Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

Early Enrichment #31: Math Challenges 2

Early Enrichment

Math Olympiad is back! 

Last year, there was  an Early Enrichment post calling students to become a math olympiad. If you haven’t checked out that post, click here!

Here are six new challenges to complete!

1). The three McMath sisters Amy, Betty and Cindy wear different color skirts to school. Their skirt colors are red, blue and yellow. Amy’s skirt is not red and not blue. Betty’s skirt is not blue. What color of skirt does each girl have on?

Screen Shot 2016-11-07 at 8.46.42 AM

2). Calculate the following :

999 +  99 + 2 =

998 + 998 + 4 + 9 + 9 =

 

3) Subtraction: Fill in the blanks:

67                                               52

–   ________                      –  __________

42                                               20

95                                              94

–   ________                      –  __________

24                                               32

 

4)Three kids eat 1 apple each at the same time. It took them 3 minutes to eat them. How many minutes does it take for 6 kids to finish eating 6 apples?  (Each kid eats 1 apple.)

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5) Bob likes to skip stones at the local pond. He collected 15 rocks and separated them into 5 piles. Each pile has a different number of rocks. How many rocks are there in each pile?

 

*Questions from Math Top 10 

Turn in your work to your EY coordinator to have it checked. 

#27: Perplexor Puzzles

Math Mini Sparks

Perplexors are logic puzzles that can help improve deduction reasoning skills. They are available in different levels.  By using the “cross-out-and-circle” technique, you will practice logical thinking in order to find the correct answer. This math mini spark is brought to you by Hailey K. from Rockbrook.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #27: Perplexor Puzzles

2. Watch this tutorial to get started

3. Solve the perplexors written by Hailey.

Perplexor 1      Perplexor 2    Perplexor 3

4. **More Advanced-Print out this puzzle and watch this Video Tutorial instead of steps 2 and 3

5. Write/type your own perplexor.  Make a copy of this template to help you get going on writing your own. Create an answer key as well.

6. Ask 2 different people to complete your perplexor.

7. If you would like a set of perplexors, ask your teacher or EY/coordinator.

8. Share your perplexor and the answer key with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the perplexor badge at the EY website.

#22: Paint ‘n’ Play

Full STEAM Ahead

 

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:#22: Paint ‘n’ Play

2.  Go to each link below and study the artist’s page. Record the title of the art, the artist’s name, and 2-3 details. Click on “Image Description” for more information about the art.

3. This step has you explore the art website. They recommend playing on a computer or tablet that is rotated to landscape mode. Here you can create your own art. Each of the artists you studied above has a canvas where you can digitally paint, modeling their style, color pallet, and brush technique. Write “I tried out Paint ‘n’ Play!”. Go to Paint ‘n’ Play hosted by the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and spend 5-10 minutes exploring.

4. Explore at least 3 of the artists you studied for few minutes. Click on the rooster on each of the pages and record the quote on your recording page.

5. Chose one artist. Practice creating your own piece in the same style.

6. Take a screenshot of you project and add it to your recording page. Give it a title. Show it to your teacher if you are doing this mini spark on paper.

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

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#24: Adjective Form Poem

Reading Enrichment

Build your writing skills by studying adjectives and creating poetry.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #24: Adjective Form Poem

2. Listen to this book. When you are done record 5-8 adjectives that describe apples. The list should includes words that describe how the apples look, smell, feel and taste. When you are done with your list, scroll to the bottom of this post for more ideas to add to your list.

4.  Read the following poem  by Terry Henkelman.  Review the words in the poem and notice out how each one is a synonym for the adjective funny.  Which of the synonyms is the most unique?

FUNNY…
So amusing
So comical
So humorous
So mirthful
So laughable
Sooo… funny

5. Open this handout. Follow the instructions on the handout for the top section about apples and record your answers on your recording sheet.  Use an online thesaurus if needed.

6.  Watch this video. Select 2 adjectives from the book and record them on your recording page. Complete the second half of the handout from step 5. Use an online thesaurus if needed.

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

 

 

 

 

red, green, round, shiny, waxy, bruised, ripe, speckled, spotted, smooth, golden, red, green, pine, few, bad, rotten, baked, ripe, wild, large, sweet, little, fresh, more, sour, dried, crab, sliced, tart, big, fine, best, roasted, yellow, rosy, stewed, delicious, raw, beautiful, unripe, hard, chopped, juicy, fried, nice, wormy, cooked, bright, polished, firm, ruddy, boxed, luscious, grown, cultivated, mellow, withered, round, ripened, unpeeled, lovely, cored, wonderful

 

Lesson adapted from Read, Write, Think

#14: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie

Social Studies Enrichment

 

Say what?

A student recently asked me if I knew the NATO alphabet.  I hadn’t heard of it so I told him to send me an email about it and voila…We have our #66 math mini spark!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #14: Alpha Bravo Charlie
  2. Read about the NATO phonetic alphabet by visiting this site.  Record what you have learned.
  3. Learn about how the alphabet was chosen write about some new information that you learned.
  4. Watch this video and then record the spelling of your first name using the correct NATO alphabet words.

5. Check out how the U.S. Navy uses alphabet flags, numeral pennants, numeral flags, and special flags and pennants for visual signaling.  Even though the flags are not used for spelling out words, draw the flags that would spell your first name.

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

CM (Charlie Mike): Means continue mission.  Keep moving forward.  

