Who: Teens in grades 7-12 (ages 13 and up) can apply in 28 categories of art and writing
What: The nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.
When: Writing Deadline: December 15 and Art Deadline: December 18
Find out more at https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/
If you need help submitting your work, email Dr. Spady at spady.lynn at westside66.net
For this week’s Weekly Challenge, you will be creating a piece of word art using the following website: https://wordart.com/
Some ideas for your Word Art:
Suggestion…Create several different pieces of word art using the website and experiment with different shapes, fonts, colors, etc. After you’ve created a few, submit your favorite creation using this link: https://forms.gle/sJ3yKxaTVeYqQYvBA
K-12 students worldwide are invited to give engineering a try with the annual Engineering Challenge from Science Buddies. Announced every January, the Science Buddies Engineering Challenge lets students use their problem-solving skills to design, build, and test contraptions. The challenges use simple materials and are free for all to participate.1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #45:Science Buddies Contest
2. Each challenge that science buddies has prepared for you has an introduction video that show the challenge and what you will build. Look at the list below and choose 6 that sound interesting. Add those to your recording sheet.
3. Watch each of the videos you picked. For each one, record the name of the challenge, the materials needed, and summarize the project in one sentence.
4. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Check out the Engineering Design Challenge badge at the EY Website if you want build one of the challenges.
Check out the STEAM mini spark #25 to learn about the engineering design process.
This mini spark has you wring all about cooking up something in the kitchen!1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #54: What’s Cooking
2. Learn how to write a recipe. Watch this video to show you the steps. Take simple notes on your recording page about the procedural text steps.
3. Learn how to write a recipe like a professional. Read this article which outlines the process. This is very detailed, but has some really good pointers. On your recording page, write about how this article is helpful. Include a question you have about writing recipes as well.
4. Ask a grandparent, relative, parent(s), teacher, etc. for a recipe idea. Add a picture of the recipe to your recording sheet
5. Using the recipe that you have been given, create a more formal version using the information from the video and the article. The recipe should be typed and please include all of the procedural text steps.
OPTIONAL: Make something in the kitchen and take a picture/video of the process and/or final product. Make sure your creation has a name and that you provide the ingredients necessary to make your recipe. Make sure to get an adult’s approval first before you start.
6. Share your language arts mini spark recording page, starting recipe, and final recipe with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Spark your math thinking!
3. Try out this a tangram puzzle site with challenges to stretch your thinking.
4. Choose 2 puzzles to solve. Add a picture of your finished puzzles to your recording sheet.
5. Make Tangram art! Choose a tangram animal or shape that you would like to use for an art piece.
6. Supplies needed: Ask your EY teacher for a plastic tangrams set, your choice of crayons, markers, watercolors, or colored pencils, and paper.
7. Watch the teaching video.
8. Share your math mini spark recording page and your art piece with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Check out the Tangram Badge at the EY website. 
stop-mo·tion noun-a cinematographic technique whereby the camera is repeatedly stopped and started, for example to give animated figures the impression of movement.1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #43: Mini Stop Motion
2. Watch this video to get started. On your recording sheet respond to these prompts.
4. Record your idea for a tiny story, what materials you would use for your stop motion and your set.
5. Collect a few materials, add stop motion studio to your ipad, and create a tiny stop motion.
6. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your stop motion with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Check out the Stop Motion Animation Badge on the EY website.
What inventions need to be invented? How about a bed-Making Machine: A fun machine that automatically makes your bed for you! Maybe a Spaghetti Twirling Fork: A rotating fork that helps you twirl spaghetti perfectly for a delicious meal. In this mini spark you will learn about some new inventions that were launched in 2023.1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #42: New Inventions
2. Every year, TIME magazine puts out its list of the year’s best inventions. Some of these help us solve problems. Others make life easier, or more fun. TIME for Kids features 10 of them here.
3. Go to the TIME for Kids webpage dedicated to the best inventions on 2023.
4. Number your recording page from 1-10. Write the name of each invention showcased in the post and a 5 word summary.
5. At the bottom on the page explain which one of the inventions you think is the best?
6. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #53: Character Quotes
Step 1: Download Adobe Spark Post for Graphics from Manager. Here’s a quick video tutorial on how to login. You can also go to https://spark.adobe.com/sp/ on a computer.
Step 2: Create a new project that includes a quote from a character in a book you’ve read or from a book you’re currently reading. Be sure to add the title of the book and the author.
Step 3: Download your project and share it with your teacher
7. Share your language arts mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.