All posts by lspady

#24: Adjective Form Poem

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Build your writing skills by studying adjectives and creating poetry.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #24: Adjective Form Poem

2. Print this handout. You will use it for this mini spark.

3. Listen to this book. When you are done record 10 adjectives the describe apples. The list should includes words that describe how the apples look, smell, feel and taste.

4.  Look at the following poem  by Terry Henkelman.  Review the words in the poem and notice out how each one is a synonym for the adjective funny.

FUNNY…
So amusing
So comical
So humorous
So mirthful
So laughable
Sooo… funny

5.  An online thesaurus will be helpful for step 6.

6. Use the handout  you printed from step 2 and write a 2 form poems for Apples and follow the instructions on the handout. If you want to type it on your recording sheet instead you can.

7.  Watch this video. Select 10 adjectives from the book and list them on your recording sheet.

8. Keep practicing writing form poems. Select two adjectives from the list to begin additional poems on the Form Poem Handout. Use the online thesaurus if needed.

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

red, green, round, shiny, waxy, bruised, ripe, speckled, spotted, smooth

 

Lesson adapted from Read, Write, Think

Metro Omaha Reading Council Writing Contest

Other Events & Contests

robot

Image taken from https://pixabay.com/en/android-artificial-doodle-robot-159109/

The Metropolitan Reading Council (MRC) is now taking submissions for their 2016-17 writing contest.  Several Westside students have entered this contest in the past and won!  it’s a great way to get your writing out there for others to read!

This year’s contest runs from September 9-December 15.  All students grade k-12 are invited to participate.  Click below to find the writing prompt for your grade level.  Here’s a hint…It has something to do with robots! 🙂

K-3 Writing Prompt

4-6 Writing Prompt

7-12 Writing Prompt

 

#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.

Early Enrichment #30: Roll a Silly Spooky Story

Early Enrichment

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to write some silly spooky stories!

halloween-scene-800px

 

What you will need:

  1. A Dice
  2. Paper Copy of Roll a Silly Spooky Story (click here to print)

 

What to do:

  1. Roll your dice three different times.
    1. The first number you roll will be your character.
    2. The second number you roll will be your setting.
    3. The third number you roll will be your conflict.
  2. Use your character, setting, and conflict to write a silly spooky story.
  3. Illustrate your story on the back of your paper.

 

Share with your EY coordinator to be featured on our blog!

**This activity was created by SunnyDaze and downloaded for free on TpT

#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 entry.  Take the wonder word challenge and the did you get it quiz. Record your score for both on your recording page.

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.

Early Enrichment #29: Are We There Yet? (Ep. 4)

Early Enrichment

We are headed to Egypt this week, and I want to know…

Are we there yet?!

Vintage-Travel-Poster-Egypt-3

Egypt is a country that can be found in the top right hand corner of the continent, Africa. Egypt is over 6,500 miles away from Omaha, Nebraska. It is known for its pyramids and ancient Egyptian culture.

egypt-africa-map   egypt-map

 

 

 

 

This week you are going to get to explore Egypt and some of the fascinating places to visit there.

Once you have gone on your virtual field trip, check out the activities below!

  1. Read more about Egypt on National Geographic Kids. Once you have read all about Egypt, create a poster sharing what you have learned.
  2. Download and print Penn State’s Egyptian Pharaoh activity guide. Note: this packet is 33 pages long and includes the answer key.
  3. Grab a piece of paper and build an origami pyramid. Click here for step by step directions. 

#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.