Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#88: Jeff Kinney

Reading Enrichment

If you like reading, writing, or illustrating stories, you are in the right place!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #88: Jeff Kinney

2. Watch this interview. On your recording page write about how the process of the book gest started and then what part of the  book process is the hardest for him.

3. Writing a story can be challenging sometimes, but the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, has some great tips for you to follow in this blog post. Record a summary of the tip you found most useful. 

4. Your turn! Write your own diary entry in the style of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Print this template or make your own on your recording page. 

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and your diary with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#111: Spaghetti and Meatball Math

Math Mini Sparks

Practice finding perimeter and area in this math mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #111: Spaghetti and Meatball Math
  2. Listen to the story, Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! When you are done listening, answer this question on your recording page. What was Mrs. Comfort worried about? Why?  After you record your answer, scroll to the bottom of this post to check your work. 

3. At the beginning of the story Mrs. Comfort knew she had 32 people coming to the family reunion. Although Mrs. Comfort didn’t use mathematical terms to describe her plan, it’s possible to use area and perimeter to talk about her solution.

If you think about the top of each square table as having the area of 1 square unit, then the perimeter of each individual table is 4 units or one 1 unit of length for each side.

All of the guests did not arrive at the same time. List the number of guests seated at one time, then add to the total number of guests as more arrive. Next, figure out the table arrangement for each total number of guests using perimeter and area in units.

Print this table or make your own for this task.

4. Ask your teacher to check your work. Reminder: The key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

5. Share your project with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

 

Mrs. Comfort was worried that there would not be enough room for everyone to sit. There wasn’t going to be enough room, because when you push tables together you lose chairs. She knew that the number of people who can sit at a table changes when the tables are pushed together or rearranged.

#63: All About Art

Full STEAM Ahead

The National Gallery of Art, located in Washington, D.C.  is an art museum that preserves, collects, exhibits, and studies Western art, from the Middle Ages to the present, and is free to the public. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection, make your own art, and share it with friends!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:#63: All About Art

2. Read this paragraph about the National Gallery of Art and add 3-5 details to your recording page.

The museum was founded in 1937 when the financier and philanthropist, Andrew W. Mellon, donated to the government a collection of paintings by European masters and a large sum of money to construct the gallery’s building, which was created by the architect John Russell Pope and opened in 1941.
The National Gallery now holds a very large collection of European and American paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and graphic works from the 12th to the 20th century. The museum has especially amazing holdings of works by Italian Renaissance painters, as well as by Dutch and Spanish Baroque and French Rococo artists.

3. Why are Art museums important? According to the National Art Education Association, art museum learning is a fundamental component to a high quality, effective, and balanced education. Plus, it’s fun to look at art!! What do you like about looking at art? Add a few ideas to your recording sheet.

4. Check out the famous works of art below that are located in the National Gallery of Art! Click on the name of the art and you will go to an information page. If you click on the words “image description” there is more information about the art. Record 3-5 details about each of the pieces of art on your recording page.

 

 

Georgia O’Keeffe Shell No.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Picasso  Family of Saltimbanques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo da Vinci Ginevra de’ Benci

 

 

 

Louise Bourgeois Spider 

 

 

 

 

5. Now, you can discover the world of art in a fun and easy way. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection and make your own art at Paint -n- Play. Spend 8-10 minutes working on a project. Take a screenshot of your creation and add it to your recording page.

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

Check out the Paint and Play mini spark where you can create your own art inspired by one of the pieces from the National Gallery of Art.

#71: All About Art!

Early Enrichment

The National Gallery of Art, located in Washington, D.C.  is an art museum that preserves, collects, exhibits, and studies Western art, from the Middle Ages to the present, and is free to the public. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection, make your own art, and share it with friends!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page:#71: All About Art!

2. Read this paragraph about the National Gallery of Art and add 3 details to your recording page.

The museum was founded in 1937 when the financier and philanthropist, Andrew W. Mellon, donated to the government a collection of paintings by European masters and a large sum of money to construct the gallery’s building, which was created by the architect John Russell Pope and opened in 1941.
The National Gallery now holds a very large collection of European and American paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and graphic works from the 12th to the 20th century. The museum has especially amazing holdings of works by Italian Renaissance painters, as well as by Dutch and Spanish Baroque and French Rococo artists.

3. Check out the famous works of art below that are located in the National Gallery of Art! Click on the name of the art and you will go to an information page. If you click on the words “visual description” there is more information about the art.  Choose your favorite one and write about what you like on your recording page.

 

 

Georgia O’Keeffe Shell No.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Picasso  Family of Saltimbanques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo da Vinci Ginevra de’ Benci

 

 

 

Louise Bourgeois Spider 

 

 

 

 

5. OPTIONAL: You can discover the world of art in a fun and easy way. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection, make your own art, and share it with friends at Paint -n- Play. Take a screenshot of your creation and add it to your recording page.

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

Check out the Paint and Play mini spark where you can create your own art inspired by one of the pieces from the National Gallery of Art.

