Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

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

 

#40: The Shang Dynasty

Social Studies Enrichment

The Shang Dynasty is the earliest ruling dynasty of China to be established in recorded history, though other dynasties predated it. The Shang ruled from 1600 to 1046 B.C.. They were known for their advances in math, astronomy, artwork and military technology.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #40: The Shang Dynasty

2. Watch this video and record 5-8 details on your recording page.

3. Study this article about Shang Dynasty. Add  5+ details to your recording page.

4. Create a colorful fact page with 8-10 facts that you learned.  You can make your fact page digitally or on paper.

5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page and fact page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

 

#51: Happy Spelling!

Enrichment Links, Other Events & Contests, Reading Enrichment, Spelling Bee

It is fun to learn how to spell new words. This mini spark is a great way to find new words to practice. Happy Spelling!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #51: Happy Spelling!

2. Find practice words. Look through the choices and find the list that is right for you

grade 3  

grade 4   

grade 5   

grade 6   

grade 7  

grade 8

3. Choose 15 words from the grade level that suits you and add them to your recording page.

4. Study the spelling of your new words.

5. When you are ready, have a teacher, parent, or peer give you a spelling test over the 5 hardests words on your list. Use your recording page for the test.

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

#39: Tallest Buildings

Full STEAM Ahead

As of 2024, the tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai! Many buildings have held the title of “world’s tallest building” over the years. For example, the Lincoln Cathedral in England, the Empire State Building, and the original World Trade Center, both in New York City, were once the tallest. It’s exciting to think about how buildings can be so tall and amazing!

Spark your thinking!

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

2. How tall is the tallest building you have seen? Read this information about the tallest buildings in the world. Make a chart on your recording page and record details about the the 5 tallest buildings.

3. How do you go about building a tall building? Watch this video to learn more.

4. So how can we build such a high building without it toppling over? Those clever engineers came up with an amazing design. Explain it with words or pictures on your recording page.

5. The world’s tallest building has some amazing stats. Create a visual displaying them. Add it to your recording page.

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

#50: News Report Writing

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

The purpose of news report writing is to inform an audience. A news report is a story that is currently happening or that just happened. Writing a news report is easy if you write about the subject in a style that is clear, concise, and active. One of the best practices for writers is to follow is using the Who, What, Where, When,Why, and How of a story.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #50: News Report Writing

2. One should gather answers to the 5 W’s and H questions while writing about an event or something that happened. Record the 5 W’s and H on your recording sheet

3. Watch this video about the basics of writing a news report and take 5 notes on your recording page.

4. Visit, Scholastic Kids Press. Select an article and identify the 5 W’s in the story on your recording page

Choose number 5 ot 6

5. Complete the following News Report Writing activity. Look at the chart and choose a W for each part of the story. Write your report on your recording page.

6. Prepare your own new report about a current event. Add it to your recording page. OPTIONAL STEP: Set up your ipad and video yourself reading your report aloud.

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

#38: STEAM Challenge: Cardboard Tubes

Full STEAM Ahead

Are you ready for a fun paper tube building challenge?  With just a few materials, you can create a cotton ball launcher.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #38: STEAM Challenge: Cardboard Tubes

2. Watch this video. On your recording page write about what will be easy about the STEAM mini spark and what will be more challenging.

 

3. Read this step by step instructions on how to build the launcher. On your recording page explain if you liked the video instructions or the written instructions.

4. Collect your Materials. Ask the EY coordinator at your building for help getting supplies if needed.

  • Short pencil or popsicle stick
  • Thin rubber bands (2)
  • Cardboard tube (2 empty toilet paper tubes or empty paper towel tube cut in half)
  • Packing tape or other strong tape
  • Scissors
  • Cotton balls
  • Single hole punch

 

5. Take pictures of your supplies and add it to your recording page.

6. Use the video or teaching page from steps 2 and 3 as a guide and start building. Make sure to take pictures of your progress.

6. Test it out! If you need to make modifications, do so at this time.

7. Read this information. In this activity, you used two types of energy to load and launch your cotton ball. As you drew back on the pencil with the cotton ball loaded, you added potential energy to the system. The farther you pulled back on the pencil, the more potential energy was being stored. When you released the pencil, the potential energy became kinetic energy, and the cotton ball should have gone flying through the air!

