Category Archives: Reading Enrichment

#64 Misplaced Modifiers

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that add information about other parts of a sentence—which is usually helpful. But when modifiers aren’t linked clearly enough to the words they’re actually referring to, they can create unintentional ambiguity.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #64: Misplaced Modifiers

2. Look at this example of an incorrectly placed modifier and write it on your recording page.

Perched up high on a tree branch, I yelled at the cat to leave the sparrow alone.

Meaning: I don’t tangle with a tabby unless I am perched 10 feet up in the air.

3. Look at this example of a correctly placed modifier and write it on your recording page.

Seeing a sparrow perched up high on a tree branch, I yelled at the cat to leave him alone.

Meaning: ohhhh….the sparrow is up in the tree. Watch out little sparrow!

4. Read this teaching page to look over some modifier examples. Record 5 details on your recording sheet.

5. Watch this TED Ed video and record at least 5  notes about modifiers and their placement, dangling , and squinting modifiers.

6. Create a teaching page explaining modifiers along with with examples of how they are used. Include your own sentence with a misplaced modifier and then correct the sentence so that the reader understands the meaning.

7. Optional: Do more research about misplaced, dangling and squinting modifiers. Include what you learned in your visual.

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

#63: All About Axolotls

Reading Enrichment

Axolotls are really cool creatures!  These fun little animals are often pink or white and have feathery gills that stick out from their heads. Let’s dive into the amazing world of Axolotls and discover more about their unique traits and habitats!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #63: All About Axolotls

2. What do you know about axolotls?

3. Read the species profile page and answer these reflection questions on your recording sheet.

What new information is most interesting to you?

Axolotls are an endangered species. What types of things could be done to help the species survive and thrive?

4.  Did you know that Axolotls have an incredible ability to regenerate? Watch the video below to learn more!  Record 5  details on your recording sheet.

 

5.  Create! Show us what you learned about axolotls in a creative way. Choose from one of the following options.

  1. Social Media Post – Using this templates create a post from the perspective of an Axolotl.
  2. Minecraft Habitat – Design an ideal habitat or underwater playground for the Axolotl using Minecraft. You will need to complete this option at home. Take a photo or screenshot and send to your EY Coordinator so it can be added to your recording page.
  3. PicCollage- Explain the process of regeneration. What other amphibians have the ability to regenerate? Create a PicCollage that shows us what you discovered.

6. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and any other pages you made with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#62: Literary Device Lesson-Simile

Reading Enrichment

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #62: Literary Device Lesson-Simile

2. What is a simile? Write the official definition of a simile on your recording page

a simile is a noun that means: “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.”

3. Watch this word girl video. Record 3 similes that you hear.

4. Come up with a funny scenario for each simile and write it on your recording page.

Example: as sly as a fox-Hillary was as sly as a fox as she to gingerly placed the fruit bat into her backpack.

  • Easy as ABC
  • Like two peas in a pod
  • Straight as an arrow
  • Wise as an owl

5.  Watch and listen to the book, “My Dog Is As Smelly As Dirty Socks”. Write about your favorite page on your recording page.

 

6. Write a “Simile Me”.

  • First, jot down five words you would use to describe yourself.
  • Use your five words and make comparisons to something else, writing your own version of a “Simile Me”

Here is my example:

1 – busy                                                                                                                                 

2 – creative

3 – hardworking

4 – happy

5 – sleepy

I’m as busy as a timer,

As creative as a stained glass window,

As hardworking as an elephant,

As happy as a well-loved dog,

And as sleepy as a pillow.

7. Use an app of your choice to create a fun illustration/visual of your “Simile Me”

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

#61: Caption This!

Reading Enrichment

Even if a picture is worth a thousand words, it still needs a caption. Captions are easy to write if you begin with the basics.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #61: Caption This!

2. Caption:  A caption is text that gives additional information about a picture or illustration. Record this definition on your recording page.

3. Look over this example. Add one more sentence to the caption that includes an adjective.

4. Look over these steps on how to write your own caption and record them on your recording page.

Step 1-Begin by brainstorming Who, What, When, Where, Why and How from the picture and writing down those details.

Step 2- Write a caption that gives these details and some additional information

5. Record this Caption Writing Checklist on your recording page.

  • describe the picture
  • provide additional information
  • written in complete sentences
  • include adjectives and additional details

6. Choose one of these pictures. First, brainstorm on your recording page.  Then, write your own caption your recording page.  Finally, look at the checklist to make sure you did all 4 items.

