Category Archives: Uncategorized

BOTB Update

Uncategorized

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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.

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Move over Screen Time…Makerspaces are Moving In!

Spady Blog, Uncategorized
Please say I’m not the only one that comes up with crazy ways to deal with managing screen time!
  • If you read for 30 minutes and exercise for 30 minutes, you can earn 15 minutes of screen time.
  • No screen time during the week and two hours on the weekend.
  • You can “purchase” screen time with the buttons in your jar.  You can earn buttons by doing your chores, going to bed without arguing, and leaving your brothers alone.
  • NO SCREEN TIME…EVER!  I’m going to hide all the devices including the Wii remotes.  You will read and do homework from the minute you get home to the minute you go to bed!  (BTW…I’m not proud of that one, but yes, I have said it.)

This summer, I decided to approach screen time from a different angle.  Instead of coming up with more rules and regulations, I decided to create some spaces in my basement that might seem more appealing than screens.  Check out the the Spady boys’ Makerspaces.

My friend Karin recently gave her daughter Ava’s room a makeover.  What do you get when you combine a sewing machine, art wall, marble run, outdoor bird feeder, indoor garden, and a doorbell?  A makerspace fit for a queen!  What kid wouldn’t love a room like this?!  I’m thinking about asking Ava if I can rent the space for myself! 🙂

Makerspaces are popping up in schools too!  The library seems to be a good fit for these exploratoriums since students come in and out throughout the day.  Librarian and EY Coordinator Miss Heflin (@missheflin) is starting a Tinker Lab in Paddock Road’s library (@PaddockRoad66).  How exciting!

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So what are your thoughts?  Do you have any suggestions for managing screen time?  What kinds of materials would be in your ideal makerspace?  Do makerspaces belong in schools?  Leave a comment and share any resources!

#3: Let’s Simile

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Learn more about how to add spark to your writing.

 Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your mini spark recording page: #3: Let’s Simile

2. Watch this BrainPop Jr. video about Similes. Record a few of the examples from the video on your recording page.

3. Use this image as an example Draw your own image on your recording page.

Screen Shot 2015-09-08 at 9.59.26 PMpicture from ehssjadej.edublogs.org

4. Fall Simile Writing Activity. Copy these 3 of these sentence starters on your recording page and create your own similes. You may use your own ideas instead if you wish. Add color/designs to your finished page.

A fall leaf is a red as a _________________________.

A jack-o-lantern is a round as a______________________.

A fall leaf is a crunchy as a___________________________.

A fall leaf is as ____________________ as ________________________.

A pumpkin is _______________________like _______________________.

A bat is as ________________________as __________________________.

Halloween is __________________________as ___________________.

The scarecrow is ____________________like__________________________.

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

#8: Haiku Poem

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. It often centers around nature. Haiku poems don’t rhyme and they follow a pattern.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #8: Haiku Poem

2. Record this haiku poem on your recording page. What patterns do you notice?

cloud-205bdge

3. Watch this video. Record 3 details from the video.

4. Record the pattern on your recording page:

The pattern for haiku is the following:
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables

5. Count out the syllables in an example written by Basho Matsuo. Record the answers on your recording sheet for each line.

An old silent pond…               (How many syllables did you count?)

A frog jumps into the pond,           (How about this line?)

splash! Silence again.                  (Does this line follow the rule?)

6.   Choose a topic or theme (nature, sports, family, school, friendship, etc.) and brainstorm a list of many words related to your topic.

7. Follow these bulleted points to write your own Haiku Poem with using the words you brainstormed.

  • Example topic : weather
  • Example brainstormed words : rain, clouds, soft breezes, mist, windy, snowing
  • Choose the words that you like from the list you made and start working on arranging those into your poem with other filler words.
  • Count the syllables
  • Put them together using the pattern.

8. Write 2 or 3 haiku style poems about the topic/theme you picked out.
Follow the 5-7-5 pattern

9. Send your work to the EY coordinator in your building.

OPTIONAL: Draw an illustration for one of the poems.

 

 

Image : http://heightstechnology.edublogs.org/files/2010/10/cloud-205bdge.jpg

 

 

#4: Papel Picado

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized
Papel Picado means “pierced paper” in Spanish.  In Mexico, artists use special tools to pierce through many layers of paper at once. In Mexico, people create Papel Picado banners to celebrate holidays and different occasions.
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #4: Papel Picado

2. Set up your recording page with these sections

WHAT IS PAPEL PICADO?

