Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#102: Friendly Numbers

Math Mini Sparks

Friendly numbers are a special type of number that have a unique connection with other numbers. To understand this relationship, we will add up all of the factors of a number and then we look at the index of a number and compare it to the index of another number.  Check it out in this mini spark.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #102: Friendly Numbers

2. Read this paragraph to review what “Factors” are.

Factors are numbers you multiply together to get another number. A factor of a number divides the number evenly, with no remainder.

What are all the factors of the number 8?         1 2 4 8

What are all the factors of the number 24?      1 2 3 4 6 8 12 24

Write the factors of the number 40 on your recording sheet.

3. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see if you have the correct numbers for step 2. If you do put a star on your page. If you do not, add the correct numbers.

4. Look over these 6 questions before your start watching the video.  Number your paper from 1-6. As you watch answer each of the questions.

  1. Stop the video at 2:57. In two sentences, describe how 12 and 234 and are friendly numbers.
  2. How many perfect numbers are there. How has this number changed since 2011?
  3. What is is called if you don’t have a friend? Name a few of these types of numbers.
  4. Pause the video at 8:40 and write down all of the friendly numbers on his chart.
  5. What are the yellow numbers?
  6. What is 10’s index?

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

 

 

 

Answers for step 3

Factors of 40 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 40

#59: Wondering about Geography?

Learning Opportunities, Social Studies Enrichment

Are you curious about geography? Check out the Wonderopolis website for Wonders all about the world around us. Check out the specific Wonders below that will get your brain thinking about all things geography!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #59 Wondering about Geography?

2. This mini spark has you explore Wonderopolis Wonders related to geography. Look over these choices and write down the three you would like to read.

3. Write down the title of the first article. Read the first article. Look at all of the pictures and watch any videos. Read the “Wonder Words,” and take the wonderword challenge. Record your score. Take the “Test Your Knowledge” quiz. Record your score.

4. Write down the title of the second article. Read the second article. Look at all of the pictures and watch any videos. Read the “Wonder Words,” and take the wonderword challenge. Record your score. Take the “Test Your Knowledge” quiz. Record your score.

5. Write down the title of the third article. Read the third article. Look at all of the pictures and watch any videos. Read the “Wonder Words,” and take the wonderword challenge. Record your score. Take the “Test Your Knowledge” quiz. Record your score.

6. OPTIONAL Pick out your favorite wonder and do further research on the topic.  There is much more to be learned after finishing the article!  Create a product to share your learning.

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

Check out the Wonderopolis Badges at the EY website.

 

 

 

#80: Word Fit Puzzle

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Fit words into a grid in this popular game, often seen in puzzle magazines as fill-ins. The grid looks like a crossword, but there are no normal clues. Instead you must find the right place in the grid for each word from a given list.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #80: Word Fit Puzzle

2. Watch this short intro video. What is the goal of this game?

3.  Go to the Word FIt Puzzle website. Explore the grid sizes and the difficulty levels. Record all of those on your recording page.

4.  Start easy to get the hang of it. Choose a level. Record your choice. Play a level. Take a screenshot of your ending time and add it to your recording page or write your ending time on your recording page.

5. Move to a harder level.  Choose a level. Record your choice. Play a level. Take a screenshot of your ending time and add it to your recording page or write your ending time on your recording page.

6. What do you like about this game. What changes would you recommend?

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

 

Want to keep playing? Keep moving up levels as you are ready. Document your progress. Talk to your EY coordinator about doing these puzzles to earn a badge.

 

#101: Volleyball Roster Math

Math Mini Sparks

There is a wealth of information when it comes to volleyball! Whether you’re examining individual player statistics, team standings, or breaking down a specific match… MATH IS EVERYWHERE IN VOLLEYBALL!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #101: Volleyball Roster Math 
  2. This Mini Spark has you looking at the 24-25 Westside High School Varsity and Junior Varsity Volleyball Roster.  Download and print a copy of the worksheet and roster.
  3. Add a picture of your finished worksheet to your math mini spark page.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page and your worksheet with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Roster Math Badge at the EY website.

 

#27: Explore Elements

Learning Opportunities, Science Mini Spark

The periodic table has been on quite the adventure for over 150 years, like a superhero collecting elements! Now, with 118 different elements, it’s like the ultimate science party where every element has its own dance move. Who knew chemistry could be this much fun?

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #15: Explore Elements

2. Watch this video and record at least 5 details from the video on your recording page.

3. TED Ed joined forces with the people at Periodic Videos to bring us the what-is-what on each element of the periodic table. Watch this video about hydrogen. Record 5-10 details about hydrogen on your recording page.

4. Choose a new element from this playlist. Watch the video, and on your recording page make a fact page about the element with at least 10 pieces of information.

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

 

68: SNOW + ENGINEERING = FUN

Early Enrichment

For this Early Enrichment Mini Spark challenge, create your best snow person/people or creatures. No snow required.

1. Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: 68: SNOW + ENGINEERING = FUN

2. Learn about the engineering behind snow building. Record 5 details on your recording sheet.

3.  Watch these kids creating on snow people that are built out of paper, tape, plastic bags, and newspaper.

3. Build a snow creature. You can build it out of snow if you are doing the mini spark while there is snow on the ground, or you can build it out of materials. Do not buy anything, use materials you have around the classroom or your house.  If you build your snow creature out of materials, if doesn’t have to be as big as the examples in the video unless you want it to be.

