All posts by lspady

#10: Benefits of Fire

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized

Why would anyone want to start a forest fire on purpose? In this STEAM mini spark you will find out the answer to this question along with many more ideas about this topic.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #10: Benefits of Fire

2. Find the answers to these questions using the sources below.

  • How can you conduct a controlled burn/prescribed burn?
  • What types of scientists/professionals work in this field?
  • What components of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) are important to the controlled burn process?

Research Links: While reading/watching each resource, record information that is new to you, is interesting, or sounds important.  

National Geographic article, Controlled Burning.

Firefighter from Florida interview question 1, “How has a place like Florida been shaped by fire?”

Firefighter from Florida interview question 2 “What does it mean to do a prescribed fire or controlled burn?”

Fontenelle Forest Website page, Prescribed Fires

Smokey Bear Website page, Benefits of Fires

National Geographic article, The Ecological Benefits of Fire

3. Record your answers to the 3 questions on your recording sheet.

4. When you are finished researching and answering the 3 questions, display your learning somehow.  Push yourself to try a new app or a new way of showing your learning.  Here are some examples:

  • Write a letter Fontenelle Forest
  • If you could interview a restoration biologist, what questions would you ask?
  • Make an infographic with terms, images, and details about the topic.

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

Check out the Natural Disaster Reporter badge at the EY website.

Novel Units

Novels and Novel Units

*Also see post below containing spreadsheet of MORE novels housed at the EY office.  **If you are interested in checking out any of the novels below, or those listed on the spreadsheet, please contact your building’s EY Coordinator.  Allow at least a week for your Coordinator to get the novels to you.

*Please note that if a video link doesn’t work on a certain novel unit, try it in another browser. 

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (13 copies – Level Y)

The Blue Sword (27 copies – Level Z)

Bright Freedom’s Song (7 copies – Level S)

Chains – (10 copies – Level Z)

Counting By 7s (5 copies – Level W)

The Egypt Game (9 copies – Level X)

Escaping the Giant Wave (12 copies – Level S)

Fever 1793 (22 copies – Level Z)

Flush – (12 copies – Level W)

Gathering Blue (4 copies – Level X)

The Gollywhopper Games (14 copies – Level Q)

The Hobbit (21 copies – Level Z)

The Lightning Thief (45 copies – Level W)

A Long Way from Chicago (12 copies – Level U)

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (12 copies – Level X)

The One and Only Ivan (10 copies – Level S)

The Phantom Tollbooth  (14 copies – Level W)

The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs (46 copies – Level R)

Tuck Everlasting (29 copies – Level W)

Who is Malala Yousafzai? (12 copies – Level S)

The Westing Game (9 copies – Level V)

The Wizard of Oz (14 copies – Level U)

A Wrinkle in Time (7 copies – Level W)

Below are novels we have units for, but do not have copies to loan out.

The Boy Who Dared – Level Y

Brian’s Winter – Level R

The Castle in the Attic – Level R

The Cricket in Times Square – Level S

Esperanza Rising – Level V

Where the Red Fern Grows – Level X

The Red Pyramid – Level W

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer – Level Z

 

#2: The Oregon Trail

Social Studies Enrichment

The Oregon Trail was a pathway that pioneers took to journey westward to Oregon during the 1800s. This trail was not a railroad; instead, it consisted of a network of worn tracks that extended from Missouri to Oregon.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page: #2: The Oregon Trail

2.  Record the names of the landmarks the people saw on the trail.

3. Choose 3 of the questions to answer after watching the video.  Remind your teacher that the key can be found in the Social Studies mini spark folder.

  1. What types of transportation did Pioneers use while traveling on the Oregon Trail? 
  2. Name at least two landmarks mentioned in the video that served as mile markers for the Pioneers.  
  3. Explain why natural wonders were important to the Pioneers on their journey.
  4. How did Pioneers mark their presence at Chimney Rock?
  5. Describe the significance of Chimney Rock to the Pioneers traveling west.  
  6. What does the phrase “if man does not feel like an insect here” suggest about the size of Chimney Rock in relation to the Pioneers?

