All posts by lspady

Reading EnRichment Contests to Check out

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized

List of Writing Contests that are possibilities

Anne Frank Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due ___________________

Metro Reading Council Writing Contest – Grades K – 12  Entry due ___________________

Americanism Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 Entry due ___________________

Totem Head’s Story Contest-Categories for ages 8 and under all the way up to 18 years-Entry due ___________________

Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due ___________________

Writing Contests!!!

Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized
List of Writing Contests that are open now:

Anne Frank Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due 11/20/2015

Americanism Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due 12/18/15

Metro Reading Council Writing Contest – Grades K – 12 – Entry due 12/15/15

Totem Head’s Story Contest-Categories for ages 8 and under all the way up to 18 years-Entry due 12/31/15

Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due 3/1/2016

Geography Bee Practice Quizzes

Uncategorized

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Test your geography knowledge and prepare for the Geography Bee at the same time!  The links below contain questions from the 2014 Geo Bee so you can get familiar with the types of questions.  Take each test and then check with the EY coordinator at your building to find out your scores.

U.S. Geography

U.S. Cities

U.S. Historic Places

Continents

Odd Item Out

World Geography

You can also take take a daily GeoBee quiz here: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/quiz/today/

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Coder Dojo

Other Events & Contests
CoderDojos are a global movement of open source coding sessions led by volunteer mentors from education and industry. Kids learn how to creatively code at their own pace in a fun, relaxed environment. CoderDojos are FREE to attend, and the only rule is be cool!
In addition to a couple Westside sponsored Coder Dojos, there are additional ones sponsored by AIM scheduled for the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.  Check out the dates here: www.aimforbrilliance.org/coderdojo
Next Dojo is Saturday, October 10, 2015
@ Kaneko (1111 Jones Street, Omaha, NE 68102)
  • 1:30pm to 3:30pm
  • Beginner Coding: SCRATCH
  • Intermediate Coding: Python / JavaScript (HTML, CSS)
  • Registration opens: Sept. 28 at 11am and closes on 10/9 at noon.
  • Registration link: http://goo.gl/forms/QoAEvSTBJU

#6:Cardboard Arcade Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead

What arcade games can you make out of cardboard? Using a cardboard box, some paper, a few around-the-house items, and a little bit of engineering, you can create your own pinball machine. You could also make a plan for a marble maze. Use cardboard and some tape so you can and guide a marble around a cardboard track. Ring Toss. DIY Bowling. Household Mini Golf……so many choices!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #6:Cardboard Challenge

2. Caine’s Arcade is where the idea first started. Watch this video. On your recording sheet, write down some of Caine’s ideas that impressed you.

3.  Set up your recording page with these three sections.

Ticket Grab Game

Labyrinth Game

Cardboard Games

4. When you are watching each of the videos, record ideas, details, and examples of creativity on your recording sheet.

Ticket Grab Game:

5. Write about a game that you would like to create.  Record the materials you would use, draw an sketch of the game and give it a name.

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

Do you want to make your own cardboard game? Check out the Cardboard Challenge badge at the EY Website

 

Essay Contest for 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th graders!

Other Events & Contests

Do you like to write?  Enter the “Americanism Essay Contest”!  This year’s theme is: “What I Can Do to Promote Americanism and Love of Country”. There are two categories – one for 5th and 6th grade students, and one for 7th and 8th grade students.  There will be a first, second, and third place in each category with prizes for each.

Click on the Link below for more information and to enter the contest!  Entries must be submitted by December 18th, 2015.

Writing Contest

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

 

 

#5: Sieve of Eratosthenes

Math Mini Sparks

A sieve is a kitchen utensil that is used to strain solids from liquids or for separating coarser from finer particles.  The Sieve of Eratosthenes is similar because it’s used to separate out all the prime numbers from a given set of numbers.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #5: Sieve of Eratosthenes

2. Listen to the pronunciation  of Eratosthenes several times. Practice saying “Eratosthenes”

3. Learn about Prime Numbers at Math is Fun and then answer these question on your recording page.  What is a prime number anyway?  What is the smallest prime number?  Is 1 prime?  Why or Why not?  Are all odd numbers prime?  How many prime numbers are there between 1 and 100?

4. Watch this video about the Sieve of Eratosthenes.

5. Do this online prime number activity and Add a picture of the finished chart to your recording page. If you would rather use paper, print out this 100 chart and find the prime numbers.

6. Read this article and find out about Eratosthenes.  Consider the following questions as you read and record your responses on your recording sheet.

What were 2 of Eratosthenes’ nicknames and what did they mean?

What is Eratosthenes known for besides the Sieve named after him?

What kind of man was Eratosthenes?

