Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

# 94: Pixel Power

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Pixels are the smallest unit in a digital display. Up to millions of pixels make up an image or video on a device’s screen. Each pixel comprises a subpixel that emits a red, green and blue (RGB) color, which displays at different intensities. In this mini spark, you will learn about the basics of pixels and pixel colors.  

Spark your math thinking!

1. Start by taking out your math notebook or opening your math mini spark doc.  Put the date at the top and put the title of this mini spark. Record all of your work on this page.

2. Use this slideshow of images, which zooms a picture of raft. The final slide shows that the entire photo is actually made from individual squares of color. How does looking at these pictures help explain creation of the digital images that you see? What other images might you see today that are made from pixels?

 

3. Watch these two videos. The first video is a reminder binary numbers. It will help to see this before watching the second video. Take notes as you watch both videos.

4. After watching the second video answer these questions in your notebook. What is the RGB name for turquoise? How does a computer name turquoise? Draw the math steps that were used in the video to explain how a function is used to filter an image.

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

Check out the Playing with Pixels badge at the EY website.

#93 Cake Pop Math

Math Mini Sparks

Did you hear that Scooter’s Coffee broke the Guinness World Record for the largest cake pop?!  This mini spark will give you the opportunity to learn more, explore spheres, and maybe even make your own cake pops!

 

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #93 Cake Pop Math
  2. Read the article and leave a comment about something new you learned:  https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/scooters-coffee-breaks-guinness-world-record-for-the-largest-cake-ball
  3. Learn about SPHERES at https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/geometry/sphere and think of a creative way to show what you learned.
  4. Look at the website linked below to find the diameter of some of your favorite sports balls.  Calculate the SA and Volume and display your learning in a creative way.  https://www.topendsports.com/resources/equipment/ball-size.htm
  5. Have you ever bought a cake pop?  How much was it and was the cost worth the taste?  Explore the price of cake pops from different stores and make a table comparing the data.  You can find out the cost by visiting a place in-person, or find a website that tells you the information.  Display your data in a creative way.
  6.  Look up a few recipes for cake pops. Which one would you like to try?
  7.  Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#58: Burj Khalifa

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

Explore the engineering innovations that made the construction of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, possible. Notably, it stands at a height of 828 meters (2,717 feet) and features a unique Y-shaped design that enhances stability and reduces wind forces.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #39: Tallest Buildings

2. Watch this video and record details on your recording page.

3. For this STEAM mini spark please choose 5 of the following questions to answer on your recording page. Please use 2-3 sentences for your responses. Remind your teacher that the answer key is in the STEAM mini spark folder.

  1. Describe the main challenge architects faced by the end of the 20th century when designing skyscrapers.
  2. What innovative material helped buildings to shed weight and reach new heights in the early 20th century?
  3. Explain the concept of tubular design introduced by Fazlur Rahman Khan and its significance in skyscraper construction.
  4. How did the buttressed core design contribute to the stability of the Burj Khalifa?
  5. What design feature of the Burj Khalifa helps to minimize the impact of strong winds?
  6. Discuss the human cost associated with the construction of the Burj Khalifa as mentioned in the video.
  7. Why was the construction of the Burj Khalifa completed in a short period of five years considered significant?
  8. What are some of the criticisms faced by the United Arab Emirates regarding worker protection laws after the Burj Khalifa’s completion?
  9. In what way did the design of the Burj Khalifa differ from traditional skyscraper designs?
  10. Reflect on the importance of prioritizing workers’ rights in future construction projects. Why is this significant?

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

#92: π Day

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Pi is one the most studied numbers in mathematics and on March 14 (or 3/14), we celebrate Pi Day because 3.14 are the first digits of pi.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #92: π Day
  2. Learn about 18 ways that NASA uses Pi!  https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/list/oh-the-places-we-go-18-ways-nasa-uses-pi/. Record a few ideas on your recording page.
  3. Learn about other interesting Pi Facts at https://www.piday.org/pi-facts/. Create a info page about what you learned
  4. Find your “Pi Day” using this site. Type in your birthday and record where in pi your date appears.  Do this for a friend or your teacher and record their pi day. I put in my birthdate and the sequence of numbers does not show up until digit 169, 266! 
  5. Choose an interesting way to represent Pi! Check out the ideas at the end of this post.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Pi Masters badge at the EY website.

PiSong1

Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 10.28.23 PM

Pi Grid Art

Early Enrichment #61: Visit Dry Tortugas National Park!

Early Enrichment

Almost 70 miles west of Key West lies Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.  You can only get there by boat or seaplane! The park is known all over the world as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, beautiful blue waters, lots of coral reefs and marine life, and the tons of bird life that visit the area!

