Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

This lesson plan, adaptable for grades 3-8, invites students to explore BrainPOP resources to learn about the World Cup–the world’s biggest sporting event. They’ll find out how countries qualify to compete, where it’s held, who the fans are, the history of the tournament, and more. Students then work together to produce a promo for an upcoming or past World Cup.


Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Brainstorm what they know about the World Cup.
  2. Conduct research on the upcoming World Cup or a past one.
  3. Use Make-a-Map to identify National Parks and their features.
  4. Use Make-a-Movie to produce a World Cup promo.


  • Internet access for BrainPOP
  • Interactive whiteboard
  • Class set of Web Graphic Organizer (alternative to Make-a-Map)


Lesson Procedure:

  1. Ask students to share anything they know about the World Cup. Encourage them to contribute even simple facts, like what sport it’s all about. Jot their ideas on the board.
  2. After students brainstorm, tell them they will now watch a BrainPOP movie about the World Cup that will cover everything they’ve ever wanted to know about this popular sporting event.
  3. Show the movie World Cup on the whiteboard or other large display to the whole class. Turn on the closed caption option to aid in comprehension.  
  4. After watching the movie once through, have students independently open the Make-a-Map assignment on their own devices or computers. Instruct them to create a concept map in which they will answer the following 5W questions about the World Cup using details from the movie: Who (who plays and who are the fans)? What is it? Where is it held? When is the World Cup? Why do fans enjoy it? Remind them that they can incorporate clips and images from the movie into their maps. Have them watch the movie within Make-a-Map, pausing to add information to their concept maps.
  5. Have students save or print out their concept maps. Then working with a partner, tell students to open the Make-a-Movie assignment. Explain that they will now use their concept map notes and further research as needed to create a commercial promoting the upcoming World Cup or they can go back in time and promote a past World Cup. If you want students to cover different World Cups, you can assign each pair a different year.
  6. Circulate as pairs are working, helping as needed. If you brought in resources, encourage them to use those as well.
  7. Finally, have students present to their groups.

Extension Activities:

  • Have students put their soccer smarts to the test by playing Meaning of Beep: Soccer.
  • Divide the class into groups of six. Assign each person in the group a different World Cup Related Reading to read. Then have them share what they learned with the rest of the group.