If you head out to any apple-picking adventures  in orchards around and in Omaha, you might hear about the legend of Johnny Appleseed. Who was this man? And, did he really exist?

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #41: Who Was Johnny Appleseed? 

2. Read this article to find out some information about Johnny Appleseed. On your recording page, write down 5 notes about his life.

3. Print out a crossword puzzle with words from this story to complete. Add a picture to your recording sheet or save it to turn in with your mini spark recording page.

4. Watch this news clip about Johnny Appleseed. Write a few sentences about what you learned.

5. Choose two of these prompts and write a two sentence response for each on your recording sheet.

• What have you learned from the legend of Johnny Appleseed?
• Johnny Appleseed was also known for his kindness to animals. What animal do you value, and why?
• In your opinion, what is the best form to enjoy an apple? Why?
• Johnny Appleseed slept outside under the trees. Have you ever slept outside? Write about an experience when you did not sleep in your bed.
• Johnny Appleseed is a legend and known for his good deeds. What would you like to be known for throughout your life?
• If you could travel around planting seeds, where would you go and why?

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

Do you know how to ride a bike? Fiona Kolbinger from Germany sure does! She won the ultra-endurance Transcontinental Race back in 2019.  In this mini spark you will learn more about this event and review the parts of a friendly letter.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page:#40: Bike Racing and Letter Writing

2. Fiona Kolbinger, a cancer researcher from Germany, outrode 225 men and 39 women to complete the approximately 2,485 mile-race from Bulgaria to France in 10 days, two hours, and 48 minutes. Even more impressive, Kolbinger crossed the finish line almost 11 hours ahead of the second-place winner, Ben Davies of the United Kingdom.  Rewrite this paragraph in your own words on your recording sheet.

3. Watch the video below to find out more about the Transcontinental Race. Record several details form the video on your recording sheet.

4. Read this article about Fiona’s amazing win!

5. Review the parts of a letter by watching this video.  Record the 5 parts on your recording page.

6. On your recording page, write Letter to Fiona, including what you found most impressive about her win!

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

For many years, the heart was a mystery.  What did it do?  What was it there for?  Let’s learn all about this muscle.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #39: It’s All About the Heart

2. This TED-Ed lesson will help you investigate how the heart keeps you alive. Record 5 details from the video on your recording page.

3. Years ago, people thought emotions came from the heart!  Read this article to find out more about how the heart works. Record 3-5 facts that you did not already know.

4. Choose one of these prompts and respond with 3-5 sentences.

• What are some ways to keep your heart healthy?
• What are the four chambers of the heart called, and what does each chamber do?
• Why was it so difficult for scientists and doctors to figure out what the heart was for?

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

Learn about the interesting Upside-Down Catfish by completing this reading mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #38:The Mystery of the Upside-Down Catfish

2. Watch video about the upside down catfish. Record a few parts of the script that you thought were interesting.

3. Respond with 3-4 sentences for each prompt.

• Using many details, explain why an upside-down catfish swims upside-down.
• How does this fish use camouflage?
• What part of the video was most interesting to you and why?

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

Did you know that November 3rd is national sandwich day, December 7th is national letter writing day. and January  7th is national bobblehead day?

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #37: Create Your Own National Day

2. Research each these days. On your recording sheet, write about the day, its history, and how it is celebrated.

National Sandwich Day

National Letter Writing Day

National Bobblehead Day

3. What day do feel deserves to add to the list of national celebrations? Pickle day?  It’s observed on November 15. How about National fuzzy sock day? Wear your cozy socks and keep your feet toasty warm all day long. People celebrate it on December 21st!  Do some research and find 5 more funny days that are National days.

4. What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming to think of a special day. When you have a list of several choices, do research to find one that is not already observed.

5. When you find one that can be your very own, create your own informational apple clip project (or app of your choice) about your day.

Include this information:

The name of your day and 5-10 facts about your topic.

Why it is important enough to be a national day?

How people can celebrate this day?

Add color and illustrations to your clips.

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

Know what you want to write but aren’t sure where to start? These sentence prompts will help. Remember these 6 openings and you can write anything you want

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #36: 6 Ways to Start a Sentence 

2. Watch this video and take notes on your recording page for each of the ideas.

3.  This is an article on this same topic. Read the article, 5 tips, and the example paragraphs. Write down 5 new ideas.

4. On your recording page write a 6 sentence paragraph about a topic of your choice.  Use a different strategy for each sentence. Underline each beginning with a different color.

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

Many years ago, it was common for students to regularly be assigned the memorization of a poem or part of a historical document.  Today, that does not happen in schools as regularly.  But, did you know that memorization is good for you???

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #35: Living Poetically

2. Here are three big ways that memorization will improve your reading and speaking skills.  First, reciting a piece that is memorized will help you learn to articulate your words (speak clearly).  Second, memorization has been shown to increase your vocabulary because you familiarize yourself with words that you may have not otherwise come across.  Lastly, increasing your vocabulary has been shown to increase your reading comprehension.  Wow! Write these 3 items on your recording sheet.

3. The following link has some more suggestions of what to memorize AND gives some pointers on how to memorize. Read the whole article and record 3-5 points on your recording sheet.

4. Pick one of the poems off of the memorization list to print. Record your choice on your recording page.

5. Work on this project for a few days.

6. The EY Coordinator/teacher would love to get a video of you reciting a poem or part of a historical document. Practice until you are ready and then take a video with your ipad reading the poem you picked. Make sure to say the name of the poem and the author before you start.

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

Word squares are grids of letters that cross horizontally and vertically. In the puzzle below, the word TRAP is located in the top row and left-most column; ROME can be seen in the second row from the top and the second column from the left; AMEN is found in the third row from the top and the third column from the left; and PENT occurs in the bottom row and in the right-most column. All the words cross each other in a perfect square arrangement. (taken from Psychology Today)

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page:#33:Word Squares

2. Take a look at this one.  DEN is spelled vertically and horizontally in the first column and row respectively.  EYE is spelled vertically and horizontally in the 2nd column/row, and NET is spelled vertically and horizontally in the 3rd column/row

3. Try These 3 Word Squares. Record your answers on your recording page.

4. Create the Word Squares from these given clues!  Use this sheet to record your answers.

5. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and your word square sheet with your teacher/EY coordinator.