Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#6: The Mathematical Secrets of Pascal’s Triangle

Math Mini Sparks

Pascal’s Triangle, named after Blaise Pascal, a famous French Mathematician and Philosopher, is more than a triangular shape of numbers.  The patterns found within the triangle are FASCINATING! Investigate some of the treasures found within the triangle in this math mini spark.

1

1     1

1     2     1

1     3     3     1

1     4     6     4     1

1     5     10     10     5     1

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #6: The Mathematical Secrets of Pascal’s Triangle

2. Watch this video about Pascal’s Triangle. On your recording page answer these questions: Describe a pattern you notice within the triangle. What numbers would be in the next row?

 

3. At 1:20 in the video, the Triangular Numbers are highlighted.  The picture below shows the first 5 triangular numbers.  Draw the next 2 triangular numbers on your recording page.

Screen Shot 2015-10-07 at 7.19.52 PM4. At 1:58 in the video, the Pentagonal Numbers are highlighted.  The picture below shows the first 5 pentagonal numbers.  Draw the next 2 pentagonal numbers on your recording page.

Screen Shot 2015-10-07 at 7.24.02 PM

5. Do some more research on Pascal’s Triangle at Math is Fun. Don’t feel like you have to explain everything about the triangle, just pick a couple patterns to highlight on your recording page.

6. This TED Ed Video takes the explanation of Pascal’s Triangle to a higher level, but it’s worth a watch to discover even more patterns within the triangle. Record 5 details from the video on your recording sheet.

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

#7: Binary Code Names

Full STEAM Ahead

To talk to computer your need to speak its language.  One such language, or code, is binary.  It works by using a system of 2 symbols, base 2, often made up of 0’s and 1’s.  In this 1st binary code STEAM mini spark learn about binary code names.  

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #7: Binary Code Names

2. Check out first part of  this article on binary code. Write your name using UTF-8 binary code. Record your Code Name on your recording sheet.

3. Using the chart from the article, determine the person’s name from the name tag at the top of this mini spark. Record it on your recording page.

4. Watch this video and take detailed notes on your recording page.

5.  Start looking at binary codes that represent numbers.  At this site you will see numbers from 1-100. Choose 10 numbers to recordon on your recording page. Write about what you notice and any patterns you see.

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

Check out STEAM Mini Spark # 8: Binary Code Numbers

Early Enrichment #4: Alien Invasion

Early Enrichment

aliens-36912_640

Imagine you are a scientist for NASA responsible for a top secret research project on one of the planets. Your job is to inform the world on what your planet is like, and if there is any form of life living there.

First, watch the videos to learn about what planets you can find in our solar system. 

 

Then, choose a planet to research using one of the links below.

Planet for Kids 

National Geographic Kids- What is a Planet?

Here are some questions to think about as you research your planet:

What does your planet look like? How far away from the sun is your planet?

What can you find on your planet? Is the temperature cold or hot?

What is the surface like? How long does it take your planet to go around the sun?

After researching your planet, show what you have learned by designing a Planet Report. Your report should include important information about your planet and a drawing of an alien life form that could survive on it. Be sure to label and describe your alien’s  features, for example eyes, and why they are vital for your alien’s survival.

Share your Planet Report and Alien with your EY Coordinator!

#6:Cardboard Arcade Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead

What arcade games can you make out of cardboard? Using a cardboard box, some paper, a few around-the-house items, and a little bit of engineering, you can create your own pinball machine. You could also make a plan for a marble maze. Use cardboard and some tape so you can and guide a marble around a cardboard track. Ring Toss. DIY Bowling. Household Mini Golf……so many choices!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #6:Cardboard Challenge

2. Caine’s Arcade is where the idea first started. Watch this video. On your recording sheet, write down some of Caine’s ideas that impressed you.

3.  Set up your recording page with these three sections.

Ticket Grab Game

Labyrinth Game

Cardboard Games

4. When you are watching each of the videos, record ideas, details, and examples of creativity on your recording sheet.

Ticket Grab Game:

5. Write about a game that you would like to create.  Record the materials you would use, draw an sketch of the game and give it a name.

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

Do you want to make your own cardboard game? Check out the Cardboard Challenge badge at the EY Website

 

#5: Sieve of Eratosthenes

Math Mini Sparks

A sieve is a kitchen utensil that is used to strain solids from liquids or for separating coarser from finer particles.  The Sieve of Eratosthenes is similar because it’s used to separate out all the prime numbers from a given set of numbers.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #5: Sieve of Eratosthenes

2. Listen to the pronunciation  of Eratosthenes several times. Practice saying “Eratosthenes”

3. Learn about Prime Numbers at Math is Fun and then answer these question on your recording page.  What is a prime number anyway?  What is the smallest prime number?  Is 1 prime?  Why or Why not?  Are all odd numbers prime?  How many prime numbers are there between 1 and 100?

4. Watch this video about the Sieve of Eratosthenes.

5. Do this online prime number activity and Add a picture of the finished chart to your recording page. If you would rather use paper, print out this 100 chart and find the prime numbers.

6. Read this article and find out about Eratosthenes.  Consider the following questions as you read and record your responses on your recording sheet.

