Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#21:Tridecagon

Math Mini Sparks

While teaching an enrichment lesson to 3rd graders a few weeks ago, one of them asked what a 13-sided figure was called.  Did you know it is a called a TRIDECAGON? Explore polygons and polygon names in this math mini spark.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #21:Tridecagon

2. Choose 2 activities to complete this mini spark

  • Watch The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns.  Reading this book aloud is my  favorite ways to start a geometry unit.  After watching the video, make a recording on your recording page about your favorite shape and where it appears most often. Pick a polygon and draw 4-5 pictures of where that shape appears.

  • At Math is Fun, research the names of polygons that you don’t already know and create a visual showing what you have learned.
  • Create a “Geometry Around Us Presentation.”  Look at this example: as a starting point.  You can use any tool (Explain Everything, Pic Collage, Canva, etc.) and include as many vocabulary words as you like.  Try to find pictures of polygons in your school or outside.

  • Write your name in block polygon letters.  Color the letters and under each one, write the correct name for each polygon.

Screen Shot 2016-04-30 at 4.47.44 PM

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

 

#17: How to use a colon

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles. Learn about this misunderstood punctuation mark in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #17: How to use a colon

2.  Read this information about colons. Record the bold word and the sample sentence.

Emphasis—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. (She had one love: Western Michigan University.)

Dialogue—Write the speaker’s name, followed by a colon and his or her statement. (Reporter: What is the 49th Parallel? Dunn: It is the line of latitude that acts as the boundary separating Canada from the United States in North America.)

Introduce lists—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. (I want the following items: butter, sugar, and flour.)

3. Watch the video. Pause the video as needed to record notes. Pay special attention to any words that are new to you, rules, specific examples and sample sentences. These items should all be included on your recording page. You you have at least 5 items on your note page when you are done.

4. Write two of your own sentences using a colon correctly.

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

 

 

#11: The Ancient Origins of the Olympics

 

Thousands of years in the making, the Olympics began as part of a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia. But how did it become the greatest show of sporting excellence on earth? Armand D’Angour explains the evolution of the Olympics.

Below, please view the video about the origins of the Olympics:

More resources for you to explore:

Interested in the Ancient Olympic Games and the mythology behind them? Click here to find out more! Do chariot racing, the pankration, and twenty competitors on one running track at once sound challenging? Visit this site to find out more about the competitions, spirit of the ancient Olympics, and stories of the competitors.

For all things Olympic go to Olympic.org, and take a look at the featured athletes, youth development and future Olympic cities. Which city will host the next Olympic games in 2024? Read about how the next Olympic city will be chosen and the process that goes along with it here. After all the festivities and competitions are done, see “What Becomes of Olympic Stadiums.” Interested in following Olympic news on social media? Visit Twitter!

Ever wonder about the meaning behind the Olympic Symbols? What is the meaning of the five rings, the flame, and the motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius.” Read this and find out their meanings. Interested in Olympic Medals? Are they really made of Gold, Silver and Bronze? Learn the truth here!

Finally, think about the following question and respond in the comments section below with your thoughts:

Do the Olympics encourage sporting activity at all levels or just for elite sportspeople?

#23: Dream Learning Spaces

Early Enrichment

Our schools and classrooms may begin to look very different as schools are updated and remodeled.  Have you ever imagined your classroom looking different?

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #23: Dream Learning Spaces
  2. Look over these design ideas. Which one would you like in your classroom?

Would you have cool seating in your classroom?

Seats  Seats2

What about a place to create?

How will you showcase your learning?

Are you like me, and like quiet areas to read?

Reading Nook

 

 

 

 

 

2. Here’s your chance to become an architect and design your new learning space.  Design your dream classroom or learning space. Grab a poster and other materials to create your new learning space. You can add whatever features you think would help your learning, but make sure to include  the following:

(1) A place to collaborate or work with your classmates

(2) A area to create and make things 

(3) A space to showcase your learning

(4) A quiet area to work and read

3. Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

 

 

#19: Patent, Trademark, & Copyright

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized

Patents are like superhero capes for inventions, keeping them safe from copycats! Trademarks are the cool name tags for products and services, making sure everyone knows who the cool kids are! Copyrights are like magic shields for books and art, protecting them from sneaky pirates who want to steal their treasure!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #19:Patent, Trademark, & Copyright

2. Are you someone who keeps an eye out for the latest inventions?  Do you enjoy tinkering with objects to see what you can create?  Then knowing about patents and trademarks might be helpful in your future endeavors!  The USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) has a website to help kids understand more about the patent and trademarking process. Divide your recording page into 3 sections.

