Category Archives: Uncategorized

#34: Dragons are Real!

Reading Enrichment, Uncategorized

Dragons have been an important character in fairy tales and fantasy stories for ages.  Fire breathing dragons may not exist, but if you consider a dragon to be a supersize reptile with a wicked bite…then have I have a dragon for you.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language arts mini spark recording page: #34: Dragons are Real!

2. The Komodo dragon is the real deal!  A komodo dragon, that weighs about 300 pounds, kill a water buffalo that is over twice its size! Read this article and take at least 5 notes on your recording page.

3. Reptile Discovery Center is home to two male Komodo dragons named Murphy and Onyx.  Go to this research page and read more about them and add 3 more notes to your recording page.

4.  Komodo dragons only live in one country in the world, Indonesia.  Indonesia is made up of several islands.  Komodo dragons reside on some of the islands, but not all of them.  This website will show you some other interesting facts about Indonesia—home of the Komodo dragon. Keep taking notes. Add 3-5 more details to your recording page. You will use them for your final project.

5. Make a Komodo Dragon teaching page on paper or digitally. Include at least 10 facts, 3 images, and a map.

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

 

 

#55: Coordinate Geometry

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Coordinate Geometry is one of my favorite areas of math.  There’s just something about getting a sheet of ordered pairs and carefully plotting them on graph paper…connecting the dots to reveal a picture.  If that’s your sort of thing too, check out Option 3 below.  Happy plotting!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page:#55: Coordinate Geometry

2. Learn the basics of coordinate geometry by watching this video.  Take picture notes on your recording sheet. 

3. Read about the inventor of coordinate plane geometry, Rene Descartes.

4. This video gives a musical explanation of his accomplishments.  Put together a note page about him.

5. Print out (or have your teacher print out) this project. Plot the ordered pairs on the graph paper and reveal a spooky surprise!  Take a picture of your completed drawing and send it to the EY Coordinator at your building.

6. Create your own coordinate plane art. Plot the points and connect them with the colored lines. Take a picture after you have practiced for at least 10 minutes.

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

#53: Cribbage

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

My family enjoys playing pitch,  31, sevens and trash.  However, my absolute FAVORITE game is cribbage!  It involves strategy and math, which is why I like it so much!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #53: Cribbage
  2. Read about cribbage and record some details.
  3. What is one “thing to remember” when playing cribbage.
  4. Record this information. In cribbage, the Jokers are removed from the deck. The Ace is worth 1. The face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are each worth 10. The other cards (2 through 9) are each worth their number value
  5. Here are some of the ways you can earn points when playing cribbage.
One of the ways to earn points in cribbage is to have cards that add up to fifteen.  In the picture below, the King and one of the 5’s make 15 so that is 2 points.  The King and the other 5 also make 15, which is another 2 points.  You might notice that there is a 5 that is face up on the deck.  This can also be paired with the King for 15 for another 2 points.  Finally, the three 5’s (2 in the hand and one on the deck) add up to 15.  This is an additional 2 points.IMG_8825When you have a pair of the same card, you earn 2 points.  The pair could be in your hand, or one of your cards could be paired with the card that is face up on the deck.  If you have 3-of-a-kind, that is worth 6 points.  In the picture above, there are two 5’s in the hand and one 5 face up on the deck.  Not only does that make 15, but it is also 3-of-a-kind which earns you 6 points.
A “flush” is when you have 4 or more of the same suit (clubs, spades, hearts, or diamonds).  If you had 4 hearts in your hand, you would earn 4 points.  If the card that is face up on the deck is also a heart, you would get 5 points.  The hand below shows 5 clubs so you would get 5 points.
Hand7
A “run of 3” is when you have 3 cards in numerical order.  You could also have a run of 4 or 5 cards.  Let’s say you had a 3, 4, 5, and 6 in your hand.  You would have a “run of 4” which is 4 points.  If the card on the deck was a 2 or 7, you would have a run of 5.  The hand below shows a run of 5.
RunOf5

6. The pictures below show several cribbage hands.  See if you can add up the points correctly!  Record the “hand #” and an explanation of the total points.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

7. What are other ways you can earn points in a cribbage game?  Do a little research and to find some.

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

Check out the Cribbage Master Badge from the EY website.

#49: Cool Jobs that Involve Math

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Yep! That job requires math! Math is so much more than a bunch of problems on a worksheet or even a series of problems on a website or app.  Begin to imagine the creative ways in which mathematics plays a role in a variety of careers!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #49: Cool Jobs that Involve Math
  2. Read Cool Jobs: Math as entertainment from Science News for Students.    Pick out one of the jobs mentioned in the article and write about how math is involved in this career.
  3. Read about high school seniors who are getting a head start on their math careers at Society for Science.  Summarize 4 of the projects that were awarded money prizes at the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024.
  4. How about being a magician for a career? Arthur Benjamin has a super cool TED Talk.

5. Magician Arthur Benjamin mentions that his favorite number is 2,520 because it is the smallest, yes I said smallest, number divisible by all the numbers 1 through 10.  Prove this by doing the math on your recording sheet.

6.  Robotics might be an area of interest for you. Read this article about a few robotics career options. Make a note taking page about these options.

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

#43: Exploring Binary Numbers

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

01001001 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100001 01110100 01101000 00100000 01101101 01101001 01101110 01101001 00100000 01110011 01110000 01100001 01110010 01101011 01110011

No, I didn’t just type a bunch of random 0’s and 1’s above.  I actually typed a sentence into a binary translator site and had it converted to binary.  Our number system (Base 10), uses 10 digits…0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.  In the binary number system (Base 2), there are only 2 digits…0s and 1s.  It’s a little confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it can actually be quite fun!

