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Gail Hennessey's Teacher Emporium

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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.

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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.
Hammurabi, King of Babylon: A Reading Passage!
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Hammurabi, King of Babylon: A Reading Passage!

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Have students learn about Hammurabi, the important lawmaker of ancient times with this reading passage. Additional, there are several Did You Know? facts and comprehension questions. The teacher page gives additional links and the key. This could be used as a homework assignment, enrichment or as a bell ringer activity during a study on the area of Mesopotamia. Let’s Meet Series also has readings on Ramses, Hatshepsut, A Charioteer, Gladiator, Aesop, Archimedes and others. Gail Check out these additional resources: Mesopotamia, means “Land between Two Rivers”.This area is called the cradle of civilization and is where archaeologists have found the remains of the oldest historic people(dating back around 3000BC)People called the Sumerians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Akkadians and Assyrians, all called the region of Mesopotamia home. These people left behind many ideas which we still have in our world today. This unit of study includes notes, map work, a webquest, activities and resources to help you teach your students about the people of Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia, First Historic People Unit Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on ancient ancient Mesopotamia? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Ancient Mesopotamia Puzzler activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on Mesopotamia. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about Mesopotamia is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”. If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well: Mesopotamian Puzzler!
Martin Luther King: A Biographical Play(Reader's Theater Script)
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Martin Luther King: A Biographical Play(Reader's Theater Script)

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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
DBQ: Life of a Japanese-American Child/ Internment Camp WW2
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DBQ: Life of a Japanese-American Child/ Internment Camp WW2

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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
Medieval Puzzler: Secret  Message Review Activity
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Medieval Puzzler: Secret Message Review Activity

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Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit of study on the Middle Ages?Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Medieval Puzzler: Secret Message Review Activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms connected with Medieval Times. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about the Middle Ages is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”. It’s a fun way to reinforce important vocabulary for a unit of study on the Middle Ages! If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well.
Lady Bird Johnson: First Lady(Environmentalist!)
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Lady Bird Johnson: First Lady(Environmentalist!)

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Need a quick fun Friday(or day before a vacation activity)? Teaching American History and want to introduce your students to First Ladies of the United States? Try this fun and information play based on the Mark Goodson Production To Tell the Truth Game Show on Lady Bird Johnson. 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 impostors do not have to do so. Kids must be “truth detectives” to determine just who is the REAL Lady Bird Johnson. Students in grades 4 and up will have fun acting out their parts and learning some interesting facts about First Lady Lady Bird Johnson,called one of Washington’s first environmentalists! Discussion questions,comprehension questions and activities are also included.
Lewis and Clark: A Reader's Theater Script
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Lewis and Clark: A Reader's Theater Script

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On February 28, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson got approval by Congress for an expedition to explore the lands of the Louisiana Purchase. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were asked by President Thomas Jefferson to led the expedition. On May 14, 1804, the expedition called, the Corps of Discovery began. They would return home two years later, in 1806. The expedition helped to open up the west for expansion by people seeking a better life. You may also be interested in my Lewis and Clark Expedition Webquest: Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series of plays, Lewis Meriwether and William Clark are guests on Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show. They share information about their expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory. 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.
Renaissance Secret Puzzler: Review Activity
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Renaissance Secret Puzzler: Review Activity

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Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on the Renaissance? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Renaissance Secret Message Review activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms/famous people of the Renaissance. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about the Renaissance is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”.
Mesopotamian Puzzler: Secret Message Review Activity
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Mesopotamian Puzzler: Secret Message Review Activity

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Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on ancient ancient Mesopotamia? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Ancient Mesopotamia Puzzler activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on Mesopotamia. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about Mesopotamia is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”. If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well. I also have a unit of study on Mesopotamia with notes , activities and resources. I also have a reading on Hammurabi.
Ancient Greek Secret Message Activity!
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Ancient Greek Secret Message Activity!

