All posts by lspady

#14: Could You Survive the Twilight Zone?

Science Mini Spark

The twilight zone is a layer of water that stretches around the globe, just beyond the reach of sunlight and beyond the limit of photosynthesis in the ocean. Learn about this outrageous place in this mini spark.

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #14: Could You Survive the Twilight Zone?

2. Watch this video about the amazing creatures that call the twilight zone home. Take 5-8 notes on your recording sheet as you watch.

 

3. Choose 2 prompts below to show your thinking and learning. Add all of your work to your recording page.

  •  You just bumped into a friend who wants to know what a hatchetfish is. Describe this creature to your friend using MANY details from the video.
  • Do some research about the fangtooth mentioned in the video. Record what you learned in an interesting manner.
  • The anglerfish has a bioluminescent lure. Do research to find 10 other animals that are bioluminescent.
  • What is so unique about the dragonfish?
  • Life in the twilight zone looks weird or even frightening to us, but these animals have evolved to survive, and even thrive, in conditions that we could never hope to endure. What are some of the ways twilight zone animals might think we look weird or even frightening?

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

Lesson adapeted from https://ed.ted.com/lessons/could-you-survive-the-real-twilight-zone-philip-renaud-and-kenneth-kostel#digdeeper

#58: Burj Khalifa

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

Explore the engineering innovations that made the construction of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, possible. Notably, it stands at a height of 828 meters (2,717 feet) and features a unique Y-shaped design that enhances stability and reduces wind forces.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #39: Tallest Buildings

2. Watch this video and record details on your recording page.

3. For this STEAM mini spark please choose 5 of the following questions to answer on your recording page. Please use 2-3 sentences for your responses. Remind your teacher that the answer key is in the STEAM mini spark folder.

  1. Describe the main challenge architects faced by the end of the 20th century when designing skyscrapers.
  2. What innovative material helped buildings to shed weight and reach new heights in the early 20th century?
  3. Explain the concept of tubular design introduced by Fazlur Rahman Khan and its significance in skyscraper construction.
  4. How did the buttressed core design contribute to the stability of the Burj Khalifa?
  5. What design feature of the Burj Khalifa helps to minimize the impact of strong winds?
  6. Discuss the human cost associated with the construction of the Burj Khalifa as mentioned in the video.
  7. Why was the construction of the Burj Khalifa completed in a short period of five years considered significant?
  8. What are some of the criticisms faced by the United Arab Emirates regarding worker protection laws after the Burj Khalifa’s completion?
  9. In what way did the design of the Burj Khalifa differ from traditional skyscraper designs?
  10. Reflect on the importance of prioritizing workers’ rights in future construction projects. Why is this significant?

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

#92: π Day

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Pi is one the most studied numbers in mathematics and on March 14 (or 3/14), we celebrate Pi Day because 3.14 are the first digits of pi.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #92: π Day
  2. Learn about 18 ways that NASA uses Pi!  https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/list/oh-the-places-we-go-18-ways-nasa-uses-pi/. Record a few ideas on your recording page.
  3. Learn about other interesting Pi Facts at https://www.piday.org/pi-facts/. Create a info page about what you learned
  4. Find your “Pi Day” using this site. Type in your birthday and record where in pi your date appears.  Do this for a friend or your teacher and record their pi day. I put in my birthdate and the sequence of numbers does not show up until digit 169, 266! 
  5. Choose an interesting way to represent Pi! Check out the ideas at the end of this post.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Pi Masters badge at the EY website.

PiSong1

Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 10.28.23 PM

Pi Grid Art

#57: Ice Ice Baby!

Full STEAM Ahead

Explore a frozen castles, frozen caves, and frozen music in this STEAM mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #57: Ice Ice Baby!