4.  Choose 3 historic sites to read about that were along the trail.  When you get to the Oregon Trail Webpage, click on the names of the sites to find the information pages. Make a tiny fact page that explains the sites.

5. Study this map of the Oregon Trail. Record 3 things you notice, 2 questions you have, and 1 thing you learned.

6.  Study this map with modern roads labeled. Find the east and west end of the Oregon Trail. First find Independence, Missouri and then Oregon City, Oregon.  What roads would you choose to take today to get from Independence to Oregon City?

7. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

 

 

Early Enrichment #7: Super Digital Citizen

Early Enrichment

How can you be a Super Digital Citizen?

Try this video on a computer! 

The Cyber Five!

  1. Never give your password to anyone.
  2. Don’t download unless you have permission, you might download a virus.
  3. Don’t respond to a bully online.
  4. Show an adult if someone is bullying you online.
  5. If you don’t like the website you are one, tell an adult and go back.

 

Can you think of some more rules that will help you be a super digital citizen? See if you can teach your friends how to be a digital citizen by making a poster or pic collage on how you can be safe, respectful and responsible online!

Share your ideas with your EY Coordinator and your class!

#9: Tangram Puzzles

Math Mini Sparks

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #9: Tangram Puzzles
  2. Watch this intro video. Write the tangram rules and puzzle shapes on your recording page.

3. Try out this a tangram puzzle site with challenges to stretch your thinking.

4. Choose 5 or 6 puzzles to solve. Choose the right level for you. Older kids should do the advanced puzzles. Add a picture of each completed puzzle to your recording sheet.

 

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

Check out the Tangram Badge at the EY website. 

Early Enrichment #6: Alternative Endings

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

 

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Have you ever wished a story ended differently in a book?

I know I have!

Maybe it was missing more action, a happy ending, or a hook that makes you want to read more.

Try your hand in being an author, and write an ending for a story. You can use a book that you have read before, or checkout the ideas at this website.

http://www.stuartstories.com/activities/finishme.html

Comment below how you would end the stories!

#11: That’s hard to pronounce!

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

A heteronyms are words that have the same spelling but different pronunciations and meanings.  For example, wind and wind can easily cause confusion since both word are spelled the same BUT can be pronounced differently and have different meaning. We’ll outline heteronyms and some other words that are hard to pronounce in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #11: That’s hard to pronounce!

2. Write this definition on your recording sheet. A heteronym occurs when two or more homographs – words which the same spelling – are pronounced differently. In a written text, this can be confusing.

3. Watch this video. On your recording page record at least 10 ideas you learned from this video.

 

4. Look at this list of words. Practice the different ways the word can be pronounced.  Ask your teacher to listen to you say the words in the correct format. Have your teacher put her signature on your recording sheet by step 4.

  • Bass – a fish, or a low-pitched instrument
  • Bow – a thing you fire arrows with, or when you bend over in a respectful greeting
  • Desert – to abandon, or a (usually sandy) area with little rain
  • Moped – when you were sad, or a low-powered alternative to a motorbike
  • Perfect – when you get really good at something, or when something is flawless
  • Polish – when you make something metal look great, or something from Poland
  • Wind – when you twist something, or when the air moves

5.  Number your recording sheet from 1-9.  Your challenge is to try to think of a word that will fit into both blanks. These are tricky but spend at least 5 minutes trying to work on these challenge.  GOAL-Try to solve at least 6!  After 5 minutes or when you have at least 6, scroll way to the end of this page to check your work. Put a star for those that were correct and add in correct answers for those that were blank.

