Category Archives: Reading Enrichment

#82: The Story Spine!

Reading Enrichment

We are all storytellers. Good storytelling involves captivating an audience through the effective use of narrative elements, such as compelling characters, vivid imagery, and an engaging plot.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #82: The Story Spine!
  2. Watch this video Pixar in a Box: Introduction to Storytelling. Pause the video to record 5-10 ideas about storytelling and what is needed to make a good story.

 

3. Watch this video about the story spine. Write the story spine prompts on your recording page.

 

4. Use a story you have just read or a story suggested by your teacher. Use the story spine template and fill it in for your story.

5. OPTIONAL: Create your own story idea using the story spine prompts.

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


Check out the Pixar in a Box badge on the EY website

# 81: Origin Myths-Fire

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

An origin myth is a special story about imaginary people meant to answer difficult questions such as, “Where did the seasons first come from?” or “How was earth was formed?”. Myths are passed generation to generation in order to teach a lesson about a people’s customs or virtues. In each of the myths you will hear a story from a different tribal group.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page:  #81: Origin Myths-Fire

2. Read these two paragraphs. 

Native American or Indigenous peoples of North America do not share a single, unified body of mythology. Each of the many different tribal groups has developed their own stories about the creation of the world, the appearance of the first people, the place of humans in the universe, and the lives and deeds of deities and heroes.

Despite the great variety of Native American mythologies, certain common mythic themes, characters, and stories can be found in many of the cultures. Underlying all the myths is the idea that spiritual forces can be sensed through the natural world—including clouds, winds, plants, and animals. Many stories explain how the actions of gods, heroes, and ancestors gave the earth its present form.

On your recording sheet answer these two questions. What is the purpose of myths? What are some common elements in myths? 

3.  You will use a chart for the step 4.  You can create one on your recording page, print out this PDF, or make your own digital copy to add to your digital recording sheet.

4. Listen to or Read these 4 myths about how fire was created. Fill out your chart for each story. 

The First Fire – Cherokee

 

Coyote Brings Fire to the People – Shoshone

 

Fire Race- Karuk

 

How Beaver Stole Fire – Nez Percé 

How Beaver Stole Fire from the Pines

5. For the last task, decide which two origin stories that are the most similar.  On your recording page record the titles. Make a bulleted list of 5 ways the stories are the same and then list 5 ways that the stories have differences.

6. Share your language arts 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.

 

#77: Pandemic Poetry

Reading Enrichment

What Happened When We All Stopped is a children’s book and animated poem by Tom Rivett-Carnac, illustrated by Carla Kreuser and Bee Rivett-Carnac. It explores life after a health pandemic, like COVID-19, from the viewpoint of people at home observing nature. The story suggests that this time of quiet can help the Earth heal and remind us how to live in harmony with nature.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #77: Pandemic Poetry

2. Read this article about Jane Goodall.  Record 5 details about her life on your recording sheet.

3. Tom Rivett-Carnac wrote the children’s book What Happened When We All Stopped in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute. The book, read by Jane Goodall, is about what happens after a health pandemic and how to build back better.  Watch this animated poem.

4. On your recording page

  • write about what changed from the beginning of the poem to the end
  • write about your favorite part of the poem

5. Choose one activity

  • Write a 5-10 sentence personal reflections about a natural place that feels peaceful. Incorporate sensory images to help the reader understand what it feels like to be there.
  • Write your own  poem about nature.

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

Check out the Jane Goodall Badge at the EY Website.

#76: Diary of a Wombat

Reading Enrichment

Wombats are like the adorable couch potatoes of the animal world! These furry little marsupials come in shades of brown, tan, or grey and can grow up to 1.3 meters long!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #76: Diary of a Wombat

2. Listen to the story Diary of a Wombat.  Focus on viewpoint, voice, and flow as you listen to the story.

 

3. Explore opposing viewpoints. Choose one event. On your recording page describe the same event from two points of view

Mothball vs. family members.

4. Diary of a Wombat is a humorous text. Identify the various devices Jackie French and Bruce Whatley have used to make this book entertaining. To get you started- What is Mothball describing as a ‘flat, hairy creature? How does this add humor?  Think of 2 more funny examples and add them to your recording page.

5. In literary texts, dialogue plays an important role in character development. However, there is no dialogue in Diary of a Wombat (from Mothball). Analyze the text to gather information about Mothball. How has the author developed Mothball’s character without the use of dialogue? Record 3 things you know about him,

6. Mothballs main motive in life is to find carrots to eat. Make a list on your recording sheet of all of the ways he does this.

7. Read this National Geographic article. Make a tiny information page with 5 facts about wombats on your recording sheet.

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

Check out the Diary of a Creature badge at the EY website.

#75-Dakuwaqa:A Fijian Myth

Reading Enrichment

Across the Pacific, myths and legends are passed down through oral tradition. The myth of Dakuwaqa is deeply rooted in Fijian culture and serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world, as well as the consequences of greed and disrespect for the environment.

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #75-Dakuwaqa:a Fijian Myth
  2.  Watch this video. On your recording page, record the names of the characters as they appear.

 

3. Choose an activity to complete.

  • Write a simplified version of this myth for a younger audience.  Make your version 10-15 sentences long.
  • Read about kids helping sharks.  Choose two projets. Write a 5 sentences about each of the projects and the kids behind the project.
  • Research sharks and create an information page about them with 10-15 facts.

4. Share your language arts 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

#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

#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.

#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