Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#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Many years ago, it was common for students to regularly be assigned the memorization of a poem or part of a historical document.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 The EY Coordinator/teacher would love to get a video of you reciting a poem or part of a historical document.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

#62: Aibohphobia

Math Mini Sparks

Aibohphobia: the fear of palindromes

What’s there to be afraid of?  Palindromes are so cool!  Whether the phobia is real or made up, palindromes are definitely real and this week we’re going to have some fun with them!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #62: Aibohphobia
  2. A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of symbols or elements, whose meaning may be interpreted the same way in either forward or reverse direction (i.e. mom, wow, racecar, 10501, etc.).  Create a list of palindromes using this resource.
  3. Did you know that any number can be written as the sum of 3 palindromes?  It’s true!  Check out this Numberphile video. Record 5 details.

 

4. On your recording sheet, answer these questions after watching the video

  • Describe the specific example used in the video to demonstrate how to write a positive integer as the sum of three palindrome numbers.
  • How does the presenter compare the process of finding the palindrome numbers to solving a Sudoku puzzle?

5. Practice your multiplication by playing Palindrome Products. Take a screenshot when you are done and add it to your recording page.

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

#27: Spider Silk

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges

Spiders are master builders, and the webs built by these tiny creatures can be used as a source of inspiration                                      for scientists.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #27: Spider Silk

2. Read this article from Wonderopolis. Answer these questions on your recording page.

  • How strong is silk?
  • Where does silk come from?
  • What are some modern uses for spider silk?

3. Watch this video and record 5 new pieces of information on your recording page.

4. Now that you’ve discovered that spider silk is remarkably strong and has potential applications in body armor, explore other innovative concepts for utilizing spider silk.  What additional items could be created using spider silk? Perhaps climbing ropes for mountaineering? Or even nets for fishing? Challenge your imagination and consider other possible uses for this extraordinarily strong spider silk. Set your timer for 3 minutes and do a brainstorming session. Record all of your ideas on your recording page.

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

 

 

 

 

#61: Math Contest

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Who’s up for a contest? Mathematics competitions or mathematical olympiads are competitive events where participants complete a math test. Help to prepare for these events by doing a short practice contest.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #61: Math Contest
  2. Find the contest choices here
  3. You MAY use a calculator, but please work by yourself!
  4. Pick the grade level that fits you
  5. Do all of the work on your recording page and click “I am done” at the bottom. It will score your contest for you.
  6. Take a screenshot of your contest and share it along with your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the math contest master badge for more contest practice

#60: Millions, Billions and Trillions

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

I really thought I knew everything there was to know about a million, billion and trillion until I came across a Numberphile video with new information!  If you’re up for a challenge and making your brain stretch a little, then this math mini spark is for YOU!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #60: Millions, Billions and Trillions
  2. How Much is a Million by David M Schwartz is one of many picture books I have on my bookshelf.  It’s a great book to help visualize what a million, billion, and trillion look like.  Listen to this book .
  3. A Million Dots by Andrew Clements is another one of my favorites.  In the book, you will actually see ONE MILLION dots!  Don’t believe me?  You can count them yourself!
  4. Print a copy (or have your teacher print you a copy) of this worksheet. You can also record the sentences and charts on your recording page.
  5. Watch this numberphile video How Big is a Billion?

6. Fill out the sentences starters and the chart after watching the video.

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

#34: Dragon Study

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Dragons have been an important character in fairy tales and fantasy stories for ages.  Learn about these fantastic creatures in this LA mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #34: Dragon Study

2.  Write each word, its part of speech, and a short definition. 

geomythology                caldera                   mastodon                     geothermal 

 3. Scroll to the bottom of this post to check to see that your definitions are correct. Add any missing information.

4.  Watch this TED ed about the origin of dragon myths. 

 

5. Read these fact cards about dragons. Create a mini quiz to go along with the content. Make an answer key as well. 

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

 

You can use parts of this mini spark  as tasks on the Dragon Tales Badge at the EY website.

 

 

geomythology  ( noun )
Definition: The study of how myths and legends are related to the geology and geography of a place.
Example: Geomythology looks at how stories about dragons might be connected to real fossils or volcanoes.
caldera  ( noun )
Definition: A large, bowl-shaped depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses.
Example: The big caldera was formed when the Kilauea volcano caved in.
mastodon  ( noun )
Definition: An extinct, large mammal similar to a mammoth or elephant, with cone-shaped cusps on the molar teeth.
Example: Maybe old storytellers made up Cadmus’ tale after finding these mastodon fossils.
geothermal  ( adjective )
Definition: Relating to the internal heat of the Earth.
Example: Other dragon actions, like breathing fire, may have been connected to geothermal elements like volcanoes and hot springs.

 

 

#59: World’s Favorite Cookie

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

What is your favorite kind of cookie?  These are some of my favorite treats. Check out his math mini spark about the world’s favorite cookie! Yum!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #59: World’s Favorite Cookie

2. Watch this video about one of America’s favorite cookies.  Jot down some facts as  you watch the video.

 

3. Complete this quiz after watching.  Record your score on your answer sheet.

4. Check out this website listing 15 interesting facts about the “World’s Favorite Cookie”.  Record something new and interesting you read.

5. Work on this Bedtime Math post about Oreos. The answers are at the bottom of the webpage so don’t scroll all of the way down.

The Truth about Double-Stuf Oreos

 

6. Celebrate National Oreo day! Read facts about this day and record what you learned.

7. Oreo Thins have a diameter of 4.5 centimeters and a thickness of 7.5 millimeters.  record your answers to the following questions on your recording page. Look up the formulas if needed.

 What is the Circumference of an Oreo Thin?

What is the Area of an Oreo Thin?

 How tall would a stack of 10 Oreo Thins be?

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

#58: Watch a Math Video Everyday

Learning Opportunities, Math Mini Sparks

Research has been conducted on the effectiveness of using video in the classroom. Videos are better than the written word when it comes to information retention, education, and overall experience.  Videos have a way of making information “stick” and we are in a day and age were we have access to a plethora of videos that can help us learn.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #58: Watch a Math Video Everyday
  2. Print this worksheet.
  3. As you watch a video, jot down new and/or interesting information on your recording page.  What connections can you make?  Which video did you find the most interesting?  Silly?  Entertaining?
  4. Watch at least 3 of the videos to earn this mini spark.
  5. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Math Video Menu Badge on the EY Badge Page.