Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#35: Olympic Medal Designer

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges

Every two years, a selection committee creates the medals that symbolize triumph at that year’s Olympic Games. They must adhere to certain guidelines while also having the creative freedom to design medals that reflect the true essence of the Olympics.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #35: Olympic Medal Designer

2. Watch this video and record 5 ideas about the process of creating medals for the Olympics hosted in Japan on your recording sheet.

3. View the history of Olympic Medals.  Pick 3 different years and compare the medals from those years (designer, composition, diameter, and mint).  Display your findings in a creative manner and add a picture to your recording sheet.

4. Imagine you are part of the Olympic Medal Design committee! Design your own Olympic medal that pays tribute to the world’s top athletes in a distinctive manner. Answer these questions on your recording sheet

  • Which Olympic Games will your medal represent — an upcoming event or a fictional one?
  • Will you concentrate on the Summer or Winter Olympics?
  • Will you maintain the classic design features on one side of your medal, or will you opt for innovative concepts?
  • What figures, locations, or symbols will you choose to celebrate on the front of your medal?

5. Do some planning and research. Add ideas to your recording sheet

6. Design your medal on paper or digitally. Add a picture of your design to your recording page.

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

Check out these other mini sparks

Math Mini Spark #71

Social Studies Mini Spark #11

 

 

Idea adapted from https://kid-museum.org/maker-playground/olympic-medals/

#34: Animal Robots

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized,

While the word “robot” can conjure up an image of a cyborg human with lights for eyes and super powers, animal-inspired robots are accomplishing tasks in all kinds of medical, military and rescue work. These anibots perform tasks that would be difficult and often dangerous for mere mortals, or even human droids, to accomplish

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #34: Animal Robots

2.   Pneupard is a robot that is designed to be agile and fast like cheetahs and other cats. Pneupard has artificial muscles made from rubber tubing that are covered in nylon and filled with air. The pneumatic muscles have lifelike skills that allow the bot to replicate the range of motion and strength of a real cat!

3. On your recording sheet define Pneupard.

4. Watch this video about Pneupard. Record 5 details from the video on your recording page.

5. Answer the following questions.

  • How are these engineers using robots to learn about nature?
  • Why are cheetah’s ultra complex to recreate?
  • What did the engineers learn when the were in the park
  • What animal would you choose to recreate as a robot? What part or parts of this animal would be ultra complex to recreate?

6. One modern robot flier is called ornithopter. Ornithopter looks and flies much like a real bird. One sweet little ornithopter is used as a nano-spybot, equipped with a tiny camera.

7. On your recording sheet define ornithopter.

8. Watch this video about Ornithopter and write a summary of the video on your recording page.

9. On your recording page, answer these questions.

  • What materials are used to make this robot?
  • What other material come to mind that might work?
  • Have you ever seen a servo motor? If not where else might it be used? If you have seen one, what was its purpose?
  • What is visually interesting to you about this robot? What woud you change?

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

#48: Literary Device Lesson-Flashback

Reading Enrichment

For this mini-spark, we will focus on the literary device Flashback. Flashbacks in literature are when the narrator goes back in time for a specific scene or chapter in order to give more context for the story. Oftentimes, we see flashbacks in books where the past greatly impacts the present or as a way to start a story off on an interesting note.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #48: Literary Device Lesson-Flashback

2. Record this definition on your recording page- A flashback is when the author reveals something that has happened to a character prior to the time the story is taking place. In a flashback, present action in a story is temporarily interrupted so the reader can witness past events; it usually takes the form of memories, dreams, or a story within the story.

3. Watch this clip from Ratatouille where food critic, Anton Ego flashes back to his childhood. Write 2 sentence explaining the flashback.

4. Think about what Anton Ego experienced while having a flashback. Write about a time your tasted or smelled something and experienced a flashback.

Note: If you can’t think of anything, your can write about Anton’s experience in the video clip. What did we learn about in this flashback? How did it help develop his character?

