All posts by lspady

Early Enrichment #15: Share the Love

Early Enrichment

I wonder who your valentine is this year?

Is it your parents? Maybe a friend?

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Valentine’s Day is an important holiday around the world. It is a day that we show those around us how much we care. But have you ever wondered about hot it started?

To check out more information go to,  Pebbe Go or by visiting this Valentine’s Day Wonderopolis.

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that we celebrate our love for our friends and families, what else did you learn about the holiday? Comment below!

It’s always exciting having parties and getting cards from your friends, but think about those who might not receive valentines. This week’s early enrichment activity is to  “Share the Love” by creating valentines for senior citizens that live in Westside’s neighborhood. Make a valentine and send it to your EY Coordinator!

#16: Discover Circles

Math Mini Sparks

Circles are EVERYWHERE, and wherever there are circles, there’s math to be done!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #16: Discover Circles
  2. Read this circle fact page. Record 3-5 ideas on your recording page.
  3. Find circles in your environment and snap some pictures.  Make a Pic Collage (or use another app of your choice). Add the finished project to your recording sheet.

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  4. Get a ruler. Snap a picture of a circle that you have found with a ruler going through the center This is measuring the diameter of the circle.  Calculate the circumference of the circle by taking pi (3.14) times diameter.  C = πd. Record your math and the answer on your recording page
  5. Read the following steps to see how you can get to Pi!

Step 1:  Measure the diameter of a circle.  I used the top of my QT cup in the picture below. I measured the diameter as 11.5 cm.

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Step 2:  Measure the outside of the circle (circumference) with a string (I used a piece of making tape folded in half because I didn’t have a string handy).

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Step 3:  Measure the string.  I measured the circumference of my QT lid as 36.5 cm.

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Step 4:  Divide the circumference by the diameter (36.5 divided by 11.5).

I got 3.17391304.  Not too bad!

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5. Do steps 1-4 with your own circle. Record all of the math on your recording page.

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

#15: Spheres with Pi

Math Mini Sparks

Learn about how Pi relates to cylinders, cones, and spheres in this math mini spark.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #15: Spheres with Pi
  2. Watch this video. Practice drawing the sphere with the teacher on your recording page. Record 3-5 other details from the video.

3.  Read about cylinders, cones, and spheres. Answer the questions the show up as ????  with a blue background and keep moving along the teaching journey.

4. Read this teaching page that shows how to calculate the surface area of a sphere. Record the steps on your recording sheet.

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

Social Studies Mini-Spark #7: Learn about Elections!

Social Studies Enrichment

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Image courtesy of Congressforkids.net

Today, February 1st, our nation takes the first step toward electing the next President of the United States of America!  Voters in Iowa caucus today to cast their vote for who will run for the highest office in our country.  This begins the primary election season.

To learn more about the election process, go to the website below and explore! Read about our nation’s election process and quiz yourself as you go!  Also, check out the right-hand side of the page, where you can “Surf with Uncle Sam”, play “Word Spy”, and even do an independent project!  Respond below in the comment section with something important you learned from this website.  Or, if you completed one of the projects, take a picture and send it to your EY coordinator!

http://www.congressforkids.net/Elections_index.htm

Early Enrichment #14: One Hundred

Early Enrichment

This week we celebrated 100 days of school!

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Can you believe that we have been in school for one hundred days! Wow! That is a lot of school! Can you imagine what it would be like if you went to school for a hundred years! That’s even crazier. 

Imagine all of the things you could learn in 100 years.

Imagine all of the things you would have made in 100 years. 

Imagine what a classroom would look like in 100 years. 

Imagine what you would look like in 100 years! (use this app if you are curious!) 

Brainstorm about what a classroom might look like in the year 2116, what you would be like,  and what you may have learned if you were still a student. Create something to share your ideas. You can make a Pic Collage, write a story, comment below, or share your work with your EY Coordinator!

#14: Story Starters

Reading Enrichment

A story starter is one specific type of writing prompt that you can use when you need an idea for a story. In this mini spark, you will find writing starters and comic starters that go along with the Dav Pilkey series: Dog Man, Cat Kid, and Captain Underpants.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #14: Story Starters

2. Who is Dav Pilkey? Read a little about him on this page. Record 5 details on your recording page.

3. Watch this video interview. On your recording page, write 2-3 sentences about how Dav started his writing journey.

4. Look over an example of a  writing starter and a comic starter.

Look at the comic starter for Dog Man.

