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January 16, 2024
Winter Issue #3
| Weekly activities and lessons to keep your child thinking and progressing all year long. | |
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”
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Hello,
I hope you had a fun and restful three day weekend. Don't fret, President's Week will be here soon. This week's flyer is loaded with fun and educational learning activities. I hope you enjoy the changes and take full advantage of all the learning opportunities.
Peace,
Mr. McManus
If you know anybody who you think would benefit from the weekly learning activities in this flyer, please share it with them and encourage all your friends to join The McManus Files mailing list by following the links on this page.
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If you are looking for that perfect book, there are dozens of diverse recommendations listed on "Mr. McManus's Great Reads" page. All book cover images are linked directly to Amazon where you can purchase the book directly. Happy browsing :-)
https://mcmanustutoring.com/great-reads
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Planet Middle School
by Nikki Grimes
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Planet Middle School, told in short poems, is a precious coming of age story which explores many themes in a delightfully quick 154 pages. Reluctant readers will be drawn to its quick pace and easy to read style while appreciating Nikki Grimes's understanding of what tweens and young teens are going through. Joylin, the main character, is a tomboy and an awesome basketball player. She's dealing with her body changing against her will and her best friends (one a boy, one a girl) are trying to make her understand she's still the same person... All while she is experiencing her first crush. The characters in the book were real to me, and I love the lesson of being your true self, rather than trying to be somebody else. Joylin discovers, with the help of her friends, that each person has to figure out who they are and stick to it. I laughed and cried and loved this book from the opening to the closing poem. Enjoy! | | |
To purchase a copy of this book recommendation simply click on the cover image and you will be directed to Amazon.com. If you use this link to purchase a book, I'll get a small commission at no extra cost to you which allows me to keep this flyer going. | |
If you feel your child might benefit from an individual or group 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-reliance. They will develop a repeatable structure that can be used to build success in the future.
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HOW TO MAKE A BAKING SODA ROCKET
I love anything space related, especially rockets! This baking soda rocket is one of my favorites, as it’s super easy to set up and can be launched over and over again!
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TO MAKE A BAKING SODA ROCKET, YOU WILL NEED
Small 500ml bottle – empty
Cork which fits tightly inside the neck of the bottle
Half a piece of kitchen roll ( paper towel )
One tablespoon baking soda – bicarbonate of soda
Vinegar or lemon juice
3 Straws
Tape
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INSTRUCTIONS
Use the tape to attach three straws to the side of the bottle, so it stands up upside down.
Pour about 2 cm of vinegar into the bottle.
Wrap the baking soda in the paper towel to make a little parcel.
Choose a launch area outside. It needs to be a hard surface.
When you’re ready to launch, drop the baking soda parcel into the bottle, quickly add the cork, put the rocket down and stand back!
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Warning – make sure you have a clear, empty space and keep observers well back from the launch site as the rocket shoots up very quickly. | |
BAKING SODA ROCKET TOP TIPS
The cork needs to be tight, so the gas cannot escape.
To slow down the reaction, wrap the baking soda ( bicarbonate of soda ) in half a sheet of kitchen roll before adding it to the bottle. This slows down the reaction and gives you time to put the cork in and stand the rocket up.
WHY DOES A BAKING SODA ROCKET WORK?
Baking soda and vinegar react to neutralise each other, which releases carbon dioxide gas.
The carbon dioxide gas builds up inside the plastic bottle. When the pressure of the gas in the bottle is high enough, the cork is forced out of the bottle.
The downward force of the cork being forced out of the bottle creates an upward thrust force which makes the bottle shoot up into the air. This is an example of Newton’s Third Law.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Warning – Take care when setting this up, and wear eye protection as the bottle can shoot up very quickly!
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BAKING SODA ROCKET EXTENSION TASKS
DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA
Try experimenting with different amounts of vinegar and baking soda to find the perfect combination. Remember, you don’t want the reaction to happen too quickly, but enough gas needs to be produced to force the cork out of the bottle!
LEMON JUICE AS ROCKET FUEL
Try lemon or lime juice instead of vinegar. Investigate whether lemon/lime juice is as effective as vinegar.
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How to Use Image Writing Prompts to Inspire You | |
This image might give you an idea for your story straight away, or you may need some more thinking about. Here are some tips on how to use image prompts to inspire you.
- Give yourself time to look at each image prompt, maybe around 1 minute to just observe what is actually happening in the image.
- Spend a further 10 minutes writing everything that comes to mind when you look at the picture.
- Don’t just look at the image or its appearance – go deeper. Think about how the image makes you feel and imagine if you were in the image what would you be doing?
- Use the 5 W’s to help you fully describe the image.
- What: What is happening in the image?
- Where: Where is this place or location? Is it on Earth or on a faraway planet?
- Why: Why is this image important?
- When: When do you think these events took place? Think about the history of the image or what will happen in the future.
- Who: Who is in the image? Can you link any characters to the image?
Don’t focus too much on telling a story just yet. First, make as many notes as possible on a piece of paper relating to the image. After a good 10 minutes of note writing, you should have a load of ideas to help you with writing a story.
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Three Creative Writing Prompts
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!
"I was walking along a deserted beach when I saw something shiny wash up on the shore..."
"I have always taken care of my pet, but that day he/she took care of me. It all started when…"
"My brother says rainbows don’t go anywhere, but I set out to prove him wrong..."
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January 16th Writing Prompts
On January 16, 1932, Dian Fossey was born. Dian is well known for her work with the mountain gorillas in Africa. If you could choose one endangered animal to research and become an expert on, which animal would you choose and why? Create a “Help Wanted” poster that will encourage others to care about this animal.
Today is “National Do Nothing Day.” If you could invent your own day, what would it be called? What would you want people to do on your special day?
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Try a super fun and super challenging TED Ed Math Riddle | | |
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Play this classic warehouse puzzle from Japan. It is a real brain teaser, but don't worry... There are 60 levels to practice your moves.
PLAY HERE
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