Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

#60: Hidden Figures

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

“Hidden Figures” is a biographical book about four African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race and played pivotal roles in the Apollo program. Their contributions were essential in advancing America’s space exploration efforts, particularly during the historic Apollo missions to the Moon

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #60: Hidden Figures

2. Record the names of the mathematicians you will learn about in this mini spark on your recording page: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden.

3. Listen to Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race.  For each of these dates you hear in the story, pause the story and write a phrase about that date.

1943, 1945, 1951, 1953, (1950s), 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969

 

4. In 3+ sentences explain how Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. Use details from the story. Add your response to your recording page.

5. Read more about Katherine Johnson at this Wonderopolis page. Make a mini timeline on your recording sheet. Add 5 dates with information.

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

Check out the Mission to Mars badge and Space traveler badge at the EY Website.

#102: Friendly Numbers

Math Mini Sparks

Friendly numbers are a special type of number that have a unique connection with other numbers. To understand this relationship, we will add up all of the factors of a number and then we look at the index of a number and compare it to the index of another number.  Check it out in this mini spark.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #102: Friendly Numbers

2. Read this paragraph to review what “Factors” are.

Factors are numbers you multiply together to get another number. A factor of a number divides the number evenly, with no remainder.

What are all the factors of the number 8?         1 2 4 8

What are all the factors of the number 24?      1 2 3 4 6 8 12 24

Write the factors of the number 40 on your recording sheet.

3. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see if you have the correct numbers for step 2. If you do put a star on your page. If you do not, add the correct numbers.

4. Look over these 6 questions before your start watching the video.  Number your paper from 1-6. As you watch answer each of the questions.

  1. Stop the video at 2:57. In two sentences, describe how 12 and 234 and are friendly numbers.
  2. How many perfect numbers are there. How has this number changed since 2011?
  3. What is is called if you don’t have a friend? Name a few of these types of numbers.
  4. Pause the video at 8:40 and write down all of the friendly numbers on his chart.
  5. What are the yellow numbers?
  6. What is 10’s index?

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

 

 

 

Answers for step 3

Factors of 40 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 40

#59: Wondering about Geography?

Learning Opportunities, Social Studies Enrichment

Are you curious about geography? Check out the Wonderopolis articles for Wonders all about the world around us. Check out the specific Wonders below that will get your brain thinking about all things geography!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #59 Wondering about Geography?

2. This mini spark has you explore Wonderopolis Wonders related to geography. Look over these choices and write down the three you would like to read.

3. Write down the title of the first article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

4. Write down the title of the second article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

5. Write down the title of the third article. Read the article. Record 3 facts from the article, 2 words that are new to your or unique, and 1 question you have.

6. There is much more to be learned after finishing the articles! Pick out your favorite wonder and do further research on the topic.  Find 5-8 more facts about the topic and add those to your recording page.

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

 

 

 

 

 

#80: Word Fit Puzzle

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Fit words into a grid in this popular game, often seen in puzzle magazines as fill-ins. The grid looks like a crossword, but there are no normal clues. Instead you must find the right place in the grid for each word from a given list.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #80: Word Fit Puzzle

2. Watch this short intro video. What is the goal of this game?

3.  Go to the Word FIt Puzzle website. Explore the grid sizes and the difficulty levels. Record all of those on your recording page.

4.  Start easy to get the hang of it. Choose a level. Record your choice. Play a level. Take a screenshot of your ending time and add it to your recording page or write your ending time on your recording page.

5. Move to a harder level.  Choose a level. Record your choice. Play a level. Take a screenshot of your ending time and add it to your recording page or write your ending time on your recording page.

6. What do you like about this game. What changes would you recommend?

7. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

Want to keep playing? Keep moving up levels as you are ready. Document your progress. Talk to your EY coordinator about doing these puzzles to earn a badge.

 

#101: Volleyball Roster Math

Math Mini Sparks

There is a wealth of information when it comes to volleyball! Whether you’re examining individual player statistics, team standings, or breaking down a specific match… MATH IS EVERYWHERE IN VOLLEYBALL!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #101: Volleyball Roster Math 
  2. This Mini Spark has you looking at the 24-25 Westside High School Varsity and Junior Varsity Volleyball Roster.  Download and print a copy of the worksheet and roster.
  3. Add a picture of your finished worksheet to your math mini spark page.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page and your worksheet with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Roster Math Badge at the EY website.

 

#27: Explore Elements

Learning Opportunities, Science Mini Spark

The periodic table has been on quite the adventure for over 150 years, like a superhero collecting elements! Now, with 118 different elements, it’s like the ultimate science party where every element has its own dance move. Who knew chemistry could be this much fun?

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #15: Explore Elements

2. Watch this video and record at least 5 details from the video on your recording page.

3. TED Ed joined forces with the people at Periodic Videos to bring us the what-is-what on each element of the periodic table. Watch this video about hydrogen. Record 5-10 details about hydrogen on your recording page.

