Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#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

Screen Shot 2017-01-10 at 11.34.09 PM

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 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. Write down the formula on your recording page.  Do the math with the teacher on the page.

3. Write all of this information on your recording page. You will need this information for step 4.

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

5. Grades 5 and up. Use the formula to find the day of the week for one of these dates. Do your math steps on paper.

  • July 20, 1969: Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, and Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the lunar surface.
  • March 10, 1876: The first telephone call was successfully made by Alexander Graham Bell, a pivotal moment in global communication history.
  • April 6, 1896: The first modern Olympic Games opened in Athens, Greece, reviving the ancient Greek tradition and promoting international sport and goodwill.

6. Check this date calculator to see if you did the math correctly. How did you do on steps #4 and #5?

7. OPTIONAL: Scroll down to the bottom of this 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.

8. 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.

Zeller’s Algorithm in JavaScript

Zeller’s Algorithm takes year, month and day numbers and uses some basic math (+ − × ÷) and the floor function (which removes any digits after the decimal point).

This is what it looks like in JavaScript (parseInt is used instead of floor):

if (nMonth >= 3) {
	nMonth -= 2;
} else {
	nMonth += 10;
}

if ((nMonth == 11) || (nMonth == 12)) nYear--;

var nCentury = parseInt(nYear / 100);
var nYear100 = nYear % 100;

var h = 0;    // day of week number
h += parseInt(nDay);
h += parseInt((13 / 5) * nMonth - 0.2);
h += parseInt(nYear100);
h += parseInt(nYear100 / 4);
h += parseInt(nCentury / 4);
h -= parseInt(2 * nCentury);
h %= 7;

if (nYear >= 1700 && nYear <= 1751) {
	h -= 3;
} else {
	if (nYear <= 1699) h -= 4;
}

if (h < 0) h += 7;

 

#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

 

#33: Colorful Crayons

Early Enrichment

 

How many crayons colors are there? Learn more about now the crayon color options have changed over the years and some of the fun names given to crayon colors today.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #33: Colorful Crayons

2. Go to this website and study the graph showing how the the colors of crayons have changed over time. Record 5 observations.

3. Read this paragraph from Bedtime math.  Record the math information on your recording page.

We just love this map of Crayola crayon colors over the years. In 1903, there were just 8 crayon colors, but by 1935 it had doubled to 16 colors. The chart creator, Stephen von Worley, uses years with an exact multiple of the original 8 colors, so the stripes line up nicely. 1949 has 48 colors, 6 times as many 8, while 2010 shows about 15 times 8, or 120 colors. It all helps us draw much better pictures today! Today, Crayola® Crayons are made in 148 unique colors, but don’t stop counting there! Some colors are offered in special effects, further expanding our color selection with specialty crayons like glitter, pearl, confetti, metallic, bold & bright, and more!

4. Answer these questions in your notebook.

  1. By 1972 there were 9 times as many shades as the first 8. How many colors were there that year?
  2.  If the vat of wax for red-orange uses twice as much red wax as yellow, and it uses 36   cups in total, how many cups of each color are in there? Draw a picture to help you solve this problem.

Scroll to the end of this post to check your work.

5. Go to the Crayola website and explore the color choices.  Pick 8 of your favorites. Record the color name and the hue family on your recording page.

6. Share your mini spark with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

Lesson adapted from Bedtime Math

Check out the Crayon Project  at the EY website.

 

 

 

 

 

72 colors.

24 cups red and 12 cups yellow. There are 2 parts red and 1 part yellow, making red 2 parts out of 3, and 1/3 of 36 is 12.

 

#28: Let it Snow!

Math Mini Sparks

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow! Explore this math mini spark to learn more about the snowflakes. 