8. Make a pic collage with the pictures from your project. Include the energy terms, information from step 7,  and definitions.

9. Add your pic collage to your recording page

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

Source: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/cotton-ball-launcher#instruction

#39: The Presidential Election Process

Social Studies Enrichment

How does anyone become President of the United States? An election for president of the United States happens every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #39: The Presidential Election Process

2. Watch this video to see the process explained from beginning to end.  Write a 6 question quiz about the content from the video. Use multiple choice questions, short answer, and true and false questions. Include an answer key.

3. What is the Electoral College? Watch this video.  Record the vocab words from the video with a short definition in your own words on your recording page.

  • elector–a person who casts a vote in the Electoral College. Each state legislature decides how its electors are chosen.
  • Electoral College–a group of people called electors who vote for president and vice president of the United States once every four years. Electors cast their votes on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December.
  • electoral vote–the vote taken by the electors. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A majority, or 270, of electoral votes is required to elect a president.
  • electoral majority–at least one more than half of the total. A person must win a majority of the Electoral College votes (270 of 538) to become president.
  • popular vote–the votes of all the citizens together. The popular vote for president is held every four years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. However, states provide voters with other ways to vote if they cannot or choose not to vote in person on that date.

4.  Set your timer for 3 minutes. Study this infographic.  How does this infographic help you understand the electoral college? Be very specific and include 3-4 details.

5. What questions do you still have or what parts of this infographic are not clear. Share your suggestions and/or what parts are not easy to understand in 2+ sentences.

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

 

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!

#38: History of Plastics

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

Plastic is not just used for milk jugs and bottles of soda…it’s EVERYWHERE! Watch the video below about the history of plastic and then do some further research on something specific mentioned in the video.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #38: History of Plastics

2.  Watch this video.  Record the names of plastics along with dates that they are invented, if mentioned.

3. Choose 2 questions to answer after watching the video. Remind your teacher that the answer key can be found in the social studies mini spark folder.

  • Who invented celluloid, and in what year did this invention occur? Describe the characteristics of celluloid that made it unsuitable for billiard balls.
  • What two substances were combined to create Bakelite, and why was it considered an improvement over celluloid?
  • List at least three types of plastics that were developed after Bakelite and briefly describe their uses.
  •  Explain the process of the manufacturing technique was invented that allowed for rapid production of plastic items?  
  • How did the production of plastics change during World War Two? 
  •  Discuss some of the environmental issues associated with plastic production and usage as mentioned in the video.

4. Check out Jeff Kirschner’s TED Talk. Learn more about the environmental impact of plastics and other litter and how solutions as being spread around the world.

The task for this step is to record every place name mentioned on the video on your recording sheet. After the video, make sure you can locate each of those places on a map. Put a star next to those that you can find easily. Put a check by those that you need to look up. After you look up the location, add a star.

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

 

#37: International Dot Day

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized

International Dot Day is on September 15th. There are so many ways to celebrate that dot 365 days a year!  A dot might be small, but it’s a powerful way to show your unique individuality and creativity.

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #37: International Dot Day

2. Get started exploring the dot by watching “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds. What is the message of the book? Record your answer on your recording page. Use at least 3 sentences.

3. Go to wonderopolis and read about how this day is celebrated in classrooms. Take the did you get it quiz and add your score to your recording page.

4. Listen to the song, the Dot. What things do you do to encourage others, show persistence, and spread positivity.  Write 3-4 sentences about this on your recording page.

5. Timed Creative Challenge. Have an adult or a friend print this challenge sheet you.  Don’t look at the challenge until you are ready to get started. You need a pencil or colored pencils and a timer set to 3 minutes. Turn the challenge over and read the directions. Start your timer. When you are done add a picture of your drawings to your recording sheet.

OPTIONAL STEPS

6. Create a dot on a piece of paper. You can use markers, crayons, paint, or colored pencils.

Chatterpix Dot Day.gif

7. Animate your dot. Use the app Chatterpix Kids. Launch Chatterpix Kids. Snap a photo of your art, then add a talking mouth. You now have 30 seconds of recording time to talk about your dot!

8. Save the Chatterpix Kids video onto your camera roll, then share it with your teacher.

9. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page, your dot challenge and your Chatterpix with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Dot badge on the EY Website.

 

 

 

 

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