All posts by Megan Thompson

L. Arts Mini Spark #58 – Creative Tweets

Mini Challenges, Reading Enrichment

Step 1: What is a Tweet? Read the definition below and look at the examples.

  • What is a Tweet?  A tweet is a status update on a social media platform called Twitter that is broadcast to other users. Limited to 280 characters or less, tweets can express how users are feeling, what they’re doing, and anything in between.

Step 2: Look over the Tweet options below and choose one to complete. Turn in your finished work to your teacher or EY coordinator.

  • Option 1: Character Tweet

What would a character from a favorite book “tweet” at the end of a chapter or section. Write it as though you are that character using Twitter.

Character Tweet Example:

Character Tweet Template:

 

  • Option 2: Chapter/Section Tweet:

Think of a chapter of a book or section of a movie and summarize what happened twitter style.

Chapter/Section Template:

  • Option 3: Book Review Tweet

Book Review Tweet Examples:

  • Option 4: Historical Figure Tweet

Choose a person from a historical event. What would this historical figure “tweet” after this event? Write it as though you are that person using Twitter.

Historical Figure Template:

Step 3: Use the contact form below and type your Tweet in the Message section. Hit Submit

SEL Mini Spark #6 – A New Routine

SEL Mini Sparks

Across the country, many teachers and students have transitioned into some form of distance learning. This is a big adjustment for most of us. You probably miss seeing your friends and teachers, going to special events like games and dances and even participating in ordinary parts of the school day, like lunch or short breaks. You might also miss — without realizing it — the routine that school brings to your life.

A school-day schedule helps us structure our time. It tells us when the day begins and ends, and how to spend all the hours in between. The school day builds in time for learning, physical activity and play, creativity, socializing, eating and taking breaks, too. Without this routine, a day at home can feel endless. Luckily, there are steps you can take to create a daily routine that works for you and provides some of the structure you’re missing. You’ll want to make sure your new routine allows you time for both productivity and rest.

Step 1: Read the rest of the Newsela article, Establishing a new routine for distance learning.

Step 2: Create a chart that includes the activities in your morning, afternoon, and evening distance learning routine. You may use a table in Google Docs or create a presentation in Google slides. Include clip art or photos that go along with each part of your day.

AFTERNOON EXAMPLE

Step 3: Post your distance learning routine chart/slides in your home work space to keep you on track and get the most out of your distance learning journey!

 

#55: Bio Poems

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

A bio poem is a simple poem that provides biographical information about a person, historial figure, or literary character.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #55: Bio Poems

2. A bio poem is a simple poem written about a person, and it follows a predictable pattern. Bio poems generally don’t rhyme, and they can be autobiographical (about another person) or biographical (about yourself). Record this information on your recording sheet.

3.  Decide who you want to research for your Bio Poem. Here are some options to get your brainstorming kick started.

  • American Presidents
  • African American Leaders
  • Influential Women
  • Favorite Athlete, Musician or Artist
  • Family Member or Friend
  • Yourself

4. Research your selected person (or interview family member) so that you have content for your Bio Poem. Take notes on your recording page.

5. Read the sample Bio Poem below about Rosa Parks.

6. Use the guide and template below to draft your own Bio Poem!

Optional: Draw or include a picture of your selected person.

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

SEL Mini Spark #5 – Inner Voice

SEL Mini Sparks
We all have an inner voice that speaks to us regularly. When this voice is kind and understanding, it can be a great guide to helping you through challenges.
This exercise is all about getting to know your inner voice better. How do you talk to yourself when you face a challenge? Are you compassionate? Do you speak to yourself like you are your own best friend? Or are you a little more harsh and critical? Which voice do you think helps you reach your goals.
Step 1: Read about the challenges below and see how a self-critical voice (left column) sounds versus a self-compassionate one (right column). The compare how these two different voices affect the character you’re reading about.
Next time you have an adversity, take a moment to notice how your inner voice sounds. See if you can choose to speak to yourself with greater compassion. Speak to yourself like a best friend would speak to you.
Step 2: Your turn? Use one of the templates below to write in what you think a self-critical and self-compassionate voice sounds like. You can even use the last challenge you faced as an example.

