Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

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!!

#50: Thanksgiving 

Social Studies Enrichment

As a nation we celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday in November each year. Thanksgiving wasn’t alway a national holiday. In this mini spark, you will learn about the history of Thanksgiving and how it became a national holiday.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #50: Thanksgiving

2. Set up your recording page with a section for each of these topics

  • Native Americans
  • The Settlers
  • Settling and Exploring
  • The Celebration
  • The Myths
  • Native Americans and Thanksgiving
  • Modern Thanksgiving

3. Read this article. For each category, record 3+ bullet points.

4. Watch this video about how Thanksgiving became a national holiday. When you are done watching, choose 5 questions to answer thoughtfully. Remind your teacher that the key can be found in the social studies mini spark folder.

  1. What year did the first Thanksgiving celebration take place in Plymouth, Massachusetts? Who was the great Indian chief that attended the first Thanksgiving celebration? 9. In what year did Congress officially make Thanksgiving a national holiday?
  2. Describe how Abraham Lincoln contributed to the establishment of a national Thanksgiving holiday.
  3. What message did Lincoln convey in his Thanksgiving proclamation during the Civil War?
  4. Identify why Sarah Josepha Hale believed a national Thanksgiving celebration was important. How did Hale promote the idea of Thanksgiving through her work as a magazine editor? 
  5. What was the significance of Lincoln’s proclamation being the first in a series of annual Thanksgiving proclamations?
  6. How did Lincoln’s view of Thanksgiving differ from the political divides of his time?
  7. Reflect on the idea of gratitude discussed in the video. Why is it important to express gratitude during Thanksgiving?

5. Optional: This is an interactive about Thanksgiving and the early settlers. Check it out.

CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE AND PLAY!

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

#56: Code a Trick or Treat Game

Full STEAM Ahead

Code a spooky game for others to play. Follow the tutorial instructions to make a simple game. Customize your game to make it your very own.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #56: Code a Trick or Treat Game.

2. Watch this video that show how to code this project in scratch junior.

3.  Now you are going to design your own game.

4. Decide if you want to do a trick or treat theme, or use this same idea, but with your own designs.

5. Please have at least 3 items coded in your final project.  Example: the pumpkin the first candy, the second candy.

6. On your recording page, write what project you are going to create.

7. Code your project. If you want to make a split screen, and run the video again as a guide that is an option.

8. Take a screenshot of the blocks for each of your items. Add this to your recording page.

9.  Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and you finished project with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Scratch Jr coding badge at the EY website.

#90: A Ridiculous, Long Way to Find Out the Day of the Week You Were Born

Math Mini Sparks

Do you know what day of the week you were born on?  If not, you could…

  1. Ask your parent(s)/guardian(s) if they remember the day of the week.

  2. You could “Google”: What day of the week was May 16, 1975 (that’s my birthday)

OR

You can do this ridiculously long way…which is more fun IMO!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #90: A Ridiculous, Long Way to Find Out the Day of the Week You Were Born

2.  Follow the steps. If you would like to see an example of the steps, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Take the last 2 digits of the year in which you were born.

Step 2: Divide that number by 4 and ignore any remainder.

Step 3: Add the day of the month to the answer from step 2

Step 4: Add the month’s key value to the answer from step 3.

January and October:Key Value = 1

February, March, and November: Key Value = 4

April and July: Key Value = 0

May: Key Value = 2

June: Key Value = 5

August: Key Value = 3

September and December: Key Value = 6

Step 5: Subtract 1 for January or February of a leap year.

Step 6:

Add 0 if the date is in the 1900s

Add 6 if the date is in the 2000s

Add 4 for the 1700s

Add 2 for the 1800s

Step 7:  Add the last 2 digits of the year.

Step 8: Divide by 7 and take the remainder.

Remainder 1 is Sunday

Remainder 2 is Monday

Remainder 3 is Tuesday

Remainder 4 is Wednesday

Remainder 5 is Thursday

Remainder 6 is Friday

3. Now double-check your work by searching on Google!

4.Create a product that shows your work!  Example:

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

#89 Matrices

Math Mini Sparks

Matrices are rectangular arrangements of rows and columns. In this mini spark, you will learn about the basics of matrices.

Here are three examples.

    

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #89 Matrices

2. Watch the video below and take notes with the teacher and answer the questions that follow. Remind your teacher that the key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  1. What is a matrix, and how is it defined in the video?
  2. Describe the different ways a matrix can be represented as mentioned in the transcript.
  3. Explain the condition that each row and column must meet in a matrix.
  4. Give an example of a matrix with two rows and two columns, and list its elements.
  5. Why is the arrangement with three elements not considered a matrix according to the video?

3. Watch this second video. Please record at least 5 pieces of information from the video.

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

You can extend your learning by completing the Marvelous Matrices badge!

