All posts by Jenny Henningsen

#31: Mo Willems

Reading Enrichment

Mo Willems is a well-known author and illustrator celebrated for his entertaining and captivating children’s literature. He is recognized for creating beloved characters such as the Pigeon, Elephant and Piggie, and Knuffle Bunny. His narratives frequently incorporate humor, relatable experiences, and interactive features, making them favorites among both children and adults.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #24: Mo Willems

 2. Watch this read aloud of the book Waiting Is Not Easy.  Think about 3 times during your day when you have to wait for something.  What advice do you have for other kids when they are frustrated about having to wait.  Write your suggestions on your recording sheet.

 

3.  Watch this read aloud of the book Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay up Late.  Pigeon was very creative when thinking about ways to avoid going to bed. What would be other ideas for how Pigeon could avoid going to bed? Write 3-5 ideas on your recording sheet.

4. In this interview Mo Willems talks about how his journey began and what projects have inspired him. What metaphor does Mr. Willems use to describe how ideas grow, and what does it signify about creativity?

6.  Mo Willems makes masterful use of speech bubbles and thought bubbles in his books. Speech bubbles can be an effective tool for writing prompts, reading responses and inference. Read this teaching page about speech bubbles. Record 3 important ideas writers should remember about how to use them properly. 

7. Open this template. Look over the images on the three pages. Choose one of the pages to use for your own story. On your recording sheet brainstorm some ideas about a story line you can create to go along with the Elephant and Piggies actions on the page you have choosen.   

8. Create your own Elephant and Piggie dialogue on your recording page. Ask someone to read it over and make suggestions. 

9. Print the template you need for your story. Transfer your final story to the template. Optional: Color your page and outline your words with a thin black marker. 

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

Optional: Create a silly story with this Elephant and Piggie Mad Lib page

 

 

#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.

 

 

 

 

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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: #21: 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 1 sentence 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.

Check out this badge at the EY website

#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.

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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

#19: Patent, Trademark, & Copyright

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized

Patents are like superhero capes for inventions, keeping them safe from copycats! Trademarks are the cool name tags for products and services, making sure everyone knows who the cool kids are! Copyrights are like magic shields for books and art, protecting them from sneaky pirates who want to steal their treasure!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #19:Patent, Trademark, & Copyright

2. Are you someone who keeps an eye out for the latest inventions?  Do you enjoy tinkering with objects to see what you can create?  Then knowing about patents and trademarks might be helpful in your future endeavors!  The USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) has a website to help kids understand more about the patent and trademarking process. Divide your recording page into 3 sections.

Patent

Trademark

Copyright

 

3.  What is a Patent? Trademark? Copyright? Read about this  the USPTO website. Take detailed notes about all 3 on your recording page.

4. Look at real life examples. Record the examples on your recording page.

5. Watch this three videos. For each one record 5 details.

 

 

7. On your recording page, add an idea you would love to create a patent for or something interesting you learned about the patent/trademarking process.

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

Check out the Kids Invent Stuff Badge the Problem Solving Invention Badge at the EY website.

#18: Make a flip book

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities

A flip book is a small booklet containing a sequence of images that gradually change from one page to the next. When the pages are turned quickly, they create the illusion of motion.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #79: Peter Reynolds

2. Print this instruction page or open it up on your ipad.  Read all of the information.

How does the flip book work? Why 24 pages? What is the patent history for this toy? Record this information on your recording sheet.

3. Watch this video

4.   He outlines several different ideas.  Watch the video to get an idea of how to get started

5. On your recording page write down the materials you will need and the idea you will use for your story.

6. Gather the materials and add a picture to your recording page.

6. If you want to use your ipad for a light source, watch this tutorial

7. Make your 24 paged flip book. Add a picture of some of the pages to your recording page.

8. Have a friend take a video of your flip book in action.

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