Bookmark Bios By Gail Skroback Hennessey Recently, while watching the morning news, two of the hosts couldn’t name the famous woman, from Rochester, NY, who helped women get the right to vote! One said, I think her name was Susan “something”. That got me thinking that Bookmark Bios might be a great way to introduce young people to many(not all) the famous women and men in history, STEM and Literature! Giving the Bookmark Bios, could be a weekly activity, perhaps as a handout for an interactive notebook, after a testing period, or as a “bell ringer” before your class instruction begins. You could print the Bookmark Bios on cardstock or colored paper, cut them out and you might consider laminating them for a more durable handout. Additionally, the included Bookmark Bio Cards might be helpful to have the students do some critical thinking! I have also included a blank template should you wish to use the idea as a research activity where students develop their own Bookmark Bios! **Included: **20 Bookmark Bios on 5 sheets of 4 bookmarks on a page and the Bookmark Bio Card(with two on a page). You have permission to reproduce a class amount of the bookmarks and cards . Women in Modern Times(History, STEM, Literature) First in the series and offered now. Women in Ancient Times( History, STEM, Literature). Men in Modern Times(History, STEM, Literature) Men in Ancient Times(History, STEM,Literature) Included in Women in Modern Times(1700s on): Susan B. Anthony Harriet Tubman Rosa Parks Sacagawea Amelia Earhart Clara Barton Nellie Bly Rachel Carson Margaret Mead Marie Curie Elizabeth Blackwell Jane Goodall Sandra Day O’Connor Sally Ride Dorothea Dix Eleanor Roosevelt Hillary Clinton Mother Teresa Florence Nightingale Helen Keller

Did you know that the salute dates back to the time when knights would lift their visors to show who they were? Did you know that the carousel was originally a training tool for those hoping to become knights or that people actually placed live birds in a pie(Sing a Song of Sixpence)?This unit includes notes, lots of activities and resources on the Middle Ages!

Want to introduce your students to the state of Alaska and are looking for an enrichment activity? This resource includes a map skill activity and 12 informational web questions. Additionally, there are lots of fun facts about the state of Alaska and a number of extension activities. The activity can be done in one class period or over a couple of days if you choose to use some of the extension activities. A great resource to help develop reading and informational skills!

Probably the most famous scientist of the 20th century, Einstein was a physicist who’s most remembered for his Theory of Relativity. From 1901 to 1954, Einstein published more than 300 scientific works. This Reader’s Theater Script introduces students to Albert Einstein. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show series, the script includes information about Einstein’s childhood, his education, and contributions to science. There is a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, and a teachers page which includes lots of extension activities, additional links and children’s books and the key. The format is a “studio” audience who asks questions of Ms. Bie Ografee’s guest, in this case, Albert Einstein. Additional Resources on this Topic You May Find of Interest: 1. Learn about the history of space with this informative web quest. There are 12 web questions, comprehension questions and extension activities: Space: A Webquest/Extension Activities 2. Learn about Astronaut John Glenn’s historic flight to become the first American to Orbit the Earth. Years later, he would also become the oldest American to go on the Space Shuttle! This biographical web quest also contains several questions about the early days of space exploration. There are several extension activities and the key: John Glenn, A Webquest 3. A Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Reader’s Theater Script. Marie Curie: A Reader’s Theater Script 4. Trailblazers in Science: A Bundle of Six Reader’s Theater Scripts: STEM Biographies(George W. Carver, Jacques Cousteau, Elizabeth Blackwell, Thomas Edison, Marie Curie and this play(Katherine Johnson): Trailblazers in Science(Six STEM Biographies) Reader’s Theater Scripts (All these plays are also sold individually.) Please consider following me…

Learn about Katherine Johnson, a physicist, space scientist and mathematician, who played a very important role with NASA’s early space missions with this biographical play. The movie Hidden Figures highlights the role of NASA’s “computers” such as Katherine Johnson and their contributions. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series of Reader’s Theater Scripts, there are comprehension questions, a Did You Know? section,a Teacher page with extensions/links and key. A great STEM biography! Additional Resources on this Topic You May Find of Interest: 1. Learn about the history of space with this informative web quest. There are 12 web questions, comprehension questions and extension activities: Space: A Webquest/Extension Activities 2. Learn about Astronaut John Glenn’s historic flight to become the first American to Orbit the Earth. Years later, he would also become the oldest American to go on the Space Shuttle! This biographical web quest also contains several questions about the early days of space exploration. There are several extension activities. Other plays in the Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series: Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Bessie Coleman Sacagawea, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Sequoia, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Tuskegee Airmen, Susan B. Anthony, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, an interview with a groundhog, an interview with a leprechaun, an interview with Simon, victim of the Black Death, An Interview with Agent 355, a female agent in the Culper Spy Ring(Revolutionary War), Interview with a 49er from the California Gold Rush and more.

