Category Archives: Uncategorized

#11: That’s hard to pronounce!

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

A heteronyms are words that have the same spelling but different pronunciations and meanings.  For example, wind and wind can easily cause confusion since both word are spelled the same BUT can be pronounced differently and have different meaning. We’ll outline heteronyms and some other words that are hard to pronounce in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #11: That’s hard to pronounce!

2. Write this definition on your recording sheet. A heteronym occurs when two or more homographs – words which the same spelling – are pronounced differently. In a written text, this can be confusing.

3. Watch this video. On your recording page record at least 10 ideas you learned from this video.

 

4. Look at this list of words. Practice the different ways the word can be pronounced.  Ask your teacher to listen to you say the words in the correct format. Have your teacher put her signature on your recording sheet by step 4.

  • Bass – a fish, or a low-pitched instrument
  • Bow – a thing you fire arrows with, or when you bend over in a respectful greeting
  • Desert – to abandon, or a (usually sandy) area with little rain
  • Moped – when you were sad, or a low-powered alternative to a motorbike
  • Perfect – when you get really good at something, or when something is flawless
  • Polish – when you make something metal look great, or something from Poland
  • Wind – when you twist something, or when the air moves

5.  Number your recording sheet from 1-9.  Your challenge is to try to think of a word that will fit into both blanks. These are tricky but spend at least 5 minutes trying to work on these challenge.  GOAL-Try to solve at least 6!  After 5 minutes or when you have at least 6, scroll way to the end of this page to check your work. Put a star for those that were correct and add in correct answers for those that were blank.

    1. She will ———- if you try to bring that ugly ———-into her house.

     2. I saw a ——– in her eye when he threatened to ——– up the agreement.

     3. They were able to ———- the gates before the enemy got too ———-.

     4. The secretary will ——– the items until she has a complete ———-.

     5. A ———- occurred when the prisoners were ordered to line up in a ———-.

     6. It took less than a ———— to identify the ———— virus.

     7. His followers will ———- him if he forces them to live in the arid ——–.

     8. He ——– all that he can to protect the ———- from harm.

     9. The will written by the ———- was declared by a lawyer to be ———-.

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

Check out mini spark #9 The Dove Dove which is about words and how they are used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS

1. Object

2. Tear

3. Close

4. Record

5. Row

6. Minute

7. Desert

8. Does

9. Invalid

Lesson idea from https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/aug/12/super-quiz-heteronyms/

Quarter 1 is behind us!

Sindt Blog, Uncategorized

First quarter is over!  Wow – this year is flying by already!

We have had a busy, fun first quarter.  Our focus has been on invention and innovation, which has always been a fun theme for students. We had a variety of events and experiences that provided students with the opportunity to explore invention and innovation both inside and outside the classroom.

One such event was the Invention Convention Seminar in September.  This was open to all students grades 2 – 6 (at two separate seminars) and had a focus on the engineering process, as well.  Fifth and sixth grade students had the opportunity to create their own musical instrument, work through the reverse engineering process, market their invention, and look at improving the world through inventions all while creating an engineering notebook.  Second through Fourth graders worked through the process of engineering by creating electrical circuits and they even got to put together a light up greeting card using a circuit they made.  It was exciting to see all of the innovative thinkers we have at Westside!

Math and Reading enrichment classes are in full swing now.  For reading enrichment, we are doing some higher-level novel studies.  The students enjoy digging deeper into their reading and writing.  When we’re not working on a novel, students are encouraged to complete their Current Events on the Google Doc, and look into Reading Enrichment opportunities in the EY Blog.  For math enrichment, we’re working off of a Math Enrichment menu, which gives students the opportunity to personalize their own math enrichment experience.

We continue to encourage all students to check out the EY blog regularly for enrichment opportunities in many interest areas both within their classrooms, and beyond.  Please encourage your student(s) to explore the blog at home as well.  Like I always say…the blog doesn’t ever take a day off!

Thank you for making this first quarter a success!