Patent

Trademark

Copyright

 

3.  What is a Patent? Trademark? Copyright? Read about this  the USPTO website. Take detailed notes about all 3 on your recording page.

4. Look at real life examples. Record the examples on your recording page.

5. Watch this three videos. For each one record 5 details.

 

 

7. On your recording page, add an idea you would love to create a patent for or something interesting you learned about the patent/trademarking process.

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

Check out the Kids Invent Stuff Badge the Problem Solving Invention Badge at the EY website.

#22: Roman Numerals

Early Enrichment

I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X

I just counted to ten can you believe it?! It doesn’t look like I did, because they are letters,  but long ago that is how numbers looked liked. Numbers like that have a special names-Roman Numerals.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #22: Roman Numerals

3. We don’t use Roman Numerals often, but you can find them on clocks, in books, and even at the super bowl each year. Watch this video.  The teacher give a sentence as a way of remembering the numbers. Pause the video and add that to your recording page.

4. Look at this chart.  On your recording page write your age, your favorite number, and the number of students in your classroom.

5.  Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#20: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Math Mini Sparks

Take Me out to the Ball Game! The baseball/softball season is upon us and what better way to prepare for the fun than by studying the ways in which math is used in these fine sports.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #20: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2.  Watch this video about how to calculate batting average. Comment about something new you learned from the video on your recording sheet.

 

3. Print off this page and calculate batting averages. Worksheet Source: http://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/future-eligibles#2017-eligibles

4. Watch this PBS video-Real Life Math Baseball. What math does he discuss in the video? Add several ideas to your recording page.

5. Share your math mini spark recording page and batting average practice sheet with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#18: Make a flip book

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities

A flip book is a small booklet containing a sequence of images that gradually change from one page to the next. When the pages are turned quickly, they create the illusion of motion.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #18 Make a Flip Book

2. Print this instruction page or open it up on your ipad.  Read all of the information.

How does the flip book work? Why 24 pages? What is the patent history for this toy? Record this information on your recording sheet.

3. Watch this video

4.   He outlines several different ideas.  Watch the video to get an idea of how to get started. Write the first few steps on your recording page.

5. On your recording page write down the materials you will need and the idea you will use for your story.

6. Gather the materials and add a picture to your recording page.

6. If you want to use your ipad for a light source, watch this tutorial

7. Make your 24 paged flip book. Add a picture of some of the pages to your recording page.

8. Have a friend take a video of your flip book in action.

9. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and video with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

#21: Caves

Early Enrichment

Where are there ice caves filled with hot springs? What unique feature do many cave-dwelling fish have? What animals lived in Britain’s caves during the Ice Age? find out the answers to these questions in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #21: Caves 

2.  Watch this video about caves.  Write down the names of 3 different types of caves mentioned in the video.

3. Read this fact page about caves.

 

4.

5.  Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

Early Enrichment #20: Math Challenges

Early Enrichment

Do you have what it takes to be a math olympiad?

Try these math challenges to find out! 

 

(1) How many squares and triangles are there in the following drawing?

Triange Squares

(2) Draw the following shapes in one stroke without lifting the pencil and without retracing the same line.

1stroke_2 1stroke_1

(3) Sam lives in an apartment building. There are 3 levels above her and 2 levels below her. How many levels are there in the building?

(4) What do the following letters have in common?

Y M A O T U V X

(5) There are 2 rings and 6 triangles. Move the rings and triangles so that each ring has 4 triangles in them.

New 3r7

(6)  Alphabet Spaghetti Puzzle

Spaghetti is famous for the way it all gets tangled up on the plate. Those of you who think they know their alphabet are bound to get all tangled up with this puzzle too, unless you read it and think about it very carefully!

What letter of the alphabet is the one which comes eight letters before the letter which comes five letters after the fourth appearance of the first letter to occur four times in this sentence?

Comment Below with your answers!

Questions from Math Top 10 and Math is Fun