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

Check out the Caption This! Badge at the EY Website.

 

Teachers: Ask your EY Coordinator for this 65 page resource (PDF), would be great for warms ups and exit tickets to help students practice caption writing!

 

 

#60: 1 word sentences

Reading Enrichment

Is it possible to make a complete sentence using just one word over and over? Complete this mini spark to find out.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #60: 1 word sentences

2. ‘Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo’ is a grammatically correct sentence. How? Emma Bryce explains how this and other one-word sentences illustrate some lexical ambiguities that can turn ordinary words and sentences into mazes that mess with our minds. Record 3 details from the video on your recording sheet.

3. Try figuring out the meaning to these sentences. Record your ideas on your recording sheet.

Police police Police police police police Police police.
Will, will Will will Will Will’s will?
Rose rose to put rose roes on her rows of roses.
If it is it, it is it; if it is it is it, it is.

4. After thinking about the sentences above check out this  guide which will have clues for you and a few more example. Write about your favorite example from this page.

5. To wrap up this mini spark, use this info page to find words to help you create your own silly sentence using one word. Record your sentence of your recording page.

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

#59: 1 hand book review

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Before you share a book with a friend, it helps to share a quick, ‘handy’ book review. Learn how in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #59: 1 hand book review

2. Read over these instructions and write down the 5 sentence starters on your recording page.

3. Choose a book that you have recently read and enjoyed. Write the title on your recording page.

4. Open this sheet and read it. You can print it if you want. You will use this as a guide to writing your own.

5. Create your own script on your recording page.

6. Choose at least two people and read your 1-hand book review to them.

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

 

 

# 58:Halloween Roll-A-Story

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Ready for some Halloween writing fun?

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: # 58:Halloween Roll-A-Story

2. Grab a die or use this online version

3. Use the guide below to choose elements of your story. Record these on your recording page.

4. Now you are ready to begin writing  your story on your recording page.

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

L. Arts Mini Spark #58 – Creative Tweets

Mini Challenges, Reading Enrichment

Step 1: What is a Tweet? Read the definition below and look at the examples.

  • What is a Tweet?  A tweet is a status update on a social media platform called Twitter that is broadcast to other users. Limited to 280 characters or less, tweets can express how users are feeling, what they’re doing, and anything in between.

Step 2: Look over the Tweet options below and choose one to complete. Turn in your finished work to your teacher or EY coordinator.

  • Option 1: Character Tweet

What would a character from a favorite book “tweet” at the end of a chapter or section. Write it as though you are that character using Twitter.

Character Tweet Example:

Character Tweet Template:

 

  • Option 2: Chapter/Section Tweet:

Think of a chapter of a book or section of a movie and summarize what happened twitter style.

Chapter/Section Template:

  • Option 3: Book Review Tweet

Book Review Tweet Examples:

  • Option 4: Historical Figure Tweet

Choose a person from a historical event. What would this historical figure “tweet” after this event? Write it as though you are that person using Twitter.

Historical Figure Template:

Step 3: Use the contact form below and type your Tweet in the Message section. Hit Submit

#57: Unicorn Study

Reading Enrichment

Check out these unicorn topics to stretch your knowledge about this mythical beast.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #57: Unicorn Fun

2. Read this unicorn fact page. Using ideas from this page, create your own colorful unicorn fact page.

3. Read the Article-Siberian Unicorn Fossils. On your recording sheet, make a 5 question quiz with answers about these creatures.

4. Watch this Video-Unicorns of the Sea. Take detailed notes on your recording sheet while watching this video. Record at least 5 items.

 

5. Read this article about the unicorn puppy. On your recording sheet, summarize the article in 3 sentences.

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

#56:Word Art

Reading Enrichment

WordArt.com is an online word cloud generator that enables you to create amazing and unique word clouds with ease.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page #56: Word Art.

2. Look over this example.

3. Decide what you would like to use as a topic for your word art. Record your choice on your recording sheet.

Some ideas for your Word Art:

  • Type on word but in different languages
  • Type the things you are thankful for
  • Type your favorites (food, music, color, artist, subject, etc.)
  • Type in the names of your favorite books/characters
  • Type in words associated with your favorite seasons
  • Type words about a history or science topic that you are interested in

4. Create a piece of word art using the following website:  https://wordart.com/

5. Add a screenshot of your art to your recording page or print it out.

6. Create a second piece of word art with a different theme. Use the same website and experiment with different shapes, fonts, colors, etc. Add a screenshot of your art to your recording page or print it out.

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