Category Archives: Early Enrichment

Early Enrichment Spark #51: National Cookie Day!

Early Enrichment

Friday is National Cookie Day!!  This is a great time of year for cookies! I know I can’t stop eating them!

Here’s a quick, but fun, video about the history of the cookie – did you know they were invented by accident? Find out how by clicking below:

Then, who is the most FAMOUS lover of cookies???  Well, Cookie Monster! Who else? To help celebrate National Cookie Day, sing along with the video below!

Finally, I think I have the BEST recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I’ve shared it below.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup Shortening
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
2 cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
12-oz. pkg. Chocolate Chips

Preparation

Cream shortening, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Sift together dry ingredients. Stir into creamed mixture. Blend well. Add chips.
Drop from tsp. 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet (or a non-stick baking sheet). Bake in moderate oven (375 degrees) for 8 – 10 minutes.
Makes 6 dozen.

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE COOKIE RECIPE IN THE COMMENTS!

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!

Early Enrichment Mini-Spark #49: Heroes

Early Enrichment

In the last Early Enrichment Mini-Spark, you were shown how to make your own pipe-cleaner superhero. That was fun!!

But, did you know that not all heroes have superpowers and/or wear capes?

Lots of stories have heroes or heroines! Think about this question: What does it take to be a hero?

Think about that question while you go to the link below to watch and listen to a story about Ping.

After watching/listening to the story, answer the following questions in the comments below:

1. Was Ping a hero? Why or why not?

2. What qualities or character traits did he have that could be considered heroic?

3. What qualities or character traits did he have that might not be considered heroic?

And, finally…

4. What does it take to be a hero?

LINK TO THE STORY

 

Early Enrichment Mini-Spark #48: Pipe Cleaner Superheroes!

Early Enrichment

Source: https://frugalfun4boys.com/pipe-cleaner-superheroes

If you are a superhero fan, you will not want to miss this awesome craft! You will have a blast creating your own jointed and posable superheroes out of very simple materials. Pipe cleaners, straws, beads… You probably have most (if not all) of the supplies on hand!

First, grab your supplies:

  • Pipe cleaners
  • Felt, for capes
  • Straws – we used paper straws, but regular straws are just fine (and much cheaper)
  • Googly eyes
  • Pony beads
  • Wooden beads – we used 3/4 inch diameter beads
  • Tacky Glue
  • Hot glue
  • Scissors
  • Markers – we used Sharpie oil based paint markers. They bleed less on wood than regular Sharpies.

Step 1: Start by drawing hair and superhero masks on the wooden beads.

Step 2: Glue on googly eyes – SO CUTE! Then draw a little mouth.     

Step 3: Grab three pipe cleaners. Twist them together in the middle. I found that three “twists” was enough to hold them securely together. Then adjust them so that they are in the arrangement shown.

Step 4: Slide three pony beads onto BOTH of the bottom two pipe cleaners. This will form the body.

Step 5: Cut a straw into 8 one inch segments. (Or feel free to adjust the size!) We found that we could get 7 segments out of each straw, so you’ll need two straws per superhero, with quite a bit left over.

Step 6: Build each limb by sliding on a straw segment, then a pony bead, then another straw segment.

Step 7: Bend the ends of the pipe cleaners into hands and feet. I found that it helps to wrap some of the excess around the wrist or ankle to make it secure. Then trim off any excess ends.

Step 8: Slide the head onto the final two pipe cleaners. Then trim off the excess.

Step 9: To make the head more secure, attach it with Tacky Glue. Squirt some glue onto the pipe cleaners. Then slide the head on. We had a little bit of glue ooze out at the bottom of the head. Just wipe off the excess with a paper towel.
Step 10: Cut out a cape from felt and use hot glue to attach it to the backs of the arm segments.
In the comments below, share a picture of YOUR Pipe Cleaner Superhero!
**Extra challenge**: Write a story with your Pipe Cleaner Superhero (or heroes) as your main character. Share the story with the EY Coordinator at your building!

Early Enrichment Mini-Spark #47: Moving Mammals!

Early Enrichment

Mammals are everywhere—from the Arctic ice to the driest of deserts. They live on land, in the open ocean, and underground. With more than 5,400 species, mammals move in all kinds of ways. They walk, hop, gallop, and swing from trees. They swim, dive, glide, and even fly!

Go to this website to check out how bats, bears, dolphins, gazelles, gibbons, and/or kangaroos move and learn some fun facts about each!

In the comments below, write down something you learned!

Early Enrichment # 46 Record Breaking Cat

Early Enrichment, Learning Opportunities

Check out this post about the world record cat, Sophie!

California rescue cat Sophie sets new record for longest fur | Guinness World Records

 

Sure, most cats are soft and furry. But this one has gone bonkers. Sophie holds the world record for the longest cat fur. Measuring more than 10 inches long, Sophie’s fur might be longer than your own hair. Judging from the look on her face, we’re not sure she likes having all that fur…and you can’t blame her. Her owners have to brush her out 2-3 times every week to keep it neat. But now that she holds the Guinness World Record for furriest cat, maybe it’s worth it.

Your Turn

1. Create a pic collage with the topic from this and some of the facts from the article.

2. Choose a math question to answer from the list below depending on your age.

3. Add question and the the answer to your pic collage.

4. If you want to do more of these challenges, add the Bedtime Math site to your homescreen on your ipad.

 

Wee ones: If Sophie’s fur is 10 inches long and your hair is 6 inches long, whose is longer?

Little kids: The previous record holder, Colonel Meow, had fur 1 inch shorter than Sophie’s. How long was Colonel Meow’s fur?  Bonus: They say eating salmon (a type of fish) makes your hair soft and healthy. If Sophie eats salmon twice a day, how many times does she eat it in a week?

Big kids: If Sophie’s fur grows 1 inch every 2 months starting now, could it be 14 inches long by next May? (We’re starting September now.)  Bonus: If Sophie needs 2 more brushings this week (Wednesday through Saturday) on any 2 days, how many different pairs of days could she be brushed?

Source:
http://bedtimemath.org/fun-math-world-record-cat 
By Laura Overdeck

 

Early Enrichment #45 Improve Our School

Early Enrichment, Early Enrichment Badges

Design Challenge: Improve Our School

You will need to collect a small quantity of three types of materials .

Here are the items you will need

Your job is to imagine and build a prototype of something that will make our school a better place.

A prototype is a model that represents an idea. It does not have to be built to scale or actually work.

The purpose of the activity is to dream and imagine new solutions. 

You only have 10 minutes of work time. 

Afterward your timer goes off, make a pic collage and present your prototype and describe what they chose to build and why it will help our school.  Share your idea with your teacher. 

Post idea: Ann Gadzikowski