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

BOTB Update

Uncategorized

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Thank you for your patience as the EY Team continues to refine the Battle of the Books competition details.  We took your feedback from previous years and we are working hard to make sure we provide a great learning experience for our students.  We must also focus on aligning all opportunities with our team goals.  Please note the following BOTB details:

  1. Teams of 3-5 students should register their team online at http://tinyurl.com/wcsBOTB16 by November 30th.  NOTE:  While students in grades 3-6 are invited to participate, parents need to realize that some of the content in the books may contain sensitive information.  Please note the chart at the bottom of this post as it suggests grade levels for each book.
    • Each team will need an adult team leader.  The role of this person is to support the students as they are reading the books.  The team leader may choose to organize lunches and after school meetings where students can meet and discuss the books.  The team leader need not attend the BOTB events.
    • Some adult leaders choose to read the books along with the students and write sample questions for the students to practice answering.  This can be a shared task if there are multiple teams from a particular school.  The format of the questions will be fill in the blank, short answer, and multiple choice.
  2. Teams have until the end of February to read as many of the BOTB books.  Some teams have each member of the team read all the books.  Others teams split the books up among team members.
  3. Students that attended BOTB last year are familiar with the projects that went along with each book.  While the projects are not required this year, students are encouraged to complete a project for at least 2 of the books they read.  A list of possible project ideas can be found here.  Librarians and classroom teachers also have suggestions for book projects.  If a team qualifies for the BOTB Showdown, each team member will be allowed to submit up to 2 projects for judging.
  4. All teams will take a Preliminary Qualifying Test at the end of February.   Teams will set up a time with the EY coordinator at the building to take this 50-question online test.  The test must be completed within 43 minutes.
  5. The top scoring team from each school (10), plus the next 6 highest scoring teams will be invited to attend the Westside Battle of the Books Showdown on March 10 at the Underwood Hills.  During this all day event, the top 16 teams will take part in reading enrichment opportunities, as well as compete in the BOTB competition.
  6. Adult team leaders may choose to organize a school Battle for any teams not qualifying for the Westside event.  If the adult team leaders wish to organize a school Battle, the EY team will share all the rounds of questions.
  7. The top 4 Westside teams will be invited to attend another Battle with Ralston schools.  The date for this competition has not been set yet.

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Move over Screen Time…Makerspaces are Moving In!

Spady Blog, Uncategorized
Please say I’m not the only one that comes up with crazy ways to deal with managing screen time!
  • If you read for 30 minutes and exercise for 30 minutes, you can earn 15 minutes of screen time.
  • No screen time during the week and two hours on the weekend.
  • You can “purchase” screen time with the buttons in your jar.  You can earn buttons by doing your chores, going to bed without arguing, and leaving your brothers alone.
  • NO SCREEN TIME…EVER!  I’m going to hide all the devices including the Wii remotes.  You will read and do homework from the minute you get home to the minute you go to bed!  (BTW…I’m not proud of that one, but yes, I have said it.)

This summer, I decided to approach screen time from a different angle.  Instead of coming up with more rules and regulations, I decided to create some spaces in my basement that might seem more appealing than screens.  Check out the the Spady boys’ Makerspaces.

My friend Karin recently gave her daughter Ava’s room a makeover.  What do you get when you combine a sewing machine, art wall, marble run, outdoor bird feeder, indoor garden, and a doorbell?  A makerspace fit for a queen!  What kid wouldn’t love a room like this?!  I’m thinking about asking Ava if I can rent the space for myself! 🙂

Makerspaces are popping up in schools too!  The library seems to be a good fit for these exploratoriums since students come in and out throughout the day.  Librarian and EY Coordinator Miss Heflin (@missheflin) is starting a Tinker Lab in Paddock Road’s library (@PaddockRoad66).  How exciting!

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So what are your thoughts?  Do you have any suggestions for managing screen time?  What kinds of materials would be in your ideal makerspace?  Do makerspaces belong in schools?  Leave a comment and share any resources!

#5: Paper Airplanes

Full STEAM Ahead, , ,

Here are some resources to get you thinking about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math as they relate to Paper Airplanes!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #5: Paper Airplanes

2.  Watch this video. On your recording page, write a summary.

3.  Go to this site, 10paperairlplanes.com which explains how to make…you guessed it…10 paper airplanes. Look over the choices. On your recording page, choose 3 that look interesting to you.

4. Check out TED-Ed video about flight.  This video examines the principles of flight physics and reveals how aerodynamic lift creates the necessary force for airplanes to soar. Record 8 details from the video on your recording page.

5. Watch this video on Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag & Design by Wesley Fryer.  Build one of the paper airplanes demonstrated in the video and try it out!  Have a friend help you record a video of your plane flying.

6. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your video with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Plane Builder Badge at the EY Website.

Optional:

Organize a class Paper Airplane Flying Competition.  After researching and designing the perfect paper airplane, you can judge the competition in a variety of categories like longest flight time, most artistic design, farthest flight, etc.  Create a table to organize the data and summarize the results.  Take pictures/video of the top airplanes in each category. Talk to your teacher/EY coordinator about this option.