All posts by lspady

#32: Narcissistic Numbers

Math Mini Sparks

A narcissistic number is a number that is the sum of its own digits each raised to the power of the number of digits. It is also known as a pluperfect digital invariant (PPDI), an Armstrong number (after Michael F. Armstrong) or a plus perfect number. 

Narcissistic Numbers aren’t actually that confusing if you know how to do a couple things.  Check out this math mini spark so that you can learn more about these peculiar numbers!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #32: Narcissistic Numbers
  2. Watch this video by Numberphile. Take notes on your recording page.

3. Look at the list of Narcissistic Numbers on Wolfram Alpha. Record several of them.

4. Pick a Narcissistic Number to “work out” on your recording sheet to prove it works.  See example below.

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

#31: Super Bowl Math

Math Mini Sparks

Whether you’re a football fan or not, it’s interesting to look at the history of the Super Bowl.  This math mni spark has you predicting, collecting, and displaying some data related to the Super Bowl.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #31: Super Bowl Math

2. Make some predictions.  Without looking online for the answers, predict how much a 30 second ad cost to run during the Super Bowl in the following years:  1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012, 2022.  Record these predictions on your recording page.  Next to your predictions, use this site to record the actual cost for those years.

3. Why is the Super Bowl in roman numerals? Read this article to find out. Record what you learned.

4. This article talks about the geometry, angles, and statistics associated with the Super Bowl. Write a summary of each paragraph on your recording sheet.

5. Your choice Use the data and graph type you would like to show Super Bowl Data

Pictograph idea Pick 5 NFL teams and write those on the x-axis of your graph.  Using this site, record how many Super Bowls each team played in.  Use a helmet, a football, or some other picture to display the data.  Make sure to include a key for your graph (i.e. 1 football = 1 Super Bowl).

Scatter plot idea  Use the data on this site.  Use the x-axis to represent the year and the y-axis to represent the cost of a 30 second ad.  There are several tools you can use to make your graph including Numbers (app on the iPad), Create A Graph website, Scatter Plot Tool, and others.  Share your completed graph with the EY Coordinator at your building.

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

#27: Interjections!

Reading Enrichment

According to grammar-monster.com, interjections are “words used to express strong feeling or sudden emotion. They are included in a sentence (usually at the start) to express a sentiment such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm.”

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #27: Interjections!

2. Watch the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon about interjections. Record several interjections on your recording page.

3. Practice your new knowledge by taking this 6 question quiz.  Record your score on your recording sheet.

4. Listen to the story If You Were an Interjection. There are some punctuation rules to use with interjections correctly. On your recording page write about when is the right time to use each of the following punctuation marks with interjections : exclamation point, comma, question mark, and period.

NOTE: Pay attention to how the sentences were punctuated in the video. You will need to pause the video to look at the words closely.

5. Study this grammar page. Add in 5 more ideas about interjections on your recording page.

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

#17: The Great American Melting Pot

Social Studies Enrichment

Webster’s Dictionary defines “Melting Pot” as 1. a: a place where a variety of races, cultures, or individuals assimilate into a cohesive whole b: the population of such a place 2. A process of blending that often results in invigoration or novelty

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #17: The Great American Melting Pot

 

2. Trace your heritage back to another country.  My family came from Ireland and Germany.  It’s fun to find out where our immigrant ancestors came from!

Watch the video below and then tell us in the comments how your family has contributed to this melting pot.  Hint:  You may have to ask your mom, dad, grandma or grandpa for help on this!

Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest

Other Events & Contests

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Do you love art and animals? If so, this is the contest for you! The deadline for submission is March 1st, 2018, so review the contest rules and start creating.

  • All entries are to be submitted electronically at endangered.org/submit-your-art. (See “Submitting Artwork” section below for details on sending student art.)
  • All artwork must depict species chosen from one of the lists as noted in “Subject Matter” (below). We will make no exceptions to this rule.
  • Entries must be received by March 1, 2018. Late entries will not be judged.
  • All entries become the property of the Endangered Species Coalition.

Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest

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Early Enrichment #35: Animal Enrichment

Early Enrichment

Did you know that you are not the only person that gets to do enrichment activities?

Animals do too!

At our very own Henry Doorly Zoo, zookeepers make fun activities for animals to do! Hear from our zookeepers to learn about animal enrichment.

https://safeshare.tv/x/Kb01iML5SQI (Link to video above)

 Checkout some of the fun activities animals get to do at the zoo.

It may look like they are just playing or eating, but these activities actually challenge the animals brains and get them moving around. Make a ChatterPix to share what you learned about an animal and what they do for enrichment.

Share with your teacher and the EY Coordinator at your school.

#26: Use Every Meaning

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Homonyms can also have identical pronunciations and spellings but different meanings, such as “quail” (the bird) and “quail” (to cringe). This mini spark will let you be creative in your writing to create fun sentences.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #26: Use Every Meaning

2.  This morning before school, I made a racket when I dropped my racket down the stairs. What do you notice about this sentence? Check out this website that shows some words with multiple meanings. Record the 3 most interesting and each of the meanings on your recording page.

3. Look over this sentences On your recording page, write all three of the definitions for subject.

Evil King Byrd liked to subject his subjects to lectures about his favorite subject: the history of the toothpick.

4. Write 5 of your own sentences that are like the sample above.  If you want to look at a list to get started then click here. You are not limited to just using words with two meanings. You can use your own ideas as well. Record your sentences on your recording sheet.

5. Increase the complexity to include multiple meanings of three different homographs in one paragraph.  Look over this sentence with duck, bank, and dove. On your recording page, write the both of the definitions for duck, bank, and dove as used in this sentence

The skateboarding dove banked her skateboard off a river bank, ducked into a spin, and then dove under the water, barely missing a duck.

6. Write your own sentence that are like the sample from step 5.

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

Lesson adapted from https://www.byrdseed.com/homographs-homonyms/

Breaking Barriers Writing Contest

Other Events & Contests

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Image taken from http://www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers/teachers/?eml=SNP/e/20170118////MLB/nav1//////&ET_CID=20170118_SNP_MLB_SL2_ACQ_19242&ET_RID=1486065372

The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest is a chance
for diverse students in grade 4–9 to share their
personal stories and show how they use Jackie Robinson’s
values to face their own barriers.
Contest Deadline: March 14, 2017

Read more about the contest here.

#25: Golden Ticket

Reading Enrichment

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, five golden tickets are concealed in Wonka chocolate bars. The lucky children who discover these tickets are invited to tour Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory and win a lifetime supply of Wonka products. The adventure kicks off in the Chocolate Room, where the children encounter the Oompa-Loompas, the factory’s small, cacao-loving workers. However, each child’s undesirable traits ultimately lead to their undoing.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #25: Golden Ticket

2. Watch this video which tells the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Write a 3 sentence summary on your recording sheet.

3. The author, Roald Dahl, wrote many children’s books. Visit this site to get “Life Advice from Roald Dahl in 13 Scrumdiddlyumptious Quotes!” Pick your favorite quote. Record it on your recording page and explain why you picked it.

4. Watch this video and write the definition and 5 examples on your recording page.

5. How good are you at guessing definitions of words? Open this document which has a list of tons neologisms created by Roald Dahl. Choose 10 of the words. Write the word and your definition guess on your recording sheet. Then click this link to find your word and see how you did. How did you do?

6. The golden ticket in Charlie in the Chocolate Factory allowed for the winner and a guest to visit the factory. If you could find a golden ticket, what would be the event/location/place you would like to be able to visit. You can pick something from the past, future or present. Describe your selection in detail and give several reasons to support your decision.

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