5. Complete this flashback activity. You can print it or put your responses on your recording sheet.

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

#47: Blackout Poetry

Reading Enrichment

Blackout poetry is when you take a piece of text from a book, newspaper, or magazine and blackout words to create your very own poetry

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #47: Blackout Poetry

2. A blackout poem is when a poet takes a marker (usually black marker/Sharpie) to already established text–like in a newspaper–and starts redacting words until a poem is formed. The key thing with a blackout poem is that the text AND redacted text form a sort of visual poem. When only the chosen words are visible, a brand new story is created!  Define blackout poetry on your recording page.

 

 

 

3. Blackout poems can be created using the pages of old books or even articles cut from yesterday’s newspaper. Using the pages of an existing text, blackout poets isolate then piece together single words or short phrases from these texts to create lyrical masterpieces. Where can you find a page to use for a blackout poem?

4. Blackout poems, as I’m sure you can imagine, run the gamut from absurd to sublime because all of the words are already there on the page, but the randomness is all part of the fun!  We truly believe a poem lives within the words and lines of any page, and encourage you to uncover it. Creating a blackout poem involves steps that are all about deconstruction and then reconstruction.  Look up both of those words and write the meaning on your recording page. 

5. Get started on your poem. Talk with your teacher about finding a book page/newspaper/magazine page to use for this project. Gather other art supplies-pencil, markers, and so on.

Step 1: Scan (or cut out) the page or article first before reading it completely. Keep an eye out for an anchor word as you scan. An anchor word is one word on the page that stands out to you because it is packed and loaded with meaning and significance.  Starting with an anchor word is important because it helps you to imagine possible themes and topics for your poem.

Step 2: Now read the page of text in its entirety. Use a pencil to lightly circle any words that connect to the anchor word and resonate with you. Resonant words might be expressive or evocative, but for whatever reason, these are the words on the page that stick with you. Avoid circling more than three words in a row.

Step 3: List all of the circled words on a separate piece of paper. List the words in the order that they appear on the page of text from top to bottom, left to right. The words you use for the final poem will remain in this order so it doesn’t confuse the reader.

Step 4: Select words, without changing their order on the list, and piece them together to create the lines of a poem. You can eliminate parts of words, especially any endings, if it helps to keep the meaning of the poem clear. Try different possibilities for your poem before selecting the lines for your final poem. If you are stuck during this step, return back to the original page of text. The right word you are searching for could be there waiting for you.

Step 5: Return to the page of text and circle only the words you selected for the final poem.  Remember to also erase the circles around any words you will not be using.

Step 6: Add an illustration or design to the page of text that connects to your poem. Be very careful not to draw over the circled words you selected for your final poem!

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

 

Lesson idea from: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/john-depasquale/blackout-poetry/

Check out the blackout poetry badge at the EY website. You can use your poem from this mini spark as task 6 on your badge if you want!

#46: CALLING ALL READERS

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Are you an enthusiastic reader who likes to read current event articles from a variety of sources? Check out…………DOGO NEWS!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #46: CALLING ALL READERS

2. DOGO NEWS consists of daily news sites and includes text, photos, graphics, and audio and/or video materials prepared about current events, social studies science, and more! The main topics are at the top of the page.

3. Go to DOGO News and explore. Pick out 3 articles to read and complete step 4 for each one

4. For each article you choose to read follow these steps.

  • Put the name of the article on your recording sheet.
  • Record several of the bolded words from the article.
  • If there are videos included on the page, watch at least 1 and write one sentence about it
  • If there are maps, graphs, or infographics take the time to look at them and write one sentence about each one.
  • Summarize the article and type a question you have after reading the article

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

 

 

#35: The History of Pandemics

Social Studies Enrichment

The word “Pandemic” is a pretty scary word. It almost seems like it is something that no one else ever has before. But, that isn’t true. Pandemics have existed throughout history.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #35: The History of Pandemics

2. This a group of mask-wearing citizens, Locust Avenue, California, during the flu pandemic of 1918

Photograph: Raymond Coyne/Courtesy of Lucretia Little History Room, Mill Valley Public Library. © The Annual Dipsea Race.

Read about this pandemic at Kiddle. Look up and record the definitions of these words.

Influenza

Pandemic

Cytokine storm

Epidemiological

Antiviral

3. Scroll to the very bottom of this post and look over the definitions. Check with those that you wrote to make sure you were on track.

4. To learn about the history of pandemics, read the Time For Kids article.  Make a mini timeline with the pandemic dates from the article.