Look at the writing starter for Dog Man.

After looking at each type, would you prefer to write and illustrate comic or write the next part of the story? Add your response to your recording sheet and explain your choice.

5. Choose one of these starters to complete. You can choose to do the comic starter or the writing starter. Print out your choice to use to create your story.  

Comic starter for Dog Man Lord of the Fleas

Writing starter for Dog Man Lord of the Fleas

Comic starter for Dog Man Fetch-22

Writing starter for Dog Man Fetch-22

Comic starter for Cat Kid Comic Club Influencers

Writing starter for Cat Kid Comic Club Influencers

Comic starter for Dog Man

Writing starter for Dog Man

Comic starter for Captain Underpants 25 ½ Anniversary Edition

Writing starter for Captain Underpants 25 ½ Anniversary Edition

6.  Share your language arts mini spark recording page and project if you printed it, with your teacher/EY coordinator.

There are many more choices at the main Story Starters website. If you are interested in doing these projects for a badge, talk to your teacher or your EY coordinator.

Social Studies Mini-Spark #6: Test Your Geography Knowledge!

Social Studies Enrichment

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How well do you know the United States of America?

This website tests your knowledge of the geography of the USA!  Go here to take the test:  http://lizardpoint.com/geography/usa-quiz.php

Then, once you’ve mastered US Geography, broaden your horizons!

Test your knowledge of World Geography, Africa, The Americas, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe and more by clicking the links!

In the comment section below, respond with your score!

Tinker Lab

Heflin Blog

It is hard to believe that the year is halfway over, and February is just around the corner. I have really enjoyed my role so far as a part of the EY Team, and wanted to share about a new enrichment opportunity that is taking place in my schools.

After attending, NETA last spring I was inspired as a librarian to start a Makerspace in my library. Many of you are probably wondering, what is a Makerspace or Tinker Lab?

Check out this presentation to learn more about Makerspaces and Tinker Labs in our district. 

It took quite a bit of planning, grant writing, and organizing, but it is up and running. Just recently I have opened it up to classes to come and Tinker. Here are some pictures of our #tinkeringpandas.

 

 

I can’t wait to see what else my students create in their tinkering!

Mini Labs (Directions)

#28: Newest Elements

Science Mini Spark

The seven rows in the periodic table are like the levels of a video game, and the eighteen columns are like the cool teams you can join! The latest “superheroes” added to the table are Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson—talk about an elemental upgrade!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Science mini spark recording page: #28: Newest Elements

2. As of the date of this post, Aug 2024, 118 elements have been discovered. Watch this video about the newest elements and take detailed notes on your recording page about them.

3. Jim Roberto, ORNL associate lab director for science and technology partnerships, says “The discovery of new elements is actually very exciting on a number of different levels, and what we have done with our partners is change the periodic table, and we have changed every high school chemistry book.” Discuss the collaboration involved in the discovery of element 117. Which institutions were mentioned as partners? Record your response on your recording page.

4. Element 117 has been discovered and it is a very interesting process. Why is the creation of superheavy elements like element 117 significant in scientific research? Respond on your recording sheet.

5. We have a lucky connection to this discovery! Mrs. Sindt, EY teacher at Rockbrook, Oakdalem and Hillside, has a brother who is the Isotope Production Manager at Oak Ridge National Lab.  His name is John Krueger and he is an alum of Hillside Elementary and Westside High School! 

6. Some Rockbrook students asked John Krueger questions and received some very detailed, interesting responses. See the questions and responses here.

7. OPTIONAL: Think of a question you have about this discovery, or about science in general, that you’d like to ask him.  Email your question to your EY coordinator and will make sure it gets to Mr. Krueger.

8. Share your science mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Early Enrichment #13: Writer’s Block

Early Enrichment

Have you ever heard someone say “writer’s block?” It sounds kind of silly doesn’t it?

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A writer on a block? A writer that uses a block? A writer writing about a block? What is it?

A writer’s block is when you have a hard time of thinking about what to write about or how to keep going in your stories.  Sometimes it is hard to know where to start or where to continue.

Here are a couple of different ways to get over having “writer’s block.”

 1. Listen to music. Music can relax you or inspire you. 

3. Have a snack. Make sure your brain is properly fed when you sit down to write.

4. Look for inspiration around you. Take a walk, look around, use pictures to inspire you. 

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Use this writing prompt and comment below with your story. Try some of these helpful tips if you are facing writer’s block!

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