1. Add your “Black Out” poem to our Google doc – Women’s Black Out Poem
2. It does not matter if you are a boy or a girl.  Watch –  What are you going to make? Write your “One day I will…” statement to this blog post.

We can a learn a lot about perseverance from Martin Luther King, Jr. On Monday, January 16th we observe his birthday and honor all of his accomplishments. Listen to Kid President’s video on how King taught us that things won’t always be awesome, but your response can be.

Remember, things don’t always have to be they are. We can change them! Kids can change them.

Let’s use a creative form of poetry, Blackout Poetry, to share our own message of hope and perseverance with MLK: An American Leader.  For homework, post your poem to this blog.

Additional Resources:

• Try this listening activity. Listen to the I Have A Dream speech while you’re reading text.
• Here is a Martin Luther King, Jr. Internet scavenger hunt. Information is from the official U.S. Government website on Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Watch the video of the book, Martin’s Big Words.
• Watch King Leads March On Washington.

“Winston Breen finds puzzles everywhere, even on pizzas, and solving them is what he does best. But when his sister uncovers mysterious wooden strips with words and letters that even Winston can’t figure out, the entire family is obsessed. It turns out the strips are part of a scavenger hunt that a town patriarch set up for his children. If all four sets are put together, they will lead to a ring worth thousands of dollars.”

Text – The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
Audio – Winston Breen 1.1 & Winston Breen 1.2

Have you ever tried to blow bubbles in the cold?  Have you wondered what would happen if you did?  Hope you are dressed warm.  Let’s make some predictions and give it a try.

Play Frozen Bubbles!

Learn more – The Science Behind Bubbles

Let’s use this time of year to keep our logic in check. Choose from the following activities to keep your brains active.

• Factory Balls is a problem solving game that emphasizes logic and sequential reasoning. Your job is to create a design that matches the customer’s order!
• Blocky Christmas Puzzle  is a fun game that challenges you to move some blocks around the screen.  As you move through the levels, new obstacles are added and your own block becomes magnetic – which can be helpful and irritating at the same time.

Just like you, snowflakes are unique.  Let’s try a few different ways to make them.

Challenge #1 – Try Hopscotch – (This is a free app.  I highly recommend.)

Challenge #2 – Try Code.org with Anna and Elsa
Challenge #3 – Make a Six-Pointed Snowflake

Don’t forget to study your words and practice analogies!

WordMasters List #1 – 4th Grade

Analogy Practice – Analogy Game – Beginner

This week is Computer Science Education Week.  Computer Science Education Week is held this week in honor of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906). Coding helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity.

Let’s CODE!

1. Let’s start with Minecraft! Minecraft is back for the Hour of Code with a brand new activity!

   

2. Now try another coding activity here.  There are plenty!

Solve the logic puzzle by filling in all of the squares in the game grid. Use the clues and your deductive reasoning to solve these online logic games:

• Pet Mix-Up
• Foot Race
• Toy Cars
• Pony Snacks

Are you an expert? Try these logic grids on PuzzlersParadise.

This month the Hulk challenges to use our Superpower, Gratitude.  Kid President has a few ideas for us too.

Here are three challenges:

1. Call that special person on the green slip and let them know how grateful you are for him/her. Return the slip to school and link it to our gratitude chain.
2. Bring in an item for our Food Drive.
3. Be inspired by The Secret of Saying Thanks and keep a 21-Day Gratitude Journal. Read and listen to our book of the month here – Secret of Saying Thanks. Comment 3 things you’re grateful for. They can be super simple—and nothing is too small. For example: 1. Favorite cereal this AM 2. Warm bed to sleep in 3. Funny chat with my brother. Do this for 21 days, But you can’t list your family members by name over and over. You have to write different things each day—this is how you learn to flex your gratitude muscle.Why 21 days?  Scientists believe it takes that long for something to become a habit.  Good luck!