All posts by lspady

#78: Literary Device Lesson-Irony

Uncategorized

The definition of irony as a literary device is a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality. Check it out in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #78: Literary Device Lesson-Irony

2. Record this definition on your recording page:

IRONY- The use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.

3. Set up your recording page with three sections.

Situational irony                      Dramatic irony                        Verbal irony

3. Discover three types of irony using this TED-Ed lesson. Read all of the teaching paragraphs and the video. Jot down notes on your recording page for each of the categories.

4. Use your notes to create a visual with definitions and examples to show what you learned from the TEd-Ed lesson page.

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

#77: Pandemic Poetry

Reading Enrichment

What Happened When We All Stopped is a children’s book and animated poem by Tom Rivett-Carnac, illustrated by Carla Kreuser and Bee Rivett-Carnac. It explores life after a health pandemic, like COVID-19, from the viewpoint of people at home observing nature. The story suggests that this time of quiet can help the Earth heal and remind us how to live in harmony with nature.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #77: Pandemic Poetry

2. Read this article about Jane Goodall.  Record 5 details about her life on your recording sheet.

3. Tom Rivett-Carnac wrote the children’s book What Happened When We All Stopped in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute. The book, read by Jane Goodall, is about what happens after a health pandemic and how to build back better.  Watch this animated poem.

3. On your recording page, write about what changed from the beginning of the poem to the end and write about your favorite part of the poem.

4. Write a personal reflections about a natural place that feels peaceful. Incorporate sensory images to help the reader understand what it feels like to be there.

5.  Write your own short poem about nature.

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

Check out the Jane Goodall Badge at the EY Website.

#24: Orangutan Lessons

Science Mini Spark, Uncategorized

Orangutans are the largest tree-dwelling mammals and the most solitary of the great apes. The three species—Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli—are critically endangered due to habitat loss.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #24: Orangutan Lessons

2. Watch this TED ED video and take notes on your recording page.

3. Read this fact page from World Wildlife and read this article about about protecting orangutans. Create fact page on your recording sheet with information from the two sources.

4. Read this journal from scientist who photographed orangutans in 2022. Write down the main lessons on your recording page.

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

Jane Goodall  is a scientist who is helping endangered animals. Check out the Jane Goodall Badge at the EY Website.

#23: Rachel Carson

Science Mini Spark, Uncategorized

In an era when the threats to our environment were largely overlooked, marine biologist and author Rachel Carson courageously called on the US government to step up and safeguard both its citizens and the planet. Her passionate advocacy illuminated the urgent need for environmental protection and inspired a movement that would change how we view our relationship with nature.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #23: Rachel Carson

2. Watch this intro video lo learn about Rachel Carson. Record some of her accomplishments on your recording sheet.

3. Read about DDT and record 3 details on your recording sheet.

4. Read this Silent Spring book summary. On your recording page choose two of these questions to answer. Reminder for your teacher that the answer key can be found in the science mini spark folder.

  • What evidence does Rachel Carson provide to support her claim that the introduction of chemicals is making the earth unfit for life?
  • How does Carson differentiate between the effects of inorganic chemicals used before World War II and the chemical pesticides introduced later? What implications does this have for pest control practices?
  • In what ways does Carson suggest that the interaction of multiple chemicals can increase cancer hazards in polluted waters? Analyze how this complexity affects public health policies.
  • Carson discusses the destruction of beneficial biological species due to chemical treatment of soils. What are the potential long-term ecological consequences of this destruction?
  • How does Carson’s notion of “delayed physiological symptoms” challenge the traditional understanding of safety regarding pesticide exposure? Provide examples from the text to support your analysis.
  • What criticisms does Carson raise about the government’s role in pesticide regulation and public safety? How does her perspective reflect broader concerns about environmental governance?

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

#76: Diary of a Wombat

Reading Enrichment

Wombats are like the adorable couch potatoes of the animal world! These furry little marsupials come in shades of brown, tan, or grey and can grow up to 1.3 meters long!

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #76: Diary of a Wombat
  2. Listen to the story Diary of a Wombat. Focus on viewpoint, voice, flow as you listen to the story.
  3. Explore opposing viewpoints. On your recording page describe the same event from two points of view-Mothball vs. family members.
  4. Diary of a Wombat is a humorous text. Identify the various devices Jackie French and Bruce Whatley have used to make this book entertaining. To get you started- What is Mothball describing as a ‘flat, hairy creature? How does this add humor?  Think of a few more examples and add them to your recording page.
  5. In literary texts, dialogue plays an important role in character development. However, there is no dialogue in Diary of a Wombat (from Mothball). Analyze the text to glean information about Mothball. How has Jackie French developed Mothball’s character without the use of dialogue? Record your ideas.
  6.  Mothballs main motive in life is to find carrots to eat. Make a list on your recording sheet of all of the ways he does this.
  7. Make a tiny information page about wombats on your recording sheet after reading this National Geographic article.
  8. Share your language arts mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Diary of a Creature badge at the EY website.

#99: Applications of Mathematics

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

I didn’t know you needed to know math for that!

Find out how math is used in movie graphics, roller coasters, swimsuit design, and so much more!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #99: Applications of Mathematics
  2. Explore this website and find a topic that interests you.
  3. In your math notebook, record the topic title and 1-2 interesting things you learned.
  4. Repeat until you have read and recorded information about 10 math topics.
  5.  Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#98 Chocolate Math

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Chocolate’s flavor is a combination of sweetness, bitterness, and creaminess that many people find irresistible. We celebrate national chocolate day in July every year. Check out this math mini spark to learn more about chocolate and math.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #98 Chocolate Math
  2. Read this Bedtime Math post about the world’s largest chocolate kiss!  Try one of the math questions on your recording page before scrolling all of the way down to see the answer.

A Day for Chocolate

3. Check out this math trick that reveals your age and how many times a week you like to eat chocolate at this chocolate math site.

4. Read about chocolate facts at this site. Create a math data page all about chocolate.

Fun Facts About Chocolate

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

Check out the Chocolate Lessons badge at the EY Website.

#97:The Mysterious Mobius Strip

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Möbius strip, a one-sided surface that can be constructed by affixing the ends of a rectangular strip after first having given one of the ends a one-half twist.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #97 The Mysterious Mobius Strip
  2. Watch this introduction video. 
  3. Follow the steps on this site  to make  a Mobius strip.
  4. Take a picture after completing your mobius strip and add it to your recording page.
  5.  On your mini spark page, record interesting ideas from this mini spark.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator

#96:Different Types of Numbers

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized
Real or Imaginary? Rational or Irrational? In this Mini-Spark, you will learn about different types of numbers and their classifications.
Spark your math thinking!
  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #98 Chocolate Math

  2. Start by watching  this video

  3. Choose a worksheet version below to complete.

PDF Version

 Docs Version

4. Share your math mini spark recording page and your worksheet with your teacher/EY coordinator

#95: The Chaos Game

Math Mini Sparks

In mathematics, the term chaos game originally referred to a method of creating a fractal, using a polygon and an initial point selected at random inside it.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #95: The Chaos Game
  2. Watch this video. Record details on your recording page.

3. Watch this video to learn how to play The Chaos Game. *****This video is long–> looking for other video

Follow the instructions in the video.  Take a screenshot of your final picture and add it to your recording page.

4. Link to the GeoGebra Website to find the chaos game.

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