#23:  LIPOGRAM LESSON

Reading Enrichment

Learn to write using more interesting language. Learn to break up the mundane, overused patterns. Create a lipogram to help improve your skills.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #23: LIPoGRAM LESSON

2. A lipogram is a piece of writing that leaves out a particular letter or letters, on purpose! The word comes from the Ancient Greek leipográmmatos, which means “leaving out a letter”. While writing a lipogram from scratch is certainly one option, this mini spark will have you rewriting passages/poems that are provided for you. Write the definition of Lippgram on your recording page.

3. Something as simple as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star can stretch you to create vivid writing if you have to remove ‘E’ or ‘A’ (or ‘E’ AND ‘A’), while retaining the rhyme and line length and rhythm. Watch this video to have this explained further. Write the challenge on your recording sheet.

4.  Take this poem and rewrite it on your recording sheet. Choose “E” or “A” to leave out or both “E” and “A” which is more advanced.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

5. When you are done, scroll way to the bottom of this post to see the sample that Mr. Byrdseed wrote.

6. Look over this poem

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

7. Here’s an incredible lipogram example. It’s “Mary Had A Little Lamb” written by A. Ross Eckler without using B, F, G, J, K, O, Q, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z. Read it several times an on your recording page write about what you noticed, liked, or didn’t like about the rewrite.

Maria had a little sheep,
As pale as rime its hair,
And all the places Maria came
The sheep did tail her there;
In Maria’s class it came at last
(A sheep can’t enter there).
It made the children clap their hands;
A sheep in class, that’s rare!

8. Choose one of these classic poems to rewrite without the letter E. Record it on your recording page.

The Cat and the Fiddle

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Hickory, dickory, dock

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory, dickory, dock.

The Wise Old Owl

There was an old owl who lived in an oak;
The more he heard, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?

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

Lesson adapted from https://www.byrdseed.com/lipograms/

 

 

 

Example: Here’s my lipogram example that doesn’t use ‘E’ or ‘A’.

Orbit, orbit, tiny moon.
How I wish you’d visit soon.
‘Round my world you did go.
Tonight? Tonight? I do not know.

30: Roll a Silly Spooky Story

Early Enrichment

It’s time to write some silly spooky stories!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: 30: Roll a Silly Spooky Story

2. Grab a die or use this online version

What to do:

  1. Roll your dice three different times.
    1. The first number you roll will be your character. Record it.
    2. The second number you roll will be your setting. Record it.
    3. The third number you roll will be your conflict. Record it.

4. Use your character, setting, and conflict to write a silly spooky story.

5. Optional: Illustrate your story.

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

# 21: STEAM Challenge: Fold and Cut

Enrichment Links, Full STEAM Ahead
Can you cut a square out of the middle of a piece of paper using just ONE cut?
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: # 21: STEAM Challenge: Fold and Cut

2. You will need 5-10 pieces of paper and a pair of scissors.

3. Your challenge is to fold your paper so that you can cut out square from the middle of the page with just ONE cut. Experiment with different folds until you discover the correct method.

4. Take a picture of your finished challenge and add it to your recording page

5. This document has many different shapes to use for your second challenge. Choose one page and make several copies of that one page.

6. Cut the paper down the middle on both sides to create little pieces with a shape in the middle. You can use these little pages to practice your folds.

7. Solve one more puzzle. Add a picture to your recording page.

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

Check out the fold and cut badge at the EY Webpage.

 

 

 

 

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#22: Edgar Allan Poe

Reading Enrichment

Who was Edgar Allan Poe? Poe was a famous American author – and many of his poems and stories are still being read and enjoyed over 100 year after his death on October 7, 1849.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #22: Edgar Allan Poe

2. Find out more about Edgar Allan Poe by checking out this Wonderopolis article. Record 3 facts about Mr. Poe, 2 words that are unique or new to you, and one question you have.

3. Watch this TED-ED video about Poe. On your recording sheet, write any of the book or poem titles that are mentioned in the video

4.  Listen to at least the first half of the poem, “The Raven” being read aloud.

5.  After exploring this poem choose 1 activity and add it to your recording sheet.

  • Create a detailed illustration to go along with one “The Raven”.
  • Write your own poem or short story, “Poe style”.

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

#13: Geography Lesson-State Capitals

Social Studies Enrichment

It is always a good time to learn more about Geography. Study this geography lesson which is all about state capitals.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #13: Geography Lesson-State Capitals

2.  Watch this video all of the way through.  Go back to the video to find 5 capital/state combos that you don’t have memorized yet. Record the state name, capital, and the image that was drawn in the video.

3. Print or open this list of states and capitals. Choose 10 that you do not have memorized. Type or write all 10 sets on your recording page.

4. Take the 10 states that you picked and make flash cards using note cards. Set your timer and practice for 3 minutes. On your recording sheet, write how many you know after 3 minutes. For example: After 3 minutes I have 5 out of the 10 state/capital combos memorized.  5/10

5. Take this capital quiz one time. Record your score.

6. Find the list of states and capitals from step 3. Set your timer for 3 minutes and read over the list.  Take this capital quiz again. Record your score.

7. OPTIONAL: Check out this webpage made by a teacher who found the best way to memorize the states’ capitals. Look it over and see what you think.  If you want to try this challenge yourself, take to your teacher about printing a 11X 17 map of the USA so you can make all of the drawings. If want to do this project, you can earn the  state savy badge-state capitals edition.

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

Check out the state savvy badge at the EY website.