#7: Mayan Math

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

The Mayans were a classical civilization of Mesoamerica.  Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C.E., they rose to prominence around A.D.E. 250 in present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador, and northern Belize.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #7: Mayan Math

2. Mayan Math was the most sophisticated number system ever developed in the Americas.  Astronomers and architects used Mayan Math, but it was also simple enough to be used by uneducated traders and farmers.  Where we use ten different symbols to represent numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0), the Mayans used only three: a dot for a one, a bar for five, and a symbol (usually a shell) for zero. (The Maya were the first civilization to discover and understand the concept of zero.)  The chart below shows the Mayan numbers 1 – 19. Draw this chart on your recording page or use this online tool to practice making the numbers 1-19.

Screen Shot 2015-10-22 at 11.32.27 AM
3.  We use a decimal system, based on the number ten, but the Mayans used a vigesimal system, based on the number twenty. So, where we learn to count on our fingers, Mayan children counted on their fingers and toes. In fact, the number twenty was very important to the Mayans, so much so that the words for “human being” and “twenty” share the same root in most Mayan languages. Record a summary of this information on your recording sheet.
Watch a video about base 20 and how it is used. Record important details on your recording sheet.

4. The Mayans wrote their numbers from top to bottom rather than from left to right, but apart from that, their system was not so different from ours. For example, to write the number 34, we place a three in the tens column and a four in the ones column. The Maya put a one in the twenties column and a fourteen in the ones column. Draw this image on your recording sheet.

Screen Shot 2015-10-22 at 12.25.02 PM

5. Practice making larger numbers at Round 2 at Mayan Math Games. Then you will move to Round 3 at Mayan Math Games where you make numbers in the base 20 system.   If you think you can move to round 3 without starting in round 2 that is ok. Add a note to your recording page about what you learned.

6. Adding in the Mayan system is simply a matter of juggling the dots and bars. To calculate 36 + 13, for example, you start by adding the units (i.e., 16 + 13). This gives you 29, so you leave 9 in the ones column and carry the 20 up, giving you a grand total of 2 twenties and 9 ones = 49.

Screen Shot 2015-10-22 at 12.26.44 PM

Pretty smart, right? Especially, when you consider that the Ancient Egyptians never cracked the concept of zero and that complex calculations with Roman numerals were way too complicated for ordinary Romans. Practice adding in Round 4 at Mayan Math Games.

7.  Optional: If you would like to try subtraction go to Round 5 at Mayan Math Games.

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

Check out the ancient number systems badge at the EY website

#9: The dove dove.

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

 A homograph is a group of words that are spelled the same way, but have different meanings. They may or may not be pronounced the same way, although the difference in pronunciation is often just a shift in the accented syllable.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #9: Homographs

2. Here is a sentence that uses the homograph “dove.”  Write the two meanings of the word dove on your recording page.

The dove looked elegant as it dove underneath the tree branch to catch the bug.

Here is a sentence that uses the homograph “bank.”Write the two meanings of the word bank on your recording page.

After swimming at the river bank, we went to the bank to get some money to buy ice cream.

3. Read this article.  Write down a 4 of sets of words and the meanings that you think are hard for some kids to remeber.

3. Strengthen your brain by playing a matching game. You will be given two lists of word definitions. Find the pair that has the homograph in common. Here is a sample
Find the matching pairs and write them on your recording sheet. The answers are at the bottom of this mini spark. Check your work.
4. Go to this website. Choose the level that fits you. Record the level you choose on your recording sheet.
5. Play the game 3 times. Write your answers on your recording sheet.
Don’t click “hint” until you have guesses made.
Then click the word “hint”. That will give you the words and you will be able to check to see if your guesses are correct. Correct your work on your recording sheet.

6. On your recording sheet, build a 2 column form like the game you played in step 5. Use these 5 words. If needed, use a dictionary to help you with your definitions.

minute, coordinates, produce, entrance, down

7. Make an answer key to go along with your definitions.

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

Check out mini spark which is about heteronyms, homographs that are pronounced differently.

 

 

Answer for step 3: 1 & B, 2 & D,  3 & A, 4 & E, 5 & C

 

Early Enrichment #5: Matific Episodes

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Matific is a math website/app that features hundreds of playful interactions called “episodes.” Practice your math skills by practicing some of their free episodes!

