Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#51 Teeny Tiny Drawing Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

One day an illustrator ask herself… just how small can I draw? Today is the day we all find out!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark page #51 Teeny Tiny Drawing

2.  Watch this video to remind you how to measure to the nearest 1/32 of and inch.  If you had a ruler that had measurements marked to  1/32, how many little lines will there be from 0 to 1.  If you do not have a 1/32 ruler, how can you find 1/32?

NOTE: The image of a ruler is at the end of this post if you need it later.

3.  Copy this table on to your recording page.

4. Watch this video stop at 2:23. Record any measurements that she makes in your chart.

5. Before you resume the video, predict how many versions of her drawing she can create. Record that number on your recording page.

6. Keep watching the video and recording the measurements in your chart. You will have to pause the video to and zoom in to look closely at the ruler and decide the measurements. The ruler she is using in the video is a 1/32 ruler. (The last drawing was very small to so it is ok if your answer for that one is a little off.

7.  Answer these questions.

Which version of the drawing was your favorite and why?

Were the drawing proportional to one another? Explain.

Why was the last drawing so hard to measure.

What are the measurements for her next two drawing if she had increased the paper size instead of decreased. Start with 5 in. X 7in.

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

OPTIONAL: Create your own series of drawings matching the paper sizes from this challenge.

  •  Get two pieces of paper, a pencil, and a ruler.
  • Use a ruler to carefully measure and draw each rectangle before you start.
  • Label each rectangle with its size (length × width).
  • Notice how each one gets smaller and smaller — teeny tiny!
Rectangle Size (inches) Space to Draw
1️⃣ 5 in × 7 in ⬜ Large rectangle space
2️⃣ 2½ in × 3½ in ⬜ Medium rectangle space
3️⃣ 1¼ in × 1¾ in ⬜ Small rectangle space
4️⃣ ½ in × ¾ in ⬜ Tiny rectangle space
5️⃣ ¼ in × ⅜ in ⬜ Very tiny rectangle space
6️⃣ 3/32 in × 4/32 in ⬜ Teeny-tiniest rectangle space!

Share your work with your teacher or EY coordinator and get credit for a Second STEAM Mini Spark!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#112: Fermi math warm up

Math Mini Sparks

If you have read the book Counting on Frank by Rod Clement then you are aware already of how a vivid imagination can bring to life a wide array of mathematics related to estimation, number, space, measurement, and chance and data ideas. In this math mini spark you will explore the story and work through some challenge problems.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #112: Fermi math warm up

2. Listen to this story. On your recording page make a list of the 5 examples that are presented in the story. Which of the facts presented in the story do you think would be the hardest to prove. Why?

3.  Look over these questions. For each one, make a list  of the information you would need to find out if you were to figure out the answer.

How many sheets of paper could be stacked from the floor to the ceiling?

How many bricks are on the exterior of a school building?

How many kernels of popcorn would it take to fill your classroom?

4.  Write 5 of your own challenge questions that require estimation to solve.

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

The type of math you learned about in this mini spark is called Fermi math. Check out the FERMI math badges at the EY website.

 

#112: Fermi math-warm up

Early Enrichment

 

If you have read the book Counting on Frank by Rod Clement then you are aware already of how a vivid imagination can bring to life a wide array of mathematics related to estimation, number, space, measurement, and chance and data ideas. In this math mini spark you will explore the story and work through some challenge problems.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #112: Fermi math warm up

2. Listen to this story. On your recording page record 10 of the facts that he presents to you.

3.

4.  Open this document or print it if you would like. Complete the math thinking on your recording page or on the document.

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

 

The type of math you did in this mini spark is called Fermi math. Check out the FERMI math badges at the EY website.

 

 

#89: 10 Sentence Story Challenge- Figurative Language

Reading Enrichment

 

Follow the steps given in this mini spark to practice your writing.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #89: 10 Sentence Story Challenge-Figurative Language

2. Read this teaching page. On your recording page, write down your OWN example for each type of figurative language listed.

3.  If you want to print out this handout you can, or open it up to look at as you write. Read the page from top to bottom. How many stars would you give the sample story. 5 stars is the best, 4 pretty good….and so on.

4. Work on your story.  Check off each step from the handout as you write.

5. Go back to your story and underline each of your literary devices.

6. Turn in your language arts mini spark to your teacher or EY coordinator.

#88: Jeff Kinney

Reading Enrichment

If you like reading, writing, or illustrating stories, you are in the right place!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #88: Jeff Kinney

2. Watch this interview. On your recording page write about how the process of the book gest started and then what part of the  book process is the hardest for him.

3. Writing a story can be challenging sometimes, but the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, has some great tips for you to follow in this blog post. Record a summary of the tip you found most useful. 

4. Your turn! Write your own diary entry in the style of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Print this template or make your own on your recording page. 

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and your diary with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#111: Spaghetti and Meatball Math

Math Mini Sparks

Practice finding perimeter and area in this math mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #111: Spaghetti and Meatball Math
  2. Listen to the story, Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! When you are done listening, answer this question on your recording page. What was Mrs. Comfort worried about? Why?  After you record your answer, scroll to the bottom of this post to check your work. 

