All posts by Katie Sindt

#41: Spooky Halloween Tongue Twisters

Early Enrichment

Tongue twisters are a great way to practice and improve pronunciation and fluency. They’re not just for kids, but are also used by actors, politicians, and public speakers who want to sound clear when speaking.

Spark your thinking!

1.  Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: #41: Spooky Halloween Tongue Twisters

2. Look over this list of Spooky Halloween Tongue Twisters.  Write down you favorite one.

  • Creepy crawly critters crawl through creepy crawly craters.
  • Dracula digs dreary, dark dungeons.
  • Ghostly ghouls gather gleefully to golf on ghostly golf courses.
  • Gobbling gargoyles gobbled gobbling goblins.
  • Horribly hoarse hoot owls hoot howls of horror in Halloween haunted houses.
  • If big, black bats could blow bubbles, how big of bubbles would big black bats blow?
  • If two witches would watch two watches, which witch would watch which watch?
  • Professional Pumpkin Pickers are prone to pick the plumpest pumpkins.
  • Transylvanian Tree Trimmers are trained to trim the tallest Transylvanian trees.
  • Several spooky, slimy spiders sulkily spun by the sea.
  • The ochre ogre ogled the poker.
  • Which witch wished which wicked wish?

3. Learn to say your tongue twister. Set you timer for 3 minutes and practice reading it aloud over and over. Start slowly. Work on saying each word carefully and clearly. Work up to being able to say your tongue twister quickly.  As an adult to listen to you and initial your recording page.

4. Now that you’re an expert at saying one, write your own alliterative tongue twister.

  • Pick a consonant.
  • Write down as many words as you can think of that start with that letter. The more alike they sound, the better.
  • Make up a sentence that uses as many of your words as possible.

5. Share your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

 

#31: Halloween Traditions

Social Studies Enrichment

Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is celebrated all around the world on October 31. It has its roots in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. In simple terms, Samhain was a fun festival that celebrated the changing seasons from light to dark, or in other words, from summer to winter. Today, Halloween is a time for kids to dress up in silly costumes, carve pumpkins into funny faces, and go trick-or-treating for candy! It’s all about having a spooky good time and enjoying the thrill of the season!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #31: Halloween History

2. Read this short article about the history of Halloween. On your recording page, explain the origin of the jack-o-lantern.

3. Read this article about the history of costumes.  Why did people start wearing costumes? Starting with the 1930s record a sentence or two explaining what the costumes were like for each of the decades that are listed.

4. Study this graphic organizer from Visual Capitalist. What are some possible reasons for trends or popular costume choices? Use information from this image to support your idea.

5. Pumpkins are a favorite at Halloween time. Watch this short clip and write 3 sentences  about how the characters are able to express emotions without any words.

6. Watch this newscast about a pumpkin that holds the world record for size.  What types of preparation do the farmers need to do to grow these giant pumpkins.

7. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

 

#30: Fifty Stars!

Social Studies Enrichment

We’ve all heard the legend of Betsy Ross. But, who created and designed our current American flag? Believe it or not, the designer was a 17-year-old boy from Lancaster, Ohio, who did it for a school assignment!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #30: Fifty Stars!

2. Read this interview from the person who designed our current flag. Summarize the articles in two sentences.

3. Look at this webpage that shows the dates when states were admitted to the union.   Calculate the math to find out how old 5 different states are right now.  Make a tiny visual showing the states and the current ages.

4. How would you design a flag if we were to add a 51st state? Perhaps Puerto Rico? Draw a design for an American flag that includes 51 stars. Take a picture of your design and add it to your recording page.

5. Turn your social studies mini spark into your teacher/EY coordinator.

Source: https://www.guideposts.org/better-living/positive-living/inspired-to-create-a-grand-new-flag

 

#41:Who Was Johnny Appleseed?

Reading Enrichment

If you head out to any apple-picking adventures  in orchards around and in Omaha, you might hear about the legend of Johnny Appleseed. Who was this man? And, did he really exist?

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #41: Who Was Johnny Appleseed? 

2. Read this article to find out some information about Johnny Appleseed. On your recording page, write down 5 notes about his life.

3. Print out a crossword puzzle with words from this story to complete. Add a picture to your recording sheet or save it to turn in with your mini spark recording page.