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #43: Exploring Binary Numbers
  2. Watch this Binary Number System vide to get started. Take notes along with the teacher. Pause the video as needed.

3. Use the Binary Translator site to figure out what all those 1s and 0s at the top of this post mean.  record the answer on your recording sheet.

4. Then come up with your own sentence to translate to 1s and 0s and put it on your recording sheet.

5. Watch this video where Instagram’s Kevin Systrom explains how binary numbers play into pixels and images.  There’s a LOT of information in this video and it goes fast.  Feel free pause it, re-watch it, etc.

6. There are 10 types of people in this world…those who understand binary and those who don’t. Hopefully after completing this math mini spark you’ll “get” the joke!  🙂

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

#39: Hexaflexagon DIY

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Learn how to make a really fun geometric toy—a Hexaflexagon! There are many types of flexagons. The names of flexagons tell the type of polygon and the number of faces.  Hexaflexagons are paper polygons you will create in this math mini spark. They were first discovered in 1939 by Arthur Stone, who set up a Flexagon Committee to investigate their properties.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #39: Hexaflexagon DIY
  2. Add information to your recording page about these shapes from the intro above.
  3. Watch this Vi Hart video. Add  5 math terms from the video to your note taking page.

4. Look over these PDFs that will help you make your own.  Print off the instruction page and the the template. READ IT VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU START.

5. OPTIONAL: If you would  like to try larger puzzle here is a page with instructions and other templates.

6. Snap a picture of your finished project and add it to your recording page.

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

Info from: http://www.auntannie.com/Geometric/HexaHexaFlexagon/

Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest

Other Events & Contests, Uncategorized
The Friends of Omaha Public Library are currently accepting submissions for the Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest.  The contest is for students in 5-8th grade.  First prize in each grade is $100.

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing contest is held each year in the spring to recognize the creative writing talent of area students. This contest, sponsored by the Friends of Omaha Public Library, recognizes the top three winners from each grade. Each winner receives a cash prize and certificate, is recognized in a ceremony at the library, and has their story published on the library website. The school libraries of each winning student are also recognized with a matching cash prize.

Eligibility Requirements

    • Stories must be submitted with an entry form to be considered. Complete all fields either online or on a printed entry form and submit with your story.
    • Students must be in 5th to 8th grade and live in Douglas or Sarpy counties.
    • Students may be enrolled in public, private, parochial or home school.
    • Stories must be typed and no longer than 750 words.
    • Entries must be original fiction featuring a character from a book you have enjoyed and read on your own. Identify the book and author from which your character originated in the title or subtitle of your story.
    • Only one entry per contestant will be accepted.
    • The decision of the judges is final.
    • All entries become the property of Friends of Omaha Public Library (FOPL) and may be featured by Omaha Public Library on its website or social media.
    • Deadline for entries is February 28, 2020.

    Prizes

    • First ($100), second ($75) and third place ($50)
    • Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners from each grade.
    • The school library of the winning students will be recognized with matching cash prizes.

Read the winning stories from the 2019 Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest

About Virginia Frank

The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest began in 2003 and is named in honor of a longtime Friends of Omaha Public Library volunteer. Virginia Frank was a Central High and UNO graduate. She acquired a master’s degree from Brown University and taught English literature and creative writing at UNO for many years. Her passion for students and young people inspired everyone around her, and her enthusiasm encouraged many students to explore their creative writing talents. Frank volunteered thousands of hours with the Friends of OPL to help ensuring a bright future for our public libraries.

24: Skyscraper Puzzles

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

For this mini spark you will create mini skyscrapers and complete the puzzles following the rules outlined.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM  mini spark recording page: #24: Skyscraper Puzzles 

2. Print out this set of starter puzzles and you will need a set of linking cubes or legos that you can use to build towers.

3. Read these instructions 3 times.

How to Solve a Skyscraper Puzzle:

● Build towers in each of the squares provided sized 1 through 4 tall
● Each row has skyscrapers of different heights (1 through 4), no
duplicate sizes
● Each column has skyscrapers of different heights (1 through 4), no
duplicate sizes
● The rules on the outside (in grey) tell you how many skyscrapers you
can see from that direction or how many skyscrapers you could see while looking down that city block from that spot.
● Taller skyscrapers block your view of shorter ones

4. Watch this teaching video for ideas on how to get started.

5.  Create 16 towers.

6. Solve the 4 X 4 puzzles in your booklet.

7.  When you are done with each puzzle you need to check it.  You can ask a teacher or a friend to do this for you.

1st-Look at each row and column and make sure there are only 1 of each size skyscrapers. 2nd-Look at the numbers in the gray boxes and make sure you can only see the number of skyscrapers when looking “down the street” from each gray box.

8. Make changes if needed and snap a picture of your final project.

9. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your completed puzzle pictures with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

Check out the Skyscraper Puzzle Badge on the EY Website.

#38: Duplicator Lab Riddles

Math Mini Sparks, Mini Challenges, Uncategorized

This Math Mini Spark is brought to you by Steve Wyborney.  Steve is an award-winning teacher and instructional coach from Oregon.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #38: Duplicator Lab Riddles
  2. Click here to watch the Duplicator Lab Riddle Video. It does not have sound.
  3. Answer 1, 2, and/or 3 riddles posed at the end of the video. Do all math on your recording page.
  4. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator. *reminder answers for are in the math mini spark folder.