Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#27: Interjections!

Reading Enrichment

According to grammar-monster.com, interjections are “words used to express strong feeling or sudden emotion. They are included in a sentence (usually at the start) to express a sentiment such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm.”

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #27: Interjections!

2. Watch the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon about interjections. Record several interjections on your recording page.

3. Practice your new knowledge by taking this 6 question quiz.  Record your score on your recording sheet.

4. Listen to the story If You Were an Interjection. There are some punctuation rules to use with interjections correctly. On your recording page write about when is the right time to use each of the following punctuation marks with interjections : exclamation point, comma, question mark, and period.

NOTE: Pay attention to how the sentences were punctuated in the video. You will need to pause the video to look at the words closely.

5. Study this grammar page. Add in 5 more ideas about interjections on your recording page.

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

#17: Jesse Owens

Social Studies Enrichment

Jesse Owens, son of a sharecropper and grandson of a slave, achieved what no Olympian before him had accomplished.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page #17: Jesse Owens

2. Read this information and make a timeline with at least 8 dates.

Who was Jesse Owens?  Track-and-field athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals at

the 1936 Olympic Games. His achievements were important for himself and for many other people at the time. The Games were held in Berlin, Germany. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was in power there. Nazi banners draped the sports field. The Nazis believed white athletes were best. But Owens proved that they were wrong.

James Cleveland Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama, on September 12, 1913. His family later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in search of better opportunities.

Jesse became a track star at a young age. In 1928 he set track records in the high jump and the running broad jump (long jump). In 1933, while he was in high school, he broke three other records. He then went to Ohio State University.

In the 1936 Olympics Owens won gold medals for the running broad jump, the 100- and 200-meter races, and the 4 × 100-meter team relay. He also set new Olympic and world records.

Owens graduated from college in 1937 and worked for the Illinois Athletic Commission. He later got involved in guidance activities for young boys. He also made goodwill visits to countries in Asia for the U.S. government. Owens died in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 31, 1980.

3. To learn more about Jesse Owens, watch the video below.  Record 1 idea you would like to remember, 2 words to describe Jessie, and 3 facts.

4. This information page has more detailed information about Jessee. What is the most important thing you learned about Jesse Owens? Respond with several thoughtful sentences. Add this to your recording sheet.

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

 

#35: Animal Enrichment

Early Enrichment

Did you know that you are not the only person that gets to do enrichment activities? Animals do, too! It may look like they are just playing or eating, but these enrichment activities challenge the animals’ brains and get then moving around. 

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: #35: Animal Enrichment
  2.  At our very own Henry Doorly Zoo, zookeepers make fun activities for animals. Hear from our zookeepers to learn about animal enrichment. On your recording page answer the question: What is animal enrichment?

3.  Watch animal enrichment activities at the Smithsonian National Zoo.  Which activity did you like the most? 

  1. Read this article.  Add 3 details to your recording page. 
  2. Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator. 

Check out the Save the Animals badge at the EY website.

#26: Use Every Meaning

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Homonyms can also have identical pronunciations and spellings but different meanings, such as “quail” (the bird) and “quail” (to cringe). Homographs are words that are spelled the same, have different meanings, and MAY be pronounced differently. This mini spark will let you be creative in your writing to create fun sentences.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #26: Use Every Meaning

2.  This morning before school, I made a racket when I dropped my racket down the stairs. What do you notice about this sentence? Check out this website that shows some words with multiple meanings. Record the 3 most interesting and each of the meanings on your recording page.

3. Look over this sentence with the word “subject” used in different ways. On your recording page, write all three of the definitions for subject.

Evil King Byrd liked to subject his subjects to lectures about his favorite subject: the history of the toothpick.

4. Write 3 of your own sentences that are like the sample above.  If you want to look at a list to get started then click here. You are not limited to just using words with two meanings. You can use your own ideas as well. Record your sentences on your recording sheet.

5. Increase the complexity to include multiple meanings of three different homographs in one paragraph.  As a reminder a homograph are words that is spelled the same but has a different meaning and potentially a different pronunciation. Look over this sentence with duck, bank, and dove. On your recording page, write the all of the definitions for duck, bank, and dove as used in this sentence

The skateboarding dove banked her skateboard off a river bank, ducked into a spin, and then dove under the water, barely missing a duck.

6. Extra Challenge: Set your timer for 5 minutes. Try to think about how to write your own sentence with 3 different homographs!!! Record your ideas.

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

Lesson adapted from https://www.byrdseed.com/homographs-homonyms/

Looking to try more word puzzles? Check out the Rhyme Out badge at the EY website.

#25: Golden Ticket

Reading Enrichment

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, five golden tickets are concealed in Wonka chocolate bars. The lucky children who discover these tickets are invited to tour Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory and win a lifetime supply of Wonka products. The adventure kicks off in the Chocolate Room, where the children encounter the Oompa-Loompas, the factory’s small, cacao-loving workers. However, each child’s undesirable traits ultimately lead to their undoing.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #25: Golden Ticket

2. Watch this video which tells the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Write a 3 sentence summary on your recording sheet.

3. The author, Roald Dahl, wrote many children’s books. Visit this site to get “Life Advice from Roald Dahl in 13 Scrumdiddlyumptious Quotes!” Pick your favorite quote. Record it on your recording page and explain why you picked it.