Click the link below to go on a virtual field trip to this amazing place!

https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/dry-tortugas/near-little-africa-tour

Once there, click the “Play” button. Make sure you have headphones so you can listen to the narrator! Click and drag to explore! Dive the Windjammer Shipwreck! Swim through a coral reef!

Comment below: What was your favorite part of this field trip?

Click HERE if you want to learn even more!

#52: The Acropolis

Social Studies Enrichment

Ancient cities were often built around a fortress on top of a hill. When a city spread to the area below, the high part came to be called the acropolis, which means “city at the top” in Greek. The best-known acropolis is in Athens, Greece.  The Acropolis of Athens contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #52: The Acropolis

2. Watch this introduction video and respond to this prompt: Why was it important to the Greeks to have a location high above the city? 

 

3.  You will go on a virtual tour of the Acropolis of Athens. The Virtual Tour of the Acropolis highlights the most prominent monuments. Record these 4 monuments on your recording sheet: The Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. Leave room so you can record 3-4 details about each one.

4.  Watch this introduction video.

Go to https://www.acropolisvirtualtour.gr/ to start your tour. Add details on your recording sheet for each monument.

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

Check out the Greek Mythology badges at the EY website.

#57: Ice Ice Baby!

Full STEAM Ahead

Explore a frozen castles, frozen caves, and frozen music in this STEAM mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #57: Ice Ice Baby!

2. Complete a 3-2-1 for the video Building Frozen Castles with the Master of Ice

3 new things you learned

2 things you wonder

1 question you have

3. Complete a 3-2-1 for the video This Chinese Ice Cave Never Thaws

3 new things you learned

2 things you wonder

1 question you have

4. Complete a 3-2-1 for the video BAIKAL ICE live sound

3 new things you learned

2 things you wonder

1 question you have

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

#91: Mythical Mathematical Mind Reader

Math Mini Sparks

This is an interesting game to solve. When you are done, challenge yourself to explain your math thinking.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #91: Mythical Mathematical Mind Reader

2. Go to The Mind Reader website created by Transum and follow the instructions

         

The Mind Reader

4. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Record all of your math step-by-step on your paper.

5. Look for patterns

6. Brainstorm possible reasons why The Mind Reader is able to predict your symbol every time.

7. At the end of the 5 minutes, write a several sentences about how you think this game works.

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

lesson adapted from https://www.transum.org/Maths/Investigation/Mind_Reader/ and Yummy math

#51: Write About Ancient Adventures

Other Events & Contests, Social Studies Enrichment

Take the excitement of history and mix it with your imagination to create ancient adventures! You can pick any person, place or event from history to inspire your mini-saga, a story told in just 100 words that must have a beginning, a middle & an ending.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page:#51: Write About Ancient Adventures.

2. Watch this introduction video about a writing contest that was held last year. It isn’t open for submissions at this time, but you can earn this social studies mini spark by creating your own mini story. Make a list of  at least 5 of the topics suggested in the video.

3. Check out some examples of other students’ mini-sagas!  Read 3 of these stories. Choose your favorite and explain what made it stand out.

4. From discovering a pharaoh’s tomb, or a soldier in the trenches, to being a president or an explorer it’s a great way to tie in creative writing with history to have a bit of fun, and to create an original short story.  Which era or person will get your creativity flowing? List 5 topics that will inspire you  to write with history! ***Note-Your teacher may choose a topic for you.

5. Download or Print this graphic organizer help you get started!

6. Choose one topic, and write your mini saga. You can be inspired by other stories, but your mini-saga must be written in your own words.

7. Add a copy of your story to your recording page.

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

 

Early Enrichment #60: What Are You Thankful For?

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Next week is Thanksgiving! As we get ready, let’s take a look at some fun facts about the holiday:

  • The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three-day harvest festival. It included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians. It is believed by historians that only five women were present.
  • Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish were likely served, alongside pumpkins and cranberries (but not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce!).
  • President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3rd, 1863. Sarah Joseph Hale, the woman who wrote “Mary Had A Little Lamb”, convinced him to make Thanksgiving a national holiday after writing him letters for 17 years!
  • There are 4 towns in the United States named “Turkey”. They can be found in Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana.
  • The average number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving is 4, 500!
  • The tradition of football on Thanksgiving began in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton. The first NFL games were played on Thanksgiving in 1920.

Thanksgiving is a time to be THANKFUL! Watch a video below to see what Kid President is thankful for!

Comment below to let us know what YOU’RE thankful for!!