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #28: Let it Snow!
  2. Watch this Khan video that shows you how to draw a Koch snowflake fractal. Explain this process and draw a sketch of this on your recording page.
  3. Read this article about snowflakes. Summarize each paragraph on your recording page.
  4. Follow the step by step instructions and make a few of your own 6 pointed snowflakes. Take a picture and add to your recording page.
  5. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

L. Arts Mini-Spark #26: Mayflower Myths!

Reading Enrichment

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From ReadWorks.org

First, view this video.  Then, read about the myths of Thanksgiving – find out what is true and what isn’t!!  In the comments section below, tell us what surprised you!

The Mayflower brought the group of English settlers now known as the Pilgrims to North America. Leaving England in the fall of 1620, the Pilgrims were attempting to land near the mouth of the Hudson River, but instead ended up in Cape Cod Harbor. Plymouth, the colony established there by the Pilgrims in 1621, became the first permanent European settlement in New England. The story of the Pilgrims and their harvest feast hassince become one of best-known in American history, but you may not know it as well as you think. Discover the facts behind these well-known Thanksgiving myths!

MYTH: THE FIRST THANKSGIVING WAS IN 1621 AND THE PILGRIMS CELEBRATED IT EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER.

Fact: The first feast wasn’t repeated, so it wasn’t the beginning of a tradition. In fact, the colonists didn’t even call the day Thanksgiving. To them, a thanksgiving was a religious holiday for which they would go to church and thank God for a specific event, such as the winning of a battle. On such a religious day, the types of recreational activities that the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians participated in during the 1621 harvest feast–dancing, singing secular songs, playing games–wouldn’t have been allowed. The feast was a secular celebration, so it never would have been considered a thanksgiving in the pilgrims’ minds.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Mayflower was originally supposed to sail with a sister ship, the Speedwell, but it proved unseaworthy, and the Mayflower made the journey alone.

MYTH: THE ORIGINAL THANKSGIVING FEAST TOOK PLACE ON THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER.

Fact: The original feast in 1621 occurred sometime between September 21 and November 11. Unlike our modern holiday, it was three days long. The event was based on English harvest festivals, which traditionally occurred around the 29th of September. After that first harvest was completed by the Plymouth colonists, Gov. William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer, shared by all the colonists and neighboring Indians. In 1623 a day of fasting and prayer during a period of drought was changed to one of thanksgiving because the rain came during the prayers. Gradually the custom prevailed in New England of annually celebrating thanksgiving after the harvest.  During the American Revolution, a yearly day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress. In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom, and by the middle of the 19th century many other states had done the same. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a day of thanksgiving as the last Thursday in November, which he may have correlated with the November 21, 1621, anchoring of the Mayflower at Cape Cod. Since then, each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation. President Franklin D. Roosevelt set the date for Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941.)

MYTH: THE PILGRIMS WORE ONLY BLACK AND WHITE CLOTHING. THEY HAD BUCKLES ON THEIR HATS, GARMENTS, AND SHOES.

Fact: Buckles did not come into fashion until later in the seventeenth century and black and white were commonly worn only on Sunday and formal occasions. Women typically dressed in red, earthy green, brown, blue, violet, and gray, while men wore clothing in white, beige, black, earthy green, and brown.

MYTH: THE PILGRIMS BROUGHT FURNITURE WITH THEM ON THE MAYFLOWER.

Fact: The only furniture that the Pilgrims brought on the Mayflower was chests and boxes. They constructed wooden furniture once they settled in Plymouth.

MYTH: THE MAYFLOWER WAS HEADED FOR VIRGINIA, BUT DUE TO A NAVIGATIONAL MISTAKE IT ENDED UP IN CAPE COD MASSACHUSETTS.

Fact: The Pilgrims were in fact planning to settle in Virginia, but not the modern-day state of Virginia. They were part of the Virginia Company, which had the rights to most of the eastern seaboard of the U.S. The Pilgrims had intended to go to the Hudson River region in New York State, which would have been considered “Northern Virginia,” but they landed in Cape Cod instead. Treacherous seas prevented them from venturing further south.