#71: Nonfiction Poetry

Reading Enrichment

Nonfiction poetry focuses on conveying facts about subjects through engaging and creative narratives. Nonfiction poetry can be a fun and thought-provoking way to tell a story or impart information.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #71: Nonfiction Poetry

2. Learn about the powerful rocket that was built to send humans to the moon. After reading this article answer these questions on your recording page.

  1. Which mission was the first to launch a human crew with a Saturn V rocket?
  2. How many sections did the Apollo 11 craft have?
  3. Which module did the Apollo 11 astronauts travel in for most of the trip?
  4. What does the V in Saturn V stand for?
  5. How heavy was Saturn V at lift-off?

3.  Listen to this example of nonfiction poetry about the moon mission Apollo 11, Eight Days Gone.  Record 3 adjectives (describing words), 3 verbs (action words) and what your reaction is to reading about humans visiting the moon.

 

4. Watch this video and write down the 5 parts of the poem.

5.  Look over this organizer.  Choose your space themed noun that will be the basis for your poem and record it on your recording page.

6. Number your paper from 1-5 brainstorm ideas for all of the steps of your poem.

7.  Create your space themed nonfiction verse in the form of a Cinquain poem on your recording page.

8. Ask your teacher to edit your draft.

9. Put your final poem on your recording page or type your poem.

10. OPTIONAL Find a photo, draw a picture, choose an app on your iPad to accompany your poem and create a visual display of your work.

11.  Share your language arts mini spark recording page, your poem and your illustration with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Lesson idea adapted from read, write, think

Early Enrichment #59: Fables vs. Fairy Tales

Early Enrichment

Click on the image above to watch a video about the differences and similarities of Fables and Fairy Tales.

Fables are stories that are passed down, with a good lesson or moral to be learned, and are about animals, plants, or forces of nature that are humanlike. Fairy tales are stories that often involve magical characters, have good and evil characters, and generally start with “once upon a time.”

Click on the video below to hear a story. After you’ve listened to the story, scroll down to answer a couple of questions.

Answer the following questions in the comments below (don’t forget to include your first name and last initial and your school):

  1. Was this a fable or a fairy tale?
  2. How do you know? Use reasons from the 1st video.

#49: The Museum of the Fur Trade

Social Studies Enrichment

If you take a trip to western Nebraska you can visit the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska. This mini spark takes you there without any traveling.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #49: The Museum of the Fur Trade.
  2. Watch this quick video that introduces you to the fur trade. Complete a 3-2-1 for the video 

3 new things you learned

2 things you wonder

1 question you have

  1. The Museum of the Fur Trade was created in Chadron, Nebraska because it is located on the original James Bordeaux trading post, which is an important historical site. This trading post was established in the fall of 1837 as a site for the American Fur Company to conduct business with the Native Americans who spent their winters in the area. The trading post was reconstructed on its original foundation in 1956 & formally opened to the public later that year. Go to this site and read the article about this trading post. Make a list of 7 details about the post on your recording sheet-one from each paragraph.
  2. Learn more about the Museum of the Fur Trade by watching this video. Discuss the types of items that the Museum of the Fur Trade exhibits. What is unique about their collection? Use 3 sentences.

  1. Go check out the museum itself by taking the audio tours. Listen to two tours of your choice. For each on record the title, a summary, and 5 details. 
  2. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#70: Why is there a “B” in doubt?

Reading Enrichment

Cat- C-A-T     Dog. D-O-G. Not all words have spellings that are as clear and easy to remember as these two. Watch this TED ED video about why there is a “B” in doubt.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #70: Why is there a “B” in doubt?

2. Watch this video. Record all of the forms of doubt and double from the video and 3 other details.

 

3. Do some research to find words with silent letters that are new to you. Record some that you have found on your recording sheet.

4. Read more about silent letters at Wonderopolis. Take the Wonder Word Challenge and Test Your Knowledge when you are done reading. Record both scores on your recording sheet.

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

#55: Fold a Flying Bat

Full STEAM Ahead

Paper airplanes are pieces of art. Watch this video showing a paper airplane that has flapping wings like a bat. After watching, try to make one of your own.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #55: Make a Flying Bat

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

3. See how researchers are learning more about how bat wings work. Add a few notes to your recording page.

4. For the next step you will need a  few pieces of printer paper (8.5 X 11)

5. Watch this video. The teacher will show you all of the steps for folding your own paper bat. Be patient as any type of paper folding takes some practice. Tip-use a ruler to help you make the creases so they are very crisp.

6. Take a picture of your finished bat and add it to your recording page.

Steps 7 and 8 require teacher permission. Talk with your teacher before proceeding.

7. Try out your paper bat.  Find a space where you will have enough room.

8.  If you are happy with the results, add a few sentences explaining your project.

9. If you would like to go back to the video and try to build a second bat, please do so.

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