All posts by lspady

#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.

 

#29: Calming the Waves

Science Mini Spark

If you like being out on water but aren’t keen on waves, you might want to consider bringing some olive oil with you.  In this mini spark you will see that just one tablespoon of olive oil poured over water can spread out within minutes, calming the waves around you.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #29: Calming the Waves

2. Watch this teaching video. Record all of the vocab words from the video on your recording page. Add a short definition.

3. Read these questions to get prepared for the next video.

  • Why does the olive oil spread into a layer one-molecule thick?
  • Why does oil calm the waves on the surface of the lake?
  • How does Dr. Greg Kestin use the lake experiment to calculate the size of one molecule of olive oil?
  • What is invisible glass? What are its practical applications?

4. Watch this PBS video.  As you watch the video, you will hear the answers. Record each of the answers on to your recording sheet.

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

 

68: SNOW + ENGINEERING = FUN

Early Enrichment

For this Early Enrichment Mini Spark challenge, create your best snow person/people or creatures. No snow required.

1. Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: 68: SNOW + ENGINEERING = FUN

2. Learn about the engineering behind snow building. Record 5 details on your recording sheet.

3.  Watch these kids creating on snow people that are built out of paper, tape, plastic bags, and newspaper.

3. Build a snow creature. You can build it out of snow if you are doing the mini spark while there is snow on the ground, or you can build it out of materials. Do not buy anything, use materials you have around the classroom or your house.  If you build your snow creature out of materials, if doesn’t have to be as big as the examples in the video unless you want it to be.

4. Take a picture of your project ½ way through and then at the end. Add your pictures to your recording page.

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

#66: What Melts in the Sun?

Early Enrichment

This summer was HOT!! There were even stories about eggs frying on a sidewalk. This makes you think….what ordinary items might melt in the sun? Do an experiment to find out.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #66: What Melts in the Sun?

2. Ask your parent or guardians permission first before you start.

Experiment steps

1. Set up your recording page with three columns and 12 rows.

2. Put a title at the top of each column

Object           Do you think it will melt?               Did it melt?

3. Find a muffin tin.

4. FInd 12 ordinary household items that make you ask….”Does this melt in the sun?”

5. Take a picture of your tin. Add it to your recording page.

5. Write those items down on your recording sheet.

6. Decide if you think the item will melt. Write YES or NO for each item.

7. Choose a day where the temperature is at least 85 degrees.

8. Put your muffin tin with the items in the full sun and wait at least 20 minutes.

9. I know it’s hard to wait 20 minutes, but you can do it!!! After the 20 minutes is up, go check on your results!

10. Fill in the column with the results of your experiment.

11. Take a picture of the tin and the items. Add it to your recording page.

12. Now, for the most important step:  CLEAN UP AND PUT THINGS BACK!

3. Share your science mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator. We can’t wait to see it!

Lesson adapted from: https://frugalfun4boys.com/simple-science-experiment-for-kids-what-melts-in-the-sun/

 

#79: Peter Reynolds

Uncategorized

Peter H. Reynolds is a champion of creativity and a best-selling author and illustrator. His books, including The Dot, Ish, The Word Collector, and Happy Dreamer, are published in over 25 languages. They inspire children and adults with messages about creativity, bravery, empathy, and self-expression.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #79: Peter Reynolds
  2. Listen to The Dot, by Peter Reynolds. On your recording sheet, summarize the story and share some thoughts about how a teacher could use this book in classroom.

3. Read the information about Peter Reynolds, his book The Word Collector, as well as the interview at this website.  On your recording page, record at least 5 details about what you learned from reading the interview.

4. Hutch Magazine is a semi-annual literary and creativity magazine for kids, directed by Peter H. Reynolds. It showcases stories, art, poetry, book reviews, travel logs, and interviews created by children. Add one sentence to your recording sheet explaining Hutch Magazine.

5. Go to the Hutch Magazine site.  The issues are numbered and the theme of the issue is written under the number. Pick an issue that you would like to read. Record the issue # and the theme you choose on your recording sheet.

6. Choose 5 different stories/poems to read from the issue. On your recording sheet record the following 3 items for each piece you read.

  • Title
  • What you liked about the piece/What you disliked about the piece
  • What you learned
  • Tell a little bit about the author.

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

To write your own story to be submitted to be part of Hutch Magazine, check out the Hutch Magazine badge at the EY website. Check out the Dot Day STEAM Mini Spark.

#57: Gingerbread history and art

Science Mini Spark

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #57: Gingerbread history and art

2. Read this article about the history of gingerbread. On your recording page, record 5-10 facts about gingerbread that you did not already know.

