All posts by lspady

#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.

#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.

4. On your recording page

  • write about what changed from the beginning of the poem to the end
  • write about your favorite part of the poem

5. Choose one activity

  • Write a 5-10 sentence personal reflections about a natural place that feels peaceful. Incorporate sensory images to help the reader understand what it feels like to be there.
  • Write your own  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 record 3 details from the video on your recording page.

3. Read 9 facts at this information page from World Wildlife.  Choose 3 and record what you learned.

4. Read this journal from scientist who photographed orangutans in 2022. Write down the 3 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 3 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 in two sentences or more. 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, and flow as you listen to the story.

 

3. Explore opposing viewpoints. Choose one event. 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 2 more funny 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 gather information about Mothball. How has the author developed Mothball’s character without the use of dialogue? Record 3 things you know about him,

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. Read this National Geographic article. Make a tiny information page with 5 facts about wombats on your recording sheet.

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!  Do 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. Write about this site?

4. Read about chocolate facts at this site. Create a math data page with all about chocolate. Include at least 8 facts

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. Record 5 details on your recording sheet.

 

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