All posts by Jenny Henningsen

# 8 Full Steam Ahead

October 23, 2015Full STEAM AheadJenny Henningsen

Have you wanted to create your own video game?

YES??? Well, “Floors” is the app for you

Watch this video that shows you what the app will do.

Watch this video that introduces how to start your own game and a little information about each of the buttons and what they do.

Use this Pixel Press guide to get started

Get started creating!

Go to the app store and download Floors (Pixel Press)
Open app, type in your code and click “allow microphone”

3. To get to the area where you will create click “Create”

4. After spending time learning and creating, you can share your video game with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building. Create a post below telling us what you like about this app. Include your first name and your school with your post.

5. If you want to take this a step further and create a drawing and convert it to a video game, read this article and download this special graph paper at pixelpress.com to get started.

This is a tutorial for how to create your drawing on paper or game using the draw in app feature https://youtu.be/y1dKpaqaVaI.

This is a link to more video tutorials

L. Arts Mini-Spark #9: Homographs

October 14, 2015Reading Enrichment, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

Put quite simply, a homograph is a group (usually a pair) of words that are spelled the same way, but have different meanings. They may or may not be pronounced the same way, although the difference in pronunciation is often just a shift in the accented syllable.

Strengthen your brain by playing a matching game.

You will be given two lists of word definitions.Find the pair that has the homograph in common. Here is a sample:

2 and D go together since their word is “dove.”

3 and A both go with the word “tear.”

The remaining words are: contract, wound, and model.

Work through 3-5 sample sets at Byrdseed.com.

Try to find the answers and jot down your guesses, before clicking the hint button. This will give you the 5 words.

Your challenge:

Build a 2 column form for these 5 homographs (or 5 of your choice)

minute, coordinates, produce, entrance, down

Make an answer key to go along with your definitions.

Share your lists with your teacher or EY coordinator in your building.

Quarter 1 Update

October 12, 2015Nordquist BlogJenny Henningsen

The leaves are falling, the smell of campfires fill the air, and conferences are here! That must mean the first quarter is over!

We have had a busy, but fun first quarter. Our focus has been on invention and innovation. This is always a fun theme for students and proved to be true this year as well. We had a variety of events and experiences that provided students with the opportunity to explore invention and innovation both inside and outside the classroom.

One such event was the Invention Convention Seminar in October. This was open to all students grades 2 – 6 (at two separate seminars) and had a focus on the engineering profession as well. 5th & 6th grade students had the opportunity to create their own musical instrument, work through the reverse engineering process, market their invention, and look at improving the world through inventions all while creating an engineering notebook. 2nd – 4th graders worked through the process of creating electrical circuits and even got to put together a light up greeting card using a circuit they made. It was exciting to see all of the innovative thinkers we have at Westside!

Math and Reading enrichment are in full swing now. There are many opportunities available to students within the classroom during these subject areas. Most of the enrichment options can be found through the EY blog. Many of these experiences have the potential to lead into deeper projects/studies, so be sure to check with your student regarding opportunities they have chosen or plan to explore.

We continue to encourage all students to check out the EY blog regularly for enrichment opportunities in many interest areas both within their classrooms and beyond. Please encourage your student(s) to explore the blog at home as well. Like I always say…the blog doesn’t ever take a day off!

Thank you for making this first quarter a success!

Links for Henningsen EY

October 8, 2015Henningsen Blog, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

Math League

http://online.mathleague.com/

Link to use for Lynda

www.lynda.com/portal/googleplus?org=westside66.net

Google Form for Lynda Progress

https://docs.google.com/a/westside66.net/forms/d/1kUQRflzyg188XwUyeZETZee3FrQZ-vZa5DwV6I-4VMQ/viewform?usp=send_form

#7 Full STEAM Ahead: Binary Code Name

October 5, 2015Full STEAM AheadJenny Henningsen

Computer coding seems to be everywhere these days. But what exactly is computer coding? Well, it’s a little bit like teaching a dog tricks. You have to teach a computer what to do by speaking its “language.” One such language, or code, is binary. It works by using a system of 2 symbols, base 2, often made up of 0’s and 1’s. Check out this article on binary code and take on the challenges below.

Here are a few tasks for you to take on while reading the article:

*Write your name using UTF-8 binary code

*Write something in binary code using a symbol, object, or color that exists in two forms or states (ex: coin, shapes, up/down arrows, etc…)

*Take the “Bit Groups” challenge at the end of the article

We would love to see the binary work you have done! Leave a comment or email your EY coordinator. Happy coding!

Rubber Band Contest

September 16, 2015Full STEAM Ahead, Henningsen Blog, Other Events & ContestsJenny Henningsen

A CHALLENGE FOR STUDENTS GRADES 5-8

Design and create a working invention/artwork that incorporates at least one (1) rubber band.

