Category Archives: Uncategorized

#43: Fingerprints

Uncategorized

Did you know that no two people have exactly the same fingerprints? Fingerprints help identify people and are used by scientists, law enforcement, and even the technology we use every day. Fingerprints are one type of biometric, a unique physical characteristic that can be used to recognize a person. In this Mini Spark, you will learn about fingerprints and discover how biometrics are used in the modern world.

Spark Your Learning!

1. Set up your Science Mini Spark recording page: #43: Fingerprints. Answer this questions: Why do you think every person has different fingerprints?

2. Watch this video.  How do the different patterns of fingerprints get started?

 

3. Create a Fingerprint Mini Dictionary.

Choose at least 8 vocabulary words from the video.

For each word, include:

  • The term
  • A definition in your own words
  • A small illustration or symbol

Example:

Fingerprint

The pattern of ridges on the tip of a finger that is unique to each person.

4. Biometrics are physical traits that can be used to identify a person. Examples include:

  • Fingerprints
  • Facial recognition
  • Iris scans
  • Voice recognition

Record these on your recording page. Next to each on, think of a real life example of when they would be used.  When you are done, scroll to the bottom of this post to see some suggested answers.

5. Choose 2 questions to answer

Can you think of another way biometrics might be used in the future to make life easier or safer?

Why are fingerprints useful for identifying people?

How are fingerprints used in technology today?

Do you think biometrics are helpful? Why or why not?

6. Submit your completed Mini Spark notebook pages and Fingerprint Mini Dictionary to your teacher or EY Coordinator.

To learn more about biometrics, complete the biometrics badge at the EY website.

examples for Step 4:

Biometric Tool How It Identifies a Person Real-Life Example
Fingerprints Uses the unique ridges and patterns on a person’s fingers. Unlocking a smartphone with a fingerprint sensor.
Facial Recognition Uses measurements and features of a person’s face. Opening a phone with Face ID or checking in at some airports.
Iris Scans Uses the unique pattern in the colored part of the eye. Security access at research labs, government buildings, or some international airports.
Voice Recognition Uses the unique characteristics of a person’s voice. Asking Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant to recognize your voice.

#71: Civil War Invention-The Telegraph

Uncategorized

How can a war lead to new inventions? During the Civil War, inventors and innovators created new technologies that changed communication, medicine, transportation, and warfare. Some of these inventions are still influencing our lives today! Discover how necessity and innovation shaped history in this Social Studies Mini Spark.

Spark Your Thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page: #71: Civil War Invention-The Telegraph

2. Before you begin, think about this question: What invention do you use every day that would be difficult to live without? Record:

  • The invention
  • How it helps people
  • What life would be like without it

3. Watch the video about The Telegraph. As you watch, record:

  • 5 important inventions or technologies used during the Civil War.
  • 3 ways these inventions changed people’s lives.
  • 1 invention you think had the greatest impact and why.

4. Read the article about the origins of the telegraph. Record 3 details from the article.

5. Explore this morse code translator.  Write your name in Morse code.

6. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

Check out the Civil War Inventions Badge at the EY website. Use this mini spark as one of your tasks.

#69: Chief Oshkosh and the Menominee Forest

Uncategorized

Can people use natural resources without destroying them? More than 150 years ago, Chief Oshkosh and the Menominee people believed they could. While many forests across the United States were being cut down, the Menominee developed a way to use their forest while protecting it for future generations. Today, their forest is considered one of the best examples of sustainable forestry in the world.

Spark Your Thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page: #69: Chief Oshkosh and the Menominee Forest

2. Before you begin, think about this question: If you were in charge of a forest that your family and community depended on, what rules would you create to make sure the forest would still be healthy 100 years from now?

Record at least 3 rules and explain why each rule is important.

3. Watch the video: Chief Oshkosh and a History of Menominee Forest Conservation.

As you watch, record:

  • 5 important facts about Chief Oshkosh.
  • 3 facts about the Menominee people.
  • 2 ways the Menominee cared for their forest.
  • 1 fact that surprised you.

4. Go to this site and scroll down to find a book about Chief Oshkosh. It is purple and there is a button on it that says, “OPEN THE BOOK”. Set your timer and read for 5 minutes. The Menominee believed they were stewards of the forest and should only take what nature could replace. Why do you think protecting forests was especially important to the Menominee people?

5. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#67: Discover the Stock Market!

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

Imagine you want to open a giant lemonade stand business, but you need $100 to buy lemons, sugar, and cups. You only have $10. What do you do?