Martin Luther King Jr. A Biographical Play: Learn about this important civil rights leader who worked for equality in non-violent ways. Martin Luther King envisioned a world where the color of your skin did not determine a person’s value and civil rights! He was also a excellent orator whose " I Have a Dream Speech" is probably his most famous. Using this Reader’s Theater Script, part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show series of plays, your students will have fun acting out the parts and learning about the life of Martin Luther King, as they pretend to be in the audience of Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show. There are 10 audience informational questioners, a Did You Know? section of additional facts, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension questions, vocabulary(which are highlighted in the play), additional links and the key. I also have similar plays on Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, the Tuskegee Airmen, Rosa Parks and Bessie Coleman. I have many other plays,too, including Sacagawea, Sequoia, Thomas Edison,Michelangelo, DaVinci, Susan B. Anthony, Simon: Victim of the Black Death, McSean: a Leprechaun, Interview with a Groundhog,Elizabeth Blackwell, Revolutionary War Female Spy, California Gold Rush Prospector and more. Please consider becoming a follower of mine. Thanks! Gail Hennessey

NEW!!! Use this play to introduce students to the life of English Scientist, Sir Isaac Newton. Great, too, for a review activity if you are doing a unit of study on gravity, motion or prisms. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series of plays, Sir Isaac Newton is a guest on Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show. Newton shares information about his life and contributions he made in science with her studio audience who ask questions which he answers. I always include questions about a “guest’s” childhood and schooling. I feel it is important to see all famous people were kids,too, with many of the same issues that students today may be confronting. I also like kids to see that our past shapes our future! There is a Did You Know? section of fun facts, reading comprehension questions and a teacher section with lots of extension activities, links and the key. Other plays in the Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series: The Constitution(A Visit with James Madison, “Father of the Constitution”),A Visit with Lewis and Clark, A Visit with Josh Crabtree, A Tory during the American Revolutionary War, Charles Dickens, Johnny Appleseed, Albert Einstein, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Bessie Coleman Sacagawea, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Sequoia, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Tuskegee Airmen, Susan B. Anthony, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, an interview with a groundhog, an interview with a leprechaun, an interview with Simon, victim of the Black Death, An Interview with Agent 355, a female agent in the Culper Spy Ring(Revolutionary War), Interview with a 49er from the California Gold Rush , Albert Einstein, Rachel Carson, Katherine Johnson and more.

Studying the Ancient Romans? Looking for a Friday Activity to introduce students to countries of the world? Part of my Country in Focus Series, this web quest covers the country of Italy and the ancient Romans. Students will learn about the contributions of the people from Italy, famous people, places to visit and more. There are 11 web questions, a map skill activity on Italy, a Did You Know? fun fact section, comprehension questions and a Teacher Page with Looking for an internet activity that includes 10 extension activities, additional links and the keys.

A DBQ activity uses primary sources. Sources can include diaries,posters, music, news articles from the time, anything written by those who participated in or witnessed an event in history. Students review the given documents and use many cognitive skills in processing what they see and read. After gathering information using the documents, students develop an essay answering a question, in this case, “Describe Life on the Home Front During World War 2”, citing several of the documents reviewed. A teacher page includes the Key and suggestions for a rubric to grade the DBQ. If a teacher wishes to use the activity as a web quest, suggestions are also given. I also have a similar activity on Life of a Japanese-American Child living in an Internment Camp during WW2.

Leif Eriksson Day is October 9th. There are different spellings for his name. Studying the Vikings? Looking for a Reader’s Theater Script in Social Studies? Check out this script on the Vikings and Leif Ericsson and his father, Erik the Red. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series of plays, Leif Ericsson and his father, Eric the Red are guests on Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show. They share information about their lives and the Vikings. There is a Did You Know? section of fun facts, reading comprehension questions and a teacher section with lots of extension activities, links and the key. Other plays in the Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series: The Constitution(A Visit with James Madison, “Father of the Constitution”),Dr. Seuss, A Visit with Josh Crabtree, A Tory during the American Revolutionary War, Charles Dickens, Johnny Appleseed, Albert Einstein, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Bessie Coleman Sacagawea, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Sequoia, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Tuskegee Airmen, Susan B. Anthony, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, an interview with a groundhog, an interview with a leprechaun, an interview with Simon, victim of the Black Death, An Interview with Agent 355, a female agent in the Culper Spy Ring(Revolutionary War), Interview with a 49er from the California Gold Rush , Albert Einstein, Rachel Carson, Katherine Johnson and more. I also have related resources on the Middle Age, a play on Christopher Columbus, the Black Death and Marco Polo and an internet activity(web quest) on the Age of Discovery.

