All posts by Jenny Henningsen

#54: Multiplication Tricks

Math Mini Sparks

Multiplication. It is one of the four types of operations you learned in math (along with addition subtraction and division). There are many different ways to multiply numbers. However, sometimes, multiplying really big numbers can be a challenge. Luckily, there are many different techniques you can use to solve large multiplication problems.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #54: Multiplication Tricks
  2. Watch this video about multiplying using lines. Take some notes as you watch to track the process.

3. Print out (or have your teacher print out) this worksheet. Use the method in the video to come up with answers to multiplication problems. You can check your answers on the second page of the worksheet.

4. If you feel comfortable with those problems and want to try multiplying bigger numbers, then print out this worksheet.

5. Share your math mini spark recording page and Explain EDU project with your teacher/EY coordinator.

*Lesson inspired by multiplication lessons from East Asian schools

#52: Super Egg

Math Mini Sparks

Numberphile is a YouTube channel that posts many videos about many different math concepts. The channel has numerous videos on many real life examples. It is a great channel to learn about concepts not necessarily taught in school. One video that the channel contains is about a super egg, or a superellipse.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #52: Super Egg

2. Watch the Numberphile Video and share something new you learned about math, geometry, and engineering on your recording sheet.

3. After watching the videos, click on this link and answer the questions. Write how you think you did on the quiz on your recording sheet.

4. Write 3 things you liked about the video and 2 questions you have and 1 thing you did not like about the video.

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

*Lesson inspired by Numberphile video about superellipses.

#50: Pandigital Numbers

Math Mini Sparks

Why is 361,654,729 awesome? Dive into this math mini spark and find out!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #50: Pandigital Numbers
  2. Check out this video about pandigital numbers.

3.  Check out the 3 levels of the Pandigital  Number Quiz  at Transum.  Pick the level that suits you. Keep playing your level until you earn a trophy. Add a screenshot of your trophy to your recording page.

Level 1 – Basic questions about pandigital numbers

Level 2 – More challenging questions about pandigital numbers

Level 3 – Excruciatingly difficult questions about pandigital numbers

4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#51: Movie Math

Math Mini Sparks

Today’s age is filled with a wide variety of forms of entertainment. Television shows and movies are some of the most common forms today. Usually we don’t associate math with these however there have been some movies and episodes with a focus on a math topic. One such movie is Good Will Hunting. The movie has a particular math problem in which an MIT professor claims it took him years to solve. The problem basically is to draw all shapes that fit the description. There are ten shapes in total. MIT is one of the best universities in the world. Are you able to solve the problem that supposedly took an MIT professor a long time to solve in a day or less? Find out!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #51: Movie Math.
  2. You are going to watch the video that introduces a problem and explains how to solve it.  Pause around 2:30 so you don’t see the answers until after you attempt the problem. Good Will Hunting Math Problem

3. After pausing the video, try drawing all 10 trees. You can check your answers near the end of the video in which he shares the answers

4. On your recording page, write about something new you learned. 

5. Share this video with your parents, friends, and/or adults and ask them if they can solve the problem as well

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

*Inspired by the movie Good Will Hunting

#44: Infinity

Math Mini Sparks

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!

This famous line from the beloved Disney Toy Story Movies became a common phrase for children in the mid 1990’s.  But what are we really saying when we declare our desire to take off on this infinite voyage?

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #44: Infinity
  2. Check out this TED Ed video on infinity.  Record 5-10 details from the video on your recording page.

3. Knowledge can be infinite!  Check out this link to expand your knowledge on this topic! Write about something you learned.

4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#23: STEAM CHALLENGE: Roll-a-Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities

By using the roll-a-challenge dice from Destination Imagination, you will be able to create more than 200 different Instant Challenge combinations. Just round up the supplies listed on the “Use” die, cut and glue or tape all three dice and you’re ready to get started!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #23: STEAM CHALLENGE: Roll-a-Challenge

2.  For this mini spark you will print and cut out 3 cubes that you will use to find your STEAM challenges. Record this information on your recording page.

  • The first cube you roll will be what you USE. You can use other items also, but you must use the item on the cube in your build.
  • the second cube you roll will be what you MAKE
  • the third cube you roll is THAT WILL-The object must serve this purpose.

3. Print your roll-a-challenge page on cardstock. Ask your teacher to help you with this step.

4. Cut out and create your cube. Press each of the creases really well so that your cube folds easily. Tape or glue your cubes.

5. Decide which of the main materials you have. If you need to replace an item with something else, you can mark that on your cube.

Materials: Plastic cups, plastic bags, paper plates, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, cardboard

6. Gather other recycled building materials.

Tape, glue, note cards, string, construction paper…and so on.

7. Roll your 1 cube, 2nd cube and 3rd cube. Record your challenge on your recording page or take a picture of the cubes and add the picture to your recording page.

8. On your recording page, sketch an idea of what you will make.

9. Take a picture of the items you will use and add it to your recording page.

10. Decide if you want to set a timer for 10 minutes (optional). Start your build. Take a few pictures of your progress.

11.  Take a picture of you final project at add it to your recording sheet. Write about what you did well on this challenge and where you can improve.

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

 

# 21: Toy Hackers

Enrichment Links, Full STEAM Ahead
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #7: Binary Code Names

There will be new episodes and DIY videos every week! Watch now

playlsits

Try this yourself! Collect the supplies and create! Snap a picture of your speakers and send it to the EY coordinator in your building.

If you liked this project, check out Toy Hackers. Toy Hackers is a new web series for the next generation of inventors! In the first weekly show, Goldie & the gang will help kids turn toy boxes into toolboxes.

 

 

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

 

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Calling all Doodlers! Submission due March 14th, 2024

Events & Contests, Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests

It’s time to start sketching, because this year’s Doodle 4 Google contest is openOnce a year, K-12 students are invited to bring their imagination to life in a doodle of the Google logo, using any medium they choose.

Doodles are the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists.

Check out the contest page to see past winners and to get some ideas! Start working on some sketches.

All information can be found  @ https://doodles.google.com/d4g/.

EY Badge link 

 

 

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#21: Inventions

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Invention is transforming your wildest daydreams into reality, like a robot making pancakes! It’s about mixing ideas and experiments to create something cool and useful!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #20: Inventions

2. Watch this intro video. Summarize a few of the ideas you liked from this video on your recording sheet.

3. Did you know a 15-year-old boy invented earmuffs back 1858?  Write the steps for how this came about on your recording sheet.

4. Watch this video and write a summary for each of the inventors.

5.  These kids all used their hearts and their smarts, and started somewhere!  Watch this video to get some ideas about the process. Take 5 detailed notes on your recording sheet.

 

6. On your recording page, do some brainstorming about how you could combine two items into one, like the examples from the video. Try to come up with 3 ideas. They do not need to be useful-but perhaps more creative and fun.

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