Every third Monday in January, we celebrate the legacy of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States. A legend and an icon known for his speeches and organized protests throughout the ’60s, many of us learned of his history in social studies. With ever-changing technology and growing classroom resources, educators and creators are finding new ways to teach the youth. BrainPOP finds a way to reach the minds of children in a unique way. This website seeks to teach young learners about the legacy of MLK through the art of videogames, centered around early learning essentials.
Their Meaning of Beep game series asks players to use grammar and vocabulary skills to help the main character, Moby, speak. Their MLK edition features speeches and passages about the activist, pieced together through context clues. Children have the opportunity to learn about a historical figure while simultaneously refining their grammar and vocabulary. BrainPOP also features quizzes, challenges, and even coding exercises featuring Martin Luther King Jr.
BrainPOP has another game series titled Time Zone X in which kids can put their knowledge of Martin Luther King Jr. to the test. This is a timeline skills game where players use context clues, coupled with what they have learned, to order events and win in game prizes. The game details major events within MLK’s life, including his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.
These games have been used in many classrooms to educate students and are available for anyone to play on BrainPOP.com. The website features a plethora of educational games that combine history, music, computers, and more with classroom essentials. Students can learn about digital animation, classical music, and even hacking through their gaming selection. Gamers may use their game finder tool to browse through their entire catalog on their website.