Alan Moore, the famous comic book writer, wrote a very short story of only 6 words which simply went: “Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time“. Which we think is awfully clever

So clearly a writer can create wonderful prose in any number of words as long as they feel inspired to do so.

The 100 Word Challenge is an extremely popular weekly writing task aimed at children. Each week a prompt is set on the 100WC.net blog that is designed to inspire a piece of writing no longer than 100 words. That’s the golden rule. This is how the website describes it:

“It is a weekly creative writing challenge for children under 16 years of age. Each week a prompt is given, which can be a picture or a series of individual words and the children can use up to 100 words to write a creative piece. This should be posted on a class blog and then linked to the 100 Word Challenge blog. The link is usually open from midnight on Wednesdays until midnight the following Tuesdays.”

Hundreds of schools from all over the world do the 100WC every week. Everyone in the 100WC team is encouraged to comment and feedback on the 100 word pieces. It’s a wonderfully effective way of building an audience for your work.

We were very humbled and excited to be able suggest a prompt of our very own, starring Tim & Moby. We have created a brand new, short animation that you can see below. The BrainPOP team will also be reading the blog posts and Tim & Moby themselves will be commenting on their favourite entries.

When the week is over we’ll feature the very best ones on our blog too.

The two versions below are identical but use different video services, in case one is blocked in your school.

YOUTUBE VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rPMciEqW4Q

VIMEO VERSION

Good luck everyone!

It seems Moby found out the school was having a project week to celebrate National Science and Engineering week and thought he would get in on the act…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZyd0SI630o

As you can see Mr Dooris stumbled upon a mysterious set of orange footprints, weaving in and out of each classroom. At the end of each trail, in each classroom, was a question.

This stimulus gave the children the opportunity to research the answers and create their own BrainPOP type movies with what they had learned.

The selection below shows just a handful of the information-packed, brilliantly presented and funny movies the students made. Please take a few minutes to watch their work and leave comments, we know they’d appreciate it.

Bobby and Adam give us the run down on gravity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0VsXDJ5dds

Ella and Charlie tell us a great way to remember the order of the planets in the solar system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpzrKUpvONQ

Alfie & Sam wonder if plants can breathe and this leads to them to explain the ins and outs of plant respiration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7xAuR3wL8A

And the learning didn’t stop there. After making the movies, the children uploaded them to a collaborative site and watched and commented on each other’s work – what a great way to help and encourage classmates!

Not only did everyone learn some new science facts, by the looks of it they also worked on developing great presenting, writing and filming skills.

Test your Electric Circuits knowledge with the Activities featured, challenge your class to a quiz on one of man’s greatest inventions, the Wheel (and Axle!), and learn more from the further reading materials from our Internet topic.

• Agricultural Revolution
• Cars
• Electric Circuits
• Industrial Revolution
• Internet
• Money
• Natural Selection
• Newton’s Laws
• Nuclear Energy
• Relativity
• Telephone - NEW!
• Television
• Wheel and Axle

You can also learn about some of the movers and shakers with the world-changing ideas: http://www.brainpop.co.uk/blog/2011/06/ideas-that-changed-the-world/

Hello. My name is Grace and this is why I think BrainPOP is great for learning.

Firstly, BrainPOP helps anyone learn anything even if they learn in a different way to other people. I, for example, learn by seeing things in front of me but my friend learns by hearing things.

Does that mean we can’t learn together? No – we have BrainPOP!

In the BrainPOP videos the characters Tim and Moby don’t only show you how to do whatever you are learning about- they tell you as well, that means me and my friend can learn together!

As well as this the videos are funny, colourful and informative, this makes learning fun and more like watching a cartoon – basically tricking children into learning (sneaky teachers)!

I noticed that when we use BrainPOP in class even the children who don’t enjoy learning become excited.

I even use BrainPOP at home.

For example; I enjoy knowing things ahead of others so when I heard about binary numbers I got excited, firstly I asked my parents to explain these strange binary numbers, although they are extremely intelligent when my parents explained I still found binary numbers confusing.

Then I went on BrainPOP!

Using humor as well as information Tim and Moby told me all about binary numbers and now I know more about them than one of the most clever people in my school!

This is why I think BrainPOP is an amazing tool for learning!

All we can say is, thank you Grace, we salute you.

If you’ve checked out their fabulous website you may also have happened along the Resources section. A section spilling with over 300,000 teaching resources, all ready and waiting for you to download…for free.

The best news is it’s growing. 

TES is always looking for teaching materials that can enhance the resource bank and inspire the teaching community. They are working with more and more content partners, helping them engage with the largest network of teachers in the world.