4. Watch this news clip about Johnny Appleseed. Write a few sentences about what you learned.

5. Choose two of these prompts and write a two sentence response for each on your recording sheet.

  • What have you learned from the legend of Johnny Appleseed?
  • Johnny Appleseed was also known for his kindness to animals. What animal do you value, and why?
  • In your opinion, what is the best form to enjoy an apple? Why?
  • Johnny Appleseed slept outside under the trees. Have you ever slept outside? Write about an experience when you did not sleep in your bed.
  • Johnny Appleseed is a legend and known for his good deeds. What would you like to be known for throughout your life?
  • If you could travel around planting seeds, where would you go and why?

6. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

 

 

 

#40: Mary DID Have a Little Lamb

Early Enrichment

You may have heard the nursery rhyme “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” but you probably didn’t know this was based on true story! Learn about the history behind this nursery rhyme in this early enrichment mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1.  Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: #40: Mary DID Have a Little Lamb

2.  Sheep are amazing farm animals that have been helping humans for thousands of years! Let’s learn some cool facts about these woolly friends.

What Makes Sheep Special

  • Sheep have excellent memory and can remember up to 50 different sheep faces
  • Baby sheep are called lambs
  • Female sheep are called ewes
  • Male sheep are called rams
  • A group of sheep is called a flock

Sheep Superpowers

  • They have rectangular pupils that help them see almost all the way around them
  • Their wool grows forever and needs to be cut (sheared) regularly
  • One sheep can produce 2-30 pounds of wool each year
  • Sheep have great balance and can climb mountains
  • They can smell water from far away

How Sheep Help Us

  • Wool for warm clothes
  • Milk for cheese
  • Meat for food
  • Help keep grass short in fields
  • Their wool can be used in carpets and rugs

Fun Facts

  • Sheep don’t have top front teeth
  • They can make at least 40 different sounds
  • Most sheep live 10-12 years
  • Sheep are very social and like to stay in groups
  • They can recognize human faces and voices

Did You Know?
Sheep are one of the first animals that humans kept as farm animals. They have been helping people for over 10,000 years!

3. The nursery rhyme, Mary Had a Little Lamb, which was was first published in 1830, is based on an actual incident involving Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, a woman born in 1806 on a farm in Sterling, Massachusetts. Listen to the original nursery rhyme. On your recording page write about what your reaction would be if there was a lamb in your classroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Read the history about Mary and her lamb.

In 1815, Mary, then nine, was helping her father with farm chores when they discovered a sickly newborn lamb in the sheep pen that had been abandoned by its mother. After a lot of pleading, Mary was allowed to keep the animal, although her father didn’t hold out much hope for its survival. Against the odds, Mary managed to nurse the lamb back to health. And, yes, the lamb would indeed follow her wherever she went and did have a fleece as white as snow.

One day, Mary was heading to school with her brother when the lamb began following them. The siblings apparently weren’t trying very hard to prevent the lamb from tagging along, even hauling it over a large stone fence they had to cross to get to Redstone School, the one-room schoolhouse they attended. Once there, Mary secreted her pet under her desk and covered her with a blanket. But when Mary was called to the front of the class to recite her lessons, the lamb popped out of its hiding place and, much to Mary’s chagrin and to the merriment of her classmates, came loping up the aisle after her. The lamb was shooed out, where it then waited outside until Mary took her home during lunch. The next day, John Roulstone, a student a year or two older, handed Mary a piece of paper with a poem he’d written about the previous day’s events. You know the words (except maybe for the 3rd verse):

Mary had a little lamb;
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out;
But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.

5. Your task is to write your version of a 4th stanza. Your poem should be 4 lines long. Try to model the rhyming pattern.

6. Share your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

#39: Hello, Baby Panda!

Early Enrichment

Spark your thinking!

1.  Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: #39:Hello, Baby Panda!

2. Baby Pandas are so cute!! Read this fact page about about a baby panda.  Write a description of a baby panda on your recording page.

3.  Watch this video about pandas. What are the important differences between pandas and other types of bears? Add this to your recording page.

4. Bamboo is a type of grass. It can grow as tall as a tree and can look more like forest than grassland. Read more about bamboo at Britacanna Kids.   Look for these three words while you are reading: culms,  rhizome, and scaffolding. Write the meaning of these three words on your recording page.

5. Share your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

#29: The NEW Seven Wonders of the World

Social Studies Enrichment

NEW Wonders of the World? Does that mean they were built in the last few years? NO! It just means they’re different from the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The new Wonders could be anything built before the year 2000!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #29: The NEW Seven Wonders of the World

2. What ARE the NEW Wonders of the World? WONDEROPOLIS knows! Read this article.  Write a 3 question quiz using the information from the article. Include an answer key.

