A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles. Learn about this misunderstood punctuation mark in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #17: How to use a colon

2.  Read this information about colons. Record the bold word and the sample sentence.

Emphasis—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. (She had one love: Western Michigan University.)

Dialogue—Write the speaker’s name, followed by a colon and his or her statement. (Reporter: What is the 49th Parallel? Dunn: It is the line of latitude that acts as the boundary separating Canada from the United States in North America.)

Introduce lists—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. (I want the following items: butter, sugar, and flour.)

3. Watch the video. Pause the video as needed to record notes. Pay special attention to any words that are new to you, rules, specific examples and sample sentences. These items should all be included on your recording page. You you have at least 5 items on your note page when you are done.

4. Look over this teaching page.  Scroll past the video and read the intro sentence and then 1, 2 and 3. Read each one and write down the rule and an example.

5. Write two of your own sentences using a colon correctly.

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

=

A biography is the story of a real person’s life, whether they are alive today, from centuries past, famous, forgotten heroes, or a unique group of people.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #16: Biography Study

2. Check out the this website. It contains biographies of many people. You will find world leaders,inventors, scientists and many more. Click on 3 of the names. What topics do the pages introduce?

3. Choose someone you have not heard of before and read that person’s biography. On your recording page, add the person’s name and 3 of the most interesting facts you learned.

4. Create a mini-quiz (5 questions or less) about your subject and add it to your recording sheet. Include an answer key.

5.  Repeat this process for 5 different people.

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

Check out the Who was Making History Badge or the Who was Badge at the EY website

A REBUS is a picture representation of a name, work, or common phrase. Look at the puzzle in the read box.  Since the word HEAD is over the word HEELS, the answer to the puzzle would be HEAD OVER HEELS!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #15: Rebus Puzzles

2. Number your recording page from 1-8.  At the rebus quiz page, examine the puzzle, record your guess, and then check your work. Add a star if you got it correct and add in the right answer if needed.

3. Read this teaching page that explains some strategies so you can learn more about how the position of the words will help you solve the puzzle. On your recording sheet make a section for each of these topics:

• Positioning
• Try it out 1
• Highlighting,
• Font Properties
• Try it out 2
• Homophones,
• Repetition
• Try it out 3
• Context and Clues

4. As you read each section on the page, write examples and hint on your recording page.

****NOTE: There are 3 “try it out” sections on this teaching page. For each “try it out”click the link to find a puzzle, record your guesses/thoughts, and then check the answer.

5. Go to this website where you will find 18 rebus puzzles. Number your recording page from 1-18, Choose ten to solve. Record your guess  next to the correct number. When have a guess written down, click the box to check your work. Put a star on your page or write in the correct answer if needed.

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