3. Gingerbread comes in many creative forms! Read this blog post from Young Chefs Academy. Record 5 interesting gingerbread details on your recording sheet.

4. Gingerbread houses can help get kids interested in the architecture. Watch this video and take notes on your recording sheet.

5. Choose 5 of these questions to answer. Remind your teacher that the key can be found in the Social Studies mini spark folder.

  1. Describe the main theme of this year’s Gingerbread City exhibition and explain how architects are using this theme to showcase future urban design.
  2. What unique architectural features did you notice in the gingerbread models that represent sustainable or innovative design concepts?
  3. The video mentions “Crystal Towers” – explain how the architects used sugar crystals as inspiration for their design and what makes their concept futuristic.
  4. How do the gingerbread models demonstrate the importance of green spaces and environmental considerations in modern architecture? 
  5. Compare the different architectural approaches shown in the video. How do the various models represent different visions of future cities? 
  6. Explain the significance of the hexagon-shaped design in the university project and how it relates to the Kew Gardens hive installation. 
  7. Discuss how this Gingerbread City exhibition might help children become more interested in architecture and design. 
  8. Analyze the creative process described by the architects. How do they use research and experimentation in their design approach?
  9. Describe the role of technology in the gingerbread city models, including elements like solar panels and air purifiers.
  10. Reflect on why architects might use a creative medium like gingerbread to explore serious architectural concepts.

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

Check out Gingerbread Architect and Gingerbread Architect II badges at the EY Website.

 

 

 

 

#1: A Weird Story

Uncategorized

In this mini spark, you will  narrative about a routine activity you frequently engage in, such as brushing your teeth, shopping at the grocery store, or cycling. Next, introduce an unusual twist by altering a single detail. For instance, imagine if your toothbrush were replaced by a banana, the grocery store stocked only umbrellas, or your bike tires were actually snakes

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #1: A Weird Story
  2.  As you listen to this story, briefly describe some of the parts that are funny, silly,  or that make you smile.

3. What makes the title of this story funny? What would you change about the title?  Write your ideas on your recording page.

4.  Look over these prompts. On your recording page record the two ideas that you like best.

  • Write a story about what would happen if every round object on Earth was suddenly a cabbage.

  • Write a story about two characters who are opposites. They could be opposite in size (one big, one small) or opposite in personality (one grumpy, one cheery) or opposite in what they want (one wants to sleep, one wants to dance). What happens when these characters meet? Do they become friends? Or enemies?

  • Write a story about an everyday object or animal (for example, a door, a carrot, a puppy, etc) that is secretly evil.

  • Write a story about a pigeon and a kid who swap bodies.

  • Write a story about an everyday activity you do all the time – for example, brushing your teeth, visiting the supermarket, riding your bike, etc. Then make the story weird by changing one small detail. For example, your toothbrush might be a banana. Or the supermarket might only sell gorillas. Or the tyres of your bike might actually be snakes.

5. Print off this prompt page. Choose one of the prompts and record your work on the page. You can choose to write your story on your mini spark recording page if you want.

6. Choose a title for your story and record it.

7. Share your language arts mini spark recording page or the prompt page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Post adapted from https://realpigeons.com/activities/how-to-write-a-silly-story/

#26: Geckos Defying Gravity

Science Mini Spark

Geckos are a type of lizard as you know, but did you know that they differ from other lizards by laying eggs in pairs, vocalizing with chirps and barks, lacking eyelids, and having sticky toes for climbing walls? Learn more about our world while studying geckos!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #26: Geckos Defying Gravity

2. Read the following writing prompts before you watch the video.

    • What are spatula?  If the spatulae weren’t shaped like spatulas, would it be better for them to be shaped like spheres or cubes? Why?
    • Explain the process that makes the geckos feet “stick” to surfaces.
    • Talk about how the geckos sticky feet can help humans create new materials. How could this help humankind?
    • Optional: There is a section in the video about electrons and charges.  You do not need to understand this 100%, just watch and listen to the narrator explain the process. If you want to explain this in your final project you are welcome to do so.

3. Watch this TED Talk. Pause the video to take notes that will help answer the prompts above.  You may need to watch the video more than once.

4. Choose one of the prompts listed above and create a 3-4 sentence response on your recording sheet. 

5. Read this fact page and National Geographic Kids. Record 5-10 facts on your recording page that are new to you. If you read the page and did not find any new facts, do some outside research so you can add 5-10 new learnings to your recording page.

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

Keep learning about Geckos. Your work on this mini spark can count one the first project  on the Great Geckos Badge at the EY website. 

 

 

 

 

#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 watch each video. Record 3 details for each video on your recording page.

4. To show what you learned from the TEd-Ed lesson page create a visual with definitions and examples. Include at least 10 ideas on your visual.

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