Category Archives: Uncategorized

#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.

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.  Follow these bulleted points to write your own weather Haiku Poem.

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

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

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

9. OPTIONAL Draw an illustration for one of the poems.

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

 

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

Screen Shot 2015-09-01 at 10.13.08 PM

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

Money Confident Kids Writing Contest

Events & Contests, Henningsen Blog, Uncategorized

Learn about spending, saving, and setting smart financial goals by participating in this Money Confident Kids Website http://www.scholastic.com/mck/

Essay Prompt:

Discover and describe a true story of a time when your parent or guardian set a financial goal and then Screen Shot 2015-08-25 at 8.20.36 PMachieved it. Include: the goal; a description of the spending and saving choices that were made to achieve the goal; and lessons that you can apply to your own future financial decisions

Here’s how it works:
1. Read an issue of Money Confident kids- Click here for an issue of Money Confident Kids

2. INTERVIEW a parent or guardian about money
management.

3 . ASK about a time when he or she set a financial
goal and then made saving and spending choices to
achieve it.
4. WRITE a 200 – to 250 -word essay (based on your
interview) that describes the true story of achievement,
and what lessons you can apply to your own future
financial decisions.
Optional: Consider including a photo or drawing
with your essay!

5. ****CONTEST CLOSED*******
Submit to the EY coordinator in your building by  October 1st,  2015

Click here for more information about the process, prizes and to find the entry form for the contest.

If you read the magazine, conduct an interview, and write an essay and would like to enter it in this contest, please fill out the entry form and send it to the EY coordinator in your school by Oct 1st. If you need help with getting the permission form printed out, or any part of this contest, please contact the EY coordinator at your school.

Contest Presented by T. Rowe Price

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.

Welcome back!

Henningsen Blog, Uncategorized

The beginning of the school year is always busy-but I have met with all of the students. I am so looking forward to spending time with them in the classrooms, in small groups, and at seminars.

Seminars-There will be seminars offered throughout this school year. The seminars topics  offered can be found at this link. These will be 1/2 day or full day events held at the Westside Community Center.  We will transport to that event and back to school.  If your child is interested in participating, he or she will need to complete the ticket and submit it by the due date. There will be some seminars where we have a more interest than spots, so please  encourage your child to turn in his/her best work on the tickets and to get them in by the due date.

Seminar ticket posted for a coding seminar ticket-click for info

Ticket posted for the invention convention ticket-click for info

All tier 2/3 students will be attending a seminar on Sept 3. The students will be creating his/her online portfolios.  This is a 1/2 day event and will be held at the Westside Community Center.

Reading-We are creating accounts in Storybird and the student have started making an “All About Me” book. This resource  is amazing, and we will be using it this year to create projects.  Screen Shot 2015-08-23 at 8.27.37 AM

Math-We are dusting off our khan accounts and spending time exploring the resources found here. please encourage your child to spend time working at khan during the school week. Khan is lovely, since can children work at his/her own pace. Screen Shot 2015-08-23 at 8.28.11 AM

 

 

 

 

Please contact me with any questions

Jenny

 

 

#7: Super Snail Detectives

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Finding ideas and inspiration for writing a story can be tricky for both children and adults alike. This mini spark makes it easy to start writing since the idea has been chosen-Super Snail Detectives!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #7: Super Snail Detectives

2. Watch this video about silly snail detectives. The narrator of this video offers a TON of suggestions on how to develop your own snail characters.

3.  After watching the video one time, go back and watch it again, pausing to record details on your recording page to answer the questions he asks.  This will help you develop your characters for your own Super Snail Detectives Story!  Aim for 10-15 pieces of information on your recording sheet for this step.

4. Using your notes as a guide, write the first chapter of your your own Super Snail Detectives Story.

5. Ask for edits to be make for your first chapter and make the suggested changes.

6. OPTIONAL: Create some illustrations to go along with your chapter.

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

Do you want to keep working on your snail story? Talk with your teacher or EY coordinator about what steps you need to take to make this into a badge.