Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#95: The Chaos Game

Math Mini Sparks

In mathematics, the term chaos game originally referred to a method of creating a fractal, using a polygon and an initial point selected at random inside it.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #95: The Chaos Game
  2. Watch this video. Record details on your recording page.

3. Watch this video to learn how to play The Chaos Game. *****This video is long–> looking for other video

Follow the instructions in the video.  Take a screenshot of your final picture and add it to your recording page.

4. Link to the GeoGebra Website to find the chaos game.

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

#58: Ancient Origins of Halloween

Social Studies Enrichment

Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Over the centuries, Halloween transitioned from a pagan ritual to a day of parties, costumes, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating for kids and adults.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #48: Ancient Origins of Halloween

2. Read this information page about Halloween’s History. Record any details that were new to your on your recording sheet.

3. Based on this information, you can see that traditions cover centuries and adapt to the changing times. What Halloween or Fall traditions does your family practice? Write a response on your recording sheet.

4. Do some research and record what you find on your recording sheet. Feel free to record any other Halloween details that you find.

  •  Why are black and orange tied to Halloween?
  • Why do we see Jack O’ Lanterns at Halloween
  • What does candy corn pop up at the stores around Halloween?

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

Source: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

2024 Junior Library Guild Bookmark Contest: Due May 13

Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized

2024 JLG Bookmark Contest

The National Library Week theme for 2024 is “Ready, Set, Library!” and from now until May 13, readers are encouraged to submit their very own JLG bookmark design!  Click here to learn more about the contest.

Rules

  1.  All designs must be submitted by an adult (librarian, media specialist, teacher, etc.) to be considered
  2. Each bookmark must depict a JLG Selection (past, present, or upcoming titles)
  3. Only one entry per reader
  4. ANY reader can submit an entry, even if their library is not subscribed to JLG 

Contest Winners

One winner will be chosen from each age group: elementary, middle, and high school.  The winning libraries will receive a $250 JLG backlist credit and have their winning design professionally printed on bookmarks for their entire school! Winning libraries will be contacted via email in May.

#75-Dakuwaqa:A Fijian Myth

Reading Enrichment

Across the Pacific, myths and legends are passed down through oral tradition. The myth of Dakuwaqa is deeply rooted in Fijian culture and serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world, as well as the consequences of greed and disrespect for the environment.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #75-Dakuwaqa:a Fijian Myth
  2.  Watch this video. On your recording page, record the names of the characters as they appear.

 

3. Choose an activity to complete.

  • Write a simplified version of this myth for a younger audience.  Make your version 10-15 sentences long.
  • Read about kids helping sharks.  Choose two projets. Write a 5 sentences about each of the projects and the kids behind the project.
  • Research sharks and create an information page about them with 10-15 facts.

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

Earthquakes!!

Early Enrichment

What do you know about earthquakes?  Let’s find out!

1. Earthquakes usually happen at the edge of tectonic plates.
  • Tectonic plates are the outer layer of the Earth.
  • They are made of rock and are constantly moving.
2. Earthquakes occur when the plates get stuck, but keep trying to move!
  • The tectonic plates are constantly moving but sometimes they get stuck.
  • When they get stuck, pressure builds up and the plates will suddenly move.
3. Before an earthquake, foreshocks might occur!
  • Foreshocks can be one or more small earthquakes which happen in the lead up to a bigger one, which is known as the main shock.
  • Scientists can often use these to predict big earthquakes.
4. After an earthquake, aftershocks are likely to happen.
  • An aftershock is one or more small earthquakes after the main one has occurred.
  • This is because of the Earth’s crust adjusting to the effect of the main earthquake.
  • They can be very dangerous as buildings might already have damage to them from the large earthquake and so it can often cause them to fall.
5. The shock waves that travel through the ground are called seismic waves.
  • They are very strong at the centre of the earthquake.
  • The waves travel to the surface and this is when the ground shakes and destruction happens.
6. Scientists use the Moment Magnitude scale to measure how strong an earthquake is.
  • This scale measures the energy that is released by the earthquake which makes it very accurate.
  • In the past, scientists used something called the Richter scale which measured the size of the seismic waves, however, this wasn’t as accurate as it could have been.
7. The place where an earthquake starts is called the hypocenter.
  • An earthquake has to start somewhere!
  • It is always under ground, below the Earth’s surface.
8. The ground above where an earthquake starts is called the epicenter.
  • The epicenter of an earthquake is on the ground directly above the hypocenter.
  • The difference between them is the hypocenter is under the ground and the epicenter is above the ground.
9. The strongest ever earthquake was in Chile, in the year 1960.
  • It was a 9.5 on the Moment magnitude scale which is very, very high.
  • The earthquake lasted for 10 whole minutes.
10. Japan is the country where most earthquakes occur.
  • This is because Japan is within something known as ‘The Pacific Ring of Fire’.
  • This is on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and is where there is a tectonic plate edge.
  • Other countries that are affected are Philippines, United States, Chile and more.
Which of these 10 facts surprised you the most?

 

 

 

#56: The Pineapple Express

Social Studies Enrichment

This mini spark will introduce your to a current events resource, the World from A-Z, that promotes critical thinking, civil discourse, and compassion in your classroom.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #56: The Pineapple Express?

2. Watch this current events video that will help you understand the Pineapple Express along with many other topics. Explain the pineapple express in 3 sentences.

3. Choose 3 of the prompts below to answer to show what you learn from the A-Z video.

  1. What is the purpose of the light festival in Copenhagen mentioned in the video?
  2. Explain what an atmospheric river is and its impact on California.
  3. How do atmospheric rivers play a role in providing rainfall on the West Coast according to scientists?
  4. Describe the concept of neuralgia discussed in the video.
  5. What potential benefits and concerns are associated with brain computer interfaces like Neuralink?
  6. Share the historical significance of February 6th as mentioned in the video.
  7. How is scorpion venom used in various fields, as explained in the video?
  8. Describe the process of extracting scorpion venom as outlined in the video

4. OPTIONAL Check out more episodes at The World A-Z Video choices 

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

Link to EY badge-The World from A-Z

Calling All Doodlers! Contest Closes March 14th, 2024

Events & Contests, Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests

It’s time to start sketching, because this year’s Doodle 4 Google contest is open!

Doodles are the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists.

K-12 students are invited to bring their imagination to life in a doodle of the Google logo, using any medium they choose.

Check out the contest page to see past winners and to get some ideas! Start working on some sketches.

All information can be found  @ https://doodles.google.com/d4g/.

EY Badge link 

 

#55: Flying Rivers

Geography Bee, Social Studies Enrichment

Learn about the Amazon Rainforest and how the Wampís Nation has been protecting the forest and the largest river in the world. 

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #55: Flying Rivers
  2. Watch the video and keep track of at least 3 positive ways the Wampís people are helping our world.

  1. Imagine you are a scientist studying the Amazon rainforest. Write a 2 paragraph journal entry describing the incredible biodiversity you have observed, why it is important to protect this unique ecosystem, and the flying rivers. Please include these words in your journal entry.
  • Ecosystem: A community of living organisms, along with their nonliving environment, interacting as a system.
  • Biodiversity: The variety of living organisms in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
  • Indigenous: Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
  1. Share your social studies mini spark recording page  with your teacher/EY coordinator.