#39 Reading Enrichment: It's All About the Heart
For many years, the heart was a mystery. What did it do? What was it there for? Let's learn all about this muscle.
This TEDed lesson will help you investigate how the heart keeps you alive.
Years ago, people thought emotions came from the heart! Read this article to find out more about how the heart works.
Show What You Learned
Choose one of these prompts and respond with 3-5 sentences. Share your response with your classroom teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]).
What are some ways to keep your heart healthy?
What are the four chambers of the heart called, and what does each chamber do?
Why was it so difficult for scientists and doctors to figure out what the heart was for?
What are some ways to keep your heart healthy?
What are the four chambers of the heart called, and what does each chamber do?
Why was it so difficult for scientists and doctors to figure out what the heart was for?
Take it a Step Further
Create a visual explaining how the heart works. Include as many details as possible. Please share your project with your classroom teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]).
# 38 Reading Enrichment: The Mystery of the Upside-Down Catfish
Learn about the interesting Upside-Down Catfish by completing the following:
Start by watching a video about them:
Start by watching a video about them:
Show what you learned by choosing three of the prompts to complete. Share your project with your teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack. ([email protected])
- Using many details, explain why an Upside-Down Catfish swims upside-down,
- How is this fish camouflaged?
- What part of the video was most interesting to you and why?
- What other questions do you have about Upside-Down Catfish?
Take it a step further by conducting research to find another animal that has camouflage. What part of the animal is camouflaged? How does this help the animal?
#37 Reading Enrichment: Create your own National Day
Did you know that November 3rd is National Sandwich Day?
December 7th is national letter writing day, and January 7th is national bobblehead day.
Click on the red link for each of these days and write a few sentences telling us about each one.
Click on the red link for each of these days and write a few sentences telling us about each one.
What day do you feel deserves to be added to the list of national celebrations?
Pickle Day? Nope, that won't work. It's already observed on November 15.
How about National fuzzy sock day?
Wear your cozy socks and keep your feet toasty warm all day long!
That won't work. It's already a day people celebrate on December 21st.
What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming to think of a special day.
When you have a list of several choices, do research to find one that is not already observed.
Pickle Day? Nope, that won't work. It's already observed on November 15.
How about National fuzzy sock day?
Wear your cozy socks and keep your feet toasty warm all day long!
That won't work. It's already a day people celebrate on December 21st.
What would be a day that you would LOVE to celebrate? Start brainstorming to think of a special day.
When you have a list of several choices, do research to find one that is not already observed.
When you find one that can be your very own, create your own informational Apple Clip project about your day (app).
Include this information:
The name of your day and 5-10 facts about your topic.
Why it is important enough to be a national day?
How people celebrate this day?
Add color and illustrations to your clips.
Share your project with your teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack. ([email protected])
Include this information:
The name of your day and 5-10 facts about your topic.
Why it is important enough to be a national day?
How people celebrate this day?
Add color and illustrations to your clips.
Share your project with your teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack. ([email protected])
#36 Reading Enrichment : Homographs
Why do homophones seem to get all the attention? A homophone, as you probably know, is a word that sounds the same as another word, but with a different meaning or spelling. For example, their, they're and there. Or no and know.
But do you know what a homograph is? A homograph is a work that looks the same, but haw different meaning and perhaps different pronunciation. Here is a sentence that used the homograph "dove."
The dove looked elegant as it dove underneath the tree branch to catch the bug.
Here is a sentence that uses the homograph "bank."
After swimming at the river bank, we went to the bank to get some money to buy ice cream.
Some more examples of homographs are bow, book, subject, duck, wound, tear, contract, and model. There are many more!!!
In the section below, write a sentence using a homograph with both of its meanings like I did in the examples above. Include your name and email and don't forget to submit it!!
For an EXTRA challenge, write a sentence that used two homographs with both of their meanings.
But do you know what a homograph is? A homograph is a work that looks the same, but haw different meaning and perhaps different pronunciation. Here is a sentence that used the homograph "dove."
The dove looked elegant as it dove underneath the tree branch to catch the bug.
Here is a sentence that uses the homograph "bank."
After swimming at the river bank, we went to the bank to get some money to buy ice cream.
Some more examples of homographs are bow, book, subject, duck, wound, tear, contract, and model. There are many more!!!
In the section below, write a sentence using a homograph with both of its meanings like I did in the examples above. Include your name and email and don't forget to submit it!!
For an EXTRA challenge, write a sentence that used two homographs with both of their meanings.
#35 Reading Enrichment: Living Poetically
Many years ago, it was common for students to regularly be assigned the memorization of a poem or part of a historical document. Today, that does not happen in schools as regularly. But, did you know that memorization is good for you???
Here are three big ways that memorization will improve your reading and speaking skills. First, reciting a piece that is memorized will help you earn to articulate your words (speak clearly). Second, memorization has been shown to increase your vocabulary because you familiarize yourself with words that you may not have otherwise come across. Lastly, increasing your vocabulary has been shown to increase your reading comprehension. Wow!!
What should you memorize? Anything that interests you! Go to your school's library and check out some poetry books. There are funny poems, serious poems, silly poems, informational poems - I'm sure you can find one to interest you. The following link has some more suggestions of what to memorize AND gives some pointers on how to memorize.
www.mensaforkids.org/read/a-year-of-living-poetically/
Mrs. Jack would LOVE to get a recording our you reciting a poem or part of a historical document. Are you up for the challenge?
