I taught for 33 years and I have my MST in the teaching of Social Studies. In 1988, I was awarded the Elementary Social Studies Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from both the New York State Council for the Social Studies and the National Council for the Social Studies. My shop contains mostly social studies materials including web quests, and reader's theater scripts on famous people in history, science and literature.
I taught for 33 years and I have my MST in the teaching of Social Studies. In 1988, I was awarded the Elementary Social Studies Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from both the New York State Council for the Social Studies and the National Council for the Social Studies. My shop contains mostly social studies materials including web quests, and reader's theater scripts on famous people in history, science and literature.
Introduce students to famous people in history, STEM and Literature with my BOOKMARK BIOS.** This is the first in my series of Bookmark Bios, 20 Women in Modern Times(1700s-present) ** I will be adding 20 Women in Ancient Times, 20 Men in Modern Times and 20 Men in Ancient Times.
Check out these two FREE Bookmark Bios! The complete resource includes 20 Bookmark Bios that can be reproduced for your class, Bookmark Bio Cards for kids to do some critical thinking on the highlighted BookMark Bio and a blank template for students to research and develop their own Bookmark Bios.
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*Depending on the grade level, I have highlighted terms that might need to be reviewed such as humanitarian , activist, environmentalist, etc.
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Use this Interactive Notebook Activity to share information about the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree’s history! There are several extension activities for kids to do with the information.
NOTE: My interview with Ed Pauze, head gardener and the person who selects the tree each year can be found in the December issue of Highlights for Children.(2022)
NOTE: The 2023 selected tree is from my area. It was found in a yard of a family living near Binghamton University in Vestal, NY. :-)
PLEASE consider FOLLOWING my Store. Thank you. Gail Hennessey
Check out these resources to use for this time of year:
During the holidays is a great time to share with kids the many traditions which have been shared with different cultures. Learn the history behind some popular holiday traditions from around the world with this webquest: Holiday Traditions from Around the World: A Webquest
2. A Christmas Carol is probably the most popular holiday story. Have your students learn about Charles Dickens,one of the most famous writers of all times! 8 informative web questions. Additional activities/links,too. It is said Dickens used an amazing 4.6 million different words in his writing! Charles Dickens, A Webquest
3. Which president didn’t allow a Christmas tree because he was an environmentalist? Which president organized a snowball fight in the White House for kids(using cotton balls). Which president hired a camel to entertain kids at Christmas time? Learn 12 informative facts about the Holidays at the White House: Holiday Traditions at the White House
4. Need a fun/informative activity to celebrate the New Year after vacation? There are nine questions, lots of interesting customs of how people celebrate New Year’s around the world, comprehension questions, extension activities and the key. Great activity for reading for information and research/computer skills. ( Diwali, Chinese New Year, Songkran and Rosh Hashanah included): New Year’s Eve Traditions: A Webquest
Have students use this worksheet to learn about elephants. The Teacher Page has some suggested activities and additional links.
Great for a substitute or a Friday activity or use for Save the Elephant Day(April 16th) and World Elephant Day(August 12th).
I also have an internet activity on all things Elephant! https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/elephants-a-webquest-11325070
Please consider following me and check out my other resources at my TES Store.
Thanks,
Gail
November is Thanksgiving time and most of us will be celebrating with a turkey dinner. Did you know that the Native American Indians were raising turkey as far back as 1000 A.D. ? Did you know that the Aztecs, of Mexico, were raising turkeys even earlier, about 200 B.C. ? Twenty Factoids, extension activities: FREE!
Use this freebie to have students learn about famous fairytale writer, Hans Christian Andersen.
Check out my Reader’s Theater Script on Hans Christian Andersen: The play is based on the Mark Goodson Production To Tell the Truth Game Show. To Tell the Truth was a popular television show which has returned with host Anthony Anderson(of Blackish). Three guests all claim to be the real guest being interviewed by a panel. The real guest must tell the truth where the other imposters do not have to do so. Kids must be “truth detectives” to determine just who is the REAL Hans Christian Andersen. Students in grades 4 and up will have fun acting out their parts and learning some interesting facts about fairy tale writer, Hans Christian Andersen. Comprehension questions, discussion questions, extension activities and resources are included. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/hans-christian-andersen-a-reader-s-theater-script-11147855
Possible Interactive Notebook Activity to use with students as a springtime activity.
Show Kids that EVERYTHING has a HISTORY, even the tulip!
