All posts by lspady

#23:  LIPOGRAM LESSON

Reading Enrichment

Learn to write using more interesting language. Learn to break up the mundane, overused patterns. Create a lipogram to help improve your skills.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #23: LIPoGRAM LESSON

2. A lipogram is a piece of writing that leaves out a particular letter or letters, on purpose! The word comes from the Ancient Greek leipográmmatos, which means “leaving out a letter”. While writing a lipogram from scratch is certainly one option, this mini spark will have you rewriting passages/poems that are provided for you. Write the definition of Lippgram on your recording page.

3. Something as simple as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star can stretch you to create vivid writing if you have to remove ‘E’ or ‘A’ (or ‘E’ AND ‘A’), while retaining the rhyme and line length and rhythm. Watch this video to have this explained further. Write the challenge on your recording sheet.

4.  Take this poem and rewrite it on your recording sheet. Choose “E” or “A” to leave out or both “E” and “A” which is more advanced.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

5. When you are done, scroll way to the bottom of this post to see the sample that Mr. Byrdseed wrote.

6. Look over this poem

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

7. Here’s an incredible lipogram example. It’s “Mary Had A Little Lamb” written by A. Ross Eckler without using B, F, G, J, K, O, Q, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z. Read it several times an on your recording page write about what you noticed, liked, or didn’t like about the rewrite.

Maria had a little sheep,
As pale as rime its hair,
And all the places Maria came
The sheep did tail her there;
In Maria’s class it came at last
(A sheep can’t enter there).
It made the children clap their hands;
A sheep in class, that’s rare!

8. Choose one of these classic poems to rewrite without the letter E. Record it on your recording page.

The Cat and the Fiddle

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Hickory, dickory, dock

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory, dickory, dock.

The Wise Old Owl

There was an old owl who lived in an oak;
The more he heard, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?

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

Lesson adapted from https://www.byrdseed.com/lipograms/

 

 

 

Example: Here’s my lipogram example that doesn’t use ‘E’ or ‘A’.

Orbit, orbit, tiny moon.
How I wish you’d visit soon.
‘Round my world you did go.
Tonight? Tonight? I do not know.

30: Roll a Silly Spooky Story

Early Enrichment

It’s time to write some silly spooky stories!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: 30: Roll a Silly Spooky Story

2. Grab a die or use this online version

What to do:

  1. Roll your dice three different times.
    1. The first number you roll will be your character. Record it.
    2. The second number you roll will be your setting. Record it.
    3. The third number you roll will be your conflict. Record it.

4. Use your character, setting, and conflict to write a silly spooky story.

5. Optional: Illustrate your story.

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

#22: Edgar Allan Poe

Reading Enrichment

Who was Edgar Allan Poe? Poe was a famous American author – and many of his poems and stories are still being read and enjoyed over 100 year after his death on October 7, 1849.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #22: Edgar Allan Poe

2. Find out more about Edgar Allan Poe by checking out this Wonderopolis article. Record 3 facts about Mr. Poe, 2 words that are unique or new to you, and one question you have.

3. Watch this TED-ED video about Poe. On your recording sheet, write any of the book or poem titles that are mentioned in the video

4.  Listen to at least the first half of the poem, “The Raven” being read aloud.

5.  After exploring this poem choose 1 activity and add it to your recording sheet.

  • Create a detailed illustration to go along with one “The Raven”.
  • Write your own poem or short story, “Poe style”.

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

#13: Geography Lesson-State Capitals

Social Studies Enrichment

It is always a good time to learn more about Geography. Study this geography lesson which is all about state capitals.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #13: Geography Lesson-State Capitals

2.  Watch this video all of the way through.  Go back to the video to find 5 capital/state combos that you don’t have memorized yet. Record the state name, capital, and the image that was drawn in the video.

3. Print or open this list of states and capitals. Choose 10 that you do not have memorized. Type or write all 10 sets on your recording page.

4. Take the 10 states that you picked and make flash cards using note cards. Set your timer and practice for 3 minutes. On your recording sheet, write how many you know after 3 minutes. For example: After 3 minutes I have 5 out of the 10 state/capital combos memorized.  5/10

5. Take this capital quiz one time. Record your score.

6. Find the list of states and capitals from step 3. Set your timer for 3 minutes and read over the list.  Take this capital quiz again. Record your score.

7. OPTIONAL: Check out this webpage made by a teacher who found the best way to memorize the states’ capitals. Look it over and see what you think.  If you want to try this challenge yourself, take to your teacher about printing a 11X 17 map of the USA so you can make all of the drawings. If want to do this project, you can earn the  state savy badge-state capitals edition.

8. Share your social studies mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the state savvy badge at the EY website.

#26: Fall Math

Math Mini Sparks

I love everything about fall…football, leaves changing colors, pumpkins, candy corn, and costumes!  This math mini spark has a variety of activities to choose from.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #26: Fall Math
  2. Print this coordinate plane graphing activity. Take a picture of your final project and add it to your recording page.
  3.  Do a candy corn science experiment. Look over the supplies for the experiment. Ask your teacher or EY coordinator if you need helping getting what you need. Take pictures and record the results for each liquid on your recording page. Prompts to answer are on the experiment page.
  4. Print this Halloween candy probability activity. Take a picture of your final project and add it to your recording page.
  5. Print this pumpkin math activity. For this activity you will need a tiny pumpkin. You can also use an orange or an apple.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording pages/activity sheets  with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#28: Fall into Fall

Early Enrichment

In this early enrichment mini spark you are going to investigate why leaves change colors and fall to the ground.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #28 Fall into Fall
  2. Watch this video about leaves changing colors in the fall. What is your favorite leaf color? Add the color and why it is your favorite to your recording page
  3. Read this teaching page with science terms and information about leaves changing color. Record 5 science words on your recording page.
  4. Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

#25: Sweet Math

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

This math mini spark has you diving into a box of donuts and solving a variety of math problems.

“Donut” let this opportunity slip by!

Start solving these “sweet” math problems today!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #25: Sweet Math

2.”You can think of almost anything as a math problem!” Ms. Fibonacci in Math Curse by Jon Scieszka.

3. Print out the PDF or make a copy of the digital version of the doughnut activity page. Due to the complexity of some of the questions, It’s acceptable to use your resources (ie. teacher, older brother or sister, Internet to look up a formula, etc.) and ask for help.

4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#27: Jeff Kinney

Early Enrichment

If you like reading, writing, or illustrating stories, you are in the right place!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #27: Jeff Kinney

2. Watch this interview. On your recording page write another question that you would like to ask Jeff Kinney.

3. Writing a story can be challenging sometimes, but the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has some great tips for you to follow.  

  1. Take your time writing. To become an expert, you need lots of practice! 
  2. Find someone to help you out. Ask someone who can edit your work to make it even better!
  3. Be unique. Try something new and make your work stand out. 

Which tip is the most important in your opinion? Write the number for that tip on your recording page.

4. Your turn! Write your own diary entry in the style of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Print this template or make your own on your recording page. 

5. Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page and your diary with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.