Share your project with your teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack. ([email protected])
Here are three big ways that memorization will improve your reading and speaking skills. First, reciting a piece that is memorized will help you earn to articulate your words (speak clearly). Second, memorization has been shown to increase your vocabulary because you familiarize yourself with words that you may not have otherwise come across. Lastly, increasing your vocabulary has been shown to increase your reading comprehension. Wow!!
What should you memorize? Anything that interests you! Go to your school's library and check out some poetry books. There are funny poems, serious poems, silly poems, informational poems - I'm sure you can find one to interest you. The following link has some more suggestions of what to memorize AND gives some pointers on how to memorize.
www.mensaforkids.org/read/a-year-of-living-poetically/
Mrs. Jack would LOVE to get a recording our you reciting a poem or part of a historical document. Are you up for the challenge?
Share your project with your teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack. ([email protected])
#34 Reading Enrichment: Are Dragons Real?
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 got a challenge for you! The Komodo dragon is the real deal! How can a Komodo dragon, that weighs about 300 pounds, kill a water buffalo that it over twice its size? Read this article to find out:
https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/index.php/animals/komodo-dragon
The San Diego Zoo has a Komodo dragon named Ken. Watch this video to meet him:
kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos/komodo-dragons
Take it a step further: 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:
www.ducksters.com/geography/country.php?country=Indonesia
What are three facts you learned about Indonesia? What else would you like to know about Indonesia or Komodo dragons? When you have these steps completed, share your project with your classroom teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]).
https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/index.php/animals/komodo-dragon
The San Diego Zoo has a Komodo dragon named Ken. Watch this video to meet him:
kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos/komodo-dragons
Take it a step further: 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:
www.ducksters.com/geography/country.php?country=Indonesia
What are three facts you learned about Indonesia? What else would you like to know about Indonesia or Komodo dragons? When you have these steps completed, share your project with your classroom teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]).
#33 Reading Enrichment: Word Squares
Word squares are grids of letters that cross horizontally and vertically. In the puzzle below, the word TRAP is located in the top row and left-most column; ROME can be seen in the second row from the top and the second column from the left; AMEN is found in the third row from the top and the third column from the left; and PENT occurs in the bottom row and in the right-most column. All the words cross each other in a perfect square arrangement. (taken from Psychology Today)
Take a look at this one. DEN is spelled vertically and horizontally in the first column and row respectively. EYE is spelled vertically and horizontally in the 2nd column/row and NET is spelled vertically and horizontally in the 3rd column/row.
Try These 3 Word Squares
If you're really up for a challenge, try creating the Word Squares from thee given clues! Use this sheet to record your answers. When finished, share your project with your teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]).
1. 3 X 3 Square
- young male
- a natural mineral
- an affirmative answer
2. 3 X 3 Square
- to allow
- a time period
- a key on a computer
3. 3 X 3 Square
- a cereal grass
- unit of currency
- what everything comes to
4. 4 X 4 Square
- place to sit
- repetition of sound
- greeting used by sailors
- playthings
5. 4 X 4 Square
- something that we want to achieve
- an evil giant
- region
- to show the way
6. 4 X 4 Square
- story
- to assert something as a fact
- intense feeling of affection
- large jug with a wide spout
7. 5 X 5 Square
- competitive pastime
- material on which we write
- the art of Giuseppe Verdi
- repeat of a TV show or series
- prefix meaning across or beyond
#32 Reading Enrichment: Designing a Library
"In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing
the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them."
--Mark Twain
the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them."
--Mark Twain
In early November, 2017, China opened a futuristic library. Check out articles and pictures by clicking on the links below:
1. fortune.com/2017/11/17/china-library-photos-tianjin-binhai/
2. petapixel.com/2017/11/14/photos-new-futuristic-library-china-1-2-million-books/
3. www.newsweek.com/tianjin-binhai-library-710828
There are some articles focused on a bit of controversy regarding the library including this article: www.ndtv.com/offbeat/chinas-futuristic-library-more-fiction-than-books-1776720
Read about China's futuristic library and write a comment about something new you learned and/or your reaction to the library. Take it a step further and design your own library. What kind of books would you have in your library? Furniture? Turn in your paper to your classroom teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]).
#31 Reading Enrichment: Growth Mindset Part 2
What did you learn today? What mistake did you make that
taught you something? What did you try
hard at today? -- Carol Dweck
taught you something? What did you try
hard at today? -- Carol Dweck
Learn more about Growth and Fixed Mindset by completing the LearnStorm course on Khan Academy. There are 6 activities total and each one has an accompanying worksheet (linked below).
- Activity 1: The truth about your brain
- Activity 2: Supercharge your growth
- Activity 3: Which voice will you hear?
- Activity 4: Turning mistakes into opportunities
- Activity 5: Overcoming frustration
- Activity 6: The path forward
You can print the activity sheets yourself by clicking the links above. When you are finished with all the activities, hand in your papers to your classroom teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]). Make sure to fill out the Badge Request Form to earn your Mindset Badge.
#30 Reading Enrichment: Growth Mindset Part 1
FIXED vs GROWTH MINDSET
Do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? Does it depend on the situation? Do
you believe you are born with innate talents and gifts? Find the answers to these
questions and more by checking out the resources below.
you believe you are born with innate talents and gifts? Find the answers to these
questions and more by checking out the resources below.
Common Lit is a great resource full of reading passages. Check out the 2 reading passages that relate to a Growth Mindset.
Write about your mindset. You can model your writing after the reading passages (i.e. something you struggled to learn or a poem) or come up with your own way of expressing your thoughts on mindset. Share your writing with your classroom teacher, the HAL Coordinator at your building or Mrs. Jack ([email protected]).