You could ask 90 of your friends to give you $1 each. In return, you give each friend a tiny piece of your business. If your lemonade stand makes a big profit, your friends get a share of that money. If it fails, they lose their dollar.

That is exactly how the stock market works, just on a much bigger scale!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page #67: Discover the Stock Market!

2. Read the information and answer the question, “What is a stock”, on your recording page. Use 2 sentences.

What is a Stock?

A stock (also called a share) is a piece of ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you become a shareholder. If you buy a share of a famous company like Apple, Disney, or Nike, you actually own a tiny, microscopic piece of that company.

Companies sell stock because they need money to grow. They use the cash from investors to build new factories, invent new products, or hire more workers.

3.  Read the information and answer the question, “How did the stock market start”, on your recording page. Use 3 sentences.

 How Did the Stock Market Start?

The stock market wasn’t invented overnight. It started hundreds of years ago because of sea voyages.

The First Stock: Sea Monsters and Spices

In the 1600s, Dutch explorers wanted to sail across the ocean to bring back valuable spices like cinnamon and pepper from Asia. These trips were incredibly expensive and risky. Ships could sink, get lost, or be attacked by pirates.

No single person wanted to risk all their money on one ship. So, in 1602, the Dutch East India Company decided to try something new. They asked regular citizens to fund the trips. In exchange, citizens got a paper certificate showing they owned a “share” of the voyage’s profits. This was the world’s very first official stock market.

Under the Buttonwood Tree

In America, the stock market started out on the streets of New York City. In 1792, a group

of 24 businessmen met outside on Wall Street under a large buttonwood tree. They signed an agreement to trade stocks with each other. This outdoor meeting spot e

ventually grew into the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which is now the biggest stock market in the world.

 

 

 

4. Read the information and answer the question, “How does the stock market work today:, on your recording page. Use 2 sentences.

How Does the Stock Market Work Today?

Today, people don’t meet under trees to trade stocks. It is almost entirely done on computers. The stock market acts like a giant, digital supermarket where buyers and sellers trade shares.

The prices of stocks go up and down every second based on a rule called supply and demand:

  • High Demand: If a company invents an awesome new video game console, a lot of people will want to buy that company’s stock. Because the stock is popular, the price goes up.

  • Low Demand: If a company makes a bad product or loses money, people will want to sell their stock. Because everyone is selling and nobody is buying, the price goes down.

People invest in the stock market hoping to buy a stock at a low price and sell it later at a higher price, making a profit.

5. There is always a risk involved! The stock market involves risk. There are NO guarantees. If a company goes out of business, the value of its stock can drop to zero and investors can lose ALL of the money they put in. Summarize this information using 5 words.

6. Share your Social Studies mini spark recording page with your teacher or EY coordinator.

Want to try it out for yourself? Learn more about the stock market by completing the Stock Market Badge at the EY website.

#51 Teeny Tiny Drawing Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

One day an illustrator ask herself… just how small can I draw? Today is the day we all find out!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark page #51 Teeny Tiny Drawing

2.  Watch this video to remind you how to measure to the nearest 1/32 of and inch.  If you had a ruler that had measurements marked to  1/32, how many little lines will there be from 0 to 1.  If you do not have a 1/32 ruler, how can you find 1/32?

NOTE: The image of a ruler is at the end of this post if you need it later.

3.  Copy this table on to your recording page.

4. Watch this video stop at 2:23. Record any measurements that she makes in your chart.

5. Before you resume the video, predict how many versions of her drawing she can create. Record that number on your recording page.

6. Keep watching the video and recording the measurements in your chart. You will have to pause the video to and zoom in to look closely at the ruler and decide the measurements. The ruler she is using in the video is a 1/32 ruler. (The last drawing was very small to so it is ok if your answer for that one is a little off.

7.  Answer these questions.

Which version of the drawing was your favorite and why?

Were the drawing proportional to one another? Explain.

Why was the last drawing so hard to measure.

What are the measurements for her next two drawing if she had increased the paper size instead of decreased. Start with 5 in. X 7in.

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

OPTIONAL: Create your own series of drawings matching the paper sizes from this challenge.