Go to http://rubberbandcontest.org/ to download the official rules guide and entry form. All entries must be postmarked by March 16, 2016. Contact the EY coordinator in your building if you need assistance with this project.

Early Enrichment #3: Similes

September 10, 2015Early Enrichment, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN SIMILE

Watch this video about similies

Fall Simile Writing Activity

Option 1

Here are some sentence starters for you to complete on paper.

You may add in your own ideas if you wish.

Add color/designs to your finished page.

A fall leaf is a red as a _________________________.

A jack-o-lantern is a round as a______________________.

A fall leaf is a crunchy as a___________________________.

A fall leaf is as ____________________ as ________________________.

A pumpkin is _______________________like _______________________.

A bat is as ________________________as __________________________.

Halloween is __________________________as ___________________.

The scarecrow is ____________________like__________________________.

Share your key note or sentences to the EY coordinator in your building.

Post a comment with a sentence you wrote that you would like to share.

Include your First Name, your school and your favorite sentence

Example: Dottie, Sunset Fall leaves fall to the ground like snowflakes.

picture from ehssjadej.edublogs.org

L. Arts Mini-Spark #8: Can you Haiku?

September 8, 2015Reading Enrichment, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. It often centers around nature.
Haiku poems don’t rhyme; they follow a pattern.

The pattern for haiku is the following:
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables

Try to count out the syllables in an example written by Basho Matsuo’s

An old silent pond… (How many syllables did you count?)

A frog jumps into the pond, (How about this line?)

splash! Silence again. (Does this line follow the rule?)

How to write your haiku
Brainstorm words that are about your topic For example: rain, clouds, soft breezes
Choose the words that you like from this list.
Count the syllables (parts) of the words.
Put them together using the pattern.

Your challenge-Choose a topic or theme (nature, sports, family, school, friendship, etc.) and brainstorm a list of many words related to your topic.
Then, write 3-5 haiku style poems about the topic/theme you picked out.
Your poems need to follow the 5-‐7-‐5 syllable pattern.
Include at least one original picture with your poems.

Send your work to the EY coordinator in your building.

images from http://www.ippmagazine.com and

http://heightstechnology.edublogs.org/files/2010/10/cloud-205bdge.jpg

Money Confident Kids Writing Contest

August 28, 2015Events & Contests, Henningsen Blog, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

Learn about spending, saving, and setting smart financial goals by participating in this Money Confident Kids Website http://www.scholastic.com/mck/

Essay Prompt:

Discover and describe a true story of a time when your parent or guardian set a financial goal and then achieved it. Include: the goal; a description of the spending and saving choices that were made to achieve the goal; and lessons that you can apply to your own future financial decisions

Here’s how it works:
1. Read an issue of Money Confident kids- Click here for an issue of Money Confident Kids

2. INTERVIEW a parent or guardian about money
management.

3 . ASK about a time when he or she set a financial
goal and then made saving and spending choices to
achieve it.
4. WRITE a 200 – to 250 -word essay (based on your
interview) that describes the true story of achievement,
and what lessons you can apply to your own future
financial decisions.
Optional: Consider including a photo or drawing
with your essay!

5. ****CONTEST CLOSED*******
Submit to the EY coordinator in your building by October 1st, 2015

Click here for more information about the process, prizes and to find the entry form for the contest.

If you read the magazine, conduct an interview, and write an essay and would like to enter it in this contest, please fill out the entry form and send it to the EY coordinator in your school by Oct 1st. If you need help with getting the permission form printed out, or any part of this contest, please contact the EY coordinator at your school.

Contest Presented by T. Rowe Price

Early Enrichment #2: You can be an inventor

August 25, 2015Early Enrichment, UncategorizedJenny Henningsen

BUILD A BETTER PENCIL

Did you know that the popsicle, ear muffs AND the trampoline were invented by kids? You can be an inventor, too. Take this challenge to create a new and improved pencil.

1. FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM

Inventors are motivated by things that don’t work. Imagine that your pencil keeps slipping out of your hand and it presses on your fingers and they get sore.

Figure out the problem! Is the pencil too narrow? Is the paint to slippery.

Think about what might improve the pencil so that the problem is erased (no pun intended). Write your ideas down in a notebook.

2. LET YOUR IMAGINATION GO!

Brainstorm as many ideas to solve the problem of as possible. Next, turn these ideas into designs. Draw them in your note book. No matter how bizarre or unrealistic a design may seem, make sure to make sure to include it. Although a design may seem impossible, it might inspire a realistic solution.

Comment below to share your ideas or Snap a picture of your best pencil idea and share it with the EY coordinator in your building.

Westside Excellence in Youth

Talent & Interest Development for All Learners