Moby, of course! We watched a funny video that taught us all about the different types of homonyms.

Then we read the book "Dear Deer" by Gene Baretta and brainstormed our own list of homophones.

 

My littles LOVED this book. Except for one. He kept saying, "I just don't get it. I wish I did....but I don't." 

I tried to explain each page to him, but he just kept shaking his head..ha!

We also started our plant study this week, and guess how many videos Brain Pop has on plants....4! Well, 5 if you count the video about George Washington Carver...which I don't. Because, of course, we watched that video when we were completing his biography earlier this year :)

I really love to use Brain Pop videos to introduce a new concept. It's a great way to catch their attention and hook them from the get go. It doesn't hurt that the videos are funny, either.

I really hope that your school or district has a subscription to this awesome resource, because it really is amazing. Every video has an activity that goes along with it, as well as a coordinating word wall, online game, two types of quizzes, and some funny little cartoons! There are even lesson plans that coordinate with the videos! Seriously, if you don't have a subscription, I think it is totally worth it to pay out of your own pocket. Yes, it's a little expensive at $135 a year for up to three classrooms, but it is honestly worth every penny.

Brain Pop Jr. is geared towards K-3rd and Brain Pop is geared towards the older grades. But honestly? I think the older grades would enjoy the Jr. videos as well, and we have definitely watched some of the older videos. If you don't have a subscription, there are also a ton of free videos! 

Real quick before I go, I just wanted to share a sweet little acrostic poem one of my students gave me today.

 

Melt my heart :) Seriously, it's the little things.

Any crazies going to see the midnight showing of The Hunger Games tonight? More power to you...I just could not do it. But my BFF and I are planning to go see it tomorrow, right after work. Can't wait!

Night yall!

Oh, p.s. I leave for Japan in t-minus one week!!! Soooooooo excited!!!!