#BPOPchat Archive
The official educational chat of BrainPOP. Like most Twitter chats, BPOPchat is structured around six to seven open-ended guiding questions, so there’s easy entry points for sharing and getting ideas.
Thursday October 6, 2016
Hi Everyone, welcome to ! for tonight's election conversation!
HI Everyone, it's Andrew from since I'm no longer in the classroom, I'm not teaching election this year!
A1 Hello , Nikki, Bozeman, MT, 4/5. I’m new to 4/5 so not sure how deep to go w/election coverage. Suggestions?
Keith George, Alabama Dept of Education, joining from the pumpkin patch with the kids, I’ll be in and out of
Keith George, Alabama Dept of Education, joining from the pumpkin patch with the kids, I’ll be in and out of
I'm in the classroom either, but I'm the mom of a 6th grader so teaching/learning about these elections everyday.
Cathie from Pittsburgh - 2 because I don't want to step on the toes of the Social Studies Ts. Hard not to show
Hi everyone! I'm with and not teaching the election, but excited to hear what everyone is doing!
A1: I’m out of the classroom but we share appropriate e look section resources with teachers/Students
Hello from BrainPOPer Robert! Fresh from classroom last year, 5th grade.
A1: Substituting Latin classes in the few weeks ahead. Will discuss campaigning now + as Ancient Romans did.
I so associate you with using games to teach civics. . . sad that you have to stop yourself in the new role :(
Hello everyone - thanks for dropping by tonight. I love the idea of taking a historical (ancient in fact) POV on elections
do you feel like you're avoiding teaching it?
Subbing for another teacher is also a great opportunity to bring in a current events subject
I'm a pre-service teacher still in college and we have barely discussed the election in any of my courses
wow, that's interesting. . . are you at a state college or private college?
Q2: What do you look for when evaluating resources to help teach about the election your class? https://t.co/dWAAevwQfv
Yes I got in trouble my 1st year of teaching for “over expressing my political views” still unsure about being neutral.
hmm, its pretty impossible to be neutral, especially this year. But beginning the the "mechanics" of govt is a start
A2 It's really important to find resources that are unbiased. And that can be tough!
We were discussing this today - curious to know who is else is worried about being reprimanded
A2 balanced and understandable for kids
A2: look for validity of the source, discuss bias and look for it.
If I were in my classroom this year I would be more laying ground rules than prior
continuing to the constitution/bill of rights provide opportunity for basing conversation around important documents
A2: I look for vetted round-ups like on or , not to be lazy but efficient, have links to pass on
A2 electoral college movie = perfect for helping clear up misconceptions. I found many confusing resources on that topic
Q2 Focus on the process, civic responsibility, civil debate...ideal v. actual.
I like your hashtag stylings
A2: Unbiased sources are very important when talking about an election but they can be tough to find
what are some ways that you evaluate validity? - we're getting to bias later in the chat!
Agreed...mechanics and responsibility/joy of participating.
indeed! what do you look to identify bias?
great follow up question - because it's hard to understand our own bias sometimes
A2 if students are old enough, political cartoons are a GREAT resource with lots of options
agreed! So many awesome activities you can do with cartoons.
I agree too - and kids can draw/write their own as well. Makes it a project with a long shelf life.
yes that is a good place to start. Might help interpret some of the local TV ads we are seeing here too.
A3 the iCivics games with snapthought are very helpful in application
Political cartoons also give us historical perspective - I'm thinking of a few Boss Tweed cartoons that could stand in for Trump
A3 - Does anyone show movies? Even feature films could be useful - like one of my favorites "Election" with Matthew Broderick.
Which immediately makes me think of writing a children's book - a way to explain elections to others
love that book! Teaching the election to the younger grades seemed more fun because you could avoid "hot topics"
YES! Missing K/1 for the 1st time—just a little….
One of my favorite video, that I've used w 3rd graders & grad students is Spike Jonze Ikea lamp ad https://t.co/g6gINXUHB7
That's a great point , I think a lot of the work in the upper grades has to be keeping the conversation informative
A4: my proffessor does this activity called the octopus tree. She says that it really opens their eyes to reliablity of sources
A4: (2) and reliabilty and bias can go hand in hand
that vid shows the conventions of cinema and how they elicit emotion, even though we "shouldn't" feel emotion for a lamp.
our media specialist at school used to do the same activity!
Side note: I'm excited that many of the resources everyone mentions are showing up in a sidebar in Participate. A great bonus!
A4 I make kids watch media 3X first two w/ essential questions third for exaggeration or bias
Anyone use the media breaker application (not sure of the exact name)
Sorry!-husband running late had to put kids to bed:) I haven't been able to do much w/classes on election YET:) hoping to learn!
A4: great strategy - a close "read" on media brings out all kind of nuances
Welcome - are you teaching younger (K-2) kids this year? We were just discussing children's book like Duck for Pres.
Great way to teach about bias! https://t.co/9Jveep9tSI
A4 I make kids watch media 3X first two w/ essential questions third for exaggeration or bias
yes K-3, and I'll check it out!
LOVED this video, have learned from it and shared it with others since!
A5 - I always found that the popular topics were the ones that were clearly being discussed at the dinner table
A5: I'm not in the classroom, but my 6th grader (a boy) frequently brings up gender stereotypes in this election.
