BrainPOP is an educational platform offering animated movies, quizzes, and learning activities designed to build background knowledge for students. The service provides access to educational content for various subjects and grade levels. Information about free access, trial offers, and platform features is detailed below, based solely on the provided source material.
Free Trial Offers and Access Methods
BrainPOP offers a promotional "Sneak Peek" that provides free access to a selection of topics. This offer is available through a specific sign-up process. To access the free topics, interested individuals must fill out a form using a school email address. Upon submission, a private link is sent via email, which grants the user the ability to start exploring the free access immediately.
The free topics available through the Sneak Peek include content across BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. The platform suggests a method for using these free resources, which involves three main steps: 1. Watch a Movie: Use the animated movies to introduce a new topic, building background knowledge and key vocabulary. 2. Follow up with a Quiz: Check for understanding and practice literacy and test-taking skills. 3. Deepen comprehension with a learning activity: Engage with activities like Make-a-Map to make connections as a class.
In addition to the Sneak Peek, the platform mentions the availability of a free trial for its at-home learning resources. The "At-Home Activities" section states that users can "Start exploring with a free trial!" This offer is positioned for families and homeschoolers looking to bring learning home with engaging activities. The trial is intended to help build skills for success.
BrainPOP also offers a free mobile application available on the Apple App Store. The app is listed as "Free" with "In‑App Purchases" available. The app description highlights "Educational videos and quizzes." It is important to note that the app's privacy details indicate that data such as Purchases and Usage Data may be collected, but this data is not linked to the user's identity.
Platform Features and Educational Content
BrainPOP's core educational content consists of short, animated movies. These movies are crafted by experts to provide children with the key information needed to understand a topic, combined with humour and animations to aid retention. The movies cover a wide range of subjects, from historical figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Egyptian pharaohs to scientific concepts like electric circuits and mathematical operations like division.
Beyond the movies, the platform integrates activities and quizzes to reinforce learning. The "Anatomy of BrainPOP" is described as "Movies that build knowledge—activities that reinforce." The quizzes are designed to check for understanding while practising literacy and test-taking skills. Learning activities, such as Make-a-Map, allow for deeper comprehension and connection-making.
BrainPOP's content is rooted in research and the science of learning. The platform provides a search tool that displays all BrainPOP lessons aligned with selected state and grade-level standards. For subscribers, the platform offers robust content management tools. District and school administrators can preview content and set access permissions for any topic to meet specific curriculum needs and address state-specific requirements. This ensures the content can be tailored to the educational community's unique needs.
Accessibility for Home and Homeschool Use
BrainPOP is not limited to classroom settings; it is also promoted for home learning. The "At-Home" section of the platform provides relevant educational topics for every time of year. It is positioned as a tool for homeschool instruction, offering "Teacher Reports" that provide data-driven insights into a child's learning. These reports allow parents or homeschool instructors to see multiple angles of a child's learning at a glance, helping to pinpoint areas where more help is needed.
Testimonials from homeschool users highlight the platform's appeal to children. One parent noted that their son loves using BrainPOP so much that he tries to use it instead of other schoolwork. Another parent mentioned that their children choose BrainPOP over other electronic options, enjoying the content while learning. The platform's movies are also noted for being engaging enough to be watched repeatedly, even during travel.
The platform's mission is to empower kids in the classroom and beyond. BrainPOP has been trusted by teachers and families for 25 years. It offers a variety of learning solutions, including BrainPOP Science for grades 6-8, which brings multidimensional science to middle school classrooms with inquiry-driven instruction, and BrainPOP ELL, which builds vocabulary and grammar skills for English learners.
Eligibility and Participation Details
The primary free trial offer detailed in the source material is the "Sneak Peek." This offer appears to be targeted towards educators, as it requires a "school email address" for sign-up. The process is straightforward: fill out the form, receive an email with a private link, and begin exploring the free topics. There is no mention of a purchase requirement for this specific free access.
For the at-home free trial, the source material does not specify eligibility criteria, such as whether it is available to UK-based users or if a purchase is required after the trial period. It simply states that users can "Start exploring with a free trial!" The mobile app is available for free download with in-app purchases, indicating a freemium model where core content is accessible without cost, but additional features or content may require payment.
The platform's content management tools for administrators suggest that full access is typically granted through a subscription model for schools and districts. However, the free trial offers provide an opportunity to preview a selection of the content before committing to a subscription.
Conclusion
BrainPOP provides educational resources through animated movies, quizzes, and activities. Free access is available via a "Sneak Peek" offer that requires a school email address, granting exploration of selected topics. A free trial for at-home use is also promoted, and a free mobile app is available with in-app purchases. The platform is designed for both classroom and home learning, with features tailored for educators, administrators, and homeschool parents. All information regarding free offers and platform features is based solely on the provided source material.