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Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on ancient Greece? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Ancient Greek Secret Message activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on the Ancient Greeks. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about the ancient Greeks is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”. It’s a fun way to reinforce important vocabulary for a unit of study on the Greeks! If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well.
Mary Todd Lincoln
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Mary Todd Lincoln

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Teaching American History and want to introduce your students to First Ladies of the United States? Try this fun and information play based on the Mark Goodson Production To Tell the Truth Game Show on Mary Todd Lincoln. 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 impostors do not have to do so. Kids must be “truth detectives” to determine just who is the REAL Mary Todd Lincoln. Students in grades 4 and up will have fun acting out their parts and learning some interesting facts about First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Discussion questions,comprehension questions and activities are also included.
Phoenician Puzzler: Secret Message Review Activity
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Phoenician Puzzler: Secret Message Review Activity

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Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on ancient Phoenicians? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Ancient Phoenician Secret Message activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on the Phoenicians. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about the Phoenicians is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”. If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well. I also have a unit of study on the “Purple People”. I have a fun activity on all things PURPLE.
Crusades: A Visit with Sir Bartholomew, A Crusader(Reader's Theater Script)
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Crusades: A Visit with Sir Bartholomew, A Crusader(Reader's Theater Script)

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Learn about the Crusades with this fun and informative play. Students will have fun acting out the different parts, especially those of Sir Bartholomew. There are 10 audience questioners. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, the format is that of a talk show host with a studio audience that ask Ms. Bie Ografee’s guest questions about the time period. Included: cause, different crusades(ie: People’s Crusade, Children’s Crusade and the Third Crusade) and the important results of this period in history. There is a DiD You Know? fun facts,comprehension questions, a teacher section with extension activities and links I thought might be of interest to the teacher. There is also a key to the comprehension questions.
Aesop: Famous Fable Writer of Ancient Greece(Reading Activity)
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Aesop: Famous Fable Writer of Ancient Greece(Reading Activity)

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This resource is part of my new series, “Let’s Meet…” famous people in ancient history. More titles are being added. Currently, the series includes Hatshepsut, Ramses and Socrates. With this biographical reading passage, students will learn about the Aesop, the famous fable writer of Ancient Greece. There is a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extensions and links.
WOMEN'S History: Famous Women in Ancient History,Aglaonike(1st Female Astronomer of Ancient Greece)
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WOMEN'S History: Famous Women in Ancient History,Aglaonike(1st Female Astronomer of Ancient Greece)

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If you ask students to list a couple of famous women in history, I would think Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart and Rosa Parks may be mentioned. As a teacher of world history, too often there is a giant VOID when it comes to famous WOMEN in ancient History. My new series, Let’s Meet… people from the Ancient World includes several women who have made contributions in history. This particular reading is on Aglaonike, thought to be the first female astronomer of Ancient Greece. The short reading shares(in the first person) a recounting of the person’s life(in this case Aglaonike). There are several Did You Know? fun facts, comprehension questions, a map skill activity for the area of the world the person lived, a teacher’s section with extension activities, the key and additional links. Others in the series currently include: Alexander the Great, Hammurabi, Hannibal, Hatshepsut, Ramses and Aesop. Hypathia,female mathematician from Alexandria, Egypt, will be posted tomorrow.
Hanno: Ancient Phoenician Sea Explorer!(Reading Activity)
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Hanno: Ancient Phoenician Sea Explorer!(Reading Activity)

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This resource is part of my new series, “Let’s Meet…” famous people in ancient history. With this biographical reading passage, students will learn about Hanno, the famous Phoenician sea explorer. There is a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, map activity and a teacher page with extensions and links and the key. My Let’s Meet… series is growing. Currently, I also have the following in the series: Hatshepsut, Ramses, Socrates, Hammurabi , Alexander the Great and Aesop, Hypatia(Female Mathematician of Alexandria), Agnodice(Female doctor of Ancient Greece???), Aglaonike(Female Ancient Greek Astronomer) and Aesop.
Women's History: First Female Doctor of Ancient Greece?(Agnodice)Reading Passage
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Women's History: First Female Doctor of Ancient Greece?(Agnodice)Reading Passage

