Category Archives: Social Studies Enrichment

#66: Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride

Social Studies Enrichment,

What would you do if you had to deliver an important message that could change history? In 1775, a silversmith named Paul Revere rode through the night to warn American colonists that British soldiers were coming. Learn about his famous ride and why it became an important part of American history in this Social Studies Mini Spark.

Spark Your Thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page: #66: Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride

2. Before you begin, imagine there are no phones, text messages, or computers. How would you quickly warn people about an emergency? Record at least 3 ways you might spread important news in the 1700s.

3. Watch the video about Paul Revere.

As you watch, record:

  • 5 important facts about Paul Revere.
  • 3 details about his famous midnight ride.
  • 1 question you still have after watching the video.

4. Read the Britannica Kids article about Paul Revere. Create a web diagram with Paul Revere in the center. Add at least 6 facts you learned about his life, career, and contributions to the American Revolution.

5. Choose A or B

A. Imagine you are Paul Revere on the night of April 18, 1775. Write a diary entry describing:

  • What you see and hear during your ride.
  • How you feel as you travel through the countryside.
  • Why your mission is important.
  • What you hope will happen when people receive your warning.

Include at least 5-8 sentences with details that make the reader feel like they are there with you.

B. Many people know Paul Revere’s name, but other riders also helped spread the warning. Answer this question in 3–5 complete sentences:

Why do you think some people become famous in history while others who helped are less remembered? Use evidence from the video and article to support your thinking.

6. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#65: The New Deal

Social Studies Enrichment

What should a government do when millions of people lose their jobs and struggle to afford food and housing? During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced a series of programs called the New Deal to help Americans recover. Learn how these programs changed lives and decide whether you think they were successful in this Social Studies Mini Spark.

Spark Your Thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page: #65: The New Deal

2. During the Great Depression, many Americans lost their jobs, homes, and savings. President Roosevelt’s New Deal created programs to provide jobs, support families, and help the economy recover. Before you begin, predict: What kinds of programs would you create to help people during a national crisis? Record 2+ ideas on your recording page.

3. Watch the video about the New Deal.

As you watch, record:

  • 5 important facts about the New Deal.
  • 3 programs or projects created during the New Deal.
  • 1 fact that surprised you.

4. Read the Khan Academy lesson about the New Deal and then choose A or B or C to complete.

A: Thinking Like a Historian. On your recording page, create a T-chart labeled:

Benefits of the New Deal Criticisms of the New Deal

Record at least 3 ideas in each column.

B: Creative Writing Challenge
Imagine you are a newspaper reporter living in 1935.

Write a short newspaper article (one paragraph) describing a New Deal program that has just arrived in your town. Include:

  • A headline
  • What the program does
  • Who it helps
  • How people in your town are reacting to it

Part C: Critical Thinking
Answer this question in 3–5 complete sentences:

Do you think the New Deal was a good way to help Americans during the Great Depression? Why or why not? Use evidence from both the video and the reading to support your answer.

5. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

Check out these Social Studies mini sparks about other events during the Great Depression

#64: The History of March Madness

Social Studies Enrichment

Get caught up to speed on everything you need to know about the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournament history, better known as March Madness in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies recording page: #64: March Madness History

2. Read this article that outlines the history of the men’s NCAA tournament.  There are five charts in the article. Record the titles/topics of each of the charts. Create a timeline on your recording page with 5-10 of the items that you find most impressive. If you prefer you can use a digital timeline creator.

3. Look over these two infographics and read the write up about the most watched championship March Madness game in history.  Record 10 number facts on your recording page.

4.  Watch this video that give you some tips on how to pick the perfect bracket. Write the tips given at the end on your record page.

5. To wrap up this mini spark, watch a video about the early history of the men’s tournament through 2013.  Make a history fact sheet. Ideas of what to include-important dates, tournament highlights, facts about players, locations of games, changes to the brackets and so on.

6.  Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page and your timeline with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#63: Falkland Isands

Social Studies Enrichment

The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) are a remote South Atlantic archipelago. With rugged terrain and cliff-lined coasts, its hundreds of islands and islets are home to sheep farms and abundant birdlife. The capital, Stanley, sits on East Falkland, the largest island.  With only around 3,000 residents, the Falkland Islands are one of the most remote and least populous territories on Earth.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies recording page: #63: Falkland Islands

2. Study this map from the World Atlas website. On your recording page add

  • 5 island names
  • the ocean where they are located
  • the approximate latitude and longitude 
  • the capital 
  • the nearest continent and country (research required) 

2.   

3. Read this information page. Choose one detail to record for each section.

4. Divide your recording page into five sections. Read this article about 5 penguins found on the Falkland Islands. For each penguin, record 3 details. If the first website isn’t working use this information page instead.

5. Optional: Do further research about one of the penguin species. Create colorful fact page with 5+  facts that you found during your research. Include your sources on your fact page.

6.  Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#61: Dia de los Muertos

Social Studies Enrichment

Source: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/day-of-the-dead

Many of you are VERY excited that Halloween is coming up? But, did you know that Halloween (or All Hallow’s Eve) is the night before Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)? The celebrations for each culture are woven together in interesting ways!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #61: Dia de los Muertos

2. Read the following information and record 8-10 pieces of information on your recording page.

Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s. The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd, is like a family reunion—except dead ancestors are the guests of honor. Day of the Dead is a joyful time that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.