Using PRIMARY Sources in the Classroom. A DBQ activity uses primary sources. Sources can include diaries,posters, music, news articles from the time, anything written by those who participated in or witnessed an event in history. Students review the given documents and use many cognitive skills in processing what they see and read. After gathering information using the documents, students develop an essay answering a question. The topic of this Primary Source(DBQ )is Life of a Japanese-American Child Living in an Internment Camp during World War 2. A teacher page includes the Key,additional links and suggestions for a rubric to grade the DBQ. This resource could also be used as a web quest. Check out my other DBQ Activity: Life on the Homefront During WW2: Life on the Homefront during WW2

Students will learn about the history of the sport of “football”, (only the USA and some say Canada, use the term, soccer) and the famous games held every four years. Great for a Friday activity to show kids that everything has a history, even sports! Includes 11 web questions, a map skill activity on the 2022 Host Country of Qatar, A Did You Know? Section, Comprehension. Questions, a Teacher page with several extension activities and the key.

Learn about Abraham Lincoln with this fun/informative web quest.Did you know that President Lincoln started our national Thanksgiving holiday? And, you may not know that Abraham Lincoln didn’t like the name Abe and that even his wife called him by the name Lincoln.A quote of Lincoln: "And in the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. There are several discussion questions in addition to 10 informative text web questions. You may find these additional resources of interest: 1. President Andrew Johnson had a pet white mouse. President William McKinley had a pet parrot who was trained to whistle, “Yankee Doodle”. President James Garfield was the first president to be left- handed AND could write with both hands(and different languages at the same time-Greek and Latin). George H W Bush liked eating pork rinds as a snack. President George Washington was a spelunker, a person that likes searching in caves. John F. Kennedy said, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Presidential Webquest 2. Did you know that First Lady Hillary Clinton was the first First Lady to become a senator of New York? Did you know that Florence Harding was the first woman to be able to VOTE for her husband in a presidential election? Learn about the contributions of some of our first ladies with this fun and informative webquest. For grades 4 and up. First Ladies of the USA, A Webquest 3. Learn about the White House with 10 informative web questions, comprehension and discussion questions and several extension activities. The White House, A Webquest 4. Learn about Abe Lincoln with this informative web quest! President Lincoln started our national Thanksgiving holiday.And, you may not know that Abraham Lincoln didn’t like the name Abe and that even his wife called him by the name Lincoln. Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. Includes extension activities for language arts. Abraham Lincoln, A Webquest 5. Use this informative Reader’s Theater Script to learn about Abraham Lincoln. The fun/informative play uses the format of Abraham Lincoln being a guest on a talk show and the studio audience asks questions about his life. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series. Abraham Lincoln, A Reader’s Theater Script

After 76 days, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, the astronauts for the historic Apollo 11 mission to the moon, made history on July 20, 1969. After the Columbia reached the moon’s orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin went into a smaller module, the Eagle. They began a descent onto the surface of the moon and successfully landed on the moon where both men would become the first humans to actually walk on the moon. The date was July 21, 1969! Just think, from the first powered flight in 1903, it was just 66 years before we had humans walk on the moon! In 2019, it will be the 50th anniversary of this remarkable achievement! Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins are guests of Ms. Bie Ografee and her studio audience ask the guests questions about their historic trip to the moon. In addition to the play, with 10 audience questioners, there are Did You Know Fun Facts, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension activities and the key to the comprehension questions. Check out these additional resources: Learn about the history of space with this informative web quest. There are 12 web questions, comprehension questions and extension activities: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/space-the-final-frontier-an-internet-activity-11941871 Learn about Astronaut John Glenn’s historic flight to become the first American to Orbit the Earth. Years later, he would also become the oldest American to go on the Space Shuttle! This biographical web quest also contains several questions about the early days of space exploration. There are several extension activities and the key: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/astronaut-john-glenn-a-webquest-internet-search-activity-11453536

An English primatologist, Jane Goodall, has helped to change the attitudes people had toward animals, specifically the chimpanzee. Her method of studying chimpanzees involved living amongst them, for over 55 years. She is also known as an anthropologist, humanitarian and writer. She has worked for better treatment of animals in zoos and protection of the habitat of animals in the wild. Students will have fun learning about the life of Jane Goodall with my Reader’s Theater Script. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, a “studio audience” asks questions of Ms. Bie Ografee’s guest, Jane Goodall. In addition to the host and guest, there are 10 audience questioners. There are several DiD You Know? facts, comprehension questions, a map activity as well as a Teacher Page with additional extension activities and the keys. Other Resources of Interest: Rachel Carson (Reader’s Theater Script): Jacques Cousteau:(Reader’s Theater Script)