See the entire resource:
Sharing information about the history of the tulip is a great way to show kids that EVERYTHING has a history. The resource includes a reading passage, Did You Know? fun facts, comprehension questions, Map-skill activity, Teacher page with extension activities and key. Click here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/everything-has-a-history-even-tulips-11268026
Have students learn about the Tour de France and history of the Bicycle with this FREE handout or Interactive Notebook Activity. Please check out my other resources at my TES Store. Thank you. Gail Hennessey
Kids will have fun learning some very cool facts about pumpkins. Another record breaking pumpkin was grown for 2023! Possible Interactive Notebook Activity. Great for a fall activity.
Taking the oath of office, a big parade and evening balls, Inauguration Day is a very busy day for the incoming President! Use this Interactive Notebook Activity to learn about the history of the US Inauguration Day!
Use this FREE worksheet/handout with your students to start a discussion on the importance of our oceans. It could be used as an interactive notebook activity.
Please also check out my two resources on this topic:
Oceans, A Webquest
Jacques Cousteau, A Reader’s Theater Script
Please check out my other resources:
I’d appreciate if you’d consider becoming a “follower” of my TES Store. :-)
TREES!
Interactive Notebook Activity:
Arbor Day
A time to celebrate trees!
This Freebie has 11 fun facts about trees and a couple of YOU TURN questions as well as a couple of extension activities.
Resources of Interest on this Topic:
Learn about the history of Arbor Day and all about trees with this web quest. There are 11 web questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a teacher section with keys, additional links and lots(11 extension activities).This could also be something to use with EARTH DAY, when you are studying TREES and, of, course, for ARBOR DAY!
Arbor Day, A Webquest
A Biologist and marine zoologist, Rachel Carson’s books shared her love of nature, especially the ocean and its inhabitants. Her book, Silent Spring, sparked concern in how chemical pesticides were harming our environment. Carson helped to start the environmental movement in our country, which led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This Reader’s Theater Script on Rachel Carson could be used as a STEM biography any time of year or especially during the time of Earth Day.Rachel Carson, A Reader’s Theater Script
Constitution Day:
CONSTITUTION! Learn some fun facts on the Constitution. Activity for Constitution Day! Each year, Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th, unless the day falls on a Sunday. This is the date, in 1787, when delegates to the Constitutional Convention, signed the Constitution. They had met for 116 days, at the State House(now called Independence Hall), in Philadelphia, PA.
Constitution Day is also called Citizenship Day. It’s a day to celebrate this important document of our nation!
Check out these Did You Know? Fun Facts about the history of the Constitution.
You may find this resource of interest:
Part of my Ms. Bie Ografe series of plays, this Reader’s Theater Script is on the “Father of the Constitution”, James Madson(1751-1836), and his sharing with students the history of the writing of the Constitution. Madison who would become the 4th President of the United States(1809-1817)), played a very important role in the forming of our US Constitution. In addition to being a delegate, he introduced the first additions to the Constitution(amendments) which came to be known as the Bill of Rights. With 13 audience questioners, a Did You Know Section, comprehension questions, a Teacher Page with extension activities, key and additional links, students will learn about the writing of our important government document, the Constitution.Constitution. A Visit with James Madison,"Father of the Constitution, A Reader’s Theater Script
Activity for Constitution Day. :-)
Kids will have fun learning some very cool facts about pumpkins. Another record breaking pumpkin was grown for 2018! Possible Interactive Notebook Activity. Great for a fall activity. THIS resource has been updated for 2018. Download the newest version.
One of the oldest lasting examples of graphic communication is the Bayeux Tapestry.It dates back to 1083. The short reading comes with comprehension questions, too.
Need a fun activity that involves kids finding answers that have RED in it or are the color RED? Fun Friday or before a holiday worksheet activity.
You can do this activity in one class, over a couple of days if being used as a end of the period activity or over a couple of days, if you wish to do the extension activities.
Great for a Friday activity or before a vacation or when you have some time at the end of the period for kids to group together and test their cognitive skills on all things RED! Grades 4 and up.
Use this fun activity for kids to test their cognitive skills about the color GREEN. All the answers have the word Green in it or have to do with the color green. Great for a Friday activity or before a holiday.
NOTE: This resource is INCLUDED in my Ireland Webquest/Activity Resource.
Need a fun activity that involves kids finding answers that have YELLOW in it or are the color YELLOW? Fun Friday or before a holiday worksheet activity.
You can do this activity in one class, over a couple of days if being used as a end of the period activity or over a couple of days, if you wish to do the extension activities.
Great for a Friday activity or before a vacation or when you have some time at the end of the period for kids to group together and test their cognitive skills on all things YELLOW! Grades 4 and up.
Need a fun activity that involves kids finding answers that have Orange in it or are the color ORANGE? Fun Friday or before a holiday worksheet activity.
You can do this activity in one class, over a couple of days if being used as a end of the period activity or over a couple of days, if you wish to do the extension activities.
Have kids test their cognitive skills on all things ORANGE! Grades 4 and up.
