All posts by lspady

#83: All about storytelling

Uncategorized

Storytelling has been an important part of human cultures for a very long time. For thousands of years, storytelling was the main way to pass on cultural knowledge and beliefs from one generation to the next. Stories teach and entertain, which has helped keep traditional ways of life going. Cultural ideals, medical practices, folk wisdom, historical accounts, and religious beliefs have all been shared through stories told by many people over the centuries. Storytelling is still important today, even though the ways stories has evolved. 

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #83: Storytelling
  2. Watch this interview from PBS. Record at least 5 important details from the video.
  3. Read this article.  Choose 3 questions to answer with 2-3 sentences.  Remind your teacher that the answers are in the LA mini spark folder. 
  • What is the main purpose of storytelling according to the passage?
  • What is the earliest evidence of storytelling mentioned in the text?
  • Describe the different forms of oral storytelling that are discussed in the passage.
  • How did the tradition of oral storytelling originate for works like The Iliad and Aesop’s Fables?
  • What are some reasons why people are drawn to stories according to the passage?
  • What are some ways that stories can help people develop empathy for others?
  • Why does the passage suggest that storytelling has been important for human cooperation and survival?
  • What does the passage suggest about the enduring nature of storytelling throughout human history

4. Share your language arts mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#82: The Story Spine!

Reading Enrichment

We are all storytellers. Good storytelling involves captivating an audience through the effective use of narrative elements, such as compelling characters, vivid imagery, and an engaging plot.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #82: The Story Spine!
  2. Watch this video Pixar in a Box: Introduction to Storytelling. Pause the video to record 5-10 ideas about storytelling and what is needed to make a good story.

 

3. Watch this video about the story spine. Write the story spine prompts on your recording page.

 

4. Use a story you have just read or a story suggested by your teacher. Use the story spine template and fill it in for your story.

5. OPTIONAL: Create your own story idea using the story spine prompts.

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


Check out the Pixar in a Box badge on the EY website

# 81: Origin Myths-Fire

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

An origin myth is a special story about imaginary people meant to answer difficult questions such as, “Where did the seasons first come from?” or “How was earth was formed?”. Myths are passed generation to generation in order to teach a lesson about a people’s customs or virtues. In each of the myths you will hear a story from a different tribal group.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page:  #81: Origin Myths-Fire

2. Read these two paragraphs. 

Native American or Indigenous peoples of North America do not share a single, unified body of mythology. Each of the many different tribal groups has developed their own stories about the creation of the world, the appearance of the first people, the place of humans in the universe, and the lives and deeds of deities and heroes.

Despite the great variety of Native American mythologies, certain common mythic themes, characters, and stories can be found in many of the cultures. Underlying all the myths is the idea that spiritual forces can be sensed through the natural world—including clouds, winds, plants, and animals. Many stories explain how the actions of gods, heroes, and ancestors gave the earth its present form.

On your recording sheet answer these two questions. What is the purpose of myths? What are some common elements in myths? 

3.  You will use a chart for the step 4.  You can create one on your recording page, print out this PDF, or make your own digital copy to add to your digital recording sheet.

4. Listen to or Read these 4 myths about how fire was created. Fill out your chart for each story. 

The First Fire – Cherokee

 

Coyote Brings Fire to the People – Shoshone

 

Fire Race- Karuk

 

How Beaver Stole Fire – Nez Percé 

How Beaver Stole Fire from the Pines

5. For the last task, decide which two origin stories that are the most similar.  On your recording page record the titles. Make a bulleted list of 5 ways the stories are the same and then list 5 ways that the stories have differences.

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

Americanism Essay Contest-Deadline Dec. 15

Other Events & Contests

“What Does Patriotism Mean To Me?”

Omaha Elks Lodge #39 of the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks is sponsoring an Americanism essay contest.

Who is Eligible?  5th-8th Grade

What are the Requirements?  300 words or less, typed or legibly printed in ink

What are the Prizes?  There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each division with CASH prizes.

