Category Archives: Uncategorized

#52: Thank You Notes

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

An act of expressing your appreciation through a few words, a thank you note, is an important way to show your gratitude for someone and their time. In this mini spark you will learn about the basics and create a thank you note for Veteran’s Day.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #52: Thank You Notes

2. Veteran’s Day is November 11th, visit this website to learn more about the history of Veterans Day. Record 5 details about the history of veteran’s day to your recording page.

3. Learn the basics of writing a thank you note. Write each bold prase on your recording page as you read step 3.

Greeting. Don’t forget to make sure you’re using the correct form and spelling of the person’s name. Put a comma after the greeting.

  • Dear Aunt Sharon and Uncle Bob,

Express your thanks. Begin with the two most important words: Thank you.

  • Thank you so much for…
  • It made my day when I opened…
  • I’m so grateful you were there when…

Add specific details. Tell them how you plan to use or display their gift. It shows them that you really appreciate the thought that went into it. Even if it’s cold hard cash, describe how you’ll spend the stuff.

  • Here’s a picture of me with my new briefcase. I look so professional!
  • I can’t wait to use the birthday money you sent to decorate my dorm room.
  • The going-away party meant so much to me. Having all my friends and family in one place was something I’ll never forget.

Look ahead. Mention the next time you might see them, or just let them know you’re thinking of them.

  • We look forward to seeing you next month at Lucy’s party.

Restate your thanks. Add details to thank them in a different way.

  • Again, thank you for your generosity. I’m so excited about college. I’ll let you know all about it when I get settled.
  • We felt so blessed that you made the trip to be with us on our wedding day. We can’t wait to see you again soon!

End with your regards. “Sincerely” is a safe standby, but for closer relationships, you might choose a warmer option.

  • With love,
  • Many thanks,
  • Yours truly,

4. Read over this graphic about writing thank you notes. Write 3-5 reminders on your recording page.

5. Try it! On your recording page, use the steps from #3 and write a thank you note. You can write a pretend note to a fictional person or you can write one to someone who you would like to thank for helping you.

6.  OPTIONAL: Use this template or use your recording page to write a thank you note to a Veteran. If you do not personally know a veteran, you can write a general thank you to all Veterans.

7. Share your language arts mini spark recording page and your thank you note with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Source: https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/thank-you-ideas/how-to-write-a-thank-you-note/

2020-21 Weekly Challenge #11: Organizing Data

Current Challenge, Uncategorized

We are surrounded by information (data) and it’s important to organize it into presentable and easy to understand ways!
For this week’s Weekly Challenge, you are going to display some information.  You can choose the topic and the way you represent it.   You must also include 5 questions that can be answered from your information.
If you need some inspiration, you can watch The Great Graph Contest.

When you’re finished with the challenge, submit your work using the Google Form: https://forms.gle/KKW9RsmEhqp3TVoz7

 

#50: News Report Writing

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

The purpose of news report writing is to inform an audience. A news report is a story that is currently happening or that just happened. Writing a news report is easy if you write about the subject in a style that is clear, concise, and active. One of the best practices for writers is to follow is using the Who, What, Where, When,Why, and How of a story.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #50: News Report Writing

2. One should gather answers to the 5 W’s and H questions while writing about an event or something that happened. Record the 5 W’s and H on your recording sheet

3. Watch this video about the basics of writing a news report and take 5 notes on your recording page.

4. Visit, Scholastic Kids Press. Select an article and identify the 5 W’s in the story on your recording page

Choose number 5 ot 6

5. Complete the following News Report Writing activity. Look at the chart and choose a W for each part of the story. Write your report on your recording page.

6. Prepare your own new report about a current event. Add it to your recording page. OPTIONAL STEP: Set up your ipad and video yourself reading your report aloud.

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

Website for Parents

SEL Resources, Uncategorized

SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) is a nonprofit network of people who guide gifted, talented, and twice-exceptional individuals to reach their goals intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

THe SENG website is loaded with resources to help parents and educators guide gifted children. By joining SENG, members can register for online SENGinars, join a parent support group, and have access to the SENG library.

https://www.sengifted.org/

Book Recommendations

SEL Resources, Uncategorized

Gifted Kids Survival Guide: 10 and Under

An updated, informative book examines the problems of gifted and talented students and explains how they can make the best use of their educational opportunities, get along better with parents and friends, and better understand themselves. 