Go to the link below, click the box to continue to website, and choose one of the activities on their homepage.

https://www.matific.com/us/en-us

(note: activities found off of the homepage will require an account created by  classroom teachers. Scroll down to see some of the free episodes).

Spy a Meerkat

Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 11.59.00 AM

Monster Shop

Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 12.00.18 PM

Cherry Chomp

Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 12.01.54 PM

Cut, Paste and Figure

Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 12.02.47 PM

Weighing the Options

Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 12.04.46 PM

Get Mixed Up

Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 12.06.17 PM

The Monster’s Share

Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 2.08.40 PM

Reading EnRichment Contests to Check out

Events & Contests, Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized

List of Writing Contests that are possibilities

Anne Frank Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due ___________________

Metro Reading Council Writing Contest – Grades K – 12  Entry due ___________________

Americanism Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 Entry due ___________________

Totem Head’s Story Contest-Categories for ages 8 and under all the way up to 18 years-Entry due ___________________

Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due ___________________

Writing Contests!!!

Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized
List of Writing Contests that are open now:

Anne Frank Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due 11/20/2015

Americanism Essay Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due 12/18/15

Metro Reading Council Writing Contest – Grades K – 12 – Entry due 12/15/15

Totem Head’s Story Contest-Categories for ages 8 and under all the way up to 18 years-Entry due 12/31/15

Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest – Grades 5 – 8 – Entry due 3/1/2016

Geography Bee Practice Quizzes

Uncategorized

Screen Shot 2015-09-30 at 10.39.07 PM

Test your geography knowledge and prepare for the Geography Bee at the same time!  The links below contain questions from the 2014 Geo Bee so you can get familiar with the types of questions.  Take each test and then check with the EY coordinator at your building to find out your scores.

U.S. Geography

U.S. Cities

U.S. Historic Places

Continents

Odd Item Out

World Geography

You can also take take a daily GeoBee quiz here: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/quiz/today/

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

BOTB Update

Uncategorized

Screen Shot 2015-05-15 at 6.06.48 PM

Thank you for your patience as the EY Team continues to refine the Battle of the Books competition details.  We took your feedback from previous years and we are working hard to make sure we provide a great learning experience for our students.  We must also focus on aligning all opportunities with our team goals.  Please note the following BOTB details:

  1. Teams of 3-5 students should register their team online at http://tinyurl.com/wcsBOTB16 by November 30th.  NOTE:  While students in grades 3-6 are invited to participate, parents need to realize that some of the content in the books may contain sensitive information.  Please note the chart at the bottom of this post as it suggests grade levels for each book.
    • Each team will need an adult team leader.  The role of this person is to support the students as they are reading the books.  The team leader may choose to organize lunches and after school meetings where students can meet and discuss the books.  The team leader need not attend the BOTB events.
    • Some adult leaders choose to read the books along with the students and write sample questions for the students to practice answering.  This can be a shared task if there are multiple teams from a particular school.  The format of the questions will be fill in the blank, short answer, and multiple choice.
  2. Teams have until the end of February to read as many of the BOTB books.  Some teams have each member of the team read all the books.  Others teams split the books up among team members.
  3. Students that attended BOTB last year are familiar with the projects that went along with each book.  While the projects are not required this year, students are encouraged to complete a project for at least 2 of the books they read.  A list of possible project ideas can be found here.  Librarians and classroom teachers also have suggestions for book projects.  If a team qualifies for the BOTB Showdown, each team member will be allowed to submit up to 2 projects for judging.
  4. All teams will take a Preliminary Qualifying Test at the end of February.   Teams will set up a time with the EY coordinator at the building to take this 50-question online test.  The test must be completed within 43 minutes.
  5. The top scoring team from each school (10), plus the next 6 highest scoring teams will be invited to attend the Westside Battle of the Books Showdown on March 10 at the Underwood Hills.  During this all day event, the top 16 teams will take part in reading enrichment opportunities, as well as compete in the BOTB competition.
  6. Adult team leaders may choose to organize a school Battle for any teams not qualifying for the Westside event.  If the adult team leaders wish to organize a school Battle, the EY team will share all the rounds of questions.
  7. The top 4 Westside teams will be invited to attend another Battle with Ralston schools.  The date for this competition has not been set yet.

Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 10.24.25 PM