All posts by lspady

#53: How to Catch a Unicorn

Early Enrichment

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #53: How to Catch a Unicorn

2. Listen to the book How to Catch a Unicorn

3. On your recording page, make a list of the traps they tried in the book.

4. On our recording page, make a drawing of your own plan for a unicorn trap.

5. Design a unicorn-Include a description about where it live, what it looks like, what it eats, and its powers. Include a picture of your unicorn in its habitat. Make a pic collage about your unicorn and its features.

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

 

#51: Scientific Calculator Lesson

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

You will use your scientific calculator in science and math classes in middle school and high school. Work on this STEAM mini spark to learn how to use this tool.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:  #51: Scientific Calculator Lesson

2. Find a scientific calculator to use for this mini spark. If you don’t have one you can use an online one. Type “Scientific Calculator” and one will come up for you.

3. Print this reminder sheet or open it up.  This is an image of a graphing calculator, but most of the buttons will be the same on a scientific calculator. Record all of the words and what they do on your recording sheet.

4. Watch this video. Take note on your recording page and try out the different keys she discusses on your own calculator while you watch.

5. Write down any of the common mistakes that the teacher discusses in the video.

6.  Explain to another student how to find the square root, take a number to the 3rd power, and how to write a number in scientific notation.

7. Remember to ask your teacher before using a calculator on an assignment. There are times when it is ok to use a calculator, and times when your teacher wants you to practice the math skills.

8. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

“Why I Want to Go to College” Writing Sweepstakes

MS Learning Opportunities

The Omaha Storm Chasers are partnering with Nebraska State Treasurer John Murante for the “Why I Want to Go to College” writing sweepstakes.  Entries will be due Thursday, April 1, 2021.

  • Prizes will be awarded to 12 winners in seventh and eighth grades who will receive contributions to the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) college savings accounts – including $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place.
  • Three winners will be chosen from each of Nebraska’s three Congressional districts, and three winners will be chosen from outside Nebraska.
  • Each Nebraska winner will receive four tickets to an upcoming Storm Chasers game at Werner Park in Papillion at where they will be recognized during a brief ceremony.

Click on the links below to get started!

Cover Sheet

Additional Details

Rules

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #18: Engineering a Snow Creation

Current Challenge

SNOW + ENGINEERING = FUN

For this week’s Weekly Challenge, submit your best snow person/people, forts, and/or other snow creations!   The EY Team’s top faves will be entered in a drawing for a cash prize!

Learn about the engineering behind snow building by watching the videos below.  Scroll to the bottom to find the link for submitting this week’s Weekly Challenge!  Have fun!

NOTE:  Since elementary students are no longer bringing their iPads home and cannot receive an email from someone outside the district, one workaround is to have a parent or sibling take a picture on their phone and then have them email it to your EY Coordinator or classroom teacher.  Just make sure to have them to make a note in the message that the picture is for a Weekly Challenge. Then, the EY Coordinator or classroom teacher could forward the message to your Westside Gmail account. This obviously creates more work, but it’s one workaround.

Submit Your Work Here: https://forms.gle/PcVvit1VbANsZfBcA

WE-SIDE February Contests

MS Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests

WE-SIDE

Welcoming Equity Support Inclusion Dignity Everyone

In honor of Black History Month (February 2021), Westside Community Schools is sponsoring a poetry, photography, and creative video contest for all students and staff.  Check out the details below!
  • Entries need to be turned into your school office or emailed to lucas.mike@westside66.net by 10:00 AM on February 25th.
  • Gift card prizes and/or Westside gear/swag will be given out to contest winners.
  • POETRY CONTEST:  Divisions for K-2nd graders, 3rd & 4th graders, 5th & 6th graders, middle school students, high school students, and staff.  Submissions should be about inclusion, equity, respect, teamwork, embracing diversity, Black History, or other relevant topics. Any and all forms of appropriate poetry will be accepted.
  • PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST:  Divisions for K-2nd graders, 3rd & 4th graders, 5th & 6th graders, middle school students, high school students, and staff.  Submissions should be about inclusion, equity, respect, teamwork, embracing diversity, Black History, or other relevant topics.  Appropriate photographs of all shapes, sizes, colors, etc. will be accepted.
  • 1-2 MINUTE CREATIVE VIDEO CONTEST:  Divisions for K-2nd graders, 3rd & 4th graders, 5th & 6th graders, middle school students, high school students, and staff.  Submissions should be about inclusion, equity, respect, teamwork, embracing diversity, Black History, or other relevant topics. Appropriate videos no longer than 120 seconds will be accepted.

#50: STEAM Challenge: Roller Coaster

Full STEAM Ahead
Roller coasters are all about physics! Unlike most moving vehicles, cars, trains, and buses that rely on engines, roller coasters rely on gravitational potential energy. What goes up, must come down.

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:#50: STEAM Challenge: Roller Coaster

2. For this mini spark, you will be building your own roller coaster.  Visit the Instructables website linked below to find templates you can print and cut out.  Or, use your own materials and come up with your own design.  Get creative and don’t forget to take pictures to document your progress.

3. Go to the Instructable website and read the information from the top to the bottom. Record examples of potential and kinetic energy on your recording sheet.

4. On your recording page, make a list of the supplies you will need. If you need help getting supplies talk to your EY coordinator.

5. Print out this template. If you want to used colored paper, talk to your EY coordinator about getting some to use.

6. Complete all of the steps. Take at least 5 pictures of your process.

7. Take a picture and a video of your challenge.

8. Add all of your pictures to your recording sheet. If you would like to make Pic Collage of your challenge that is great.

9. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your video with your teacher/EY coordinator.

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #17: Roller Coasters

Current Challenge

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Rollercoasters are all about physics! Unlike most moving vehicles, cars, trains, and buses that rely on engines, rollercoasters rely on gravitational potential energy. What goes up, must come down.
For this week’s Weekly Challenge, you will be building your own roller coaster.  Visit the Instructables website linked below to find templates you can print and cut out.  Or, use your own materials and come up with your own design.  Get creative and don’t forget to share your work using the submission link below!

Instructables Website (with instructions and templates): https://www.instructables.com/Create-Your-Own-Roller-Coaster-With-Downloadable-P/?utm_source=teachernewsletter&utm_medium=email

Submit Your Work Here: https://forms.gle/7csLBcnVF1xHvyGX6

#49: Intro to Opera

Full STEAM Ahead

Art requires creativity and imagination and enhances flexibility, adaptability, productivity, responsibility and innovation – all required skills for a successful career in any field of study.  The ‘A’ in STEAM represents ‘Art’ which includes music.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #49: Intro to Opera

2. Get started with this informational video. Record details from this clip on your recording page. Add in details about  conductor’s role and actions. Explain how he is positioned during the opera.

 

3.  Watch this video, The Physics of Opera. Record at least 8 vocabulary words and a short definition on your recording page.

4. Answer these questions on your recording sheet.  Rewatch the video if necessary. ****Remind your teacher that the answers to these questions can be found in the STEAM mini spark folder.

  • What techniques do opera singers use to project their voices over an orchestra?
  • How does the shape and material of an instrument affect its sound?
  • Explain the concept of harmonics as described in the video.
  • Why is it beneficial for an opera singer to emphasize higher partials? 
  • Describe the role of the concert hall in enhancing the sound of opera singers. 
  • What factors can influence a singer’s vocal ability as they age?
  • How do the vocal techniques differ between a Wagnerian singer and a bel canto singer?

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

Check out the Marvelous World of Opera Badge on the EY website.