4. Take a picture of your project ½ way through and then at the end. Add your pictures to your recording page.

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

#67: Flower Power

Early Enrichment

Spring is in the air! Learn about the blooming power of flowers and then do a hands-on activity creating a blooming flower and card to give to someone special.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #67: Flower Power

2. Watch this Mystery Science video about how flowers bloom. Record 3 things you learned on your recording page.

 

3.  Gather needed materials to complete the activity.

  • Crayons
  • Scissors
  • Dot Stickers or Tape
  • Plastic Paper Plate or Bowl

4.  In this activity, you will make a colorful paper flower and a greeting card that they can give to any special person in their life. When placed in water, the paper flower will unfold, appearing to move and bloom in front of your eyes! You may want to use this as a Mother’s Day activity, but you choose who will receive the card, so it can be for anyone special.

5. Print this template single sided. Ask your teacher for help if needed.

6. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the paper.

7. Once your flowers are complete add them to the card.

8. When you give your card, explain that you will need to your place the flowers in water and you can watch them bloom together!

Extension: You can see for yourself how water moves inside a plant. Fill a glass with water and add a few drops of red or blue food coloring. Place a white flower in the glass. Wait a few hours and watch to see what happens. Look closely at the flower petals. What do you notice? Repeat this experiment, but use a stalk of celery or a lettuce leaf. What do you predict will happen?

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

#66: What Melts in the Sun?

Early Enrichment

This summer was HOT!! There were even stories about eggs frying on a sidewalk. This makes you think….what ordinary items might melt in the sun? Do an experiment to find out.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #66: What Melts in the Sun?

2. Ask your parent or guardians permission first before you start.

Experiment steps

1. Set up your recording page with three columns and 12 rows.

2. Put a title at the top of each column

Object           Do you think it will melt?               Did it melt?

3. Find a muffin tin.

4. FInd 12 ordinary household items that make you ask….”Does this melt in the sun?”

5. Take a picture of your tin. Add it to your recording page.

5. Write those items down on your recording sheet.

6. Decide if you think the item will melt. Write YES or NO for each item.

7. Choose a day where the temperature is at least 85 degrees.

8. Put your muffin tin with the items in the full sun and wait at least 20 minutes.

9. I know it’s hard to wait 20 minutes, but you can do it!!! After the 20 minutes is up, go check on your results!

10. Fill in the column with the results of your experiment.

11. Take a picture of the tin and the items. Add it to your recording page.

12. Now, for the most important step:  CLEAN UP AND PUT THINGS BACK!

3. Share your science mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator. We can’t wait to see it!

Lesson adapted from: https://frugalfun4boys.com/simple-science-experiment-for-kids-what-melts-in-the-sun/

 

#77: Pandemic Poetry

Reading Enrichment

What Happened When We All Stopped is a children’s book and animated poem by Tom Rivett-Carnac, illustrated by Carla Kreuser and Bee Rivett-Carnac. It explores life after a health pandemic, like COVID-19, from the viewpoint of people at home observing nature. The story suggests that this time of quiet can help the Earth heal and remind us how to live in harmony with nature.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #77: Pandemic Poetry

2. Read this article about Jane Goodall.  Record 5 details about her life on your recording sheet.

3. Tom Rivett-Carnac wrote the children’s book What Happened When We All Stopped in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute. The book, read by Jane Goodall, is about what happens after a health pandemic and how to build back better.  Watch this animated poem.

4. On your recording page

  • write about what changed from the beginning of the poem to the end
  • write about your favorite part of the poem

5. Choose one activity

  • Write a 5-10 sentence personal reflections about a natural place that feels peaceful. Incorporate sensory images to help the reader understand what it feels like to be there.
  • Write your own  poem about nature.

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

Check out the Jane Goodall Badge at the EY Website.

#76: Diary of a Wombat

Reading Enrichment

Wombats are like the adorable couch potatoes of the animal world! These furry little marsupials come in shades of brown, tan, or grey and can grow up to 1.3 meters long!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #76: Diary of a Wombat

2. Listen to the story Diary of a Wombat.  Focus on viewpoint, voice, and flow as you listen to the story.

 

3. Explore opposing viewpoints. Choose one event. On your recording page describe the same event from two points of view

Mothball vs. family members.

4. Diary of a Wombat is a humorous text. Identify the various devices Jackie French and Bruce Whatley have used to make this book entertaining. To get you started- What is Mothball describing as a ‘flat, hairy creature? How does this add humor?  Think of 2 more funny examples and add them to your recording page.

5. In literary texts, dialogue plays an important role in character development. However, there is no dialogue in Diary of a Wombat (from Mothball). Analyze the text to gather information about Mothball. How has the author developed Mothball’s character without the use of dialogue? Record 3 things you know about him,

6. Mothballs main motive in life is to find carrots to eat. Make a list on your recording sheet of all of the ways he does this.

7. Read this National Geographic article. Make a tiny information page with 5 facts about wombats on your recording sheet.

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

Check out the Diary of a Creature badge at the EY website.