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February 14, 2023
Winter Issue #12
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Weekly activities and lessons to keep your child thinking and progressing all year long. |
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"The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." |
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Hello and Happy St. Valentine's Day,
I hope all your dreams came true today. Can you believe that another vacation is on our doorstep? If you are leaving town this President's Week, please be safe, take care of yourselves, and have a blast!
I hope you enjoy the activities in this week's flyer. If you are looking for a book to read over the vacation, check out this week's recommendation. I loved reading it. This story of friendship and acceptance and hope is wrapped around a life changing mystery. Do not miss it!
If you know anybody who you think would benefit from the weekly learning activities in this flyer, please share it with your friends and encourage them to join The McManus Files mailing list by following the links on this page.
Stay happy,
Mr. McManus
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If you feel your child might benefit from a group or individual tutoring program to prepare them for the next phase of their education, please contact McManus Tutoring.
Programs are structured so that students learn independence, accountability, and self-possession. They will develop a repeatable structure that can be used to build success in the future.
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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
by Dusti Bowling
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I can’t say enough about this remarkable book. It is an original story with true heart, a fresh voice, and an absolutely unforgettable hero. It's a book sure to give you goosebumps, teary eyes, and out-loud laughs. It's a book that will open your eyes and your heart. Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again. Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It’s hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven’s about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms. This book is uplifting, beautiful, and hilarious all at the same time. The mystery had me captured. I'm excited to read the next! Enjoy!
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How to Make Evaporation Art |
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A fun science project for kids who are thirsty for water facts. |
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Judging by the water that is everywhere when you brush your teeth or take a shower, you may think it disappears like magic. But does it?
In this experiment, you will get to investigate the evaporation process and what factors have an effect on evaporation times. This one will take a bit of time for you to see results, but it will make you think about where water goes when it "disappears." Sorry, it probably won't help you clean up after you brush their teeth, though.
GATHER THIS:
- Shallow trays with rims
- Cardstock or heavy paper cut to fit the bottom of the trays
- Food coloring in various colors
- Cups
- Eyedroppers or small spoons
THEN DO THIS:
- Fill the cups halfway with water.
- Place a few drops of food coloring into each cup.
- Use your eyedropper or small spoon to drop the colored water onto your paper. Try to use different amounts of water each time, so that you'll be able to see the different rates of evaporation.
- See how your artwork changes as it dries and the water evaporates!
ASK THIS:
- How long did it take for the paper to dry where you placed water?
- Which parts of your paper dried more quickly than other parts?
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Absorption: Paper is made of tiny overlapping plant fiber (cellulose) tubes, and the water becomes incorporated into the paper because of capillary action.
Evaporation: This is the process where liquids change to a gas or vapor from the energy created when molecules bounce into one another because they are being affected by heat.
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Three Writing Prompts and an Essay Topic
These prompts and questions will help jump-start your daily writing. Just as it's important to read for at least 30 minutes each day, you should also write for 30 minutes a day. Don't worry about your organization or spelling, just write!
"There once lived a king whose name was forgotten with time, but his kingdom…"
"Today, I saw a strange-colored bug I’ve never seen before…"
"One minute, I was sitting quietly reading a book; the next thing I knew, I was running away from…"
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February 14th
Everyone knows today is Valentine's Day. The practice of sending cards and love letters on this day comes from an old Roman feast.
Prompt:
Do you give Valentine's Day cards to friends and family? Do you like to receive cards? Why do you think people like Valentine's Day so much?
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Try a KenKen
Sudoko is too busy for me, and I get overwhelmed with all the tiny boxes. About 15 years ago, I discovered KenKen puzzles which use the same logic as Sudoko but with a math twist. With practice they get easier. Give KenKen a try... Here is a medium and an easy puzzle
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Rules For Playing KenKen
The numbers you use in a KenKen puzzle depend on the size of the grid you choose. A 3 x 3 grid (3 squares across, 3 squares down) means you use the numbers 1, 2, and 3. In a 4 x 4 grid, use numbers 1 to 4. A 5x5 grid requires you use the numbers 1 to 5, and so on.
The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematic operation indicated (+, -, ×, ÷).
Here's how you play:
- Use each number only once per row, once per column.
- Cages with just one square should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.
- A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.
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