Topic Roundup
BrainPOP Recent Topic Roundup: January 2023
In with the new! As we head into 2023, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the newest content up on the site. Since our last update in October, we’ve put extra focus on producing new math topics.
You’ll find more than 1,200 topics on BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. in all major subjects across the curriculum—and the Editorial Team is always hard at work creating new topics and updating existing ones. All BrainPOP content is designed to meet a wide range of standards, so teachers can always find relevant, engaging topics to support their lessons and drive learning outcomes. Here’s a look at what has been keeping us busy in recent months:
New on BrainPOP
English
Distance Learning (update): Learning from home can be a challenge, but there’s a lot students can do to set themselves up for success. It helps to stick to a routine, and to practice creativity and flexibility. Class lessons will probably be posted online, which means digital etiquette is important. So is setting up a quiet, comfortable workspace, and setting a schedule for the school day. Some hiccups are inevitable, so students shouldn’t be shy about reaching out to classmates and teachers if they need help.
Math
Comparing Decimals: Let’s get right to the point: Students will learn several methods to determine whether one decimal number is larger or smaller than another. They can look to the digits’ place value, or use tools such as area models or bar models. Bar models are especially useful when comparing a decimal to a fraction, which is just another way to represent a part of a whole.
Multi-Digit Division: Put your division facts to work! Introduce students to two strategies to help solve multi-digit division problems. Both the partitioning method and the area model break down unwieldy problems into smaller, more manageable chunks. Master these useful methods, then move on to learning about long division.
Multi-Digit Multiplication: Put your multiplication facts to work, and learn about two strategies to help you solve multi-digit multiplication problems. Both the area model and the standard algorithm break down unwieldy problems into smaller, more manageable chunks. Students can dig into these useful methods, and watch their knowledge multiply!
Volume: Take your math skills to the next dimension! Students will explore the three dimensions of volume, and learn how to use them to solve problems. To find the volume of a box-shaped object, or rectangular prism, multiply the measurements of those three dimensions: length, width, and height. Unit cubes help to visualize how it all works. Some shapes are too complex to use the formula on directly, but decomposing them into simpler pieces can make it work.
Science
Big Bang (update): According to the latest science, the universe started off with a bang—the Big Bang! This famous theory looks about 14 billion years into the past, to the moment the universe burst into existence. It explains that all matter, energy, and even time were once packed into a mind-bendingly small object—until it exploded. That explosion—the Big Bang—sent all of the ingredients of the universe flying in all directions. Even now, the universe is constantly expanding because of this cosmic blast. Today, the Big Bang theory is widely accepted among scientists, but that wasn’t always the case. Learn all about how the universe—and the leading theory on its origins—came to be.
New on BrainPOP Jr.
Counting 10 to 20: Everyone counts! In this math movie, Annie and Moby count from 10 to 20 and explore how to use a number line. Students practice the numbers and learn how to count on and count back. What number comes right after 10? What number comes right before the 20?
We’ll continue to share periodic updates on the blog, so keep an eye on this space for newly released topics.
Lindsey Palmer is a senior editor at BrainPOP.