5. Read this information page about the bubonic plague that took hold of London in 1665. What caused the plague? When was the cause of the plague discovered? What were the two ways that the plague finally came to an end?

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Influenza: a highly contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory system, causing symptoms such as fever, cough, and body aches.

Pandemic: an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a large proportion of the population.

Cytokine storm: an excessive immune response in which the body releases too many cytokines, leading to inflammation and damage to tissues and organs.

Epidemiological: relating to the study of how diseases spread and can be controlled within populations.

Antiviral: a type of medication that specifically targets viruses to treat viral infections, preventing them from multiplying and spreading in the body.

#34: The San Diego Zoo

Social Studies Enrichment

The San Diego Zoo is a beautiful 100-acre wildlife park that is home to more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals representing over 680 species and subspecies.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #34: The San Diego Zoo

OPTIONAL: Print this recording page to use for this mini spark

2. Do you know where San Diego, California is? It’s waaaaaaay at the bottom of California – check it out on the map. On your recording page, write 5 facts that you found while looking at the map.

3. Divide your recording page into 3 sections. Choose 3 letters of the the alphabet and label each section with one of the letters you picked.

4. San Diego has an incredible zoo. You can meet and learn about so many any animals from A-Z at their website! Visit the San Diego Zoo!  For each letter that you picked, research an animal that starts with that letter. For each animal record five to ten facts.

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

Check out Save the Animals or Roaring Keynote at the EY website.

 

 

 

#45: Khan Academy Reading Course

Reading Enrichment

Inside Khan’s Grade 2-10 reading & vocabulary courses, you’ll find: several units, each with a mix of practice exercises, fun and insightful video instruction, and vocabulary articles.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #45: Khan Academy Reading Course.

2. The courses are set up in units and each unit has several lessons.

3. Choose the grade level that fits you. If you need help deciding, ask your teacher to help.

 

4. On your recording sheet, add the grade level you choose.

5. If you want, you can take the course challenge before you start (pre-test). When doing the course challenge, if you don’t know an answer, just click skip and move on.

6. To earn this mini spark complete at least 3 lessons. Add your lesson scores to your recording page.

7. Would you recommend this learning resource to other students? why or why not. Please record your opinion on your recording sheet.

OPTIONAL: Khan Academy also has a grammar section for you to explore.

8. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Khan Reading and Vocabulary badge on the EY website.

#44: Meet an Opera Singer

Early Enrichment

An opera is a dramatic play where the actors sing all their lines instead of speaking them, accompanied by a full orchestra. In this mini spark, meet an opera singer and visit a performance.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #44: Meet an Opera Singer

2. Watch this interview. Record 5 things you learned about this opera singer.

3.  The Lyric Opera of Chicago of has written a booklet for kids all about the opera. Choose 4 pages to read in this booklet . Record 5 of the vocabulary words from the booklet on your recording page or record a few sentences about a part of the booklet you liked reading.

OPTIONAL : Print the booklet and do the activities.

4.  Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher or EY coordinator.

Check out the Opera  Intro mini spark and the Opera badge on the EY website.

 

 

#74 Fibonacci Fun

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

The Fibonacci Sequence

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144

What do these numbers have in common? What pattern do you see? These numbers are a part of what is known as the fibonacci numbers. Fibonacci numbers are found by adding the two previous numbers. So the number after 144 would be 233. The Fibonacci Sequence is a simple sequence of numbers that anyone can learn!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #74 Fibonacci Fun
  2. “Too much of the mathematics we learn in school is not effectively motivated.” ~Mathemagician Arthur Benjamin. Watch his TED Video about the Magic of Fibonacci Numbers. Take notes on your recording page.

3. Watch this Numberphile video about Random Fibonacci Numbers.  Take notes on your recording page.

4. Then, try the activity he explains in the video using a coin. Record your project.  My sons Toby and Trevor and I recorded ourselves doing the activity here:

 

5. Read about the Fibonacci Sequence at Math is Fun. Recording 3 details on your recording page.

6. Create a interesting way to show what you have learned from this math mini spark. Add it to your recording page.

7. Share your math mini spark recording page and your project with your teacher/EY coordinator.