Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#54: Planting Trees

Geography Bee, Social Studies Enrichment

Trees help clean the air. Trees produce the pure oxygen we breathe, and remove air pollution by lowering air temperature, through respiration and by retaining particulates, but can it be bad to plant a tree?

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #54: Planting Trees
  2. Before watching the video spend a few minutes thinking about possible times/situations when you would not want to plant a tree. Write down your ideas.
  3. Watch this TED EDU video about helping our environment by planting trees. This same video is also about how our environment can be hurt by planting trees. While you watch, take notes tracking new, interesting, and important information.

 

4. After you are done, write an interview between a reporter and a tree. Choose at least 3 of the questions below to ask the tree.

Sample script

Reporter– Hello, Aspen. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. Will you please tell me the difference between afforestation and reforestation?

Aspen-Of course, I am glad to be here. The words sound similar, and they are but there is a difference between them. Afforestation is the planting of trees in places devoid of any forest, while reforestation is the practice of restoring recently degraded forests.

Question Choices

  1. Why are trees considered a solution to curb climate change?
  2. What is the Bonn Challenge and what is its goal?
  3. Why do companies plant trees?
  4. Why are natural forests better at carbon storage compared to plantations?
  5. Why is it important to consider the species of trees and the lands when planting trees?
  6. What are the unintended consequences of planting trees in regions that naturally reflect sunlight?
  7. What is the current approach of Chile in tree planting efforts?
  8. What are some methods mentioned in the video to re-green the planet?
  9. When is it bad to plant trees?

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

#74-Traditional Sayings

Reading Enrichment

It is helpful to be able to recognize and understand adages and proverbs in the stories you are reading.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #74-Adages and Proverbs

2.  Watch this intro video. Record 5 details on your recording page.

 

3. Read and review some of the more common traditional sayings to help you better understand the meaning of the text. After reading the following information, write a short definition and example for proverb and adage on your recording page.

Proverb

  • Proverb is a short, well-known saying stating a piece of advice or the general truth.
  • It can be described as a statement of practical wisdom expressed in a simple way.
  • It is based on common sense or a person’s practical experience. Proverbs are typically metaphorical or alliterative in form.

Examples

  • Slow and steady wins the race. 
  • Birds of a feather flock together. 
  • Rolling stones gather no moss. 
  • It is better to be smarter than you appear than to appear smarter than you are. 
  • Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. 
  • Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. 

Adage

  • It is a short, common saying or phrase that tends to be old, known for decades or centuries.
  • It refers to popular sayings that give advice.
  • It expresses a general truth about people or the world.
  • It could be based on facts. It can also come from a specific situation or job.
  • It is similar to a proverb and proverbs could be adages.

Examples 

  • A penny saved is a penny earned .
  • Slow and steady wins the race. 
  • Better safe than sorry.
  • Nothing ventured; nothing gained.
  • You live, you learn.
  • Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

NOTE

  • An adage is sometimes called proverb.
  • They are usually smaller than proverbs.
  • So don’t worry about mixing both up, as they have mostly similar qualities.

4.  Look up the meanings of 3 of the examples  from step 3.  Explain what it means in your own words.

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

 

https://www.enchantedlearning.com/english/adages/index.shtmlAdages

#63: What to Do with a Box

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

1. Set up your Early Enrichment mini spark recording page: #63: What to Do with a Box

2. Listen to this book written by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban. On your recording sheet write about the different ideas from the story. Which one was your favorite?

3.  What can you create with a box?

4. Print off a challenge sheet to use to record your ideas. You can also record your ideas on your recording page.

5. For a BIGGER challenge take the ABC challenge and use your imagination to turn a box, big or small, into anything at all. You can also do this challenge on your recording page

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

Check out the Cardboard Challenge badge at the EY webpage and the STEAM Mini Spark STEAM Challenge: Cardboard Box.

 

 

#73: Greek and Latin Roots

Reading Enrichment

Learning Greek and Latin roots can help your understand English better, improve your vocabulary, and learn how to read and spell new words.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #73: Greek and Latin Roots

2. Watch this video. As you are watching pause the video as needed to write down at least 10 root words and at least 5 affixes and their meanings on your recording page.

 

3. Study this image. On your recording page, write 5 of the the roots and meanings that will be the hardest for you to remember.

4.  Make flash cards for each of the pink and blue buttons. On one side put the root and the other side put the meaning. Study the cards. 5 times.

5. Look at the word list and find the matching set of cards for each. Lay them out on your desk. Take a picture and add it to your recording page.