    1. She will ———- if you try to bring that ugly ———-into her house.

     2. I saw a ——– in her eye when he threatened to ——– up the agreement.

     3. They were able to ———- the gates before the enemy got too ———-.

     4. The secretary will ——– the items until she has a complete ———-.

     5. A ———- occurred when the prisoners were ordered to line up in a ———-.

     6. It took less than a ———— to identify the ———— virus.

     7. His followers will ———- him if he forces them to live in the arid ——–.

     8. He ——– all that he can to protect the ———- from harm.

     9. The will written by the ———- was declared by a lawyer to be ———-.

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

Check out mini spark #9 The Dove Dove which is about words and how they are used.

Check out the Rhyme Out badge at the EY website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS

1. Object

2. Tear

3. Close

4. Record

5. Row

6. Minute

7. Desert

8. Does

9. Invalid

Lesson idea from https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/aug/12/super-quiz-heteronyms/

#10: Silly Zoo Stories

Reading Enrichment

Use the ideas from this mini spark and the story starter guide to start your own silly animal themed story.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #10: Silly Zoo Stories

2.  Listen to the book, A Couch for Llama. What did you learn about this llama in the story. Write two sentences.

3. Listen to the book, Books Aren’t for Eating.  Write 3 examples of how Leopold is good at his job.

4. You are to write your own silly animal story. Open up or print this super silly story starters page to get some for ideas.  Look it over and decide which of the prompts you will use for this mini spark. Record 3 prompt ideas on your recording page. Put a star next to the prompt you will use for your story.

5. Start thinking about your animal’s personality. Here are some question to answer on your recording page before you start your story.

  • What kind of personality does the animal have? Is it shy or outgoing, even-tempered or grumpy, be specific.
  • What does your animal like to do for fun?
  • Why does the animal choose to live where it lives?
  • What does the animal like to eat and what does the animal NOT like to eat at all???
  • Who are the animal’s best friends. Who is your animal afraid of seeing?

6. Set your timer for 10 minutes and start writing your animal’s story.  Reminder: INCLUDE YOUR ANIMALS PERSONALITY AS YOU WRITE!

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

OPTIONAL: If you would like to write more animal stories using your ideas from this mini spark, please do! Talk with your EY coordinator or teacher about making these into a badge or check out the Silly Story Starter badge on the EY website

Lesson adapted from https://craftingagreenworld.com/writing/funny-journal-prompts/.

#1: The First Trick-or-Treaters

Social Studies Enrichment

Trick-or-treating has been linked to Halloween festivities in the United States and Canada since the early 20th century. However, various cultures around the globe have their own traditions of children visiting homes to collect treats, with one European practice often seen as the origin of the North American custom.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #1: The First Trick-or-Treaters

2. Read this article. Write a 3 sentence summary.

Trick-or-treating is a popular Halloween tradition in America, enjoyed by children of all ages. While today it mainly revolves around collecting candy, its roots can be traced back to ancient customs from Ireland and Great Britain. Historically, trick-or-treating is linked to the belief that the souls of the dead would return to Earth on Halloween night.

In the past, people would visit their neighbors and ask for “soul cakes.” These were small baked goods offered by the residents in exchange for a prayer said for the souls of their departed loved ones. This practice was a way to honor the dead and help guide their spirits to the afterlife.

To appease wandering spirits, many families left food and drink outside their homes. This offering was meant to satisfy the spirits, ensuring that they would not cause trouble or play tricks on the living. If a spirit found no offerings, it was believed that they might play a practical joke on the homeowner.

Today, some people still enjoy playing harmless pranks, but the majority of families focus on the fun of giving out treats to children who knock on their doors and say, “Trick or Treat!” This phrase has become a familiar part of Halloween celebrations, signaling the children’s excitement as they collect sweets from neighborhood homes.

3. Trick-or-treating has evolved, but its essence remains tied to the themes of community and remembrance. As you celebrate Halloween, consider the history behind this fun tradition. Learn more about the recipe for soul cakes. Visit this page and look over the into paragraph and the recipe. Write down the ingredients on your recording page.

4. Look over this infographic that shows some of the different traditions involving “treats”. Choose one or two and do some research to find out more details.

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