Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#37: Create Your Own National Day

Reading Enrichment

Everyday can be a celebration. Did you know that November 3rd is national sandwich day, December 7th is national letter writing day and January  7th is national bobblehead day?

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #37: Create Your Own National Day

2. Look over this teaching page. On your recording sheet, write about each of the highlighted days, the history, and how it is celebrated.

3. What day do feel deserves to add to the list of national celebrations? Pickle day?  It’s observed on November 15. How about National fuzzy sock day? Wear your cozy socks and keep your feet toasty warm all day long. People celebrate this day on December 21st!  Look over this national day list and find 5 more funny days that are national days.

 

4. What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming to think of a special day that you would like added to the calendar that is not already observed. Make a list of 5-10 days.

5. Choose your very favorite day from the list you created. Create a colorful information page about your day. Include this information:

The name of your day

3-5 facts about your topic

How can people celebrate this day?

Add color and illustrations to your project.

6. Read about the process of how to formally submit your national day idea to be selected as a “National Day of Celebration”. What information is most important to know about the process.

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

#38: Celebration Days

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Everyday can be a celebration. Did you know that November 3rd is national sandwich day, December 7th is national letter writing day and January 7th is national bobblehead day?

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #38: Celebration Days
  2. Look over this teaching page. On your recording sheet, write about each of the highlighted days,  its history, and how it is celebrated.
  3. What day do you feel deserves to add to the list of national celebrations? Pickle day? It’s observed on November 15. How about National fuzzy sock day? It’s a day people celebrate on December 21st! What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming. Create a list of 10 days that you would enjoy having as special days on the calendar.
  4. Choose your very favorite day from the list you created. Create a colorful information page about your day. Include this information:

The name of your day

3-5 facts about your topic

How can people celebrate this day?

Do research to find out if your day is already celebrated. If so, add that date to your project.

  1. Read about the process of how to formally submit your national day idea for review. 
  2. Share your project with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#23: Geography Lesson: Oceans

Social Studies Enrichment

It is always a good time to learn more about Geography. Study this geography lesson which is all about Oceans.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #23: Geography Lesson: Oceans

2.  Watch this video all of the way through.   Record the mnemonic on your recording page.

3. Read the article Ocean Habitat  at National Geographic kids.  Record 2-3 pieces of information from each of the sections.  In step 4 you will be making a quiz so look for good info to include in a quiz.

  • Earth Underwater
  • Climate Control
  • Ocean or Sea?
  • Ocean Life

  • Watery Habitats

4. Use the information from this article to write a 10 question quiz on your recording page. Include multiple choice, true and false, and open ended responses. Make a key to go with your quiz.

5. Take this ocean and sea quiz one time. Record your score.

6.  Take the same ocean and sea quiz a second time. Record your score.

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

#36: 6 Ways to Start a Sentence

Reading Enrichment

Know what you want to write but aren’t sure where to start? These sentence prompts will help. Remember these 6 openings and you can write anything you want

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #36: 6 Ways to Start a Sentence 

2. Watch this video and take notes on your recording page for each of the ideas.

3.  This is an article on this same topic. Read the article, 5 tips, and the example paragraphs. Write down 5 new ideas.

4. On your recording page write a 6 sentence paragraph about a topic of your choice.  Use a different strategy for each sentence. Underline each beginning with a different color.

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

#65: Smartphone Materials

Math Mini Sparks

How are smartphones built? What materials are used? Complete this math mini spark and learn more.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #65: Smartphone Materials

2. Print a copy of this worksheet.

3. Fill in the worksheet as you watch the video. Add a picture of your worksheet to your recording sheet, or include it when you turn in your mini spark.

4. Read some of the statistics about smartphones on this site.  Record a question about a statistic that you found interesting.

5. Review this metals in a smartphone infographic. Write 3 compliments and one suggestion that you have that would make it better.

6. Read about the rare earth elements at this page.  Create  a visual to display 8+ pieces of information about rare earth elements. Add this visual to your recording page.

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

#64: Divide by Zero?

Math Mini Sparks

So for now is sounds like we can’t divide by zero, but maybe there might be a rule that mathematicians could be tweaked to make it possible?  Check out this math mini spark and see what you think about this idea.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #64: Why can’t you divide by zero
  2. Watch this video that explains why you can’t divide by zero. Write down 5 ideas from the video.

