All posts by Jenny Henningsen

#88: Jeff Kinney

Reading Enrichment

If you like reading, writing, or illustrating stories, you are in the right place!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #88: Jeff Kinney

2. Watch this interview. On your recording page write about how the process of the book gest started and then what part of the  book process is the hardest for him.

3. Writing a story can be challenging sometimes, but the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, has some great tips for you to follow in this blog post. Record a summary of the tip you found most useful. 

4. Your turn! Write your own diary entry in the style of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Print this template or make your own on your recording page. 

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and your diary with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#111: Spaghetti and Meatball Math

Math Mini Sparks

Practice finding perimeter and area in this math mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #111: Spaghetti and Meatball Math
  2. Listen to the story, Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! When you are done listening, answer this question on your recording page. What was Mrs. Comfort worried about? Why?  After you record your answer, scroll to the bottom of this post to check your work. 

3. At the beginning of the story Mrs. Comfort knew she had 32 people coming to the family reunion. Although Mrs. Comfort didn’t use mathematical terms to describe her plan, it’s possible to use area and perimeter to talk about her solution.

If you think about the top of each square table as having the area of 1 square unit, then the perimeter of each individual table is 4 units or one 1 unit of length for each side.

All of the guests did not arrive at the same time. List the number of guests seated at one time, then add to the total number of guests as more arrive. Next, figure out the table arrangement for each total number of guests using perimeter and area in units.

Print this table or make your own for this task.

4. Ask your teacher to check your work. Reminder: The key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

5. Share your project with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

 

Mrs. Comfort was worried that there would not be enough room for everyone to sit. There wasn’t going to be enough room, because when you push tables together you lose chairs. She knew that the number of people who can sit at a table changes when the tables are pushed together or rearranged.

#37: Real life dragons

Science Mini Spark

Fire breathing dragons may not exist, but if you consider a dragon to be a supersize reptile with a wicked bite…then I have a dragon for you.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #37: Real life dragons
  2. The Komodo dragon is the real deal when it comes to real life dragons! Watch this video.   Record 5 facts from the video on your recording page.

3. Answer 3 of these questions on your recording page. Remind your teacher that the key can be found in the language arts mini spark folder.

  • What are some physical characteristics of the Komodo dragon that make it a formidable predator?
  •  Describe the diet of juvenile Komodo dragons and how it changes as they grow older.
  • What role does Komodo dragon saliva play in their hunting success, and what have recent studies shown about it?
  • How do Komodo dragons utilize their sense of smell when hunting or scavenging for food?
  • Explain the cultural significance of Komodo dragons in the oral tradition mentioned in the video.
  • Why do researchers believe Komodo dragons have a strong immune system despite their scavenging habits?
  1. Reptile Discovery Center is home to two male Komodo dragons named Murphy and Onyx.  Go to this research page and read more about them and record 3 new pieces of information.
  2. Komodo dragons only live in one country in the world, Indonesia.  Indonesia is made up of several islands.  Komodo dragons reside on some of the islands, but not all of them.  This website will show you some other interesting facts about Indonesia—home of the Komodo dragon. Add 3-5 more details to your recording page from this site.
  3. Share your language arts mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#36: All about Pandas

Science Mini Spark, Uncategorized

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your Science Mini Spark recording page: #36: All about Pandas
  2. Read this fact page about pandas.  Create a challenging 5 question mini quiz using information from the fact page. Make an answer key as well.
  3.   Watch this video about the pandas diet. Choose 2 questions to answer on your recording page. For each question include two sentences.

How do pandas adapt physically to their bamboo diet?
Explain why panda cubs are born so small compared to their mothers.
What role does a panda’s diet play in its fur color?
Discuss the historical range of giant pandas and how it has changed.

  1. Bamboo is a type of grass. It can grow as tall as a tree and can look more like forest than grassland. Read more about bamboo at Britannica Kids.  Make a tiny fact page about bamboo. Include 5 details.
  2. Read this article to find out the types of pandas that are there and why are pandas endangered. From the point of view of a panda, explain the different types of pandas and why pandas are endangered. Use information from the article.  Please write 3+ sentences.

6. Share your Science Mini Spark Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

 

#35: Yawing 

Science Mini Spark

Have you ever felt like yawning just by reading the word “yawn”? This is called contagious yawning, and it can happen for different reasons—both physical and mental. It’s been seen in kids as young as four years old and even in dogs! Learn fascinating ideas that might explain why yawning spreads from one person (or animal) to another.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Science mini spark recording page: #35: Yawing 

2. Watch this TED Ed video. Write down 5+ terms mentioned in the video.

  1. Choose 2 of these questions to answer on your recording page. Use at least 2 sentences for your response. Remind your teacher that the key can be found in the science mini spark folder.