3. Research each wonder at Britannica. For each wonder make a bullet list with at least 3 details.

4. Look over the list of all of the places in the world that were considered to be the NEW wonders of the world. Choose one of the places to learn more about. Click on it and read the fact page. Write about the wonder runner up you picked and include 3-4 details about why it would be a good 8th wonder.

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

Check out the 7 wonders badge at the EY webpage.

#40: Bike Racing and Letter Writing

Reading Enrichment

Do you know how to ride a bike? Fiona Kolbinger from Germany sure does! She won the ultra-endurance Transcontinental Race back in 2019.  In this mini spark you will learn more about this event and review the parts of a friendly letter.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page:#40: Bike Racing and Letter Writing

2. Fiona Kolbinger, a cancer researcher from Germany, outrode 225 men and 39 women to complete the approximately 2,485 mile-race from Bulgaria to France in 10 days, two hours, and 48 minutes. Even more impressive, Kolbinger crossed the finish line almost 11 hours ahead of the second-place winner, Ben Davies of the United Kingdom.  Rewrite this paragraph in your own words on your recording sheet.

3. Watch the video below to find out more about the Transcontinental Race. Record several details form the video on your recording sheet.

4. Read this article about Fiona’s amazing win!

5. Review the parts of a letter by watching this video.  Record the 5 parts on your recording page.

6. On your recording page, write Letter to Fiona, including what you found most impressive about her win!

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

#28: Egypt

Social Studies Enrichment

Egypt, an ancient and fascinating land, is known for its pyramids, the Nile River, and the pharaohs who ruled.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your Social Studies Mini Spark recording page: #28: Egypt
  2. Read this teaching page about Ancient Egypt from National Geographic Kids. Make a tiny info page about the pharaohs on your recording page. 
  3. Read this fact page about Egypt.  Find 5-8 facts that are interesting to you to record on your recording page.
  4. Look over this map of Egypt. On your recording page write the names of 3 of each of the following items: cities, neighboring countries. bodies of water. Record what you notice about where the majority of the cities are located.
  5. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

#27: Presidents’ Day? The Truth Behind the Holiday

Social Studies Enrichment

In 1879, the United States made Washington’s February 22nd Birthday a federal holiday. Today, the third Monday in February is frequently referred to as “Presidents’ Day.” So which is it? Let’s get to the bottom of what’s official and what’s not.

 

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #27: Presidents’ Day? The Truth Behind the Holiday

2.

According to mountvernon.org, George Washington was a humble man who did not enjoy flashy celebrations. During his lifetime, Washington didn’t really celebrate his birthday, choosing instead to use the day to respond to letters or attend to matters at Mount Vernon. However, national celebration of his birthday began while he was alive and continued after his death.

The road to what the majority of people in the United States now recognizes as Presidents’ Day is a long and confusing one. After Washington died in 1799, his birthday was informally celebrated across the country. But, it wasn’t until  January 31, 1879, that Washington’s birthday became a federally recognized holiday.

Washington’s birthday is also recognized in another unique fashion. Starting in 1896, it has become a tradition to read Washington’s Farewell Address on February 22nd (the actual day of his birth) in the US Senate by a current member. This tradition reminds us of a man whose patriotic spirit still inspires us to this day, particularly federal workers who uphold what he helped create.

On June 28th, 1968, Congress passed the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act”. This law aimed to provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays. The act was also created to provide federal employees with more three-day weekends. Under this new law, Washington’s birthday would be celebrated on the third Monday of February, partially losing the value and identity of the importance of his birthday. Washington’s birthday has not been celebrated on the actual day of his birth since the law took effect in 1971.

Today the nation typically combines Washington’s Birthday with Presidents’ Day, celebrating both days on the third Monday in February. However, Presidents’ Day is not the official name of the holiday. While the name “Presidents’ Day” was proposed for this Monday holiday in 1951, the U.S. government never officially changed the name. In the 1980s, thanks to advertising campaigns for holiday sales, the term became popularized and largely accepted.

The idea behind the name was to create a holiday that did not recognize a specific president, but rather celebrated the office of the presidency. This joint recognition would also celebrate President Lincoln’s February 12th birthday within the same period. Both great men, both important to our country.

Source: mountvernon.org