  •  Get two pieces of paper, a pencil, and a ruler.
  • Use a ruler to carefully measure and draw each rectangle before you start.
  • Label each rectangle with its size (length × width).
  • Notice how each one gets smaller and smaller — teeny tiny!
Rectangle Size (inches) Space to Draw
1️⃣ 5 in × 7 in ⬜ Large rectangle space
2️⃣ 2½ in × 3½ in ⬜ Medium rectangle space
3️⃣ 1¼ in × 1¾ in ⬜ Small rectangle space
4️⃣ ½ in × ¾ in ⬜ Tiny rectangle space
5️⃣ ¼ in × ⅜ in ⬜ Very tiny rectangle space
6️⃣ 3/32 in × 4/32 in ⬜ Teeny-tiniest rectangle space!

Share your work with your teacher or EY coordinator and get credit for a Second STEAM Mini Spark!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#10: Brain Break: Thought Bubbles

Uncategorized

Ever feel that your mind is too busy? Do the ‘Thought Bubbles’ video to blow them away.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #10: Brain Break: Thought Bubbles 

2.  Watch this video. When you are done write, ” I did the brain break: thought bubbles” on your recording page.

3.  Why would brain breaks be helpful for students? 

4. Write the steps explaining how to do this type of brain break. The audience is a grade 4 student.

5.  Share your SEL mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#9: Guided Meditation: Procrastination

SEL Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

What is procrastination? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, procrastination means “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.” Do you ever procrastinate? Sal from Khan Academy has recorded a few short meditations to help with this problem.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #9: Guided Meditation: Procrastination

2.    Think of a time when you put something off until the last minute, something that you knew you probably shouldn’t have. It doesn’t have to be school related. Write it here.

3.   NOTE: This step will take about 12 minutes and it is helpful if you can sit in a quiet space.

Complete this “Guided Meditation to help you stop procrastinating” with Sal. When you are done, write “I did guided meditation” on your recording sheet.

 

4.  Write down three ideas you would like to remember from your guided session.

5. Share your SEL mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.

#36: All about Pandas

Science Mini Spark, Uncategorized

Spark your thinking!

  1. Set up your Science Mini Spark recording page: #36: All about Pandas
  2. Read this fact page about pandas.  Create a challenging 5 question mini quiz using information from the fact page. Make an answer key as well.
  3.   Watch this video about the pandas diet. Choose 2 questions to answer on your recording page. For each question include two sentences.

How do pandas adapt physically to their bamboo diet?
Explain why panda cubs are born so small compared to their mothers.
What role does a panda’s diet play in its fur color?
Discuss the historical range of giant pandas and how it has changed.

  1. Bamboo is a type of grass. It can grow as tall as a tree and can look more like forest than grassland. Read more about bamboo at Britannica Kids.  Make a tiny fact page about bamboo. Include 5 details.
  2. Read this article to find out the types of pandas that are there and why are pandas endangered. From the point of view of a panda, explain the different types of pandas and why pandas are endangered. Use information from the article.  Please write 3+ sentences.

6. Share your Science Mini Spark Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

 

#34: A Dog’s Nose

Science Mini Spark, Uncategorized

You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Learn about how a dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that can’t be seen at all.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your science mini spark recording page: #34: A Dog’s Nose

2.  Watch this video and record 5-10 details about dog noses on your recording sheet.

3. Choose 2 of these questions to answer with 2 sentences. Write your answer from the point of view of a dog.  Remind your teacher that the answer key can be found in the Science Mini Spark folder.

  1. What are the main features of a dog’s nose that allow it to smell so effectively?
  2. How does a dog’s ability to smell differ from that of humans?
  3. Describe the role of the vomeronasal organ in a dog’s sense of smell.
  4. In what ways can dogs use their sense of smell to understand their environment?
  5. How can dogs be trained to respond to various scents, and what are some examples of their abilities?

4. Read an article about a dog detective.  Record number facts from the article. Example: Their sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than a human’s.

5. Look over this  animal nose information page from the San Diego Zoo.  Record 2 details about each of the animals listed in the article.

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

#110: Extreme Records

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

THE TALLEST, DEADLIEST, FASTEST,
SMALLEST, HOTTEST STUFF ON EARTH!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Math mini spark recording page: #110: Extreme Records

2. Study this teaching page carefully. Write 3 facts that are new to you on your recording sheet.

3. Set up a table like this on your recording sheet:

Leave one row blank for now.

4. Under each of these headings write out all of the numbers included in the resource and their units of measure. Lut Desert has been complete for you as an example:

5. Do your own research to find your own EXTREME RECORD data to add to the table. Examples: the fastest flying animal, the heaviest animal, coldest place on earth, etc. Find 1 or 2 samples of measurement about that extreme record and add it to the last row in the table.

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