Students come into the world hardwired to be curious about living things and how they work. Ready-to-go investigations from BrainPOP Science give middle school students the tools to dive in and learn about the interconnectedness, intricacies, and vastness of the world around them.
Engage middle schoolers in immersive life science investigations
Whether investigating tadpoles or asking questions about why they have to wash their hands, middle schoolers have been engaging with life science long before it became a subject in school.
Every BrainPOP Science investigation has an embedded Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) process that harnesses this natural curiosity and supports students on their three-dimensional learning path.
Simulations, data manipulatives, and BrainPOP 3D Worlds™ make investigations exciting yet relatable. Our collection of comprehensive units and resources support middle school students as they explore phenomena, ask questions, gather observations, and back up their claims with evidence—just like real scientists.
Take middle school students on adventures in life science
Unlock the mysteries of life science with BrainPOP Science investigations
Concise and relatable, BrainPOP Science movies unpack concepts through real-world scenarios to help students visualize and understand even the most complex life science topics. Movies are offered in Spanish and have printable transcripts to level the playing field for all students.
Movies are just one way educational content and vocabulary are woven across investigations. Resources are intentionally varied and also include related readings, primary sources, and simulations that require students to apply different kinds of knowledge and skills in a variety of ways.
Bring background knowledge to life with engaging, educational movies
Investigation—Viruses
Students can understand and relate to phenomena even when they can’t be seen or touched. All BrainPOP Science movies, like this one embedded in the Viruses investigation, are scaffolded for accessibility and help middle schoolers make sense of the unseen world around them.
Guiding Question
Are viruses living things?
Inquiry-based science classrooms give students the agency to actively engage with relevant data in context. By manipulating various graph formats and models, their hypotheses and conceptual understandings are tested and strengthened. With question prompts built right into the experience, students are guided to interpret data, identify patterns, and collect observations. Learners strengthen their analytical skills and build confidence as they work toward answering the investigation’s guiding question.
Deepen student learning with data manipulatives
Investigation—Aquatic Invasive Species
Our investigation on Aquatic Invasive Species allows students to interact with data on populations of invasive and native mussel species in the Hudson River in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As students respond to prompts, they are guided to infer what the data reveals about the effects of invasive species on ecosystems.
BrainPOP Science investigations feature embedded checkpoints, which are formative assessments to check for comprehension and understanding without interrupting the flow of inquiry-driven learning. Questions are delivered in different formats that mimic high-stakes science exams, so students are comfortable and prepared come test time. Built-in assessments also save time for teachers and give real-time insights into student understanding throughout investigations.
Boost middle school students' confidence for state testing with built-in assessments
Investigation—Matter and Energy in Food Webs
Our Matter and Energy in Food Webs investigation features quick and targeted formative assessments, like this drag-and-drop checkpoint comparing and contrasting producers and consumers. Each quiz comes with graded or review options, as well as Microsoft Immersive Reader for accessibility.
3. Describe how the location of the photographer in the second image is ideal for observing a full circular rainbow.
Life science investigations for your middle school classroom
Explore a wide range of ready-to-use life science investigations designed to complement any middle school science curriculum and support all your instructional objectives.
Classifying Living Things
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Living vs. Nonliving Things
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Taxonomy
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Coronavirus vs. Flu Viruses
Cell Structure and Function
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Introduction to Cells
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Cell Structure and Function
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Cell Membrane
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Cell Wall
Human Body Systems
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Neurons and the Brain
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Multicellular Organisms
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Digestive and Immune Systems
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
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Process of Photosynthesis
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Process of Cellular Respiration
Food Webs and Ecosystem Interactions
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Predation and Competition
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Parasitism
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Matter and Energy in Food Webs
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Decomposers
Biodiversity and Stability in Ecosystems
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Biodiversity
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Impact of Biodiversity on Resources
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Ecosystem Disruptions
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Aquatic Invasive Species
Reproduction and Growth
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Sexual and Asexual Reproduction
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Animal Courtship
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Seed Dispersal
Genetics
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Gene Traits
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Alleles and Punnett Squares
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Mutations
Natural Selection and Adaptations
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Natural and Artificial Selection
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Adaptations by Natural Selection
Evidence of Evolution
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Evolution and the Fossil Record
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Evidence of Common Ancestry
Guiding Question
Why do horses have hooves instead of multiple toes on each foot?
Guiding Question
Why do people jump and scream when they’re startled?
Guiding Question
Why do mushrooms grow on dead trees?
Our three-dimensional approach to science is designed to complement the latest standards for all 50 states, including NGSS, the NRC Framework, TEKS, and NGSSS. Throughout BrainPOP Science investigations, teachers can leverage built-in formative assessments with question types that prepare students for the rigors of state testing.
Aligned to all state standards
Ignite the power of inquiry for middle school students and integrate powerful, standards-aligned instruction into your science classroom.
Request a BrainPOP Science pilot or demo today