#64: The History of March Madness

Social Studies Enrichment

Get caught up to speed on everything you need to know about the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournament history, better known as March Madness in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies recording page: #64: March Madness History

2. Read this article that outlines the history of the men’s NCAA tournament.  There are five charts in the article. Record the titles/topics of each of the charts. Create a timeline on your recording page with 5-10 of the items that you find most impressive. If you prefer you can use a digital timeline creator.

3. Look over these two infographics and read the write up about the most watched championship March Madness game in history.  Record 10 number facts on your recording page.

4.  Watch this video that give you some tips on how to pick the perfect bracket. Write the tips given at the end on your record page.

5. To wrap up this mini spark, watch a video about the early history of the men’s tournament through 2013.  Make a history fact sheet. Ideas of what to include-important dates, tournament highlights, facts about players, locations of games, changes to the brackets and so on.

6.  Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page and your timeline with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#63: Falkland Isands

Social Studies Enrichment

The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) are a remote South Atlantic archipelago. With rugged terrain and cliff-lined coasts, its hundreds of islands and islets are home to sheep farms and abundant birdlife. The capital, Stanley, sits on East Falkland, the largest island.  With only around 3,000 residents, the Falkland Islands are one of the most remote and least populous territories on Earth.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies recording page: #63: Falkland Islands

2. Study this map from the World Atlas website. On your recording page add

  • 5 island names
  • the ocean where they are located
  • the approximate latitude and longitude 
  • the capital 
  • the nearest continent and country (research required) 

2.   

3. Read this information page. Choose one detail to record for each section.

4. Divide your recording page into five sections. Read this article about 5 penguins found on the Falkland Islands. For each one penguin, record 3 details.

5. Do further research about one of the penguin species. Create colorful fact page with 8 or more facts that you found during your research. Include your sources on your fact page.

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

#110: Extreme Records

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

THE TALLEST, DEADLIEST, FASTEST,
SMALLEST, HOTTEST STUFF ON EARTH!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Math mini spark recording page: #110: Extreme Records

2. Study this teaching page carefully. Write 3 facts that are new to you on your recording sheet.

3. Set up a table like this on your recording sheet:

Leave one row blank for now.

4. Under each of these headings write out all of the numbers included in the resource and their units of measure. Lut Desert has been complete for you as an example:

6. Do your own research to find your own EXTREME RECORD data to add to the table. Examples: the fastest flying animal, the heaviest animal, coldest place on earth, etc. Find 2 samples of measurement about that extreme record and add it to the last row in the table.

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

#62: Ada Lovelace

Full STEAM Ahead

Ada Lovelace is often celebrated as the world’s first computer programmer. Her visionary work and ideas laid the foundation for the modern computer technology we rely on today.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM  mini spark recording page: #62: Ada Lovelace 

2. Look over this info card from National Geographic about Ada Lovelace. Record 5 details about her on your recording page.

3. Listen to this Ada Lovelace book. On your recording sheet finish these sentence starters. Use an example from the story in each sentence.

Ada Lovelace was

Ada Lovelace proved

Ada Lovelace changed

4. Read this article. Record 3 details about Ada that you did not already know.

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

# 87: Literary Device Lesson- Short Story Challenge

Reading Enrichment

In this mini spark you will write a short story with a beginning, middle, and end.  Your story will be short-only 10 sentences! You will use literary devices as well. Get started on your short story challenge!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Language Arts mini spark recording page: # 87: Literary Device Lesson-Short Story Challenge

2.  Look over this slideshow about the literary devices you will use for this challenge. Record each literary device and an example for each one on your recording page.

3.  Read this challenge activity written by Brian Tolentio. There is a also a sample story to read. You can print this page as a reference if you would like.

Write this on your recording page

1 & 2- HYPERBOLE

3 & 4 – SIMILE

5 & 6 – PERSONIFICATION

7 & 8 – METAPHOR

9 & 10 – ALLITERATION

4. Write your 10 sentence story on your recording page.

5. Share your Language Arts mini spark recording page with your and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

#86: Doreen Cronin

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Doreen Cronin has a remarkable talent for transforming everyday occurrences into humorous tales, showcasing her comic genius within the pages of children’s books. She believes that while most of the information we encounter daily fades away, certain thoughts and words linger in our minds for a purpose.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark page #86: Doreen Cronin

2. Learn more about Doreen Cronin and her books. Read this article. Write 3 facts about her on your recording page.

3. Look over this webpage with the titles of her books. Record 3 books you have read or heard of before and 3 that you have not read.

4. Listen to this interview. Record at least 3 suggestions she gives about becoming a better writer.

5. Listen to one of the stories from this playlist. Write the title of the book you choose. After listening choose 2 of these questions to answer.

List 3 adjectives to describe a character in your book. Give an example to prove how each is true.

Some characters play small but important roles in the story. Name such a character. Why is this character necessary for the story?

Did the author keep you interested? How or why?

6. Share your language arts mini spark page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Use this mini spark as your first task in the Author’s Speaks to Kids badge at the EY website.