Good evening ! Cathy, edtech specialist in NYC, from NJ, joining you late from PA tonight. Whew! https://t.co/qQ0rSZh3CM
hey Cathy! We're talking politics. . . a risky thing to do on twitter, but so far everyone's behaving!
A5 debate is popular. Kids don't understand what debate is and the ones on TV don't help that
I just learned about the Debate movie on BrainPOP the other day when it was featured - learned a lot about the topic myself.
A5 - I really like how is taking the content area you're "supposed" to study, classics, and making it relevant today
true dat. https://t.co/Hb4spyHME5
A5 debate is popular. Kids don't understand what debate is and the ones on TV don't help that
A5 tough one for me...I have Ss for such little time-last election, Ss constantly spoke about who their parents were voting for:)
A5 My Ss aren’t talking about the election. Hot topics include “will it snow tomorrow?”
are other Ts in your building(s)sharing what Ss ask about?
A5: I agree it's challenging to get away from talk about voting and on to discussing the issues
Hey everyone...just got home from gymnastics for my kids!! Hope everyone is well. 😀
that's exactly what it's like where I am...I haven't heard a word:)
Hi sorry I'm late but glad to be here. I teach K-5th technology in GA-Love BP & the peeps that work there!
now I want to know if it's supposed to snow tomorrow where you are!
I love talking about the electoral college and how you really vote for people voting for your candidate -
A5: Upcoming election. Race/Bias/Privilege. Current Events. Pop culture.
we went over this a lot a few years ago- was awesome in helping my Ss understand electoral college
A6 I shut it down and talk about the process of electing someone. Too much emotion
A6: Establish class norms. Understand respect will always be #1 in the room. Teach Ss how to disagree and have empathy too
I feel like Q6 might be for you - how are you managing discussions of race/privilege and bias through this election?
Great resource , especially to look at the history of elections in our country
A6 That is the part that has me nervous. Not sure how to mediate a discussion on some of the “things” we are hearing
Those are excellent classroom culture rules to stick by
always reminding kids respect is important. I'm not in a class. I let some Ss vent privately and seek clarity
Amazing objectives, but must be tough to manage depending on the grade!
Good tips on having heated classroom discussions! https://t.co/7zfpdtAX1M
A6: Establish class norms. Understand respect will always be #1 in the room. Teach Ss how to disagree and have empathy too
A6 When Kerry ran against Bush, & I had each class run a campaign-it forced Ss to stick to their job & learn the process
Great resource, esp for working w/ younger grades
A6: If your classroom or in my case office is a safe place respectful discourse will happen & will help more than hurt
A6. I think it would be a good exercise to talk of how that makes others feel
My friends and I watch a video about it and after it's over we discuss what interested us and take questions
(although Responsive Classroom is extending up into middle school now!)
I make it work in middle school and it can work. I have seen colleagues able to successfully do the same.
I used the those techniques teaching grad students! It's about developing respectful mindset
Haha! Very true :) Keep behaving everyone!
A6: Long ago I had forbidden the word “weird”, I still hear former students repeatingvthr mantra, “not weird, just different”
A6 so many youngsters are worried and distracted by 'deportation'
A6: Look closely at rhetoric of other US presidental elections...standards, practices, and compare to current.
Q7: What would be on your teaching resource wishlist to help you teach elections this year? https://t.co/BWiiqg5Z1j
Also a wishlist item - not a resource - a quiet room to scream in?
LOL, that's what election day is for I suppose...
I was going to suggest going back in time to the primaries getting a new line up…same idea…
A7 Shocker, but I would LOVE election videos for BrainPOP Jr!!:) rock:)
We're about to start a school wide mock election. The kids are going to elect one of two mascots. More character ed related
Sorry I'm late. Steve from NJ popping in during my daughters back to school night. I think I'm better at BTSN as teacher
q7 is a tough question. i'm honestly surprised to hear that some of you aren't hearing the Ss talking about the election
ha ha it's tough to wear the other hat
look. My wife's here :) . And our buddy :)
A7 I would like to see a viewing guide to accompany the debate you could use w/ Ss to analyze who “won”
A7 I would wish for longer class periods and
is there an election happening?
A7: Communication 101. Understanding History of the US as it relates to race, bias, privilege. Integrity and telling the truth? 😀
hey back! How's the family??
That would be cool - someone at told us about debate bingo cards and my family loved using those
that makes me think of a creating a rubric for debate eval - truthfulness, composure, likability etc etc
A7 Listicle of how to remain objective that I can pin to my shirt.
Is there a debate video Tim vs Moby?
good, thanks for asking, from following your feeds, it seems like yours is well too! (and you've recovered, yay!)
A7: Digital footprints and digital netiquette too. I know I have too many request....😂
A7 my real wish is that every student gets to learn and discuss how people are elected and remembers when it's time to vote
hah! That would be a tremendous resource.
was in Forensics in HS. Wonder if teaching how to “flow” the way judges do in debate competition could be valuable.
I've never seen debate judges in action.
Awwww the real beat me to it
It’s a neat way to keep track of the debate—takes practice to keep up b/c it moves fast. Interesting though…
A7: the answer for me is always a game but there is - discussion makes me think of having my kids play
is now trending in USA, ranking 48
Well folks, another month, another . Nice to see y'all.
This chat was resource rich, thanks for sharing! Hope it helped think through ways to talk about election w/Ss!
Thank you so much-so awesome to connect with all of you and I definitely learned a lot:)
Thanks for tuning in tonight!
