All posts by lspady

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.

 

 

 

#16: New Year’s Eve

Social Studies Enrichment

Happy New Year!!!!!!  You might be wondering, “Where did the tradition of celebrating the new year come from?”  Or, “Why do we celebrate the new year on January 1st?” In this mini spark you will learn about the history of New Year’s Eve and some of the traditions celebrated.

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #16: New Year’s Eve

2. Watch this introduction video. Record 5-10 details from the video.

3. One of the traditions on New Year’s Eve is the New York Times Square ball drop. Read about this tradition at Wonderopolis. Take the Wonder Word Challenge and the Test Your Knowledge Quiz. Record your score on your recording page.

4. Read the article about New Year’s Eve traditions from around the world.  For each location, record 3-5 details.

  • Spain
  • Greece
  • Brazil
  • Japan
  • United States
  • Denmark

5.  Which New Year’s tradition do you find most interesting, and why? Provide evidence from the text to support your opinion.

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

 

#30: What day of the week is it?

Math Mini Sparks

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I found this very complex mathematical formula that allows one to figure out the day of the week any date falls on.  Don’t let the formula intimidate you!  I did this with some 3rd graders today and with a few explanations, they were able to figure it out.  So can you!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #30: What day of the week is it?
  2. Watch this tutorial to learn the process.

3. Figure out the day of the week you were born on using your birthdate and year. Add your math steps to your recording page.

4. Figure out the day of the week for another date in history (Pearl Harbor, Declaration of Independence, etc.) and record your math on your recording page

5. Check this Math is fun page to see if you did the math correctly. Check your work.

6. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to read about the Zeller’s Algorithm in JavaScript code that is used to find out the day of the week. Write down some patterns that you notice in the code.

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

Check out another method to find an exact day with this math mini spark #90.

 

Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests

Taken directly from: http://omaha.bibliocms.com/virginia-frank-memorial-writing-contest/

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing contest is held each year in the spring to recognize the creative writing talent of our area students. This contest, sponsored by the Friends of Omaha Public Library, recognizes the top three winners from each grade. Each winner receives a cash prize and certificate, is recognized in a ceremony at the library on April 23, and has their story published on the library website. The school libraries of each winning student are also recognized with a matching cash prize.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Students must be in 5th to 8th Grade, and live in Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, Dodge or Saunders County.
  • Students may be enrolled in public, private, parochial, or home school.
  • Essays must be typed and no longer than 750 words.
  • Include a cover page with the title of the story, writer’s name, address, zip code, phone number, current grade, and name of school.
  • The decision of the judges is final.
  • All entries become the property of Friends of Omaha Public Library (FOPL) and may be featured by Omaha Public Library on its website or social media
  • Entries must be original fiction featuring a character from a book you have enjoyed. Identify the book and author from which your character originated in the title or subtitle of your story.
  • Only one entry per contestant will be accepted.
  • Please contact the EY coordinator in your building with questions or help with submitting your story. Entries are due at the end of Feb 2108.

Prizes

  • First ($100), second ($50) and third place ($25)
  • Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners from each grade.
  • The school library of the winning students will be recognized with matching cash prizes.

Read the winning stories from the 2017 Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest. Check out our 2017 grade 7 winner from Westside Middle School! 

About Virginia Frank

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest began in 2003 and is named in honor of a longtime Friends of Omaha Public Library volunteer. Virginia Frank was a Central High and UNO graduate. She acquired a master’s degree from Brown University and taught English literature and creative writing at UNO for many years. Her passion for students and young people inspired everyone around her, and her enthusiasm encouraged many students to explore their creative writing talents. Frank volunteered thousands of hours with the Friends of OPL to help ensuring a bright future for our public libraries.

#29: Fractal Fun

Math Mini Sparks

A fractal is a never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #29: Fractal Fun

2. Watch this video to build your background knowledge about fractals. Record several details on your recording page.

3. Draw Sierpinski’s Triangle by watching this tutorial

4. Check out the connection between Sierpinski’s Triangle and Pascal’s Triangle by watching this video. Record notes on your recording sheet.

5. Watch this video about Fractals and write about what you learned on your recording sheet.

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