All posts by Jenny Henningsen

#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.

24: Skyscraper Puzzles

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

For this mini spark you will create mini skyscrapers and complete the puzzles following the rules outlined.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM  mini spark recording page: #24: Skyscraper Puzzles 

2. Print out this set of starter puzzles and you will need a set of linking cubes or legos that you can use to build towers.

3. Read these instructions 3 times.

How to Solve a Skyscraper Puzzle:

● Build towers in each of the squares provided sized 1 through 4 tall
● Each row has skyscrapers of different heights (1 through 4), no
duplicate sizes
● Each column has skyscrapers of different heights (1 through 4), no
duplicate sizes
● The rules on the outside (in grey) tell you how many skyscrapers you
can see from that direction or how many skyscrapers you could see while looking down that city block from that spot.
● Taller skyscrapers block your view of shorter ones

4. Watch this teaching video for ideas on how to get started.

5.  Create 16 towers.

6. Solve the 4 X 4 puzzles in your booklet.

7.  When you are done with each puzzle you need to check it.  You can ask a teacher or a friend to do this for you.

1st-Look at each row and column and make sure there are only 1 of each size skyscrapers. 2nd-Look at the numbers in the gray boxes and make sure you can only see the number of skyscrapers when looking “down the street” from each gray box.

8. Make changes if needed and snap a picture of your final project.

9. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your completed puzzle pictures with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

Check out the Skyscraper Puzzle Badge on the EY Website.

#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: STEAM Challenge: Fold and Cut

Enrichment Links, Full STEAM Ahead
Can you cut a square out of the middle of a piece of paper using just ONE cut?
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: # 21: STEAM Challenge: Fold and Cut

2. You will need 5-10 pieces of paper and a pair of scissors.

3. Your challenge is to fold your paper so that you can cut out square from the middle of the page with just ONE cut. Experiment with different folds until you discover the correct method.

4. Take a picture of your finished challenge and add it to your recording page

5. This document has many different shapes to use for your second challenge. Choose one page and make several copies of that one page.

6. Cut the paper down the middle on both sides to create little pieces with a shape in the middle. You can use these little pages to practice your folds.

7. Solve one more puzzle. Add a picture to your recording page.

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

Check out the fold and cut badge at the EY Webpage.

 

 

 

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

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 

 

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

#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.

#20: Animal Olympians

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities

Welcome to the Animal Olympics, where species compete daily in the wild to thrive and survive.  Different species have adapted different athletic abilities to succeed in their respective environments, from running fast to chase prey to swimming great distances in search of food and safety. Animals are amazing athletes and their performances in the wild are of often above and beyond Olympic caliber. And the medals go to……..

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #20: Animal Olympians

2.  Record make a section for each of these categories on your recording sheet.

  • Event #1: The Marathon
  • Event #2: 100 meter sprint
  • Event #3: Swimming
  • Event #4: The high jump
  • Event #5: Weightlifting

3. Read this article and take notes for each event on your recording sheet.

4. This article compares humans to animals. Pick 3 of the examples and record the animal and human details on your recording page.

5. Look over the fastest animals on this document and record the name and one detail on your recording page.

And the medal goes to………

6. Choose an animal not on any of these lists, but who should be! Decide what the category should be, and how this animal beats out all of the other animals to win the gold medal. Be specific and add facts to support your choice. Design the medal for you animal olympian as well. Add all of this to your recording page.

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

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Stumper of the Week #11

Nordquist Blog

tree-clipart-stock-photos-image

As the trees begin to sprout and bloom, here is a new stumper for you…

Write the word acorn.  Drop the second and last letters.  Add an e.  Add a t in the middle.  Double the last letter.  Reverse the first two letters.  Add a k after the a, and divide the letters into two words that spell the result of a buried acorn.

Email Ms Skaggs with your answer!  🙂

Bright Ideas Calendar  McDonald Publishing 1991