At BrainPOP, we know our content is quality assured, teacher, parent and child approved. So when we were presented with the opportunity to partner up with an organisation such as the TES to get our quality resource into the hands, homes, and classrooms of even more people, we jumped at it.

BrainPOP is an official TES Teaching Resources partner. It might not mean a lot to the folks already using BrainPOP but we like to think that it will get BrainPOP under the nose of lots of teachers who haven’t stumbled across our most excellent resource yet.

We’ve included 21 permanently free movies, our Swine Flu movie, September 11th topic, and a selection of other downloadable teacher-made resources including Promethean flipcharts, Smart notebooks, lesson plans and powerpoints.

If you do a quick search for “BrainPOP” on TES, here’s what you’ll find at the end of the rainbow.

Quite a pot of gold we reckon and we have every intention of building on the resources available in future.

If you click on any of the resource links, you’ll find a POPbox which plays the topic movie within the TES site, and also links to the movie, quiz, FYI and activity on BrainPOP, all available for free. Here’s an example resources page:

If the free movies aren’t quite what you’re looking for, have a quick search on BrainPOP to see what comes up. You’re also likely to find some other gems on TES to spark your interest.

With BrainPOP and TES resources in your teaching arsenal we’re sure you’ll find something!

We’ve produced sets of stickers in the past, and they’re always so popular with the lucky recipients, we thought we’d produce a batch especially for you to use when marking children’s work or rewarding good behaviour.

By selecting your top 6 rewarding images from the set below you’ll be doing us a huge favour. Even better, if you have your own reward sticker suggestions, please submit them below.

Thanks! We owe you one.

In honour of the centenary we have released a new movie of epic proportions – Titanic.

Not only that, but we’re making it free for the whole week so you’ve got time to learn about the most famous shipwreck in history.

They said the Titanic was practically unsinkable…but it sank to the bottom of the ocean four days into its first voyage. If you watch our new movie, you can learn exactly how big this behemoth of a ship was, and how an iceberg was able to bring it down.

You’ll see how Titanic was a product of its period, a high point of faith in technology and scientific progress. Discover why a ship this large was built in the first place, and hear about some of the amenities that made it the floating equivalent of a four-star hotel.

Finally, you’ll hear about the major changes to maritime safety made after the Titanic went down.

• Think you already know the story of Titanic? Test your knowledge by taking the Quiz before watching the movie.
• Print off the Vocabulary sheet available in the Activities and fill it out as you watch the movie.
• Then take the time to read the FYI about that other Titanic movie, ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’ and chief baker, Charles John Joughin.

So set sail with Tim and Moby as they journey to…well, disaster: Titanic topic

A sizeable number of topics on the site now include typeable and printable activities. And while we aim to have activities on every single topic by September you can rest assured that all new movies we’ve added from March forward are guaranteed to include activities.

Here are our 5 top tips for classroom and home use.

1. Thinking ahead 

All activities are typeable and printable so, while they’re great for kids to fill out on-screen after watching the movie, they’re also a good tool to keep in mind when you’re planning.

Because activities can be printed ahead of time students can fill them out as they interact with the movie too.

Here’s a great effort at a “Complete the passage” page from a mini BrainPOPper:

Some activities include recall questions, as well as higher order thinking tasks, e.g. “Think about it”. The History of the UK activity sheet above contains a good example:

This activity could be completed as a whole class but would probably work best in small groups or as homework.

2. Get organised

Some activities include creative graphic organisers such as this one from our new Main Idea movie:

We also have blank graphic organisers available on the site which are great for you to use in a variety of lessons, BrainPOP and otherwise.

3. Vocabulary sheet

Every single activity has at least a vocabulary sheet. You can use these with students before watching the movie to assess prior knowledge, focus attention, or demonstrate understanding. Using the vocabulary sheet helps familiarise students with key vocabulary they’ll encounter in the movie.

It can also be used whilst your viewing the movie to practice note-taking skills. Remember to pause so students have time to write down definitions. Helpfully, words are listed in the order in which they appear in the movie.

Here’s an example of a vocabulary sheet from the History of the UK movie:

4. Hands-on practical

As well as activities which work on expanding vocabulary, exercising literacy and numeracy skills, we have included activities with a more “hands-on” practical element. For example, our Space Flight topic challenges the student to design a real rocket launch:

5. Time to spare? 

In addition to integrating BrainPOP into lesson plans, remember that it only takes a few minutes to show a movie and take advantage of those in-between – unplanned – times by transforming them into teaching moments. Our class discussion page provides helpful tips on how to easily fit a lesson based on a news event into the curriculum you follow but you can also rely on activities to fill a quiet five minutes before lunch.