3. At the beginning of the story Mrs. Comfort knew she had 32 people coming to the family reunion. Although Mrs. Comfort didn’t use mathematical terms to describe her plan, it’s possible to use area and perimeter to talk about her solution.

If you think about the top of each square table as having the area of 1 square unit, then the perimeter of each individual table is 4 units or one 1 unit of length for each side.

All of the guests did not arrive at the same time. List the number of guests seated at one time, then add to the total number of guests as more arrive. Next, figure out the table arrangement for each total number of guests using perimeter and area in units.

Print this table or make your own for this task.

4. Ask your teacher to check your work. Reminder: The key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

5. Share your project with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

 

Mrs. Comfort was worried that there would not be enough room for everyone to sit. There wasn’t going to be enough room, because when you push tables together you lose chairs. She knew that the number of people who can sit at a table changes when the tables are pushed together or rearranged.

#63: All About Art

Full STEAM Ahead

The National Gallery of Art, located in Washington, D.C.  is an art museum that preserves, collects, exhibits, and studies Western art, from the Middle Ages to the present, and is free to the public. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection, make your own art, and share it with friends!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:#63: All About Art

2. Read this paragraph about the National Gallery of Art and add 3-5 details to your recording page.

The museum was founded in 1937 when the financier and philanthropist, Andrew W. Mellon, donated to the government a collection of paintings by European masters and a large sum of money to construct the gallery’s building, which was created by the architect John Russell Pope and opened in 1941.
The National Gallery now holds a very large collection of European and American paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and graphic works from the 12th to the 20th century. The museum has especially amazing holdings of works by Italian Renaissance painters, as well as by Dutch and Spanish Baroque and French Rococo artists.

3. Why are Art museums important? According to the National Art Education Association, art museum learning is a fundamental component to a high quality, effective, and balanced education. Plus, it’s fun to look at art!! What do you like about looking at art? Add a few ideas to your recording sheet.

4. Check out the famous works of art below that are located in the National Gallery of Art! Click on the name of the art and you will go to an information page. If you click on the words “image description” there is more information about the art. Record 3-5 details about each of the pieces of art on your recording page.

 

 

Georgia O’Keeffe Shell No.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Picasso  Family of Saltimbanques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo da Vinci Ginevra de’ Benci

 

 

 

Louise Bourgeois Spider 

 

 

 

 

5. Now, you can discover the world of art in a fun and easy way. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection and make your own art at Paint -n- Play. Spend 8-10 minutes working on a project. Take a screenshot of your creation and add it to your recording page.

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

Check out the Paint and Play mini spark where you can create your own art inspired by one of the pieces from the National Gallery of Art.

#71: All About Art!

Early Enrichment

The National Gallery of Art, located in Washington, D.C.  is an art museum that preserves, collects, exhibits, and studies Western art, from the Middle Ages to the present, and is free to the public. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection, make your own art, and share it with friends!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page:#71: All About Art!

2. Read this paragraph about the National Gallery of Art and add 3 details to your recording page.

The museum was founded in 1937 when the financier and philanthropist, Andrew W. Mellon, donated to the government a collection of paintings by European masters and a large sum of money to construct the gallery’s building, which was created by the architect John Russell Pope and opened in 1941.
The National Gallery now holds a very large collection of European and American paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and graphic works from the 12th to the 20th century. The museum has especially amazing holdings of works by Italian Renaissance painters, as well as by Dutch and Spanish Baroque and French Rococo artists.

3. Check out the famous works of art below that are located in the National Gallery of Art! Click on the name of the art and you will go to an information page. If you click on the words “visual description” there is more information about the art.  Choose your favorite one and write about what you like on your recording page.

 

 

Georgia O’Keeffe Shell No.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Picasso  Family of Saltimbanques

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo da Vinci Ginevra de’ Benci

 

 

 

Louise Bourgeois Spider 

 

 

 

 

5. OPTIONAL: You can discover the world of art in a fun and easy way. Explore and learn about some of the most famous works from the National Gallery’s collection, make your own art, and share it with friends at Paint -n- Play. Take a screenshot of your creation and add it to your recording page.

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

Check out the Paint and Play mini spark where you can create your own art inspired by one of the pieces from the National Gallery of Art.

#64: The History of March Madness

Social Studies Enrichment

Get caught up to speed on everything you need to know about the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournament history, better known as March Madness in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies recording page: #64: March Madness History

2. Read this article that outlines the history of the men’s NCAA tournament.  There are five charts in the article. Record the titles/topics of each of the charts. Create a timeline on your recording page with 5-10 of the items that you find most impressive. If you prefer you can use a digital timeline creator.

3. Look over these two infographics and read the write up about the most watched championship March Madness game in history.  Record 10 number facts on your recording page.

4.  Watch this video that give you some tips on how to pick the perfect bracket. Write the tips given at the end on your record page.

5. To wrap up this mini spark, watch a video about the early history of the men’s tournament through 2013.  Make a history fact sheet. Ideas of what to include-important dates, tournament highlights, facts about players, locations of games, changes to the brackets and so on.

6.  Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page and your timeline with your teacher/EY coordinator.