Gifted Kids Survival Guide: Teen Handbook

Written with help from hundreds of gifted teenagers, this handbook is the ultimate guide to surviving and thriving in a world that doesn’t always value, support, or understand high ability. Full of surprising facts, step-by-step strategies, practical how-tos, and inspiring quotations, featuring insightful essays contributed by gifted teens and adults, the book gives readers the tools they need to understand giftedness, accept it as an asset, and use it to make the most of who they are. Teens learn the facts about giftedness, including:

  • what “giftedness” means (and doesn’t mean)
  • the truth about IQ, tests, and testing (and four reasons why tests can’t be trusted)

About the Author

Award-winning author and publisher Judy Galbraith, M.A., has a master’s degree in guidance and counseling of the gifted. A former classroom teacher, she has worked with and taught gifted children and teens, their parents, and their teachers for many years. In 1983 she started Free Spirit Publishing, which specializes in Self-Help for Kids® and Self-Help for Teens® books and other learning resources. Judy is the author or coauthor of several books, including The Gifted Teen Survival Guide, When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All The Answers, What Kids Need to Succeed, and What Teens Need to Succeed. She has appeared on Oprah and has been featured in Family Circle and Family Life, as well as numerous other magazines, newspapers, and broadcast and electronic media. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota

NAGC Parent Resources

Uncategorized

As you get to know your sensitive, energetic toddler, watch your 10 year struggle to fit in at school, or agonize with your high schooler about multiple college choices, you may wonder why your child seems different from other children. Is your child gifted?  If yes, what next? NAGC works to provide you the tools you need to help your child succeed.
Advice from William Schlitz, father of Haley Taylor Schlitz, on raising a gifted child.

 

#38: History of Plastics

Social Studies Enrichment, Uncategorized

Plastic is not just used for milk jugs and bottles of soda…it’s EVERYWHERE! Watch the video below about the history of plastic and then do some further research on something specific mentioned in the video.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #38: History of Plastics

2.  Watch this video.  Record the names of plastics along with dates that they are invented, if mentioned.

3. Choose 2 questions to answer after watching the video. Remind your teacher that the answer key can be found in the social studies mini spark folder.

  • Who invented celluloid, and in what year did this invention occur? Describe the characteristics of celluloid that made it unsuitable for billiard balls.
  • What two substances were combined to create Bakelite, and why was it considered an improvement over celluloid?
  • List at least three types of plastics that were developed after Bakelite and briefly describe their uses.
  •  Explain the process of the manufacturing technique was invented that allowed for rapid production of plastic items?  
  • How did the production of plastics change during World War Two? 
  •  Discuss some of the environmental issues associated with plastic production and usage as mentioned in the video.

4. Check out Jeff Kirschner’s TED Talk. Learn more about the environmental impact of plastics and other litter and how solutions as being spread around the world.

The task for this step is to record every place name mentioned on the video on your recording sheet. After the video, make sure you can locate each of those places on a map. Put a star next to those that you can find easily. Put a check by those that you need to look up. After you look up the location, add a star.

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

 

Blackout Poetry Contest

MS Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized
According writersdigest.com, a blackout poem is when a poet takes a marker (usually black marker) to already established text–like in a newspaper–and starts redacting words until a poem is formed.  

If you’re not familiar with blackout poetry, this 5ish minute video provides a good overview.

You can also “Google” blackout poetry” and find a plethora of images/examples.

Contest Rules

  • Create a blackout poem.  You can use a newspaper, magazine, book that you own (the EY Team has some to choose from), etc.
  • Submit your blackout poem by Wednesday, October 14 using this Google Form link: https://forms.gle/VDQZYLexB6uwxivX6
  • Prizes will be awarded! Good prizes! You should definitely do this contest!

 

#37: International Dot Day

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized

International Dot Day is on September 15th. There are so many ways to celebrate that dot 365 days a year!  A dot might be small, but it’s a powerful way to show your unique individuality and creativity.

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #37: International Dot Day

2. Get started exploring the dot by watching “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds. What is the message of the book? Record your answer on your recording page. Use at least 3 sentences.

3. Go to wonderopolis and read about how this day is celebrated in classrooms. Take the did you get it quiz and add your score to your recording page.

4. Listen to the song, the Dot. What things do you do to encourage others, show persistence, and spread positivity.  Write 3-4 sentences about this on your recording page.

5. Timed Creative Challenge. Have an adult or a friend print this challenge sheet you.  Don’t look at the challenge until you are ready to get started. You need a pencil or colored pencils and a timer set to 3 minutes. Turn the challenge over and read the directions. Start your timer. When you are done add a picture of your drawings to your recording sheet.

OPTIONAL STEPS

6. Create a dot on a piece of paper. You can use markers, crayons, paint, or colored pencils.

Chatterpix Dot Day.gif

7. Animate your dot. Use the app Chatterpix Kids. Launch Chatterpix Kids. Snap a photo of your art, then add a talking mouth. You now have 30 seconds of recording time to talk about your dot!

8. Save the Chatterpix Kids video onto your camera roll, then share it with your teacher.

9. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page, your dot challenge and your Chatterpix with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Dot badge on the EY Website.

 

 

 

 

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