The Famous Holiday of Love, Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated around the world. Some countries celebrate this day in February, but not all. Learn about the holiday along with history of chocolate in this mini spark.
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #26: Valentine’s Day
2. Read about the history of Valentine’s Day at Wonderopolis. Record 3 details about the history of Valentine’s Day on your recording page.
3. A few weeks before February 14th rolls around, what types of commercials do you see more often? If you guessed ones about flowers, rings, and chocolates, you’re exactly right! These are gifts that are commonly given on the holiday that celebrates love: Valentine’s Day. Learn about the history of chocolate and Valentine’s Day. Record 10 details form the video on your recording sheet.
4. Watch the video to find out how Valentine’s day is celebrated around the world. Include details about three celebrations from around the world.
5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
What is the Winter Solstice? According to Dictionary.com the Winter Solstice lasts for just one moment. It occurs exactly when the Earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun. This usually happens around December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere or June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #25: Winter Solstice
2. Read these 3 paragraphs. Write a 5 question quiz after reading. Include multiple choice , true and false, and short answer questions. Make an answer key as well.
If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, during the solstice the sun will be at its southernmost point in the sky. The higher in latitude you are, the more you’ll notice that the solstice has the shortest day and longest night of the year.
In ancient cultures around the globe, the winter solstice was marked with ceremonies and celebrations. For example, in the days of the Inca Empire the winter solstice was honored with Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun. It involved a ceremony in which an Inca priest would “tie” the sun to a column stone in a symbolic effort to keep it from escaping.
Halfway around the world, indigenous people in Finland, Sweden, and Norway participated in the Beiwe Festival. On the winter solstice, worshippers honored the goddess Beiwe by sacrificing white female animals and covering their doorposts with butter for Beiwe to eat on her travels.
3. Watch this video and choose 5 of the questions to answer thoughtfully. Remind your teacher that that answers can be found in the social studies mini spark folder.
1. Describe what would happen to our planet if it did not tilt as it revolves around the Sun.
2. Explain how the tilt of the Earth affects the length of days in the northern and southern hemispheres during winter.
3. What are solstices, and how do they mark the change in seasons?
4. Discuss how civilizations in history, like the Babylonians and Maya, recognized the patterns of Earth’s movement around the Sun.
5. How does the experience of seasons differ for someone living near the equator compared to someone living near the poles?
6. Why might the changing lengths of days and nights be considered important by ancient civilizations?
7. In your opinion, why is it essential for us to understand the relationship between the Earth and the Sun?
8. Describe how the Earth’s movement around the Sun can provide reassurance during the coldest nights of winter.
4. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Almost 70 miles west of Key West lies Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. You can only get there by boat or seaplane! The park is known all over the world as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, beautiful blue waters, lots of coral reefs and marine life, and the tons of bird life that visit the area!
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page #24: Dry Tortugas National Park
2. Read this information page about Dry Tortugas National Park. Record several details about the park on your recording sheet.
3. Watch this video and respond to these questions: Describe the design features of Fort Jefferson that make it unique compared to other forts? What types of wildlife can be found in the Dry Tortugas, specifically on Hospital Key?
Why is Loggerhead Key important for turtle nesting, and what historical events took place there
4. There are around 300 shipwrecks in this area. Read this teaching page about the Windjammer Wreck. Take number notes while reading. Reminder: Number notes are recording all of the number facts/details that you come across in an article.
5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
It is always a good time to learn more about Geography. Study this geography lesson which is all about Oceans.
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #23: Geography Lesson: Oceans
2. Watch this video all of the way through. Record the mnemonic on your recording page.
3. Read the article Ocean Habitat at National Geographic kids. Record 2-3 pieces of information from each of the sections. In step 4 you will be making a quiz so look for good info to include in a quiz.
Earth Underwater
Climate Control
Ocean or Sea?
Ocean Life
Watery Habitats
4. Use the information from this article to write a 10 question quiz on your recording page. Include multiple choice, true and false, and open ended responses. Make a key to go with your quiz.
5. Take this ocean and sea quiz one time. Record your score.
6. Take the same ocean and sea quiz a second time. Record your score.
7. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
The Mediterranean Sea is the largest enclosed sea in the world, connected to the Atlantic Ocean only through the Strait of Gibraltar. Learn more about this area of the world in the Social Studies mini spark.
Spark your thinking!
1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #22: the Mediterranean Sea
2. Watch this short video. Record 5-8 facts about the sea on your recording sheet.
3. Set your timer for 3 minutes. Study this map of the Mediterranean Sea. When the timer goes off, record all of the countries that you can remember that border the Sea.
4. The Mediterranean Sea has a number of major internationally recognized seas within it’s vast area.
Open the World Atlas and find the map of the Mediterranean Sea.
Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Study the map closely and focus on the names of the smaller seas.
When the timer goes off, write down the names of 6 seas on your recording sheet.
Scroll to the bottom of this post to verify that you have recorded all the names correctly.
5. Look at this info and study the map of the Strait of Gibraltar at World Atlas. Record the cities that are on the border and also the territories on either side of the strait.
6. Optional: Memorize how to spell Mediterranean!!! Whisper spell it 10 times. Air write it 5 times and write it on your recording page 3 time from memory.
7. Share your social studies mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.
1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #21: The Floating City of Rotterdam
2. Watch this introduction video. Record each of the places shown on your recording sheet.
3. Read this article and answer 4 of the the questions with 3+ sentences. Remind your teacher that the answer key can be found in the social studies mini spark folder.
What historical event led to the creation of the Delta Programme in the Netherlands? Explain the significance of this program in flood management.
How does Rotterdam’s innovative architecture contribute to its ability to manage rainwater? Provide specific examples from the text.
Explain how the Floating Farm operates. What technologies are used to support food production on the farm?
What unique features do Wikkelboats offer to guests, and how do they reflect eco-friendly living?
How does the design of the Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR) incorporate sustainability? List at least two design elements mentioned in the text.
In what ways do the innovative projects in Rotterdam reflect the city’s response to climate change and flooding challenges?
Based on the text, how do these unique architectural projects enhance the experience of residents and visitors in Rotterdam?
4. Go to this link to read an article about the floating park. Write 5-10 details about the park on your recording sheet. Include information about how this park is helping to save the environment.
5. Learn more about floating farms. Record 3-5 reasons you like this idea, 3-5 questions you have, and 3-5 things you don’t like about floating farms.
6. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
The Famous Holiday of Love, Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated around the world. Some countries celebrate this day in February, but not all. Learn about the holiday along with history of chocolate in this mini spark.
What is the Winter Solstice? According to 