4. Watch this video and write the definition and 5 examples on your recording page.

5. How good are you at guessing definitions of words? Open this document which has a list of tons neologisms created by Roald Dahl. Choose 10 of the words. Write the word and your definition guess on your recording sheet. Then click this link to find your word and see how you did. How did you do?

6. The golden ticket in Charlie in the Chocolate Factory allowed for the winner and a guest to visit the factory. If you could find a golden ticket, what would be the event/location/place you would like to be able to visit. You can pick something from the past, future or present. Describe your selection in detail and give several reasons to support your decision.

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

 

 

 

#16: New Year’s Eve

Social Studies Enrichment

Happy New Year!!!!!!  You might be wondering, “Where did the tradition of celebrating the new year come from?”  Or, “Why do we celebrate the new year on January 1st?” In this mini spark you will learn about the history of New Year’s Eve and some of the traditions celebrated.

Spark you thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #16: New Year’s Eve

2. Watch this introduction video. Record 5-10 details from the video.

3. One of the traditions on New Year’s Eve is the New York Times Square ball drop. Read about this tradition at in an article from Wonderopolis. Record 3 details from the article, 2 words that were new to you or unique, and 1 question you have.

4. Read the article about New Year’s Eve traditions from around the world.  For each location, record 3-5 details.

  • Spain
  • Greece
  • Brazil
  • Japan
  • United States
  • Denmark

5.  Which New Year’s tradition do you find most interesting, and why? Provide evidence from the text to support your opinion.

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

 

#30: What day of the week is it?

Math Mini Sparks

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I found this very complex mathematical formula that allows one to figure out the day of the week any date falls on.  Don’t let the formula intimidate you!  I did this with some 3rd graders today and with a few explanations, they were able to figure it out.  So can you!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #30: What day of the week is it?
  2. Watch this tutorial to learn the process.

3. Figure out the day of the week you were born on using your birthdate and year. Add your math steps to your recording page.

4. Figure out the day of the week for another date in history (Pearl Harbor, Declaration of Independence, etc.) and record your math on your recording page

5. Check this Math is fun page to see if you did the math correctly. Check your work.

6. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to read about the Zeller’s Algorithm in JavaScript code that is used to find out the day of the week. Write down some patterns that you notice in the code.

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

Check out another method to find an exact day with this math mini spark #90.

 

#29: Fractal Fun

Math Mini Sparks

A fractal is a never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #29: Fractal Fun

2. Watch this video to build your background knowledge about fractals. Record several details on your recording page.

3. Draw Sierpinski’s Triangle by watching this tutorial

4. Check out the connection between Sierpinski’s Triangle and Pascal’s Triangle by watching this video. Record notes on your recording sheet.

5. Watch this video about Fractals and write about what you learned on your recording sheet.

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

#23: STEAM CHALLENGE: Roll-a-Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities

By using the roll-a-challenge dice from Destination Imagination, you will be able to create more than 200 different Instant Challenge combinations. Just round up the supplies listed on the “Use” die, cut and glue or tape all three dice and you’re ready to get started!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #23: STEAM CHALLENGE: Roll-a-Challenge

2.  For this mini spark you will print and cut out 3 cubes that you will use to find your STEAM challenges. Record this information on your recording page.

  • The first cube you roll will be what you USE. You can use other items also, but you must use the item on the cube in your build.
  • the second cube you roll will be what you MAKE
  • the third cube you roll is THAT WILL-The object must serve this purpose.

3. Print your roll-a-challenge page on cardstock. Ask your teacher to help you with this step.

4. Cut out and create your cube. Press each of the creases really well so that your cube folds easily. Tape or glue your cubes.

5. Decide which of the main materials you have. If you need to replace an item with something else, you can mark that on your cube.

Materials: Plastic cups, plastic bags, paper plates, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, cardboard

6. Gather other recycled building materials.

Tape, glue, note cards, string, construction paper…and so on.

7. Roll your 1 cube, 2nd cube and 3rd cube. Record your challenge on your recording page or take a picture of the cubes and add the picture to your recording page.

8. On your recording page, sketch an idea of what you will make.

9. Take a picture of the items you will use and add it to your recording page.

10. Decide if you want to set a timer for 10 minutes (optional). Start your build. Take a few pictures of your progress.

11.  Take a picture of you final project at add it to your recording sheet. Write about what you did well on this challenge and where you can improve.

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

 

#34: Meet the Quirkles

Early Enrichment

The Quirkles are 26 cartoon scientists teach science through experiments.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your Science Mini Spark recording page: #34: Meet the Quirkles
  2. The Quirkles are 26 imaginary scientists that love to read and to experiment.  Examine the names of the scientists. Record 10 science words on your recording sheet.

3. Botanist Bert set up an experiment to demonstrate how flowers can change colors.  Answer these questions on your recording page. How long did the flowers need to stay in the water to change colors? How was the water pulled up through the stems?

 

 

 

4. Ronny Rock has set up an experiment for you to see how rock crystals form.  Answer these questions on your recording page.  How long did it take the water to evaporate? What kind of crystals were formed?

 

 

 

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