Category Archives: Reading Enrichment

Language Arts Mini Spark #66: How to use a the semicolon

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

It may seem like the semicolon is struggling with an identity crisis. It looks like a comma combined with a period. Maybe that’s why we toss these punctuation marks around like grammatical confetti; we’re confused about how to use them properly. This lesson offers some clarity and best practices for using the semicolon.

  1. Watch the video. Pause the video as needed to record notes. Pay special attention to any words that are new to you, rules, specific examples and sample sentences. These items should all be included in your final note taking page.
  2. Write two sentences of your own and include them on the note taking page.
  3. Share this work with your teacher to earn this mini spark.

Lesson video by Emma Bryce, animation by Karrot Entertainment.

Language Arts Mini Spark #65: Spelling Bee Prep

Reading Enrichment
Let’s get ready for spelling bee season. Choose an activity or two from the choices below.
1. Watch this video, pause to write the word that you think is correct. Check your work as you go , Spend at least 3 minutes doing this activity.

2. Make sure you know how to pronounce all of the words from this list. You can use the internet to help you with this. Type in the word and the word “pronounce” and it will pop up for you.
        #1 Start with the first five words.
       #2 Whisper spell each one 5 times.
       #3 Now practice spelling one word one at a time.
                Look at one word quickly then close your eyes and spell the word.                 Open your eyes and check your spelling from the list.
        #4 Keep practicing until you can spell all 5 correctly.
         #5 Repeat with the next 5 on the list.
3. Find practice words. Look through the choices and find the list that is right for you
grade 3  grade 4   grade 5   grade 6   grade 7  grade 8
Choose 10 words from the grade level that suits you.  Create a study guide. and study. When you are ready, have a teacher, parent, or peer give you a spelling test over the 10 words you choose. Submit your results and the study guide to your teacher or EY coordinator.
Happy Spelling!

Language Arts Mini Spark #64 Modifiers: What are they? Where do they go?

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that add information about other parts of a sentence—which is usually helpful. But when modifiers aren’t linked clearly enough to the words they’re actually referring to, they can create unintentional ambiguity.

Incorrectly placed modifier: Perched up high on a tree branch, I yelled at the cat to leave the sparrow alone.

Meaning: I don’t tangle with a tabby unless I am perched 10 feet up in the air.

Correctly placed modifier: Seeing a sparrow perched up high on a tree branch, I yelled at the cat to leave him alone.

Meaning: ohhhh….the sparrow is up in the tree. Watch out little sparrow!

#1 Read this teaching page to look over some modifier examples.

#2 Watch this TED Ed video and take detailed notes about modifiers and their placement and navigate the sticky world of misplaced, dangling and squinting modifiers.

#3  Make a visual explaining modifiers with examples of how they are used. Also include your own sentence with a misplaced modifier and then correct the sentence so that the reader understands the meaning.

Challenge:  Do more research about misplaced, dangling and squinting modifiers. Include what you learned in your visual.

Language Arts Mini Spark #63 – All About Axolotls

Reading Enrichment

Do you love Axolotls? Learn more about the amazing Axolotl with this fun mini spark!

Step One: Read the Species Profile and answer these Reflection Questions. Axolotl Reading (Pages 1-2).

Step Two: Research. Find out even more by doing your own research. Use the sheet below as a guide (Description, Habitat, Diet, Lifespan, Conservation).

Step Three: Create! Show us what you learned about Axolotls in a creative way. Choose from one of the following options.

  1. Social Media Post – Using these templates, create Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter posts from the perspective of an Axolotl. Turn in your completed post(s) to your EY Coordinator.
  2. Minecraft Habitat – Design an ideal habitat or underwater playground for the Axolotl using Minecraft. You will need to complete this option at home. Take a photo or screenshot and send to your EY Coordinator.
  3. Regeneration Pic Collage – Did you learn that Axolotls have an incredible ability to regenerate? Watch the video below to learn more! What other Amphibians have this ability? Create a PicCollage that shows us what you discovered.

Language Arts Mini Spark #62 – Simile Me

Reading Enrichment

What is a Simile? The official definition of a simile is a noun that means: “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.”

Step One: Watch this Brain Pop Jr. video about Similes 

and this word girl video

Step Two: Look at the Simile list below. Whisper read a scenario for each one

Example: as sly as a fox

Hillary was ______________________ , as she to gingerly placed the fruit bat into her backpack.

  • Easy as ABC
  • Like two peas in a pod
  • Straight as an arrow
  • Wise as an owl

Step Three: Watch and listen to the book, “My Dog Is As Smelly As Dirty Socks”. Click book image below.

