All posts by Jenny Henningsen

#19: Book Lesson: The Invisible Boy

SEL Mini Sparks

Brian is unnoticed by the other students in his class. He is never included or invited… until the new student Justin arrives and shows us that it just takes one friendship to change a person’s life.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #19: Book Lesson: The Invisible Boy

2. Listen to the story by Trudy Ludwig, and when you are done write “I listened to The Invisible Boy” on your recording page.

3.  Think about how Justin felt during the events of the story  Print this book review sheet or create one on your recording page.  Fill in the sections.

4.  Share your SEL mini spark recording page and your book review with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#11: Book Lesson: Something, Someday

SEL Mini Sparks

Sometimes the world feels broken. And problems seem too big to fix. But somehow, we all have the power to make a difference. With a little faith, and maybe the help of a friend, together we can find beauty and create change.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #11: Book Lesson: Something, Someday 

2. Presidential inaugural poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Christian Robinson have created a timeless message of hope. Listen to the story, and when you are done write “I listened to Something, Someday” on your recording page.

 

3.  Make a list of 3 times that the students in your classroom or school work together. Make a list of 3 ideas problems that you would like to fix in your classroom, school, or community.

4.  Young people can make a difference.  Print this flower sheet or create one on your recording page.  Record your ideas on the flower.

 

5.  Share your SEL mini spark recording page and your flower with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy this spark? Check out the Mini Spark about Amanda Gorman.

 

#20: Brain Break: Belly Breathing

SEL Mini Sparks

This deep breathing technique is at the core of many mindfulness and relaxation practices. It may take a lot of practise to get right, but it is well worth the effort!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #20: Brain Break: Belly Breathing

2.  Watch this video. When you are done write, ” I did the Brain Break: Belly Breathing” on your recording page.

3.  Why are brain breaks helpful to use when you feel worried?

4. Write the steps explaining how to do this type of brain break. The audience is grade 3 students.

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

#10: Brain Break: Thought Bubbles

Uncategorized

Ever feel that your mind is too busy? Do the ‘Thought Bubbles’ video to blow them away.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #10: Brain Break: Thought Bubbles 

2.  Watch this video. When you are done write, ” I did the brain break: thought bubbles” on your recording page.

3.  Why would brain breaks be helpful for students? 

4. Write the steps explaining how to do this type of brain break. The audience is a grade 4 student.

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

#15: Procrastination

SEL Mini Sparks

Why do we procrastinate and how can we stop? Learn more about procrastination and also listen to a few suggestions on how to help.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #15: Procrastination 

2. When are you most likely to procrastinate?  Write two or three examples on your recording page. 

3.   Watch this TED-ed video. Explain one of the reasons why we procrastinate as outlined in the video.

4.   The video offers a few suggestions on how to combat procrastination. Write these on your recording page. When you are done, scroll to the bottom of this post to see if you have them all listed. If you forgot any, add them to your recording page. 

5.  Look over these othre suggestions that may be helpful when you feel like you are putting off a task.  Write the bolded words on your recording sheet.

  • Prioritize tasks: Identify the most important tasks and tackle them first, especially when you have the most energy. 
  • Set deadlines: Create personal deadlines for each task to maintain a sense of urgency and accountability. 
  • Use time management techniques: Work in focused bursts with short breaks or scheduling to structure your time effectively. 
  • Create to-do lists: Writing down tasks helps organize your workload and provides a sense of accomplishment as you check them off.
6. Put a star by the 2 suggestions from this post that you like the best.

7.  Share your SEL mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

 

 

 

 

 

Some simple strategies include
Breaking a task into smaller elements
Journaling about why it’s stressing you out and addressing those underlying concerns.
Removing nearby distractions that make it easy to impulsively procrastinate.

#16: Guided Meditation: Test Anxiety

SEL Mini Sparks

Test anxiety is that nervous feeling you may get when you’re about to take a test. It’s normal to feel some pressure before an exam, and a little stress can actually help you focus and do better. But for some people, the worries are so strong that they can’t concentrate and don’t do as well as they’d like.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #2: Guided Meditation: Test Anxiety

2.  Sal explains how meditation can help you reduce stress when you are getting ready to take an important test .  Write ” I watched the intro video” on your recording page.

3.   NOTE: This step will take about 10 minutes and it is helpful if you can sit in a quiet space.

Listen to “Guided meditation to help with test anxiety” with Sal. When you are done, write “I did guided meditation” on your recording sheet.

 

4.  Write down three ideas you would like to remember from your guided session.

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

#9: Guided Meditation: Procrastination

SEL Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

What is procrastination? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, procrastination means “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.” Do you ever procrastinate? Sal from Khan Academy has recorded a few short meditations to help with this problem.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #9: Guided Meditation: Procrastination

2.    Think of a time when you put something off until the last minute, something that you knew you probably shouldn’t have. It doesn’t have to be school related. Write it here.

3.   NOTE: This step will take about 12 minutes and it is helpful if you can sit in a quiet space.

Complete this “Guided Meditation to help you stop procrastinating” with Sal. When you are done, write “I did guided meditation” on your recording sheet.

 

4.  Write down three ideas you would like to remember from your guided session.

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

#8: Growth Mindset 2

SEL Mini Sparks

Do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?  Does it depend on the situation?  Do you believe you are born with innate talents and gifts?  Find the answers to these questions and more by checking out the resources below.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #30: Growth Mindset Part 1

2. Watch this video from John Spencer. On your recording sheet record 3-4 details that were new to you, interesting, or sounded important.

3. Watch the 3D animated short short Soar. Write a detailed description of the tiny flying machine, focus on component parts.

4. Respond to 2 of these prompts on your recording sheet after watching the video, Soar.

  • A theme is the message or lesson that the author wants you to learn from the story. The theme is often inferred. What themes are present in this animation?
  • What did the characters learn?
  • Did all the characters learn the same thing?
  • How did the characters grow throughout the animation?
  • How does this animation fit with what we know about growth vs. fixed mindset?
  • What message can we take from this animation and how might it apply to our lives?

5. Read this article, “A Quick Note About Getting Better at Difficult Things”. Record the answers to questions 1-4 on your recording sheet, question 5 is optional.

6. Read the poem, “I PRACTICED” by JonArno Lawson.  Choose 1 of these prompts and respond with 5 sentences.

  •  Think of an activity or skill that you have practiced a lot. Why do you practice it? Do you think becoming perfect at a skill should be the goal of practice? Why or why not?
  •  Do you think practicing a lot makes you successful? Why doesn’t the speaker succeed at the skill even though they practice all the time?
  • In the poem, the speaker describes practicing a new skill, but not doing it. How do you think fear could stop someone from trying a new skill or activity?

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

Check out the Growth Mindset Badge at the EY Website

#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.