PRE-COLOMBIAN PAPER

CULTURAL INFLUENCES CHINA

CULTURAL INFLUENCES SPAIN

GENERATIONAL FOLK ART

2. Read the lesson pages.  On your recording sheet write a few sentences for each section.

3.  Watch this instruction video. On your recording page write the supplies you will need.

4. Ask your EY teacher to help you find paper and string for your project.

5. Ask your teacher to use this template and print it on the colorful paper for you.

6. If you want to use the template to get started, and then create your own design that is great.

7. Create a simple Papel Picado following the steps from the video. If you want to print out this instruction page you can

8. Take a picture of your project and add it to your recording page.

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

Coder Dojo

Uncategorized

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According to coderdojo.com, CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community based programming clubs for young people.  While Westside Community Schools hasn’t officially started a Dojo, the EY Team is excited to try it out to see if there is any interest.

The first CoderDojo will be held on Saturday, September 19 for students in grades K-6.  There will be a second Dojo on Saturday, November 21.  Both Dojos will run from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm at Westgate Elementary on 7802 Hascall St.  A parent or guardian must be present for the duration of the Dojo.

Based on interest and feedback, further Dojos will be scheduled throughout the year.

Click here to sign up!

#3:The Physics of Playing Guitar

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

Guitar virtuosos have the ability to manipulate sound waves, crafting melodies from inspiration and vibration. Explore the science behind guitar playing, explaining how materials like wood, metal, and plastic come together to create rhythm, melody, and music from the initial strum to the ultimate shredding chord.
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #3:The Physics of Playing Guitar

2. Watch this STEAM education intro. Record the STEAM topics on your recording sheet

3. Find out about the Physics of Playing Guitar by watching the video below.  What components of STEAM are discussed in this video?  What’s something new thing you learned?  Add your responses to your recording page.

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

Check out the Music Love badge at the EY Website

Early Enrichment #2: You can be an inventor

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Screen Shot 2015-08-23 at 8.01.52 AMBUILD A BETTER PENCIL

Did you know that the popsicle, ear muffs AND the trampoline were invented by kids? You can be an inventor, too. Take this challenge to create a new and improved pencil.

1. FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM

Inventors are motivated by things that don’t work. Imagine that your pencil keeps slipping out of your hand and it presses on your fingers and they get sore.

Figure out the problem!        Is the pencil too narrow?               Is the paint  to slippery.

Think about what might improve the pencil so that the problem is erased (no pun intended). Write your ideas down in a notebook.

2. LET YOUR IMAGINATION GO!

Brainstorm as many ideas to solve the problem of as possible. Next, turn these ideas into designs. Draw them in your note book. No matter how bizarre or unrealistic a design may seem, make sure to make sure to include it. Although a design may seem impossible, it might inspire a realistic solution.

Comment below to share your ideas or Snap a picture of your best pencil idea and share it with the EY coordinator in your building.

 

#2: Graph the Story

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Data visualization is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #2: Graph the Story

2. Watch this introduction video.  On your recording page draw a sketch of the graph from the video. Add in these 4 labels on the 4 lines she drew-steep slope, slope, horizontal line, negative slope. 

3. Download and print this sheet. If you would prefer to do the graph digitally you can use this resource.

4.  Start this video and then pause it to get your graph set up to look like the graph in the video.

5. Restart the video and decide where you will need to plot the points.

6. Pause the video and complete the graph.

7. When you have completed the graph, resume the video to see how you did. If you need to make adjustments to your graph do so. If you are doing the activity online, add a picture of your graph to your recording sheet.

8.  Choose 3 more videos to watch, graph, and check. You can make them on paper or use the digital graph maker.

Video choices 

Height of waist off ground 1-The task is to graph the height of the person’s waist off the ground against time.

Air Pressure– The challenge is to graph air pressure against time.

Elevation-The task is to draw a graph of their elevation against time. The graph contains increasing, decreasing, and constant sections.

Distance from home plate-The task is to draw a graph of the player’s distance from the home plate against time. The graph shows linear piecewise sections.

Weight of cups-The task is to graph the weight on the scales against time.

9.  Share your math mini spark recording page and your graphs with your teacher/EY coordinator.