First, people set up a candlelit altar in their homes so spirits can find their way back to their relatives. The altar also offers some of the favorite foods of the deceased—just in case they get hungry. Items that were important to the ancestors when they were alive, such as a favorite book or musical instrument, are placed on the altar as well.

Then it’s off to the graveyard for a big party. Families bring a huge feast to eat while they clean tombstones, sing songs, and talk to their ancestors. Parents might even introduce a baby to a grandparent who died before the baby was born.

And don’t forget the skeletons. During Day of the Dead, life-size papier-mâché skeletons and miniature plastic or clay skeletons are everywhere. Why? Mexicans honor their ancestors on Day of the Dead, but they’re also reminding themselves that death is just a part of life. Hanging out with skeletons reminds people that one day they will be skeletons—but not for a very long time!

The skeletons are posed doing all sorts of wacky things, such as playing guitar, taking a bath, or making tortillas. Apparently people aren’t the only ones who get to have fun on Day of the Dead!

3. Look over the pictures at National Geographic Kids. Choose one of the pictures and describe it in detail using 3-5 sentences.

4. Some of you may have seen the Disney movie, Coco! Click on the video below to see how Coco honors Dia de los Muertos. Watch the clip carefully. Write down 3 things you liked about the clip. Explain why you liked each thing. Write 2 suggestions for how the clip could be improved.

5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#60: Hidden Figures

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

“Hidden Figures” is a biographical book about four African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race and played pivotal roles in the Apollo program. Their contributions were essential in advancing America’s space exploration efforts, particularly during the historic Apollo missions to the Moon

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #60: Hidden Figures

2. Record the names of the mathematicians you will learn about in this mini spark on your recording page: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden.

3. Listen to Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race.  For each of these dates you hear in the story, pause the story and write a phrase about that date.

1943, 1945, 1951, 1953, (1950s), 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969

 

4. In 3+ sentences explain how Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. Use details from the story. Add your response to your recording page.

5. Read more about Katherine Johnson at this Wonderopolis page. Make a mini timeline on your recording sheet. Add 5 dates with information.

6. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Mission to Mars badge and Space traveler badge at the EY Website.

#59: Wondering about Geography?

Learning Opportunities, Social Studies Enrichment

Are you curious about geography? Check out the Wonderopolis articles for Wonders all about the world around us. Check out the specific Wonders below that will get your brain thinking about all things geography!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #59 Wondering about Geography?

2. This mini spark has you explore Wonderopolis Wonders related to geography. Look over these choices and write down the three you would like to read.

3. Write down the title of the first article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

4. Write down the title of the second article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

5. Write down the title of the third article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

6. There is much more to be learned after finishing the articles! Pick out your favorite wonder and do further research on the topic.  Find 5-8 more facts about the topic and add those to your recording page.

7. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

 

 

 

 

#48: Ada Lovelace

Social Studies Enrichment

Ada Lovelace is often celebrated as the world’s first computer programmer. Her visionary work and ideas laid the foundation for the modern computer technology we rely on today.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies  mini spark recording page: #48: Ada Lovelace 

2. Look over this info card from National Geographic about Ada Lovelace. Record 5 details about her on your recording page.

3. Listen to this Ada Lovelace book. On your recording sheet finish these sentence starters. Use an example from the story in each sentence.

Ada Lovelace was

Ada Lovelace proved

Ada Lovelace changed

4. Read this article. Record 3 details about Ada that you did not already know.

5. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

#56: The Pineapple Express

Social Studies Enrichment

This mini spark will introduce your to a current events resource, the World from A-Z, that promotes critical thinking, civil discourse, and compassion in your classroom.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #56: The Pineapple Express?

2. Watch this current events video that will help you understand the Pineapple Express along with many other topics. Explain the pineapple express in 3 sentences.

3. Choose 3 of the prompts below to answer to show what you learn from the A-Z video.

  1. What is the purpose of the light festival in Copenhagen mentioned in the video?
  2. Explain what an atmospheric river is and its impact on California.
  3. How do atmospheric rivers play a role in providing rainfall on the West Coast according to scientists?
  4. Describe the concept of neuralgia discussed in the video.
  5. What potential benefits and concerns are associated with brain computer interfaces like Neuralink?
  6. Share the historical significance of February 6th as mentioned in the video.
  7. How is scorpion venom used in various fields, as explained in the video?
  8. Describe the process of extracting scorpion venom as outlined in the video

4. OPTIONAL Check out more episodes at The World A-Z Video choices . Record the titles of 5 videos that look interesting to you.

5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

There is a World from A-Z badge! Check it out on the EY website.-The World from A-Z

#55: Flying Rivers

Geography Bee, Social Studies Enrichment

Learn about the Amazon Rainforest and how the Wampís Nation has been protecting the forest and the largest river in the world. 

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #55: Flying Rivers
  2. Watch the video and keep track of at least 3 positive ways the Wampís people are helping our world.

  1. Imagine you are a scientist studying the Amazon rainforest. Write a 2 paragraph journal entry describing the incredible biodiversity you have observed, why it is important to protect this unique ecosystem, and the flying rivers. Please include these words in your journal entry.
  • Ecosystem: A community of living organisms, along with their nonliving environment, interacting as a system.
  • Biodiversity: The variety of living organisms in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
  • Indigenous: Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
  1. Share your social studies mini spark recording page  with your teacher/EY coordinator.