2. Complete a 3-2-1 for the video Building Frozen Castles with the Master of Ice

3 new things you learned

2 things you wonder

1 question you have

3. Complete a 3-2-1 for the video This Chinese Ice Cave Never Thaws

3 new things you learned

2 things you wonder

1 question you have

4. Complete a 3-2-1 for the video BAIKAL ICE live sound

3 new things you learned

2 things you wonder

1 question you have

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

#91: Mythical Mathematical Mind Reader

Math Mini Sparks

This is an interesting game to solve. When you are done, challenge yourself to explain your math thinking.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #91: Mythical Mathematical Mind Reader

2. Go to The Mind Reader website created by Transum and follow the instructions

         

The Mind Reader

4. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Record all of your math step-by-step on your paper.

5. Look for patterns

6. Brainstorm possible reasons why The Mind Reader is able to predict your symbol every time.

7. At the end of the 5 minutes, write a several sentences about how you think this game works.

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

lesson adapted from https://www.transum.org/Maths/Investigation/Mind_Reader/ and Yummy math

#13: Discovering a New Species

Science Mini Spark

Scientists have identified many new species over the  years, such as an electric blue tarantula, two types of pygmy squid, a quiet frog, and small chameleons the size of a thumb. Experts believe that fewer than 20% of the species on Earth have been recorded by Western science. While a species might be new to scientific study, it may already be familiar to local and Indigenous communities, who often have their own common names for them.

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #13: Discovering a New Species

2. Read this information page. For each question, write 3-4 sentence with information from the article.

  • Have we discovered every species alive on Earth?
  • What does it mean to ‘discover’ a new species?
  • How do scientists formally describe a new species?

3. Record 3 of the new species names from the article and write a description about each one.

4.  What is it like to discover a new species. Watch this video to find out. Take 5 notes on your recording page.

 

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

Check out the New Creature Species badge on the EY website.

 

#12: Nanotechnology

Science Mini Spark

Nanotechnology is like playing with tiny Lego blocks that are smaller than a speck of dust, allowing scientists to build cool gadgets at a scale where even ants would need a microscope to see them. By tinkering with matter at this super small level, they create bizarrely awesome things that could make our everyday lives a bit more sci-fi!

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #12: Nanotechnology

2.  Go to this site and look over the chart and information to be reminded about measurements on a very small scale. On your recording page, write down some information from each of the “How big is a……” sections

3. Watch this video that shows how measurements can be done on a very small scale.  On your recording page, write 5 details from the video.

4. Watch this short video to learn about the tiny world that makes up pretty much everything.

5. When you are done watching the video one time all of the way through, rewatch while you answer the questions. Pause the video as needed.

  1. Record the measurement for the human hair in nanometers (it is on the little piece of paper)
  2. Record the measurement for the red blood cell
  3. Record the measurement for when you are smaller than he wave of visible light
  4.  Record the measurement for the Rhino virus
  5. How can nanotechnology be used in the future?

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

Check out the STEAM Mini Spark Nano Details of Our World.

Check out the Lessons on Nanotechnology Badge at the EY website

2022-23 Challenge #3

Current Challenge, Uncategorized

It’s Fall Y’All and when I think of Fall, I think of FOOTBALL!

For this challenge, you will need to…
  1. Build football goal posts out of materials you have around your house.
  2. Fold a paper football (instructions linked below)
  3. Design an experiment, create a competition, or come up with your own original idea to use what you built.  Your project should include collecting some sort of data and analyzing it.
  4. Share your project with your EY Coordinator.

Paper Folding Football Instructions:  https://www.instructables.com/How-To-Make-A-Paper-Football/

Football Image Source: https://openclipart.org/detail/102853/football

#56: Code a Trick or Treat Game

Full STEAM Ahead

Code a spooky game for others to play. Follow the tutorial instructions to make a simple game. Customize your game to make it your very own.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #56: Code a Trick or Treat Game.

2. Watch this video that show how to code this project in scratch junior.

3.  Now you are going to design your own game.

4. Decide if you want to do a trick or treat theme, or use this same idea, but with your own designs.

5. Please have at least 3 items coded in your final project.  Example: the pumpkin the first candy, the second candy.

6. On your recording page, write what project you are going to create.

7. Code your project. If you want to make a split screen, and run the video again as a guide that is an option.

8. Take a screenshot of the blocks for each of your items. Add this to your recording page.

9.  Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and you finished project with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Scratch Jr coding badge at the EY website.