  1. What is contagious yawning, and how is it described in the video?
      

  2. Explain the concept of nonconscious mimicry as it relates to yawning.
      

  3. What role do mirror neurons play in the phenomenon of contagious yawning?
      

  4. What interesting observation did scientists discover about dogs and yawning?
      

  5. Reflect on a time when you yawned after seeing someone else yawn. What do you think caused that reaction?

  1. Read this article.  Record important 5+ details.
  2. Read this article. Write a 5 question quiz, true or false or multiple choice style.  Include an answer key.
  3. Share your Science mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#63: All About Art

Full STEAM Ahead

The National Gallery of Art, located in Washington, D.C.  is an art museum that preserves, collects, exhibits, and studies Western art, from the Middle Ages to the present, and is free to the public. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection, make your own art, and share it with friends!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:#63: All About Art

2. Read this paragraph about the National Gallery of Art and add 3-5 details to your recording page.

The museum was founded in 1937 when the financier and philanthropist, Andrew W. Mellon, donated to the government a collection of paintings by European masters and a large sum of money to construct the gallery’s building, which was created by the architect John Russell Pope and opened in 1941.
The National Gallery now holds a very large collection of European and American paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and graphic works from the 12th to the 20th century. The museum has especially amazing holdings of works by Italian Renaissance painters, as well as by Dutch and Spanish Baroque and French Rococo artists.

3. Why are Art museums important? According to the National Art Education Association, art museum learning is a fundamental component to a high quality, effective, and balanced education. Plus, it’s fun to look at art!! What do you like about looking at art? Add a few ideas to your recording sheet.

4. Check out the famous works of art below that are located in the National Gallery of Art! Click on the name of the art and you will go to an information page. If you click on the words “image description” there is more information about the art. Record 3-5 details about each of the pieces of art on your recording page.

 

 

Georgia O’Keeffe Shell No.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Picasso  Family of Saltimbanques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo da Vinci Ginevra de’ Benci

 

 

 

Louise Bourgeois Spider 

 

 

 

 

5. Now, you can discover the world of art in a fun and easy way. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection and make your own art at Paint -n- Play. Spend 8-10 minutes working on a project. Take a screenshot of your creation and add it to your recording page.

6. Share your STEAM spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Paint and Play mini spark where you can create your own art inspired by one of the pieces from the National Gallery of Art.

#34: A Dog’s Nose

Science Mini Spark, Uncategorized

You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Learn about how a dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that can’t be seen at all.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #34: A Dog’s Nose

2.  Watch this video and record 5-10 details about dog noses on your recording sheet.

3. Choose 2 of these questions to answer with 2 sentences. Write your answer from the point of view of a dog.  Remind your teacher that the answer key can be found in the Science Mini Spark folder.

  1. What are the main features of a dog’s nose that allow it to smell so effectively?
  2. How does a dog’s ability to smell differ from that of humans?
  3. Describe the role of the vomeronasal organ in a dog’s sense of smell.
  4. In what ways can dogs use their sense of smell to understand their environment?
  5. How can dogs be trained to respond to various scents, and what are some examples of their abilities?

4. Read an article about a dog detective.  Record number facts from the article. Example: Their sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than a human’s.

5. Look over this  animal nose information page from the San Diego Zoo.  Record 2 details about each of the animals listed in the article.

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

#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 one penguin, record 3 details.

5. Do further research about one of the penguin species. Create colorful fact page with 8 or more 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.

#33: Baby Animal Names

Science Mini Spark

The official names for adult animals usually come from Latin, which is a language that scientists use to name different species. However, the names we use for baby animals are not scientific. Instead, these names have changed over time and come from many different places, including hunting and the ways we have raised animals.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #33: Baby Animal Names

2.  Watch a video that gives an overview on how adult animals are given their official scientific names.

After watching the video, record this information on your recording page

  • The genus is always written first.
  • The genus is always capitalized.
  • The species is always written second.
  • The genus and species must be italicized (underlined if hand-written).

3. Read a wonderopolis article that explains why baby deer are called fawns.  Record 3 new facts that you learned from the article.

4. Read an article about baby animal names.  Make a chart on your recording page. Put the animal name in the first column and the baby name in the second column. Include at least 10 animal/baby animal name pairs on your page.

5. Look over this ABC list of baby animal names. Find 5-10 animal baby names that you did not know. Record the animal name and the baby name on your recording page.

6. Take this baby animal quiz.  If you score less than 15/20, take the quiz again. Record your score.

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