All posts by lspady
Early Enrichment # 32: Creative Writing
Creative writing is a type of story telling where the author’s purpose is to:
- entertain
- foster artistic expression
- explore the functions and values of writing
- stimulate imagination
- clarify thinking
- search for identity
- learn to read and write
This week, we are going to be practicing our creative writing skills, by telling some important Thanksgiving stories. Choose a prompt below and get creative!
Science Fair at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
Students in grades 3-8 are invited to participate in the 11th annual SAC Museum Science Fair. The Science Fair takes place on Thursday, March 30, 2017 and registration begins February 24. For more information, visit http://sacmuseum.org/science-fair-2017-registration/
Early Enrichment #31: Math Challenges 2
Math Olympiad is back!
Last year, there was an Early Enrichment post calling students to become a math olympiad. If you haven’t checked out that post, click here!
Here are six new challenges to complete!
1). The three McMath sisters Amy, Betty and Cindy wear different color skirts to school. Their skirt colors are red, blue and yellow. Amy’s skirt is not red and not blue. Betty’s skirt is not blue. What color of skirt does each girl have on?
2). Calculate the following :
999 + 99 + 2 =
998 + 998 + 4 + 9 + 9 =
3) Subtraction: Fill in the blanks:
67 52
– ________ – __________
42 20
95 94
– ________ – __________
24 32
4)Three kids eat 1 apple each at the same time. It took them 3 minutes to eat them. How many minutes does it take for 6 kids to finish eating 6 apples? (Each kid eats 1 apple.)
5) Bob likes to skip stones at the local pond. He collected 15 rocks and separated them into 5 piles. Each pile has a different number of rocks. How many rocks are there in each pile?
Turn in your work to your EY coordinator to have it checked.
#27: Perplexor Puzzles
Perplexors are logic puzzles that can help improve deduction reasoning skills. They are available in different levels. By using the “cross-out-and-circle” technique, you will practice logical thinking in order to find the correct answer. This math mini spark is brought to you by Hailey K. from Rockbrook.
Spark your math thinking!
1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #27: Perplexor Puzzles
2. Watch this tutorial to get started
3. Solve the perplexors written by Hailey.
Perplexor 1 Perplexor 2 Perplexor 3
4. **More Advanced-Print out this puzzle and watch this Video Tutorial instead of steps 2 and 3
5. Write/type your own perplexor. Make a copy of this template to help you get going on writing your own. Create an answer key as well.
6. Ask 2 different people to complete your perplexor.
7. If you would like a set of perplexors, ask your teacher or EY/coordinator.
8. Share your perplexor and the answer key with your teacher/EY coordinator.
Check out the perplexor badge at the EY website.
#22: Paint ‘n’ Play
1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #47: STEAM Challenge:#22: Paint ‘n’ Play
2. Go to each link below and study the artist’s page. Record the title of the art wo, the artist’s name, and at least 3-5 details. Click on “Image Description” for more information about the art.
- Alma Thomas Pansies in Washington
- Sam Gilliam Yellow Edge
- John Constable Wivenhoe Park
- Fede Galizia Still Life with Apples, Pears, Cucumbers, Figs, Plums, and a Melon
- Vincent van Gogh Self-Portrait
- Cecilia Beaux Sita and Sarita
3. Go to Paint ‘n’ Play hosted by the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. They recommend playing on a computer or tablet that is rotated to landscape mode.
4. Here you can create your own art. Each of the artists you studied above has a canvas where you can digitally paint, modeling their style, color pallet, and brush technique.
5. Explore each one for a few minutes. Click on the rooster on each of the pages and record the quote on your recording page.
6. Chose one artist. Practice creating your own piece in the same style.
7. Take a screenshot of you project and add it to your recording page. Give it a title.
8. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.
#24: Adjective Form Poem
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
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! 🙂
#14:
#23: LIPOGRAM LESSON
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.