Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#55: 1-hand book review

Early Enrichment

Before you share a book with a friend, it helps to share a quick, ‘handy’ book review. Learn how in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your mini spark recording page: #59: 1 hand book review

2. Read over these instructions and write down the 5 sentence starters on your recording page.

3. Choose a book that you have recently read and enjoyed. Write the title on your recording page.

4. Open this sheet and read it. You can print it if you want. You will use this as a guide to writing your own.

5. Create your own script on your recording page.

6. Choose at least two people and read your 1-hand book review to them.

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

 

 

#59: 1 hand book review

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Before you share a book with a friend, it helps to share a quick, ‘handy’ book review. Learn how in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #59: 1 hand book review

2. Read over these instructions and write down the 5 sentence starters on your recording page.

3. Choose a book that you have recently read and enjoyed. Write the title on your recording page.

4. Open this sheet and read it. You can print it if you want. You will use this as a guide to writing your own.

5. Create your own script on your recording page.

6. Choose at least two people and read your 1-hand book review to them.

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

 

 

#53: STEAM Challenge: Mystery Bag

Full STEAM Ahead

Looking for a really fun STEM challenge that you can  This mystery bag STEAM design challenge is a blast!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #53: STEAM Challenge: Mystery Bag

2. In this design activity, you will use a bag of mystery materials (an assortment of recyclables and other random items) and then a challenge card stating a building challenge to do with those materials. Then you use those “mystery” materials to complete the challenge. After lookings over the steps, ask your EY teacher if you need help gathering supplies. 

3. Gather materials

  • One bag (you can use gift bags, lunch bags, grocery bags, or even large baggies.)
  • Scissors
  • Tape (scotch tape or masking tape)
  • Various kinds of recyclables (cardboard tubes, cardboard, newspaper, aluminum foil)
  • A variety of other materials (paper plates, plastic cups, string, yarn, pipe cleaners)
  • Mystery Bag Challenge Cards (print and cut these if you can)

4.  Fill Your Bag (Tip: it’s more challenging if a sibling or parent fills your bag). Place about 8-12 items into the bag. You’ll want to be sure the items are varied. Each bag should contain at least one larger item that can serve as a base for the design, and then an assortment of smaller items.

5.  Print out the free mystery bag challenge cards. Cut them apart.

6. Pick a challenge card. You could put the cards in a container to draw from or place face down on a table. Record your challenge on your recording page. You could also take a picture of the challenge and add it to your page.

7. Complete the challenge on the card using only the materials in your bag.

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

9. Write about what was easy about the challenge and what was hard.

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

Use this project as your first project mystery bag design challenge badge from theEY website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#83 The Luhn Algorithm

Math Mini Sparks

The Luhn algorithm or Luhn formula, also known as the modulus 10″ or “mod 10” algorithm, was developed in the 1960s as a method of validating whether or not identification numbers provided by a user are accurate.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #83 The Luhn Algorithm
  2. Look over this chart.   What do you notice about each of the rows?

3. Read this article about the formula and how it is used in real life to catch errors when shopping online.

4. Research the creator Peter Luhn and make a timeline about his life.

5. In this video you will learn how to use the Luhn Algorithm. Make the table on paper as you watch.

6. Complete the math challenge presented by CEMC math . Print it out, read the page and look at the different strategy that they present to you.  Work on the challenge presented.

7. Check you work with this answer key.

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

# 58:Halloween Roll-A-Story

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Ready for some Halloween writing fun?

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: # 58:Halloween Roll-A-Story

2. Grab a die or use this online version

3. Use the guide below to choose elements of your story. Record these on your recording page.

4. Now you are ready to begin writing  your story on your recording page.

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and your spooktacular story with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#82: Math in a book

Math Mini Sparks, MS Learning Opportunities

Calling all math detectives!! This is a challenge that combines writing and math.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #82: Math in a book
  2. Watch this video and pause it at 34 seconds. Try to figure out the pattern that this poem uses. Hint: It has to do with math. Write down your guess. Continue watching.
  3. When you are done, create your own short poem using the first 10, 15 or 20 numbers as your guide. Write your poem on your recording page.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Early Enrichment Spark #54: Poetry!

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Pictured above is one of my favorite poets – Amanda Gorman. In the picture, she is reading a poem at the inauguration of President Joe Biden! And, she is just 22 years old!!

Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, as well as an award-winning writer! She has written for the New York Times and has three books forthcoming with Penguin Random House.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began writing at only a few years of age. Now her words have won her invitations to the Obama White House and to perform for Lin-Manuel Miranda, Al Gore, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Malala Yousafzai, and others.

In 2017, Amanda Gorman was appointed the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate by Urban Word – a program that supports Youth Poets Laureate in more than 60 cities, regions and states nationally. She is the recipient of the Poets & Writers Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, and is the youngest. board member of 826 National, the largest youth writing network in the United States.

Click on the link below to watch Amanda Gorman read her poem “Talking Gets Us There”.

https://pbskids.org/video/dots-spot/3050991492

HERE’S YOUR CHALLENGE: WRITE A POEM OF YOUR OWN!!

Go to https://www.poetry4kids.com/ to explore! Click on the “Poems” tab to read poems others have written to help you gain some inspiration!

Under the “Lessons” tab, you’ll find poetry lessons, as well as a rhyming dictionary!!

Submit your poem in the comments below.

#44: Harriet Tubman

Social Studies Enrichment

Revisit the extraordinary life story of Harriet Tubman – a freedom seeker, conductor on the Underground Railroad, abolitionist, suffragist, and human rights activist. Tubman was born around 1822 Maryland. She is widely celebrated as one of the most respected individuals in American history.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #44: Harriet Tubman

2. Read this information about the underground railroad. On your recording page, create a web diagram with a circle in the center and 10 circles around the center. Record “underground railroad” in the center.

3. Read these paragraphs and fill in 5 of the spots with information about the underground railroad. 

4. Watch this TED-ED on the life of Harriet Tubman. Use information from the video to fill out the remaining 5 spots on your web with information about her. 

 

5. Look at a map, and imagine Harriet, in her 20s, running away, alone, on foot. She managed, with the help of the Underground Railroad, to make it a hundred miles to the Pennsylvania border, and freedom. Bravely, Tubman went back – 13 times over 10 years – leading more than 70 people to freedom.  Why did she risk her life to do this? Respond to this prompt with 3+ sentences. 

 

6. Choose one prompt and respond with 2-4 sentences. 

Discuss the significance of the Underground Railroad in Harriet Tubman’s life.

What role did Harriet Tubman play during the Civil War, and what was one of her notable achievements?

Describe Harriet Tubman’s involvement in women’s suffrage and her contributions to the cause.

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

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

#52: Cargo Bot Coding

Full STEAM Ahead

Cargo Bot is puzzle game for iPad designed to introduce programming concepts. In this game, players control a robotic arm to relocate crates to a specified area, aiming to accomplish this in the fewest moves possible. There are five levels of difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard, Crazy, and Impossible.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #52: Cargo Bot Coding

2. Watch this video until you get to 1:25. Record what the lesson was about on your recording page.

 

3. Learn about loops starting at 1:26. Record information on your recording page.

4. Go to Mosyle and add the Cargo Bot app to your ipad.

5. Spend 15 minutes coding. After the 15 minutes are up, record where you ended up on your recording page or add a screenshot to your page.

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