lu·mi·nar·y (noun) a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere.
This volume is based on LUMINARIES --
-- People who inspire or influence others because of a certain expertise or talent. Learn a bit about each luminary, and then challenge yourself to try something in their specialty area.
Challenge 1
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a brilliant writer, singer, composer, songwriter, rapper, and an actor. He is best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton.
Try it!
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote hip hop lyrics to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Check out the video below to learn the basics of a famous Hip Hop Song. Try to imitate the artists' technique and make your own music! Make sure to share it when you're finished.
Extra challenge: Pick a social studies or science topic you know a lot about. Can you write a hip hop song using information about your topic?
Find more about writing Hip Hop here: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Educators/Musical-Explorers/Digital/Program-Five/Soul-Science-Lab/Lesson-1
Challenge 2
Roald Dahl was a spy, an ace fighter pilot, a chocolate historian and a medical inventor. However, he is best know to us as the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and a treasury of beloved children's books.
Learn more about Roald Dahl's writing process by clicking play and listening to him on the link below.
If you know the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you'll know that Willy Wonka invited 5 children into the factory. Originally, Roald Dahl had ideas for 15 children! At the link below, check out Dahl's original draft about one of the kids who didn't make the cut.
Research the language of Roald Dahl, known as ‘Gobblefunk’. Use your research to make Google Slide or poster that translates some of the words or defines their meaning. Then, write your own short story in the style of Roald Dahl. If you can, use yellow paper and pencils, just like Roald Dahl did. Don't forget to share your work!
Challenge 3
Sometime about the year 1590, Zaccharias Janssen and his father Hans created the first compound microscope.
They started experimenting with glass lenses. They put several lenses in a tube and made a very important discovery. The object near the end of the tube appeared to be greatly enlarged, much larger than any simple magnifying glass could achieve by itself! They had just invented the compound microscope (which is a microscope that uses two or more lenses).
Click here to check out images of everyday objects under microscopes.
Want to try it yourself? Find directions for building your own microscope with household materials. What can you look at? What details do you notice when you observe your objects under a homemade microscope?
Bioengineer Manu Prakash and his team at Stanford University have designed a light microscope that not only fits in your pocket but costs less than a dollar to make. And here's the coolest part: You put the microscope together yourself, by folding it. Listen or read the following Podcast to learn more.
Challenge 4
Malala Yousafzai has fought for girls’ right to education. In 2014, Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi. Malala was 17 at the time, making her the youngest Nobel winner in history.
In July 2013, Malala delivered an inspirational speech to the United Nation’s International Youth Assembly, where she told the crowd “One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” What does that quote mean to you? Create a video using Clips to share about who Malala is. Include the quote, and ideas for how you can speak up and make a difference. How will you make the world a better place?
Malala stood for peace in the world. Sometimes, it is hard to think about peace in the world when we don't have peace in ourselves. Take some time to focus on your own peace today.
Design a peace rock. Find a smooth rock, and decorate it with a peaceful word, pattern, or even just a color. Place it in a location where you can see it and be reminded to take a deep breath and feel a sense of calm.
Find some some examples and sample directions at the link below. You don't need all of the materials mentioned- just a small, smooth, clean, rock from outside (wash it!), and a permanent marker or paints.
Credits:
Created with images by Kyle Thacker - "untitled image" • Unknown - "Sky Lanterns on Mid Air · Free Stock Photo" • Unknown - "Sky Lanterns on Mid Air · Free Stock Photo" • Trust "Tru" Katsande - "Observing samples under the microscope " • Unknown - "Sky Lanterns on Mid Air · Free Stock Photo" • Unknown - "Sky Lanterns on Mid Air · Free Stock Photo"