3. Record 5 vocabulary terms with definitions from the video.

4. Read this info page from Math is Fun. Record 5 details from this page.

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

#63: Can you KenKen®?

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

The goal of KenKen® is to fill the whole grid with numbers, making sure no number is repeated in any row or column. If it’s a 3×3 puzzle, you only use the numbers 1-3.  If it’s a 4×4 puzzle, you only use the numbers 1-4. The “cages” are outlined in dark black.  The top left corner of each cage has a “target number” and a math operation (+ – x /).  The numbers you put in the cage have to make the target number. Sometimes a cage is one square in which case, it’s a freebie.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #63: Can you KenKen®?
  2.  Watch this tutorial to get started.

3. Record important reminders from this tutorial on your recording sheet.

4. Print out the puzzles and try to KenKen®!

Click here for a 4×4 Puzzle

Click here for a 6×6 Puzzle

5. This website has many more puzzles to try. Find 2 more to do.

6. Share your math mini spark recording page and ken kens with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the KenKen® badge at the EY badge page.

#37: A Shark at School

Early Enrichment

There are so many cool facts about sharks to learn.  There are also so many rules for sharks to follow at school. What!? Sharks at school? Get out your notebook and dive into this mini shark lesson.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #37: A Shark at School

2. Read this Wonderopolis article and answer these questions. 

  • How many teeth do sharks have?
  • What happens when sharks lose teeth?
  • How quickly can sharks replace teeth?

 3. Listen to the book Clark the Shark. Write down all of the rhymes that Clark creates in your notebook. You should have at least 4 of Clark’s rhymes written on your recording page when you are done.

 

 4.  Create 3, 4 or 5 of your OWN rhymes that would teach Clark how to behave at school and follow school rules.

5. Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

Check out the Shark Study Badge at the EY website.

#35: Living Poetically

Reading Enrichment

Many years ago, it was common for students to regularly be assigned the memorization of a poem or part of a historical document.  Today, that does not happen in schools as regularly.  But, did you know that memorization is good for you???

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #35: Living Poetically

2. Here are three big ways that memorization will improve your reading and speaking skills.  First, reciting a piece that is memorized will help you learn to articulate your words (speak clearly).  Second, memorization has been shown to increase your vocabulary because you familiarize yourself with words that you may have not otherwise come across.  Lastly, increasing your vocabulary has been shown to increase your reading comprehension.  Wow! Write these 3 items on your recording sheet.

3. The following link has some more suggestions of what to memorize AND gives some pointers on how to memorize. Read the whole article and record 3-5 points on your recording sheet.

4. Pick one of the poems off of the memorization list to print. Record your choice on your recording page.

5. Work on this project for a few days.

6. The EY Coordinator/teacher would love to get a video of you reciting a poem or part of a historical document. Practice until you are ready and then take a video with your ipad reading the poem you picked. Make sure to say the name of the poem and the author before you start.

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

#22: the Mediterranean Sea

Social Studies Enrichment

The Mediterranean Sea is the largest enclosed sea in the world, connected to the Atlantic Ocean only through the  Strait of Gibraltar.  Learn more about this area of the world in the Social Studies mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #22: the Mediterranean Sea 

2. Watch this short video. Record 5-8 facts about the sea on your recording sheet.

 

3.  Set your timer for 3 minutes. Study this map of the Mediterranean Sea.  When the timer goes off, record all of the countries that you can remember that border the Sea.

4. The Mediterranean Sea has a number of major internationally recognized seas within it’s vast area.

  • Open the World Atlas and find the map of the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Set a timer for 5 minutes.
  • Study the map closely and focus on the names of the smaller seas.
  • When the timer goes off, write down the names of 6 seas on your recording sheet.
  • Scroll to the bottom of this post to verify that you have recorded all the names correctly.

5. Look at this info and study the map of the Strait of Gibraltar at World Atlas. Record the cities that are on the border and also the territories on either side of the strait.

6. Optional: Memorize how to spell Mediterranean!!! Whisper spell it 10 times. Air write it 5 times and write it on your recording page 3 time from memory.

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

 

Seas within the Mediterranean Sea

  • Balearic Sea
  • Tyrrhenian Sea
  • Sea of Sicily
  • Libyan Sea
  • Aegean Sea
  • Cilician Sea