All posts by lspady

#33: Word Squares

Reading Enrichment

Word squares are grids of letters that cross horizontally and vertically. In the puzzle below, the word TRAP is located in the top row and left-most column; ROME can be seen in the second row from the top and the second column from the left; AMEN is found in the third row from the top and the third column from the left; and PENT occurs in the bottom row and in the right-most column. All the words cross each other in a perfect square arrangement. (taken from Psychology Today)

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page:#33:Word Squares

2. Take a look at this one.  DEN is spelled vertically and horizontally in the first column and row respectively.  EYE is spelled vertically and horizontally in the 2nd column/row, and NET is spelled vertically and horizontally in the 3rd column/row

 

3. Try These 3 Word Squares. Record your answers on your recording page.

4. Create the Word Squares from these given clues!  Use this sheet to record your answers.

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

Nebraska Department of Agriculture Poster Contest

Other Events & Contests

Nebraska agriculture contributes more than $23 billion to Nebraska’s economy each year.  Nebraska is home to nearly 50,000 farms and ranches utilizing 91% of the state’s total land area.  Nebraska IS Agriculture!

All 1st-6th grade students are invited to participate in the 15th annual Nebraska Department of Agriculture Poster Contest.  The theme is: Sharing the Story of Nebraska Agriculture.  Check out the poster rules here and visit the contest website at: http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/kids/

Deadline:  March 1, 2018

image source: https://goo.gl/images/ixgDYn

#32: Library Designs

Learning Opportunities, Reading Enrichment

“In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.”
― Mark Twain

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #32: Library Designs

2. In early November, 2017, China opened a futuristic library.  Check out this article. What are your opinions about this library? Record 3-5 sentences on your recording sheet.

3. Explore other libraries using this page or do your own research. Write 3-5 sentences about 3 of these beautiful places on your recording sheet.

4. Create design ideas for your own classroom, school, or city library.  What kind of books would you have in your library?  Furniture? Colors? Would there be other things at your library? food? animals? Would your library have only books to check out? Record 10-15 ideas on your recording page.

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

Nebraska Robotics Expo

Other Events & Contests

NEBRASKA ROBOTICS EXPO 2018

The Nebraska Robotics Expo will be held at  Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum on Saturday, February 17, 2018.  Westside would like to take 6 TEAMS to this amazing event!
A Loveland parent will be holding workshops on Saturdays in January to prepare for the event.  All 3rd-6th grade students at Westside Elementary Schools are invited to attend.  Even if a child decides he/she does not want to participate in the Expo, they are still welcome to attend the Saturday workshops.
Descriptions of the Robotics Expo events can be found by clicking the links below.
Autonomous Maze

Driving Course

Please fill out the form linked below to reserve your spot for the Saturday workshops.  They will be offered on January 6, 13, 20 and 27 (all Saturdays) in the Swanson Library basement from 3-6pm.

There is only space for 20 participants at each session.

https://tinyurl.com/wcsrobotics

#38: Duplicator Lab Riddles

Math Mini Sparks, Mini Challenges, Uncategorized

This Math Mini Spark is brought to you by Steve Wyborney.  Steve is an award-winning teacher and instructional coach from Oregon.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #38: Duplicator Lab Riddles
  2. Click here to watch the Duplicator Lab Riddle Video. It does not have sound.
  3. Answer 1, 2, and/or 3 riddles posed at the end of the video. Do all math on your recording page.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator. *reminder answers for are in the math mini spark folder.

Family Code Night

Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized
You’re invited to Family Code Night at Westside Middle School. Bring the whole family for a fun evening of computer programming. Don’t know how to computer program? No worries, there will be plenty of activities for the whole family to learn.
Date: December 7
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Westside Middle School Library
Stations Include:
Sign-Up Here:  https://goo.gl/forms/ZiSEQRIsGex10jNw2