Is an eclipse worth seeing? You bet! On April 8, 2024, the Moon’s shadow fell on Earth, creating a total solar eclipse across North America, and if you had the chance to see it in person that is amazing. You can find videos of it online if you missed it. It’s an amazing coincidence that total eclipses happen at all — and that we’re alive at a time when we can see and predict them. So join us to find out everything you need to know before watching an eclipse.

To earn this mini spark choose one project to create

Use the dates from the video mini timeline about the history of eclipses.

Create a teaching page about a pinhole camera projector and how to make one and how it works.

Use the information from the video to write a step by step that explains what to expect during an eclipse.

Use the vocabulary words from the video to create a mini eclipse dictionary page.

The periodic table of chemical elements, often called the periodic table, organizes all discovered chemical elements in rows (called periods) and columns (called groups) according to increasing atomic number. Scientists use the periodic table to quickly refer to information about an element, like atomic mass and chemical symbol. Watch this video to get started.

To earn this mini spark, choose an activity to complete. 

1. Explore this element webpage to research 5 elements that are new to you. Make a colorful learning page about each of the elements you choose.

2. Review the elements on this webpage.  Choose one element and research that element. Make a quiz game for it using what you have learned. 

 3. Learn more about atoms at this page. Make an atom teaching page. 

Read the fact card and other information at National Geographic Kids to review flamingo facts.

Go along with two cute flamingos as they attend their hydrotherapy session to help them heal.  Hydrotherapy is the use of exercises in a pool as part of treatment for conditions such as arthritis or back pain.

To earn this Science Mini Spark choose one of these projects to complete

-Write a mini flamingo dairy from the point of view of one of the flamingos from the video. Include 3 entries. Talk about the relationship with the zookeeper, the therapy, as well as the stingray encounter.

-Learn about several species of Flamingos and make a list  of 8-10 facts for each one.

-The flamingos in the video at the zoo have different experiences than flamingos in the wild. Do research and create an information page comparing and contrasting the two groups.  Use this image as a guide.

What do you know about dodo birds? Record what you know on a page titled “Dodo Information”. Watch the TED Ed video that provides detailed information about these interesting birds.

Choose several of these questions to answer in thoughtful sentences. Add the responses to your dodo info page that you started before watching the video. Add any other information that you would like to your dodo information page.

1. Describe the origin of dodos as explained in the video.

2. How did dodos adapt to their environment on the island of Mauritius?

3. Discuss the factors that contributed to the downfall of dodos.

4. How did human activities, such as the arrival of Dutch sailors, impact the dodo population?

5. In what ways did the dodo prove to be a survivor on its island home before facing extinction?

6. How did the introduction of invasive species contribute to the decline of dodos and other Mauritian animals?

7. Reflecting on the extinction of the dodo, what larger lesson can be learned about human impact on wildlife?

Want to know more?

Take a trip to visit Google arts and Culture and learn more about the dodo.

Watch this intro video about Odysseus’ landing that occured in February of 2024. Take detailed notes as you watch.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/us-achieves-first-moon-landing-half-century-with-private-spacecraft-2024-02-23/

If you did not include the idiom mentioned in the video, at the 11th hour, add this information in your notes.

In the video it mentions humans going to Mars and how that has not happened.  Watch this video about this topic.

Write down several reasons explaining why humans have not made the trip to Mars and how going to the moon might help us get there in the future.

Let’s learn more about the six sided fluffy white stuff that has been flying around!  Watch this video to get started.

At this site you can see some snowflakes under a microscope and read about how snowflakes are formed.

To earn this mini spark, create a script where you are interviewing a snowflake. Include 3 or 4 interview with the snowflake providing answers. You can use the questions ideas below as a guide or you can create your own.

1. What initiates the formation of a snowflake and how does it evolve into a complete snowflake?

2. Explain the process of crystallization and how it contributes to the symmetrical shape of a snowflake?

3. Why do snowflakes have six sides?

4. How does the temperature and humidity of the air influence the basic shape of an ice crystal?

5. What are the types of ice crystals formed at different temperatures, and what conditions contribute to their formation?

6. Describe how the atmospheric conditions encountered by an ice crystal affect the intricate shape and arms of a snowflake.

7. How do the different paths from the sky to the ground influence the unique appearance of individual snowflakes?

8. What are some of the diverse forms and patterns that individual snowflakes can resemble?

9. In what ways do slight changes in the surrounding temperature or humidity impact the growth and direction of the arms of a snowflake?

What Melts in the Sun?

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?

Task: Ask your parent’s permission first!! Then, find a muffin tin and 12 ordinary household items that make you ask….”Does this melt in the sun?”

Write those items down on a piece of paper and then divide that paper into 2 columns: 1 column for predicting and the other column will be your results. It can look like this:

Choose a day where the temperature is at least 85 degrees. Put your muffin tin with the items in the full sun and wait at least 20 minutes.

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

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

Finally, take a picture of your paper with your predictions & results and email it to your EY teacher!

We can’t wait to see it!

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

The twilight zone is a layer of water that stretches around the globe, just beyond the reach of sunlight and beyond the limit of photosynthesis in the ocean.

Watch this video about the amazing creatures that call the twilight zone home.

Choose 2 prompts below to show your thinking and learning after watching this video.

1.  You just bumped into a friend who wants to know what a hatchetfish is. Describe this creature to your friend using MANY details from the video.
2. Do some research about the fangtooth mentioned in the video. Record what you learned in an interesting manner.
3. The anglerfish has a bioluminescent lure. Do research to find 10 other animals that are bioluminescent.
4. What is so unique about the dragonfish?
5. Life in the twilight zone looks weird or even frightening to us, but these animals have evolved to survive, and even thrive, in conditions that we could never hope to endure. What are some of the ways twilight zone animals might think we look weird or even frightening?

Lesson adapeted from https://ed.ted.com/lessons/could-you-survive-the-real-twilight-zone-philip-renaud-and-kenneth-kostel#digdeeper

Read this article from CTV News to discover some of the flowers, fish, and scorpions that scientist have been found on our earth during the year 2022

Meet a rainbow fish and other new species discovered in 2022

What is it like to discover a new species. Watch this video to find out.

To earn this mini spark choose an activity  to complete.

1. Create a list of interesting creatures that have been discovered in the last decade.

2. Make an info page for a newly discovered creatures.

3. Research animals that have been listed as extinct in recent years.  Create a detailed visual about this topic.

4. What humans can do to protect the creatures that share the earth with us? Make a poster with 3 or 4 ideas for kids.

Listen to what these kids think of when they hear about Nanotechnology

Click here

Watch this short video a few times to learn about the tiny world that makes up pretty much everything.

When you are done watching the video one time all of the way through, get out a piece of paper and rewatch while you record some information. Pause as needed.

1. Record the measurement for

 *the human hair in nanometers (it is on the little piece of paper)

*the red blood cell

* when you are smaller than he wave of visible light

* the Rhino virus

2. What are nano materials? 

3. How can nanotechnology be used in the future?