Is an eclipse worth seeing? You bet! On April 8, 2024, the Moon’s shadow fell on Earth, creating a total solar eclipse across North America, and if you had the chance to see it in person that is amazing. You can find videos of it online if you missed it. It’s an amazing coincidence that total eclipses happen at all — and that we’re alive at a time when we can see and predict them. So join us to find out everything you need to know before watching an eclipse.

To earn this mini spark choose one project to create

Use the dates from the video mini timeline about the history of eclipses.

Create a teaching page about a pinhole camera projector and how to make one and how it works.

Use the information from the video to write a step by step that explains what to expect during an eclipse.

Use the vocabulary words from the video to create a mini eclipse dictionary page.

The periodic table of chemical elements, often called the periodic table, organizes all discovered chemical elements in rows (called periods) and columns (called groups) according to increasing atomic number. Scientists use the periodic table to quickly refer to information about an element, like atomic mass and chemical symbol. Watch this video to get started.

To earn this mini spark, choose an activity to complete. 

1. Explore this element webpage to research 5 elements that are new to you. Make a colorful learning page about each of the elements you choose.

2. Review the elements on this webpage.  Choose one element and research that element. Make a quiz game for it using what you have learned. 

 3. Learn more about atoms at this page. Make an atom teaching page. 

Read the fact card and other information at National Geographic Kids to review flamingo facts.

Go along with two cute flamingos as they attend their hydrotherapy session to help them heal.  Hydrotherapy is the use of exercises in a pool as part of treatment for conditions such as arthritis or back pain.

To earn this Science Mini Spark choose one of these projects to complete

-Write a mini flamingo dairy from the point of view of one of the flamingos from the video. Include 3 entries. Talk about the relationship with the zookeeper, the therapy, as well as the stingray encounter.

-Learn about several species of Flamingos and make a list  of 8-10 facts for each one.

-The flamingos in the video at the zoo have different experiences than flamingos in the wild. Do research and create an information page comparing and contrasting the two groups.  Use this image as a guide.

What do you know about dodo birds? Record what you know on a page titled “Dodo Information”. Watch the TED Ed video that provides detailed information about these interesting birds.

Choose several of these questions to answer in thoughtful sentences. Add the responses to your dodo info page that you started before watching the video. Add any other information that you would like to your dodo information page.

1. Describe the origin of dodos as explained in the video.

2. How did dodos adapt to their environment on the island of Mauritius?

3. Discuss the factors that contributed to the downfall of dodos.

4. How did human activities, such as the arrival of Dutch sailors, impact the dodo population?

5. In what ways did the dodo prove to be a survivor on its island home before facing extinction?

6. How did the introduction of invasive species contribute to the decline of dodos and other Mauritian animals?

7. Reflecting on the extinction of the dodo, what larger lesson can be learned about human impact on wildlife?

Want to know more?

Take a trip to visit Google arts and Culture and learn more about the dodo.

Watch this intro video about Odysseus’ landing that occured in February of 2024. Take detailed notes as you watch.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/us-achieves-first-moon-landing-half-century-with-private-spacecraft-2024-02-23/

If you did not include the idiom mentioned in the video, at the 11th hour, add this information in your notes.

In the video it mentions humans going to Mars and how that has not happened.  Watch this video about this topic.

Write down several reasons explaining why humans have not made the trip to Mars and how going to the moon might help us get there in the future.