Category Archives: Uncategorized

Upcoming Events & Contests

Uncategorized

January 8-19:  Qualifying Geography, Science, and History Bee Tests (taken in Science, History/Social Studies Class)

Friday, Feb. 9: Mad Hatter Quiz Bowl at ESU 3

Friday, Feb. 9: Science of Pour Painting and Printmaking

Saturday, February 10:  Marian High School Math Contest (girls only)

Monday, February 12: WMS History Bee (Warrior Time)

Tuesday, February 13: WMS Geography Bee (Warrior Time)

Friday, February 16: WMS Science Bee (Warrior Time)

Friday, February 23:  Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest due

Friday, April 19:  Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl Competition

Tuesday, May 7: Extreme Math at ESU 3

Friday, May 10:  Middle School Battle of the Books at ESU 3

*****

Thursday-Saturday, September 28-30: Code Crush at UNO for 8th Grade Girls Only

Friday, October 6: Mixed Media Grunge Cake Art Seminar with Julie Fjell (12pm – 3pm)

Tuesday, Oct. 10:  Middle School Science Olympiad at Gifford Farm

Week of October 23: Qualifying Spelling Test in ELA Classes

Friday, October 27: NPR Podcast Challenge Workshop

Wednesday, November 1: Deadline for Spooky Saga Creative Writing Contest

Friday, November 17: Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl Competition (9th Period & Warrior Time)

Monday, November 27: WMS Spelling Bee

Thursday, November 30: WE-SIDE Contests due

Friday, December 15: District Spelling Bee at WMS

Friday, December 15: The Stars and Stripes Forever Essay Contest due

 

# 94: Pixel Power

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Pixels are the smallest unit in a digital display. Up to millions of pixels make up an image or video on a device’s screen. Each pixel comprises a subpixel that emits a red, green and blue (RGB) color, which displays at different intensities. In this mini spark, you will learn about the basics of pixels and pixel colors.  

Spark your math thinking!

1. Start by taking out your math notebook or opening your math mini spark doc.  Put the date at the top and put the title of this mini spark. Record all of your work on this page.

2. Use this slideshow of images, which zooms a picture of raft. The final slide shows that the entire photo is actually made from individual squares of color. How does looking at these pictures help explain creation of the digital images that you see? What other images might you see today that are made from pixels?

 

3. Watch these two videos. The first video is a reminder binary numbers. It will help to see this before watching the second video. Take notes as you watch both videos.

4. After watching the second video answer these questions in your notebook. What is the RGB name for turquoise? How does a computer name turquoise? Draw the math steps that were used in the video to explain how a function is used to filter an image.

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

Check out the Playing with Pixels badge at the EY website.

#58: Burj Khalifa

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

Explore the engineering innovations that made the construction of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, possible. Notably, it stands at a height of 828 meters (2,717 feet) and features a unique Y-shaped design that enhances stability and reduces wind forces.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #58: Burj Khalifa

2. Watch this video and record details on your recording page.

3. For this STEAM mini spark please choose 5 of the following questions to answer on your recording page. Please use 2-3 sentences for your responses. Remind your teacher that the answer key is in the STEAM mini spark folder.

  1. Describe the main challenge architects faced by the end of the 20th century when designing skyscrapers.
  2. What innovative material helped buildings to shed weight and reach new heights in the early 20th century?
  3. Explain the concept of tubular design introduced by Fazlur Rahman Khan and its significance in skyscraper construction.
  4. How did the buttressed core design contribute to the stability of the Burj Khalifa?
  5. What design feature of the Burj Khalifa helps to minimize the impact of strong winds?
  6. Discuss the human cost associated with the construction of the Burj Khalifa as mentioned in the video.
  7. Why was the construction of the Burj Khalifa completed in a short period of five years considered significant?
  8. What are some of the criticisms faced by the United Arab Emirates regarding worker protection laws after the Burj Khalifa’s completion?
  9. In what way did the design of the Burj Khalifa differ from traditional skyscraper designs?
  10. Reflect on the importance of prioritizing workers’ rights in future construction projects. Why is this significant?

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

#92: π Day

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Pi is one the most studied numbers in mathematics and on March 14 (or 3/14), we celebrate Pi Day because 3.14 are the first digits of pi.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #92: π Day
  2. Learn about 18 ways that NASA uses Pi!  https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/list/oh-the-places-we-go-18-ways-nasa-uses-pi/. Record a few ideas on your recording page.
  3. Learn about other interesting Pi Facts at https://www.piday.org/pi-facts/. Create a info page about what you learned
  4. Find your “Pi Day” using this site. Type in your birthday and record where in pi your date appears.  Do this for a friend or your teacher and record their pi day. I put in my birthdate and the sequence of numbers does not show up until digit 169, 266! 
  5. Choose an interesting way to represent Pi! Check out the ideas at the end of this post.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Pi Masters badge at the EY website.

PiSong1

Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 10.28.23 PM

Pi Grid Art

#60: Thanksgiving Lessons

Early Enrichment, Uncategorized

Thanksgiving is one of the favorite holidays we celebrate in America. As we get ready, let’s take a look at some fun facts about the holiday.

Spark your thinking!

1.  Set up your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page: #60: Thanksgiving Lessons

2.  Read these thanksgiving facts. On your recording page record one of the facts that you did not know.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three-day harvest festival. It included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians. It is believed by historians that only five women were present.

Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish were likely served, alongside pumpkins and cranberries (but not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce!).

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3rd, 1863. Sarah Joseph Hale, the woman who wrote “Mary Had A Little Lamb”, convinced him to make Thanksgiving a national holiday after writing him letters for 17 years!

There are 4 towns in the United States named “Turkey”. They can be found in Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana.

The average number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving is 4, 500!

The tradition of football on Thanksgiving began in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton. The first NFL games were played on Thanksgiving in 1920.

3. Thanksgiving is a time to be THANKFUL! Watch a video below to see what Kid President is thankful for! List 5 reasons you are thankful.

4. Share your Early Enrichment Mini Spark recording page with your teacher or EY Coordinator.

 

2022-23 Challenge #3

Current Challenge, Uncategorized

It’s Fall Y’All and when I think of Fall, I think of FOOTBALL!

For this challenge, you will need to…
  1. Build football goal posts out of materials you have around your house.
  2. Fold a paper football (instructions linked below)
  3. Design an experiment, create a competition, or come up with your own original idea to use what you built.  Your project should include collecting some sort of data and analyzing it.
  4. Share your project with your EY Coordinator.

Paper Folding Football Instructions:  https://www.instructables.com/How-To-Make-A-Paper-Football/

Football Image Source: https://openclipart.org/detail/102853/football

2021-22 EY Challenge #5

Current Challenge, Uncategorized

Get ready for Computer Science Education (CS Ed) Week!

CS Ed Week is December 6-12 and it is an annual event to inspire students to learn about computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners in the CS field. https://www.csedweek.org/

             If you want to save your progress:

1. Sign in with google @ code. org

2. Go to course catalog on the top left

3. Scroll down and click on hour of code view more choices.

4. Take a screenshot of your certificate when your project is complete.

 

 

#66: How to use a semicolon

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

The semicolon might appear to be misunderstood. It resembles a combination of a comma and a period, which could explain why we often misuse these punctuation marks, treating them like grammatical confetti. This lesson aims to provide clear guidance and best practices for the correct usage of the semicolon.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #66: How to use a semicolon

2. 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 should have at least 5 items on your note page when you are done.

3. Write two sentences of your own using a semi colon  in each one and include them on the note taking page.

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

Lesson video by Emma Bryce, animation by Karrot Entertainment.