When is the Deadline?  December 15, 2024

More Information?  Click HERE

#60: Hidden Figures

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

“Hidden Figures” is a biographical book about four African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race and played pivotal roles in the Apollo program. Their contributions were essential in advancing America’s space exploration efforts, particularly during the historic Apollo missions to the Moon

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #60: Hidden Figures

2. Record the names of the mathematicians you will learn about in this mini spark on your recording page: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden.

3. Listen to Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race.  For each of these dates you hear in the story, pause the story and write a phrase about that date.

1943, 1945, 1951, 1953, (1950s), 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969

 

4. In 3-5 explain how Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. Use details from the story. Add your response to your recording page.

5. Read more about Katherine Johnson at this Wonderopolis page.

  • Read the page
  • Take the wonderword challenge. Add your score your recording page.
  • Do the Did you Get It quiz. Add your score your recording page.

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

Check out the Mission to Mars badge and Space traveler badge at the EY Website.

#102: Friendly Numbers

Math Mini Sparks

Friendly numbers are a special type of number that have a unique connection with other numbers. To understand this relationship, we will add up all of the factors of a number and then we look at the index of a number and compare it to the index of another number.  Check it out in this mini spark.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #102: Friendly Numbers

2. Review factors. Read this paragraph and when you are done write the factors of the number 40 on your recording sheet.

Factors are numbers you multiply together to get another number. A factor of a number divides the number evenly, with no remainder. What are all the factors of the number 8? 1 2 4 8 What are all the factors of the number 24? 1 2 3 4 6 8 12 24

3. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see if you have the correct numbers for step 2. If you do put a star on your page. If you do not, add the correct numbers.

4. Look over these 6 questions before your start watching the video.

  • Stop the video at 2:57. In two sentences, describe how 12 and 234 and are friendly numbers.
  • How many perfect numbers are there. How has this number changed since 2011?
  • What is is called if you don’t have a friend? Name a few of these types of numbers.
  • Pause the video at 8:40 and write down all of the friendly numbers on his chart.
  • What are the yellow numbers?
  • What is 10’s index?

 

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

 

 

 

Answers for step 3

Factors of 40 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 40

Scary Tales-Creative Writing Contest

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

Closing Date: Friday Nov 1, 2024

 

There is nothing better than reading a thrilling story, one that grips you so tightly and puts your senses on alert simply through the power of words. Spooky Sagas is a fantastic way to practice writing in this way by using tension, suspense, and atmosphere.

Write a mini saga (a story told in up to 100 words) can be funny or creepy, scary or odd, but must be your own work.

Read the student info page for more ideas.

Student Planning Sheet

Writing Samples

More information 

The contest closes on Nov 1. If you would like help with your submission, make sure to get your story to the EY teacher in your building before this date.

 

#80: Word Fit Puzzle

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Fit words into a grid in this popular game, often seen in puzzle magazines as fill-ins. The grid looks like a crossword, but there are no normal clues. Instead you must find the right place in the grid for each word from a given list.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #80: Word Fit Puzzle

2. Watch this short intro video. What is the goal of this game?

3.  Go to the Word FIt Puzzle website. Explore the grid sizes and the difficulty levels. Record all of those on your recording page.

4.  Start easy to get the hang of it. Choose a level. Record your choice. Play a level. Take a screenshot of your ending time and add it to your recording page or write your ending time on your recording page.

5. Move to a harder level.  Choose a level. Record your choice. Play a level. Take a screenshot of your ending time and add it to your recording page or write your ending time on your recording page.

6. What do you like about this game. What changes would you recommend?

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

 

Want to keep playing? Keep moving up levels as you are ready. Document your progress. Talk to your EY coordinator about doing these puzzles to earn a badge.

 

#101: Volleyball Roster Math

Math Mini Sparks

There is a wealth of information when it comes to volleyball! Whether you’re examining individual player statistics, team standings, or breaking down a specific match… MATH IS EVERYWHERE IN VOLLEYBALL!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #101: Volleyball Roster Math 
  2. This Mini Spark has you looking at the 24-25 Westside High School Varsity and Junior Varsity Volleyball Roster.  Download and print a copy of the worksheet and roster.
  3. Add a picture of your finished worksheet to your math mini spark page.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page and your worksheet with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Roster Math Badge at the EY website.