Step Four: Write a “Simile Me”.

  • First, jot down five words you would use to describe yourself.
  • Use your five words and make comparisons to something else, writing your own version of a “Simile Me”

Here is my example:

1 – busy                                                                                                                                 

2 – creative

3 – hardworking

4 – happy

5 – sleepy

I’m as busy as a timer,

As creative as a stained glass window,

As hardworking as an elephant,

As happy as a well-loved dog,

And as sleepy as a pillow.

Step Five: Use an app of your choice to create a fun illustration/visual of your “Simile Me”

Step Six: Send your “Simile Me” and illustration/visual to your EY Coordinator!

Language Arts Mini Spark #61 – Caption This!

Reading Enrichment

Even if a picture is worth a thousand words, it still needs a caption. Captions are easy to write if you begin with the basics. Let’s practice using the photo below.

Caption:  A caption is text that gives additional information about a picture or illustration.

Example: Begin by brainstorming Who, What, When, Where, and How. Once you have written down these details from the photo, write a caption that gives these details and some additional information (use the checklist below).

Caption Writing Checklist:

  • describe the picture
  • provide additional information
  • written in complete sentences
  • include adjectives and additional details

Now, try one a few on your own!

Teachers: Ask your EY Coordinator for this 65 page resource (PDF), would be great for warms ups and exit tickets to help students practice caption writing!

 

 

Language Arts Mini Spark #60- One word sentences

Reading Enrichment

‘Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo’ is a grammatically correct sentence. How? Emma Bryce explains how this and other one-word sentences illustrate some lexical ambiguities that can turn ordinary words and sentences into mazes that mess with our minds. This lesson from TED ED will get you started creating your own ridiculous sentences to share with your friends.

Try figuring out the meaning to these sentences:

Police police Police police police police Police police.
Will, will Will will Will Will’s will?
Rose rose to put rose roes on her rows of roses.
If it is it, it is it; if it is it is it, it is.

If you need help with figuring out the sentences above check out this  guide which will have clues for you.

To wrap up this mini spark, use this info page to find words to help you create your own silly sentence using one word.

L. Arts Mini Spark #58 – Creative Tweets

Mini Challenges, Reading Enrichment

Step 1: What is a Tweet? Read the definition below and look at the examples.

  • What is a Tweet?  A tweet is a status update on a social media platform called Twitter that is broadcast to other users. Limited to 280 characters or less, tweets can express how users are feeling, what they’re doing, and anything in between.

Step 2: Look over the Tweet options below and choose one to complete. Turn in your finished work to your teacher or EY coordinator.

  • Option 1: Character Tweet

What would a character from a favorite book “tweet” at the end of a chapter or section. Write it as though you are that character using Twitter.

Character Tweet Example:

Character Tweet Template:

 

  • Option 2: Chapter/Section Tweet:

Think of a chapter of a book or section of a movie and summarize what happened twitter style.

Chapter/Section Template:

  • Option 3: Book Review Tweet

Book Review Tweet Examples:

  • Option 4: Historical Figure Tweet

Choose a person from a historical event. What would this historical figure “tweet” after this event? Write it as though you are that person using Twitter.

Historical Figure Template:

Step 3: Use the contact form below and type your Tweet in the Message section. Hit Submit

L. Arts Mini Spark #57- Unicorns

Reading Enrichment

National Unicorn Day is on April 9th. Check out these  fun unicorn topics to stretch your knowledge about this mythical beast to get ready! Choose 2 activities from the choices below to complete this mini spark.

Free Vector | Silhouette of a unicorn on a hologram gradient background

Fact Page-kiddle.com

https://kids.kiddle.co/Unicorn

Create your own unicorn fact page

Article-Siberian Unicorn Fossils

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/prehistoric-animals/siberian-unicorn-fossil-discovery-humans/

Make a trivia game about these creatures

Video-Unicorns of the Sea

https://youtu.be/CJbmSsSxf_A

Take detailed notes while watching this video

Book-How to Catch a Unicorn

Make a list of the traps they tried in the book.

Make a drawing of your own plan for a unicorn trap.

History-Find out about the History of Unicorns

National Unicorn Day

Make a web  diagram with information from the article.

Three blank web graphic organizers to use for any subject! | Graphic organizers, Bubble chart, Charts for kids

In the news-The Unicorn Puppy

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/general-animals/narwhal-the-unicorn-puppy/

Summarize this article in 3 sentences

STEAM-Design a unicorn

Include a description about where it live, what it looks like, what it eats, and its powers.

Include a picture of your unicorn in its habitat

Make a pic collage about your unicorn and its features.