4. Choose a new element from this playlist. Watch the video, and on your recording page make a fact page about the element with at least 10 pieces of information.

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

 

68: SNOW + ENGINEERING = FUN

Early Enrichment

For this Early Enrichment Mini Spark challenge, create your best snow person/people or creatures. No snow required.

1. Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: 68: SNOW + ENGINEERING = FUN

2. Learn about the engineering behind snow building. Record 5 details on your recording sheet.

3.  Watch these kids creating on snow people that are built out of paper, tape, plastic bags, and newspaper. Did you like the final project? Explain why or why not.

4. Build a snow creature. You can build it out of snow if you are doing the mini spark while there is snow on the ground, or you can build it out of materials. Do not buy anything, use materials you have around the classroom or your house.  If you build your snow creature out of materials, if doesn’t have to be as big as the examples in the video unless you want it to be.

5. Take a picture of your project ½ way through and then at the end. Add your pictures to your recording page.

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

#67: Flower Power

Early Enrichment

Spring is in the air! Learn about the blooming power of flowers and then do a hands-on activity creating a blooming flower and card to give to someone special.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #67: Flower Power

2. Watch this Mystery Science video about how flowers bloom. Record 3 things you learned on your recording page.

3.  Set a timer for 2 minutes. Brainstorm as many types of flowers as you can and write the names on your recording page.

4.  Look over this list of flowers.  Add a 5 more flower names to your list.

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

OPTIONAL: Make a colorful paper flower and a greeting card to give to a special person. When placed in water, the paper flower will unfold, appearing to move and bloom in front of your eyes! You may want to use this as a Mother’s Day activity, but you choose who will receive the card, so it can be for anyone special.

Gather needed materials to complete the card making activity

  • Crayons
  • Scissors
  • Dot Stickers or Tape
  • Plastic Paper Plate or Bowl
  • Print this template single sided. Ask your teacher for help if needed.

6. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the paper.

7. When you give your card, explain that you will need to your place the flowers in water and you can watch them bloom together!

 

#66: What Melts in the Sun?

Early Enrichment

This summer was HOT!! There were even stories about eggs frying on a sidewalk. This makes you think….what ordinary items might melt in the sun? Do an experiment to find out.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page: #66: What Melts in the Sun?

2. Ask your parent or guardians permission first before you start.

Experiment steps

1. Set up your recording page with three columns and 12 rows.

2. Put a title at the top of each column

Object           Do you think it will melt?               Did it melt?

3. Find a muffin tin.

4. FInd 12 ordinary household items that make you ask….”Does this melt in the sun?”

5. Take a picture of your tin.

5. Write those items down on your recording sheet.

6. Decide if you think the item will melt. Write YES or NO for each item.

7. Choose a day where the temperature is at least 85 degrees.

8. Put your muffin tin with the items in the full sun and wait at least 20 minutes.

9. I know it’s hard to wait 20 minutes, but you can do it!!! After the 20 minutes is up, go check on your results!

10. Fill in the column with the results of your experiment.

11. Take a picture of the tin and the items.

12. Now, for the most important step:  CLEAN UP AND PUT THINGS BACK!

3. Share your science mini spark recording page and your project pictures with your teacher/EY coordinator. We can’t wait to see it!

Lesson adapted from: https://frugalfun4boys.com/simple-science-experiment-for-kids-what-melts-in-the-sun/

 

#79: Peter Reynolds

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Peter H. Reynolds is a champion of creativity and a best-selling author and illustrator. His books, including The Dot, Ish, The Word Collector, and Happy Dreamer, are published in over 25 languages. They inspire children and adults with messages about creativity, bravery, empathy, and self-expression.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #79: Peter Reynolds
  2. Listen to The Dot, by Peter Reynolds. On your recording sheet, summarize the story and share some thoughts about how a teacher could use this book in classroom.

3. Read the information about Peter Reynolds, his book The Word Collector, as well as the interview at this website.  On your recording page, record at least 5 details about what you learned from reading the interview.

4. Hutch Magazine is a semi-annual literary and creativity magazine for kids, directed by Peter H. Reynolds. It showcases stories, art, poetry, book reviews, travel logs, and interviews created by children. Add one sentence to your recording sheet explaining Hutch Magazine.

5. Go to the Hutch Magazine site.  The issues are numbered and the theme of the issue is written under the number. Pick an issue that you would like to read. Record the issue # and the theme you choose on your recording sheet.

6. Choose 5 different stories/poems to read from the issue. On your recording sheet record the following 3 items for each piece you read.

  • Title
  • What you liked about the piece/What you disliked about the piece
  • What you learned
  • Tell a little bit about the author.

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

To write your own story to be submitted to be part of Hutch Magazine, check out the Hutch Magazine badge at the EY website. Check out the Dot Day STEAM Mini Spark.