6. Learn how to pronounce the 12 words.  You can do this by typing in the word into your search bar and then typing “pronounce”.  Practice each word several times.

7. Memorize the spellings of these 12 words. When you are ready, have a friend quiz you on the spellings. Record your quiz score on your recording sheet.

8. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and your note cards  with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Lesson idea adapted from Khan and SpellPundit

#53: Constitution Day

Social Studies Enrichment

Constitution Day, which is celebrated every year on September 17th, commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. 

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #53: Constitution Day

2. Watch these two videos. Explain the constitution in 3 sentences.

3. Make a 5 question quiz with an answer key to go along with the two videos. 

4. Go to this link to take a quiz. Add your score on your recording page.

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

Early Enrichment #62: Comets!

Early Enrichment

What is a comet?

Comets are large objects made of dust and ice that orbit the Sun.

Scientists believe that comets are made up of material left over from when the Sun and the planets were formed. They think that about 100,000 million comets orbit the Sun. Some comets orbit the Sun like planets. Their orbits take them very close to and very far away from the Sun.

As of 2014 there are 5,253 known comets, a number that is steadily increasing as they are discovered. However, this represents only a tiny fraction of the total potential comet population, as the number of comet-like bodies in the outer Solar System is estimated to be one trillion. That’s a LOT!

Learn more about comets by watching the video below.

Go to this link to learn more about comets by reading a small article and then answer the question at the bottom.

Did you get it right?

#72: Golden Line Writing

Reading Enrichment

Stretch your thinking and unravel your ideas with this Golden Line activity!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #72: Golden Line Writing

2. Watch this introductory video about the Golden Line Writing Activity. Write 2 sentences about how people become good writers.

3. Print the Golden Line Activity and begin writing with the provided “Golden Line” by  C.S. Lewis. You can also open the page and record your writing on your recording page.

4.  Now that you have experienced this writing strategy. Research some other quotes that would make great writing prompts. Make a list of three to five quotes on your recording page.

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and Golden Line writing page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#60: Steam Challenge: Newspaper

Full STEAM Ahead

Are you ready for a fun NEWSPAPER building challenge? Grab some newspaper and tape, and let’s get started! With just these two materials, you can create amazing structures.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #60: Steam Challenge: Newspaper

2. Look over the three options for your STEAM challenge.

Challenge # 1:  Build a freestanding tower with only 2 sheets of newspaper and 12 inches of tape. No wedging or taping to the table or floor! You can manipulate the newspaper in any way you wish.

Challenge #2: Using 10 sheets of newspaper and 18 inches of tape, build a tower that holds a textbook 6 inches above the table for at least 3 seconds. The tower must be free-standing, which means no taping or holding to the table.

Challenge #3:  Use 3 large sheets of newspaper and 24 inches of tape to make a piece of clothing that you can wear.

3. Decide what challenge you are going to do and record in on your recording sheet. Record all of the materials you will need.

4. Make a sketch of what your structure will look like and any ideas that you have. Add a picture to your recording page.

3.Gather the materials you will need. Ask an adult to help you find a newspaper if necessary.

4.  Take a picture of your supplies before you start. Add the picture to your recording sheet.

5. Take a picture of you final project at add it to your recording sheet. Write about what you did well on this challenge and where you can improve.

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

 

#59: tiny football

Full STEAM Ahead

Make a tiny a football game with goal posts that you can play with your friends. Materials needed for your game: One piece of paper!

Spark your learning!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page:#59: Football STEAM.

2. Watch the video to see the game and how it works. Record the materials you will need on your recording page.

3. On your recording page write these items:

  • the rules explained clearly
  • what you will use for a playing surface
  • how to keep score
  • how to keep track of how to win (time or the first one to so many points)
  • the rules of the goal posts. For example, wrists need to be on the table when making the goalpost.
  • Rewatch the video to find any of this information if needed

4. Use a piece of paper to make your football. You can decorate it if you want. Add a picture of your football to your recording sheet.

Starting at step 5, you need to have permission from your teacher to play the game. You will need to play the game at least 2 times so you can make modifications to the rules/set up/ and so on. Talk with your teacher about options. You can also set up your game at home.

5. Play one time. Record the scores on our recording sheet for each game. Figure out what adjustments need to be made. Record these on your recording sheet.

6. Play the game again and see if you changes made the game run more smoothly. Make a few more notes on your recording sheet to document how your changes impacted the game.

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