All posts by lspady

Free! Study Ladder

Access the same curriculum based activities that teachers use in the classroom

  • FUN Educational Resources
  • Join over 250,345 parents and homeschoolers who already use Studyladder at home with their children.
  • Covering more than 10 subjects (including Mathematics and English).
  • Auto-marked activities give your children instant feedback with hints and clues when needed.

https://www.studyladder.com/

Summer’s End Star Party

Screen Shot 2015-09-09 at 10.00.41 PM

Taken from http://www.branchedoakobservatory.com:  Join us for one last star party of the Summer season. You will have a chance to see a beautiful Crescent Moon pass just 3° from the planet Saturn early in the evening. We will also view the incredible Hercules Star Cluster, the beautiful Ring Nebula, the blue & gold double star Albireo, and the Andromeda Galaxy. This star party is open to everyone in the community and great for all ages. This is an official NASA / JPL Solar System Ambassador event.

For more information, click here.

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.

 

#4: Papel Picado

Papel Picado means “pierced paper” in Spanish.  In Mexico, artists use special tools to pierce through many layers of paper at once. In Mexico, people create Papel Picado banners to celebrate holidays and different occasions.
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #4: Papel Picado

2. Set up your recording page with these sections

WHAT IS PAPEL PICADO?

PRE-COLOMBIAN PAPER

CULTURAL INFLUENCES CHINA

CULTURAL INFLUENCES SPAIN

GENERATIONAL FOLK ART

2. Read the lesson pages.  On your recording sheet write a few sentences for each section.

3.  Watch this instruction video. On your recording page write the supplies you will need.

4. Ask your EY teacher to help you find paper and string for your project.

5. Ask your teacher to use this template and print it on the colorful paper for you.

6. If you want to use the template to get started, and then create your own design that is great.

7. Create a simple Papel Picado following the steps from the video. If you want to print out this instruction page you can

8. Take a picture of your project and add it to your recording page.

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

#4: Weird But True! Size

This math mini spark explores Weird But True! Size Edition.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page:#4: Weird But True! Size
  2. Explore math facts at National Geographic Kids Weird but True! Size Edition.
  3. To move from fact to fact click the arrows.
  4. There are 8 facts in total. Record your favorite four facts on your recording sheet.
  5. Do research about each of the four topics so that you can add 3-5 more details for each one.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Coder Dojo

According to https://coderdojo.com, CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led,  community based programming clubs for young people. At a Dojo, young people, between 7 and 17, learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and explore technology in an informal and creative environment. In addition to learning to code attendees meet like minded people and are exposed to the possibilities of technology.

Within the CoderDojo Movement there is a focus on community, peer learning, youth mentoring and self led learning,  with an emphasis on showing how coding is a force for change in the world.

– See more at: https://coderdojo.com/about/#sthash.iVog31Il.dpuf

Screen Shot 2015-09-04 at 11.32.15 AM

The 2015-16 dates for the Omaha area Coder Dojos haven’t been updated on the AIM website, but the first one is on Saturday, September 19.  We also have a Westside event on that date, but depending on interest, we may not be able to take everyone that signs up.  In that case, consider attending this Coder Dojo by signing up here.

CSG-AIM Coder Dojo: CSG 18020 Burt Street, Omaha, NE TIME: 9:30am to 11:30am

Coder Dojo

Screen Shot 2015-09-01 at 10.13.08 PM

According to coderdojo.com, CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community based programming clubs for young people.  While Westside Community Schools hasn’t officially started a Dojo, the EY Team is excited to try it out to see if there is any interest.

The first CoderDojo will be held on Saturday, September 19 for students in grades K-6.  There will be a second Dojo on Saturday, November 21.  Both Dojos will run from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm at Westgate Elementary on 7802 Hascall St.  A parent or guardian must be present for the duration of the Dojo.

Based on interest and feedback, further Dojos will be scheduled throughout the year.

Click here to sign up!

#3: Eiffel Tower Math

The Eiffel Tower is named after a man named Gustave Eiffel, but he didn’t actually create it. Instead, two of his top engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, designed the tower. The names of 72 different artists, engineers, and mathematicians who helped with the design are carved into the tower so that everyone can remember them!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #3: Eiffel Tower Math

2. Read this article about the Eiffel Tower. Record 3 math details about this structure on your recording page.

3. Watch the Geometry of the Eiffel Tower.  Record 3 details from the video on your recording sheet.

4. Answer one of these these questions on your recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  • Describe the significance of the Eiffel Tower’s height and how it compares to football fields.
  •  Who was Gustave Eiffel, and what was his profession before designing the Eiffel Tower?
  • Explain what a truss is and how it functions in supporting structures like bridges.
  •  What are the two types of forces mentioned that act on the truss, and how do they differ?
  • What is meant by “static equilibrium,” and why is it important for the stability of a well-designed bridge?

5. Global Math Stories combine math, history, and cultural stories. Check out the information about the Eiffel Tower. Answer 2 of these questions on your math recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  1. The tower has 1,665 steps in total. If you were allowed to climb all the way from the bottom to the top, how long do you think it would take you? Explain your reasoning.
  2. Every repainting of the tower requires 50-60 tons of paint. Find the mean and median of the amount of paint that has been used during these applications: 52, 60, 58, 54, 59, 52, 60, 51, and 55 tons.
  3. Imagine the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower are standing side by side with the sun shining on them. The Statue of Liberty is 93 meters tall, and its shadow is 10.7 meters long. If the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters tall, how long will its shadow be?

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

You can use step 5 as the first story for the Global Math Stories Badge that can be found on the EY badge page.