#41 – Forever Ago Podcasts

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

Forever Ago® is a history show for the whole family! Every episode explores the origin of just one thing — like sandwiches, video games, clocks and more — while teaching listeners to think critically about history.

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #41 – Forever Ago Podcasts

2. Watch this brief video about the Forever Ago podcasts. Explain Forever podcasts using exactly 8 words.

 

3.  In step 4 you will listen to one of the episodes. After listening you will tell others what you learned. Print this  review planner or make your own digital copy to organize your thoughts.

4. Choose 1 episode from the list below. Each episode is about 30 minutes so write down your stopping point if you can’t listen to the entire episode all at once. Write the name of the episode you choose on your recording sheet.

5. Fill out the review planner digitally or on paper.

6. OPTIONAL: Take a video of yourself reading your digital planner and share it with your teacher.

7. Share your social studies mini spark recording page and your planner with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

SEL Mini Spark # 4 – World Kindness Day

SEL Mini Sparks

November 13th is World Kindness Day but you can celebrate all year long! Complete this mini spark to explore ideas of sharing kindness and making it a daily practice.

Step 1 – Read this article that highlights 20 acts of kindness.

World Kindness Day

Step 2 – Write down 3 things from the list that you can do today!

1 – 

2 – 

3 – 

Step 3 – Once you have completed your 3 acts of kindness, snap a photo of one of them and send to your EY Coordinator.

 

Early Enrichment Spark #50 – Turkey Time

Early Enrichment

Step 1 – Have you ever wondered why turkey is often a dish enjoyed at Thanksgiving Dinner? Check out this Wonderopolis to learn all about this tradition. Click below.

Now, that you have learned a little about this tradition, let’s get creative!

Step 2 – Watch this video for step-by-step directions on how to draw an adorable turkey. Grab a piece of paper and drawing utensil and click on the video below.

Remember, you can pause the video if you need more time.

Step 3 – Display your turkey drawing in your house for others to enjoy!

# 5: Hand Hygiene Experiment

Science Mini Spark

After spending some time at the playground, soccer field, or in the backyard, it can be easy to see the dirt on our hands. What you can’t see are the invisible-to-your-eye germs that accumulate on your hands throughout the day. To see the effect those germs have, give this this eye-opening experiment a try.

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #5: Hand Hygiene Experiment

2. Read this whole page. On your recording page write down your plans the supplies you will need.

  • Three slices of bread (the kind from a bakery or homemade works best — the fewer preservatives the better)
  • Three resealable bags
  • tongs (optional)
  • Dirty hands

3. Gather your supplies and take a picture. Add it to your recording page.

4.  Label each of the three bags:

    • Control
    • Dirty
    • Clean

5.  Place one slice of bread in the “control” bag without touching it.  You can use clean tongs, or turn the resealable bag inside out and use it like a glove to get the slice inside.  Seal the bag.

6. Remove a second slice of bread and touch the bread with unwashed hands.  Place the bread in the bag and seal it.

7. Wash your hands with soap and water.

8. Take a third slice of bread and touch the bread with her freshly-washed hands.  Place the bread in the bag and seal it.

9. Take all three sealed bags and put them in a cool, dry place.

10. Look at the bread daily and write down your observations, but do not take the bread out of the bags. In a few days, mold should start to appear.

11. Record the answers to these questions on your recording sheet.

  • What slice of bread gets moldy first?
  • Which grows the most mold?
  • Which grows the least?
  • If mold starts to appear, take a ruler and measure it and record your observations.
  • Draw a picture of the bread each day, or keep a photo diary by taking pictures of the bread each day to watch the changes over time.

12. REMINDERS

You should wash your hands before, during, and after preparing food. Also wash before you eat, after using the restroom, after blowing your nose, after touching animals, and any time your hands appear dirty.

 

How Do I Wash? The scrubbing part of washing your hands is important. It’s the combination of the friction of rubbing your hands together along with the soap that really gets them clean. Take your time and sing or hum the Happy Birthday song twice.  If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Make sure it’s at least 60 percent alcohol. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands just like if you were scrubbing your hands with soap and water. Then allow the sanitizer to dry.

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

 

Source: https://www.mottchildren.org/posts/camp-little-victors/dirty-hands