POPtalk

“Dear Tim & Moby…Why is the time different in different places of the world?”

As most of you will know, every single BrainPOP movie starts with a letter for Tim & Moby. And the hundreds of questions we answer with our movies aren’t the only questions we get.

Last week we realised we’ve now received over 100 questions on our Ask Tim & Moby post and, on top of those, we get questions emailed from children daily. We do our best to answer each and every one too!

Bearing all this in mind, we appreciate that sometimes there’s simply nothing better than putting good old pen to paper, and this morning we received one of the most exciting pieces of post (ever!) from Class 5H at Woodlands Primary School. Letter upon hand-written letter for Tim & Moby.

All questions put to Tim & Moby go into a list that we look through when we decide which movies to make. We’ve saved a selection to our Flickr stream but we thought we’d try and answer a few here for which we already have movies.

Q. Dear Tim & Moby…Why is the time different around the world? From Florence and Jessica

A. Have a look at our Time Zones movie, girls! We’re pretty sure it’ll answer your question.

Q. Dear Tim & Moby…Why do tornadoes start? From Keanu

A. Hi Keanu! We think our Tornadoes movie will have all the answers you’ll need. Remember to try the quiz at the end to see how much you took in.

Q. Dear Tim & Moby…What are tenths and hundredths? From Luke

A. Maths can be so confusing at times. We think our Decimals movie will be just the ticket for you, Luke.

Q. Dear Tim & Moby…How do we age? From Lourdes

A. What a fantastic question, Lourdes! You can learn all about the ageing process in our Ageing movie.  Also, look for our favourite quote in the FYI, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80,” (Henry Ford, American businessman). We couldn’t agree more Mr Ford!

Q. Dear Tim & Moby…Why do boats float? From Trafford

A. We love a physics question, Trafford, thanks! Boats float because of a force called buoyancy. Learn all about it in under three minutes by watching our Buoyancy movie.

Related Posts:

• Guy Fawkes gets an iPad
• Top 10 BrainPOP UK comedy moments

Bonfire Night was our first UK specific movie for BrainPOP UK so it has a very special place in our hearts. Not only is it our featured movie this week, we’ve got an exciting tale to share with you all.

When we were remembering remembering we got a surprising call from the staff at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The staff had been moving books, scripts and other reference materials to an expansive new warehouse in Swindon when they happened along a faded scroll. They knew to give us a call before packing it up. It looked to be centuries old.

Upon receiving it, we handled it delicately; upon reading it, we couldn’t quite believe what our dynamic duo had been up to once again.

Now, where did we put that ruff?

November 5th, 1605

“Me thinks that could very well be the most glorious site in all of Christendom, Mobyville!” proclaimed Timothy Cromwell.

Mobyville nodded as he took in the prospect across the Thames of Westminster Palace. He seemed in a sombre mood much and Timothy well understood.

In the Crowbottom Inn the previous eve, Timothy had come to overhear a most dreadful discussion; one which would lead him to believe the King was in danger! He called upon his faithful companion, Mobyville, collected their trustie steeds from the stables and galloped all the way to London town. Upon passing the Tower of London, Timothy had a most ominous feeling that chilled him to the tips of his leather boots. He pulled his cape tighter around him.

After such a long journey, there was no time for hesitation. The forthright companions alighted and made way on foot towards the belly of the Palace, where they felt certain to find a wretched soul in need of education and guidance.

‘Beepeth beepeth!’ Mobyville whispered. He’d spotted the cellar door which stood ajar.

‘Who goes there?!’ shouted a nervous voice from within. Timothy push-ed the door open with a BANG!

‘Lo! Thou distempered flea-biting baggage! What manner of treachery is this?’ Timothy exclaimed.

A scruffy man stood before them guarding what looked like barrels and barrels of gunpowder. ‘Tis not what you think goodly sires! I merely stand guard o’er these here barrels for t’other goodly sire, Robert Catesby.’

Before he could provide any further excuse - for Timothy was convinced the barrels were intended to destroy the very building they stood in – Mobyville produced a majestic item. A small fairie-like screene danc-ed with bright lights afore them. ’Hast thou a name?’ commanded Timothy.

‘Guy Fawkes,’ the stranger gulped. Timothy handed over the glowing article.

‘Master Fawkes, thou hold’st in your hand, an iPad. ‘Tis from the future. T’will speak of events yet to occur. These are BrainPOPs. They will educate thee. With education, thou may changeth your fate…’ Timothy dazzled Fawkes with a tale of his very own life. A frightening fate awaited him if he was set upon his dangerous plot. And goodly folks would celebrate his end for hundreds of years to come!

‘What am I to do?’ As Guy Fawkes struggled with his conscience, there came the sound of hurried footsteps outside and a cry of ‘God Save the King!’ With that, his enlightening companions seemed to be sucked in to the iPad as it fell from his hands to the dustie ground, screen ablaze.

A King’s Guard pushed Fawkes to the hard ground, holding a sword to his throat. ‘What, pray tell, have we chanced upon here? In the name of the King, I spy gunpowder! And have ye not just thrown down a torch to light them with? Treason!’

‘The torch bores no flame, tis an iPad…’ pleaded Fawkes. But before he could defend himself, two guards rushed forth and seized him.

‘To the Tower for thee, villainous wretch!’

And as Fawkes was dragged from his post, he looked to the heavens and bawled, ‘If only I had listened to the BrainPOPpers!’

Fancy weaving a historical tale yourself? You’ll find lots of hints, tips and handy links in our Weaving Tales Spotlight.

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