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If you ask students to list a couple of famous women in history, I would think Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart and Rosa Parks may be mentioned. As a teacher of world history, too often there is a giant VOID when it comes to famous WOMEN in ancient History. My new series, Let’s Meet… people from the Ancient World includes several women who have made contributions in history. This particular reading is on Agnodice, thought to be the first female doctor of Ancient Greece. The short reading shares(in the first person) a recounting of the person’s life(in this case Agnodice). There are several Did You Know? fun facts, comprehension questions, a map skill activity for the area of the world the person lived, a teacher’s section with extension activities, the key and additional links. *Historians questions if Agnodice actually existed. The reading supplies information about the time and the first recorded female who practiced medicine, Merit Ptah , who lived about 2700 BCE. Others in the series currently include: Alexander the Great, Hammurabi, Hannibal, Hatshepsut, Ramses, Aglaonike,Hypatia and Aesop.
Mathew Brady: A Reader's Theater Script on the "Father of Photojournalism"
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Mathew Brady: A Reader's Theater Script on the "Father of Photojournalism"

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Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee series, Ms. Bie Ografee welcomes Mathew Brady to her talk show. Students will have fun acting out the parts of this informative play on the “Father of Photojournalism” and learning about his photography especially recording the events of the Civil War. Whether you are studying the Civil War or just looking for a Reader’s Theater Script on a famous person to use on a Friday, for a substitute or before a holiday, this play would be a great addition to your classroom! The resource also includes a Did You Know? section of fun facts on the topic, comprehension questions, a Timeline activity on the Civil War and a Teachers Section with extension activities, additional links and the key. Additional resources of Interest:** Civil War: An Internet Activity On April 12th, 1861 the Civil War began.The long and bloody war that ended in 1865, took the lives of over 600,000 soldiers leaving more than 1,100,000 soldiers injured. Learn about the Civil War with this webquest. Each of the 11 questions have lots of information.I’ve also included a number of extension activities and resource links. The webquest comes with the key: Civil War: A Webquest 2. Harriet Tubman: Use this informative Reader’s Theater Script to learn about Harriet Tubman, ex-slave who became the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad, a Union Spy and women’s suffrage advocate. The fun/informative play uses the format of Harriet Tubman being a guest on Ms. Bie Ografee’s talk show and the studio audience asks questions about her life and contributions. Great for Black History Month in February or Women’s History Month in March. Comprehension questions/extension activities, key: Harriet Tubman, A Reader’s Theater Script **3. Abraham Lincoln: **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
Women in History:Artemisia, Female Naval Commander during Battle of Salamis!
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Women in History:Artemisia, Female Naval Commander during Battle of Salamis!

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The Greeks and Persians fought one another between 490-449 BCE. During what may be the first recorded naval battle in history, the Persian King, Xerxes, had a female warrior queen who came to battle with five vessels! After the battle, Xerxes honored her with the title of Admiral(the first known woman to have been given this rank). Studying the ancient Greeks? Looking for a women in ancient history to have kids learn about? Check out this resource which includes a Did You Know? fun facts, comprehension questions and map activity and a teacher’s page with extension activities, links and key.
Galileo Galilei: A Reader's Theater Script
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Galileo Galilei: A Reader's Theater Script

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Scientist, astronomer, physicist and mathematician, Galileo is considered the "father of modern science”. That title was first given to Galileo by another famous scientist named Albert Einstein. This Reader’s Theater Script is part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series. Audience questioners ask guest, Galileo, all about his life. Additionally, there are comprehension questions and a Did You Know? fun facts. A teacher page has extension activities and the key. Resources of Interest on this Topic:(Renaisssance and other Scientists) Renaissance(Webquest): Michelangelo (Reader’s Theater Script: Da Vinci (Reader’s Theater Script): Sir Isaac Newton (Reader’s Theater Script): Albert Einstein (Reader’s Theater Script): 6. Marie Curie (Reader’s Theater Script): 7. Katherine Johnson (Reader’s Theater Script): 8. Rachel Carson (Reader’s Theater Script): 9. Caroline Herschel (Reading Passage/Activity): 10. Sophie Brahe (Reading Passage/Activity):
Using the News in the Classroom: Phoenician Ship Discovered!
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Using the News in the Classroom: Phoenician Ship Discovered!

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Using the news in the classroom to introduce topics in history. A Phoenician trading ship was discovered off the coast of Spain and it is hoped that since the ship is only about 6 ft. down, marine archaeologists plan to bring the ship to the surface this year. Freebie includes fun facts about the Phoenicians and several activities as well as the news story.