American Revolution/ Revolutionary War: Studying the 13 Colonies/Colonial Times? This resource would work great for such a unit of study. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee’s Reader’s Theater Scripts, I really had fun developing this play about the Culper Spy Ring and specifically, Agent 355, one of the female member of the organization! During the Revolutionary War, the Culper Spy Ring was organized to work to defeat the British. Agent 355 and other members of the spy organization were very important in the colonists being victorious in the War for Independence from England. Although Agent 355’s real name remains a mystery, she was one of the women spies who showed that patriotism has no gender! Secret codes, invisible ink, LAUNDRY used to communicate messages, what spies did during the Revolutionary war, lots of information is weaved into Agent 355 being a guest on Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show with the studio audience asking her questions. Great for study on the Revolutionary War, during Women’s History Month or any time you are looking for a fun/informative play to use with your students! Lots of extension activities, links, a Did You Know Fact section, comprehension questions and the key are also included. George Washington asked for the spy ring to be organized and interestingly, it’s secret group was only discovered in the 1930s, about 140 years after the American Revolutionary War by historians reviewing some of George Washington’s private papers. During the American Revolution, Tories supported the British in the war. Loyalists, the King’s Friends and Royalists were other names for those that took sides with the British. Students will learn about what it was like to be a Tory during the American Revolutionary War. Joshua Crabtree(fictitious character) is a guest on Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show. The format of the Reader’s Theater Script is that a studio audience asks questions of Ms. Bie Ografee’s guest to learn what it was like to support the British and not the Patriots during the American Revolution. There are 10 questioners, A Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a Teacher Page with extension activities and the key. American Revolutionary War: A Visit with a Tory!

NOTE: April Fools’ Day and April Fool’s Day are both used but sources say April Fools’ Day is more correct to use. Great Activity to Introduce students to REAL vs. FAKE News Identification! Want to introduce your students to the history of April Fools’ Day? This resource provides a reading for students as well as lots of interesting famous April Fools’ Day pranks such as this one that happened in Switzerland in 1957.A news show aired a video on a spaghetti harvest in the country of Switzerland. People were pulling strands of spaghetti dangling down from trees. People actually called the news show asking how they could purchase a spaghetti tree! Additionally, there are extension activities as well as a Test your April Fools’ Day IQ(can you spot the True News Stories from the Fake ones?). There are also comprehension questions for the students to answer after reviewing the resource.One class period for Grades 4 and up. This Resource Goes well with April Fool’s Day: Check out my Resource on Digital Critical Thinking(Is that FAKE News?) Is That FAKE New?

Whenever different cultures meet, ideas are exchanged. Did you know that skiing was started by the people of Norway? Did you know that the kite and fireworks were invented by the people of China? The idea of Trial by Jury and the idea of Democracy come to us from the Ancient Greeks. Chocolate came from the Aztecs people and the ancient Mesopotamian people first came up with a number system based on 60. 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 with this webquest.

Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series. This biographical Reader’s Theater Script is on John Chapman, better remembered as Johnny Appleseed. Chapman said of himself,“by occupation,(I was) a gatherer and planter of apple seeds”. This pioneer nurseryman helped to introduce apple trees to Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Unlike many people, John Chapman was an American hero, DURING his lifetime. He is know for his kindness toward other people and all living creatures, his efforts in conservation and the many apple trees he started during his life. There area 8 Audience Questioners in the complete resource. There are 12 Did You Know? fun facts about apples, 9 comprehension questions, a teacher page with 9 extension activities, the key and additional links of interest. Great for a Friday biography day, during a study on pioneers or a unit on apples! Johnny Appleseed Day is celebrated : March 11th and/or September 26th. Other plays in the Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series: Dr. Seuss, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Bessie Coleman Sacagawea, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Sequoia, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Tuskegee Airmen, Susan B. Anthony, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, an interview with a groundhog, an interview with a leprechaun, an interview with Simon, victim of the Black Death, An Interview with Agent 355, a female agent in the Culper Spy Ring(Revolutionary War), Interview with a 49er from the California Gold Rush , Albert Einstein, Rachel Carson, Katherine Johnson and more. Gail Hennessey / Check out my website for teachers/kids for lots of geography activities, short reads, factoids on different topics, news, career surveys, bell ringers and more.

A Biologist and marine zoologist, 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 could be used as a STEM biography any time of year or especially during the time of Earth Day.