Staying Connected to Learning
Week 11 - June 1-5, 2020
Keeping students happy, healthy, and learning at home
Reading and Writing
Reading Strategy for Parents and Children: Vocabulary - Grades K-5
Connect through literature with the vocabulary strategy. This strategy helps children learn more words and how to apply and use those words correctly in reading and writing.
2. Watch the vocabulary strategy read-aloud modeled examples and practice along with your child. You’ll find examples for fiction and nonfiction.
Modeled Examples:
3. Select a book to read using the vocabulary strategy.
4. Use the vocabulary bookmark.
5. Think about how well you know the word using the vocabulary word rating scale. What will you learn about the word next?
6. Add writing to your practice and help your child to fill out the K-3 Journal or 4-5 Journal pages. (Feel free to download and print or just make your own journal at home and use the journal here to help guide you.)
7. Be sure to remind your child to use their writing non-negotiables (Capitals and periods).
8. Repeat with a different genre. If your child chose a fiction book, try an information book next.
9. Continue practicing learning new vocabulary with your child using all types of text (books, movies, Twitter postings, news reports, etc.)
For more read-aloud fun, check out this collection of famous people reading various texts aloud or the Big List of Children’s Books: Read-Alouds.
For more literacy activities to do every day of the year, check out our Student Success Calendar or our Read-at-Home Book.
Reading: Informational Text - Grades 6-8
The Week Junior is a current events magazine for 8- to 14-year-olds that informs, empowers, and inspires its readers. It helps kids make sense of the world, provides context and clarity on complex issues, and encourages discussion and debate.
Issue 11 - June 5, 2020
Bike Boom: More people take to two wheels as lockdown sparks a worldwide cycling craze
Writing: Notebooking - Grades 6-8
Playlist of My Year
Middle School students have a strong connection to music. Encourage your child to share some of their memories and events of this past school year with you and the music they have selected to represent those memories and events.
- Think about your school year and make a list of 6-8 highlights and lowlights that stand out to you. Examples: memorable events, relationships, triumphs, failures, and special places.
- Identify a song that relates to each item on your list.
- In your writing notebook/journal, explain how each song you have chosen relates to the item on your list.
Writing: Notebooking - Grades 9-12
Listen to each song below (lyrics included) and think about what is important to you. What is important to you today may change over time, so focus on your feelings and thoughts right now. Jot down your thoughts in your writer’s notebook/journal. This will give you a written reminder for years to come, about how you felt at this time in your life.
- Choose six to eight major events — significant moments, times of adversity or challenges, first jobs, first car, entering high school — in your life.
- Record these moments in your Writer’s Notebook/Journal, explaining why each event is important and why you remember those particular times.
- Look for lyrics that represent the significant events in your life.
- Now place your songlist in “order”. For example, your songs might be listed in the chronological order of the events they document, or they might be mixed together so that all of the slow songs are not back-to-back. DO NOT just list them randomly. Put some thought into the order of your songs and the complete package you are presenting.
- Optional: Your “songtrack” represents who you are now. But a listener would need to understand the connections and personal experiences that support the choice of each song on the list. So, in your writer’s notebook/journal, write a reflective letter (addressed to “Dear Listener,”) that explains why you chose the particular songs that you did.
If Today Was Your Last Day (Nickelback)
Soundtrack to Your Life (Ashley Parker Angel)
SAT/PSAT Prep: Vocabulary - Grades 9-12
This week's vocabulary lists:
This week's vocabulary quizzes (you will need to create an account to access quizzes):
Mathematics
Geometry: Going on a Shape Hunt - Grades K-2
Geometry: Going on an Angle Hunt - Grades 3-5
Make angles according to website directions.
Use angle models to find different angles around the house or outside.
Keep a recording of where you found your angles. Better yet, take a picture of you holding your angle model fitting the angle you found, and make a picture book of angle!
Science, Art, and History
Chemistry: Bubbles - Grades K-5
1. Follow directions on the website and ask lots of questions.
- I wonder...
- What if we changed...
- What caused...to happen?
2. Record each trial on a data table so you can find your best solution.
Physics: Density and Microgravity - Grades 3-12
Watch the video Upside Down & Inside Out by the band OK Go.
Watch this video as the band describes how they created the video using an airplane and parabolas!
Now try the two different activities below and create art using science!
Science/History: Thomas Edison Inventions - Grades K-8
You may already know that Thomas Edison grew up in Port Huron beginning at age 7, and you probably know he is credited with inventing the lightbulb, but there are many, many other inventions we can thank him for. To learn more about the inventor, the Edison Innovation Foundation invites you to a virtual scavenger hunt. Thomas Edison has lost all of his inventions and needs your help to find them. This interactive game allows participants to learn about science and history, along with the chance to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card.
To begin, head to the Edison Invention Scavenger Hunt webpage and download the complete instructions and submission form, then have fun exploring. Good luck!
Contest Requirements:
Submit your findings by Thursday, June 4
Student must be in grades K-8 and reside in the US
Students under 13 years of age must submit their entries with a parent or legal guardian (over the age of 18)
All work submitted must be work of the student
Only complete submissions (8 inventions) will be entered in a raffle to win the Amazon Gift Card
Career and College Corner
College Exploration: Michigan's Colleges and Universities - Grades 9-12
The best way to select a college or university to attend after graduation is by starting a short list of the schools you're interested to start exploring. Did you know Michigan has over 70 four-year colleges and universities? Follow the instructions below to begin your college exploration journey:
During the video, write down the college and universities you may be interested in attending
Make a list of these schools. It’s helpful to rank the schools on your list in order of interest
Discuss your list with your parents, family, or siblings
***Class of 2021 - Be sure to check our BWCAN’s Junior Checklist - 7 Steps to help you Prepare for College
Mindfulness & Self-Care
An Introduction to ADHD - Grades K-12
A Comprehensive Guide to ADHD for Parents
Strategies and support for kids with ADHD during the COVID crisis
This is what it feels like to live with ADHD (video)
CHADD provides resources and advocacy for adults and children with ADHD