Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#105: The Birthday Problem

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #105: The Birthday Problem

2.  Watch this video. Write a summary of the birthday paradox to someone who has not heard of it before. Use at least 3 sentences.

3.  Carefully read this article from Wonderopolis.  Record three ideas from the article.

4. Watch this video from the beginning. Take notes while watching when they start to do the math around 2:00 and record the percents as well. Continue to take notes. On your recording page, explain why people are not able to answer the birthday problem very easily.

5. Advanced option-Read this lesson at Math is Fun.  Record details as you work through the lesson.

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

 

#104: Probability

Math Mini Sparks

The concept of this math mini spark is straightforward. The probability of an event happening is the number of times you expect that event to happen out of many tries. Probabilities always fall between 0 and 1.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #104: Probability 

2. Make a chart like this on your recording page.

Event Probability→ Fraction Probability→Decimal
P (yellow)
P (green) 
P (not red)
P (green or orange)
P (blue)

3.Watch this intro video.  Pause the video @ 3:40 and record the probability of each of the events on the chart on your recording page. You can use a calculator for the decimals.

4.  Copy this chart in your notebook.

5.  Number your recording page from 1-5. Read each example and record if it is experimental or theoretical. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to check your work. Add a star if it is correct or add in the correct answer.

Probability Puzzles: Theoretical or Experimental?

  1. A fair six-sided die is rolled. What is the probability of rolling an even number? Is this theoretical or experimental probability?
  2. Sarah flipped a coin 50 times and got 28 heads. What is the probability of getting heads based on Sarah’s experiment? Is this theoretical or experimental probability?
  3. In a bag, there are 3 red marbles, 4 blue marbles, and 5 green marbles. What is the probability of picking a blue marble without looking? Is this theoretical or experimental probability?
  4. A weather station recorded that it rained on 12 out of the last 30 days. Based on this data, what is the probability that it will rain tomorrow? Is this theoretical or experimental probability?
  5. A spinner has 4 equal sections colored red, blue, yellow, and green. Jack spun it 40 times and it landed on red 8 times. What is the probability of the spinner landing on red based on Jack’s results? Is this theoretical or experimental probability?

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

 

 

 

 

  1. A fair six-sided die is rolled. What is the probability of rolling an even number?theoretical
  2. Sarah flipped a coin 50 times and got 28 heads. What is the probability of getting heads based on Sarah’s experiment? experimental
  3. In a bag, there are 3 red marbles, 4 blue marbles, and 5 green marbles. What is the probability of picking a blue marble without looking? theoretical
  4. A weather station recorded that it rained on 12 out of the last 30 days. Based on this data, what is the probability that it will rain tomorrow? theoretical * note since “tomorrow” hasn’t happened yet it isn’t experimental.
  5. A spinner has 4 equal sections colored red, blue, yellow, and green. Jack spun it 40 times and it landed on red 8 times. What is the probability of the spinner landing on red based on Jack’s results? experimental probability

#103: Combinatorics 

Math Mini Sparks

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics which is about counting – and we will discover many exciting examples of “things” you can count.  You can use combinatorics to calculate the “total number of possible outcomes”. 

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #103: Combinatorics

To do this mini spark you need to know a little about factorials. Steps 2 and 3 will review them for you.

2. The factorial function (symbol: !) says to multiply all whole numbers from our chosen number down to 1. Example: 4! = 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24.

Complete these two problems so that they look similar to the example:

Example: 6! = 6 x 5 x 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 720

5! =

9! =

Scroll to the bottom of this post to see if you are correct. If you got it correct, add a star. Add the correct answer if needed.

3. Watch this short video that show you how to divide factorials. Don’t worry. It isn’t hard. Do the problems with the teacher on your recording page.

4. Study this teaching page.  Write the type of the formulas and the formulas on your recording page.

5.  Watch this video. Do the first two math problems with the teacher on your recording page. Try the last problem by yourself on your recording page. The answer is at the end of this post.

 

Advanced: Check out this teaching page. Each of the sections has a mini lesson, a practice problem, and a solution.  Read each lesson and try the problem on your recording page. Check your work. If you complete this, talk with your EY teacher about using this as a badge option.

Factorials

Permutations

Combinations

Combinatorics and Pascal’s Triangle

Combinatorics and Probability

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

 

 

 

 

5! = 5 x 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120

9! = 9 x 8 x 7 x 6 x 5 x 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 362,880

 

 

50 people are in a race. How many ways can gold, silver, and bronze be awarded?

#82: The Story Spine!

Reading Enrichment

We are all storytellers. Good storytelling involves captivating an audience through the effective use of narrative elements, such as compelling characters, vivid imagery, and an engaging plot.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #82: The Story Spine!
  2. Watch this video Pixar in a Box: Introduction to Storytelling. Pause the video to record 5-10 ideas about storytelling and what is needed to make a good story.

 

3. Watch this video about the story spine. Write the story spine prompts on your recording page.

 

4. Use a story you have just read or a story suggested by your teacher. Use the story spine template and fill it in for your story.