What were 2 of Eratosthenes’ nicknames and what did they mean?

What is Eratosthenes known for besides the Sieve named after him?

What kind of man was Eratosthenes?

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

#5: Paper Airplanes

Full STEAM Ahead, , ,

Here are some resources to get you thinking about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math as they relate to Paper Airplanes!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #5: Paper Airplanes

2.  Watch this video. On your recording page, write a 1-2 sentence summary.

3.  Open this file that explains how to make 6 paper airplanes. Look over the choices. On your recording page, choose 3 that look interesting to you.  More advanced planes can be found at this site.

4. Check out TED-Ed video about flight.  This video examines the principles of flight physics and reveals how aerodynamic lift creates the necessary force for airplanes to soar. Record 8 details from the video on your recording page.

5. Watch this video on Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag & Design by Wesley Fryer.  Build one of the paper airplanes demonstrated in the video and try it out!  Have a friend help you record a video of your plane flying.

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

Check out the Plane Builder Badge at the EY Website.

Optional:

Organize a class Paper Airplane Flying Competition.  After researching and designing the perfect paper airplane, you can judge the competition in a variety of categories like longest flight time, most artistic design, farthest flight, etc.  Create a table to organize the data and summarize the results.  Take pictures/video of the top airplanes in each category. Talk to your teacher/EY coordinator about this option.

 

#3: Let’s Simile

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Learn more about how to add spark to your writing.

 Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your mini spark recording page: #3: Let’s Simile

2. Watch this BrainPop Jr. video about Similes. Record a few of the examples from the video on your recording page.

3. Use this image as an example Draw your own image on your recording page.

Screen Shot 2015-09-08 at 9.59.26 PMpicture from ehssjadej.edublogs.org

4. Fall Simile Writing Activity. Copy these 3 of these sentence starters on your recording page and create your own similes. You may use your own ideas instead if you wish. Add color/designs to your finished page.

A fall leaf is a red as a _________________________.

A jack-o-lantern is a round as a______________________.

A fall leaf is a crunchy as a___________________________.

A fall leaf is as ____________________ as ________________________.

A pumpkin is _______________________like _______________________.

A bat is as ________________________as __________________________.

Halloween is __________________________as ___________________.

The scarecrow is ____________________like__________________________.

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

#8: Haiku Poem

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. It often centers around nature. Haiku poems don’t rhyme and they follow a pattern.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #8: Haiku Poem

2. Record this haiku poem on your recording page. What patterns do you notice?

cloud-205bdge

3. Watch this video. Record 3 details from the video.

4. Record the pattern on your recording page:

The pattern for haiku is the following:
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables

5. Count out the syllables in an example written by Basho Matsuo. Record the answers on your recording sheet for each line.

An old silent pond…               (How many syllables did you count?)

A frog jumps into the pond,           (How about this line?)

splash! Silence again.                  (Does this line follow the rule?)

6.   Choose a topic or theme (nature, sports, family, school, friendship, etc.) and brainstorm a list of many words related to your topic.

7. Follow these bulleted points to write your own Haiku Poem with using the words you brainstormed.

  • Example topic : weather
  • Example brainstormed words : rain, clouds, soft breezes, mist, windy, snowing
  • Choose the words that you like from the list you made and start working on arranging those into your poem with other filler words.
  • Count the syllables
  • Put them together using the pattern.

8. Write 2 or 3 haiku style poems about the topic/theme you picked out.
Follow the 5-7-5 pattern

9. Send your work to the EY coordinator in your building.

OPTIONAL: Draw an illustration for one of the poems.

 

 

Image : http://heightstechnology.edublogs.org/files/2010/10/cloud-205bdge.jpg

 

 

#4: Papel Picado

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized
Papel Picado means “pierced paper” in Spanish.  In Mexico, artists use special tools to pierce through many layers of paper at once. In Mexico, people create Papel Picado banners to celebrate holidays and different occasions.
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #4: Papel Picado

2. Set up your recording page with these sections

WHAT IS PAPEL PICADO?

PRE-COLOMBIAN PAPER

CULTURAL INFLUENCES CHINA

CULTURAL INFLUENCES SPAIN

GENERATIONAL FOLK ART

2. Read the lesson pages.  On your recording sheet write a few sentences for each section.

3.  Watch this instruction video. On your recording page write the supplies you will need.

4. Ask your EY teacher to help you find paper and string for your project.

5. Ask your teacher to use this template and print it on the colorful paper for you.

6. If you want to use the template to get started, and then create your own design that is great.

7. Create a simple Papel Picado following the steps from the video. If you want to print out this instruction page you can

8. Take a picture of your project and add it to your recording page.

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

#4: Weird But True! Size

Math Mini Sparks

This math mini spark explores Weird But True! Size Edition.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page:#4: Weird But True! Size
  2. Explore math facts at National Geographic Kids Weird but True! Size Edition.
  3. Look at the slideshow. To move from fact to fact click the arrows.
  4. There are 8 facts in total. Record your favorite four facts on your recording sheet.
  5. Do research about each of the four topics so that you can add 3-5 more details for each one.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.