For example, the Elvis Presley topic features a word search:

However you choose to use them, make sure to take advantage of the pedagogical benefits available. A quick summary:

• Activities are typeable and printable
• Activity sheets are a helpful note-taking tool while watching the movies
• Activities can be completed either as a whole class on an interactive whiteboard, individually, or in small groups
• Return to the activity pages after watching the movie
• Assign activities for homework

As ever, if you have any classroom tips for how to use activities in lessons, we’d love to hear from you! Email info@brainpop.co.uk with lesson plans, tips and tricks.

Want to be the coolest cat in town? You will be after watching this movie, where Tim and Moby introduce you to those finicky felines called cats. Learn about some of the different types of house cat and their common behaviour patterns. Discover when and where cats were first used as pets and how the ancient Egyptians honoured them and even mummified them! Learn how they are able survive a high fall, why they purr and even how long they are likely to live. You’ll also get some tips for keeping your own cat healthy and happy. After watching this movie, you’ll be the cat’s whiskers!

Here’s a shout out to all the cool Cats.

Cats

In this movie, Tim and Moby tell you everything you need to know about dogs. Learn about some of the dog’s more ferocious relatives, and find out why you can’t just bring a wolf cub home and call it a puppy. Discover when and where dogs were first domesticated, and the help they provided early humans. Find out how breeds developed, how kennel clubs classify dogs into different groups and see some examples of breeds that fall into each category. Plus, discover the traits that all dogs share, and the different jobs they can do – like being a guide dog. Finally, learn what dogs need from humans and how you can make your pet a loyal, gentle companion. The only thing you won’t learn from this movie is how to talk your parents into getting you one!

Man’s best friend – woman’s too! Dogs

Dogs

Dogs are great, but it’s time to say hello to man’s other best friend. Let Tim and Moby saddle up to tell you everything you need to know about horses. From the tips of their hooves to the hairs in their manes, you’ll discover precisely why horses have been so important to humans throughout history. You’ll discover how they first evolved, and when scientists believe they were first domesticated. You’ll also find out about the many different breeds that have emerged over time and to which modern animals horses are related. Plus, you’ll see how technology has changed their role in our lives.

So quit horsing around and come along for the ride - Horses

Horses

Hey, bird-brains! Want to learn more about our feathered friends? Tim and Moby take a break from their bird-watching session to teach you the basics about these winged creatures. Discover just how many species of birds there are, as well as what makes a bird a bird. You’ll learn the basics of bird flight – including how their wings give them lift and how aeroplanes are modeled on these amazing animals. Find out why birds have hollow bones, very different types of feathers and fused vertebrae. Lastly, you’ll discover the key differences between males and females. So if you’re as free as a bird then don’t chicken out, watch this movie.

Our feathered friends - Birds

Birds

There’s something fishy going on at BrainPOP. Tim and Moby tell you all about the largest group of vertebrates on earth. You’ll learn about the special features of a fish’s body – from its fins to its gills to other specialized parts like sucker-mouths and swim bladders. Discover what ectothermic means and what it’s got to do with being cold-blooded as well as how these specialised parts help them breathe and move under water. Examine the three main fish types and find out the differences between bony fish, cartilaginous fish, and agnathan or jawless fish. You’ll also find out why fish are such an important part of the human diet.

But don’t go eating your goldfish! - Fish 

Fish

Ribbit…Ribbit. In this movie, you’ll be introduced to the various types of amphibians – frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts – and see how much they can differ in their body shapes and lifestyles. Find out the difference between anurans, urodeles and caecilians and the metamorphosis of a tadpole to a frog. Discover why amphibians hold a special place in vertebrate history and find out how they manage to spend their lives in two very different types of environments. Of course, you won’t learn how to catch flies like a frog, – you’re on your own with that one!

Amphibians - croooooak!

Amphibians

Now, does anyone own a hamster named Moby? You’d make us very proud!

Elvis vs. Mozart – who wins? Watch the movies and decide for yourself. They’re new to BrainPOP this week so why not give ‘em both a watch?

We’ve featured the Mozart FYI as it’s jam-packed with interesting facts (did you know Einstein was a fan?) and The Beatles Activity is great for checking your knowledge. Print off the KWHL Chart and fill out the first three columns before watching the movie then complete it after watching the movie and taking the quiz.

Topics in this spotlight include: 

• 60s Folk
• Blues
• Clefs & Time Signatures
• Elvis Presley – NEW!
• Hip-Hop & Rap
• Jazz
• Louis Armstrong
• Ludwig Van Beethoven
• Melody & Harmony
• Musical Scales – NEW!
• Reading Music
• The Beatles
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – NEW!