5. OPTIONAL: Create your own story idea using the story spine prompts.

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


Check out the Pixar in a Box badge on the EY website

# 81: Origin Myths-Fire

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

An origin myth is a special story about imaginary people meant to answer difficult questions such as, “Where did the seasons first come from?” or “How was earth was formed?”. Myths are passed generation to generation in order to teach a lesson about a people’s customs or virtues. In each of the myths you will hear a story from a different tribal group.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page:  #81: Origin Myths-Fire

2. Read these two paragraphs. 

Native American or Indigenous peoples of North America do not share a single, unified body of mythology. Each of the many different tribal groups has developed their own stories about the creation of the world, the appearance of the first people, the place of humans in the universe, and the lives and deeds of deities and heroes.

Despite the great variety of Native American mythologies, certain common mythic themes, characters, and stories can be found in many of the cultures. Underlying all the myths is the idea that spiritual forces can be sensed through the natural world—including clouds, winds, plants, and animals. Many stories explain how the actions of gods, heroes, and ancestors gave the earth its present form.

On your recording sheet answer these two questions. What is the purpose of myths? What are some common elements in myths? 

3.  You will use a chart for the step 4.  You can create one on your recording page, print out this PDF, or make your own digital copy to add to your digital recording sheet.

4. Listen to or Read these 4 myths about how fire was created. Fill out your chart for each story. 

The First Fire – Cherokee

 

Coyote Brings Fire to the People – Shoshone

 

Fire Race- Karuk

 

How Beaver Stole Fire – Nez Percé 

How Beaver Stole Fire from the Pines

5. For the last task, decide which two origin stories that are the most similar.  On your recording page record the titles. Make a bulleted list of 5 ways the stories are the same and then list 5 ways that the stories have differences.

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

#61: Dia de los Muertos

Social Studies Enrichment

Source: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/day-of-the-dead

Many of you are VERY excited that Halloween is coming up? But, did you know that Halloween (or All Hallow’s Eve) is the night before Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)? The celebrations for each culture are woven together in interesting ways!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #61: Dia de los Muertos

2. Read the following information and record 8-10 pieces of information on your recording page.

Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s. The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd, is like a family reunion—except dead ancestors are the guests of honor. Day of the Dead is a joyful time that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.

First, people set up a candlelit altar in their homes so spirits can find their way back to their relatives. The altar also offers some of the favorite foods of the deceased—just in case they get hungry. Items that were important to the ancestors when they were alive, such as a favorite book or musical instrument, are placed on the altar as well.

Then it’s off to the graveyard for a big party. Families bring a huge feast to eat while they clean tombstones, sing songs, and talk to their ancestors. Parents might even introduce a baby to a grandparent who died before the baby was born.

And don’t forget the skeletons. During Day of the Dead, life-size papier-mâché skeletons and miniature plastic or clay skeletons are everywhere. Why? Mexicans honor their ancestors on Day of the Dead, but they’re also reminding themselves that death is just a part of life. Hanging out with skeletons reminds people that one day they will be skeletons—but not for a very long time!

The skeletons are posed doing all sorts of wacky things, such as playing guitar, taking a bath, or making tortillas. Apparently people aren’t the only ones who get to have fun on Day of the Dead!

3. Look over the pictures at National Geographic Kids. Choose one of the pictures and describe it in detail using 3-5 sentences.

4. Some of you may have seen the Disney movie, Coco! Click on the video below to see how Coco honors Dia de los Muertos. Watch the clip carefully. Write down 3 things you liked about the clip. Explain why you liked each thing. Write 2 suggestions for how the clip could be improved.

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

#69: Dinosaur Facts

Early Enrichment

Did you know that dinosaurs are related to birds? Or that the biggest dinosaurs had hollow bones?

Spark your thinking!

1.  Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: #69: Dinosaur Facts

2. Dinosaurs are a group of reptiles that have lived on Earth for about 245 million years. In 1842, the English naturalist Sir Richard Owen coined the term Dinosauria, derived from the Greek deinos, meaning “fearfully great,” and sauros, meaning “lizard.” Dinosaur fossils have been found on all seven continents! Record the bolded information on your recording page.

3. There are all kinds of fun facts about dinosaurs! And, there are so many types of dinosaurs scientists are learning about! Choose a dinosaur fact page to read about at National Geographic Kids. Record the name of the dinosaur and 3 facts from the article.

4. Watch and learn fun facts about dinosaurs. At the end of the video there is a review. Pause the video and  write the answers on your recording page then unpause your video and check your answer.

5. Share your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

Did you that there are two digital badges about dinosaurs? Check them out at the EY website.

#60: Hidden Figures

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

“Hidden Figures” is a biographical book about four African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race and played pivotal roles in the Apollo program. Their contributions were essential in advancing America’s space exploration efforts, particularly during the historic Apollo missions to the Moon

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #60: Hidden Figures

2. Record the names of the mathematicians you will learn about in this mini spark on your recording page: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden.

3. Listen to Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race.  For each of these dates you hear in the story, pause the story and write a phrase about that date.

1943, 1945, 1951, 1953, (1950s), 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969

 

4. In 3+ sentences explain how Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. Use details from the story. Add your response to your recording page.

5. Read more about Katherine Johnson at this Wonderopolis page. Make a mini timeline on your recording sheet. Add 5 dates with information.

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

Check out the Mission to Mars badge and Space traveler badge at the EY Website.

#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 articles 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 article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

4. Write down the title of the second article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

5. Write down the title of the third article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

6. There is much more to be learned after finishing the articles! Pick out your favorite wonder and do further research on the topic.  Create a visual with 5-8 new ideas  to share your learning.

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

Check out the Wonderopolis Badges at the EY website.