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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.
Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist, Author, Speaker(A Reader's Theater Script)
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Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist, Author, Speaker(A Reader's Theater Script)

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Looking for a Reader’s Theater Script on Frederick Douglass? If, so, check out this play, part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series. 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. Students will learn lots of information on abolitionist, author and speaker, Frederick Douglass. The script uses a “studio” audience who asks questions of Ms. Bie Ografee’s guest, Frederick Douglass. Could be helpful during Black History Month or if you are covering this period of history. The play could also be an activity for a substitute or for a Friday activity or when you’d like to introduce your students to famous people in American History. Check out my Let’s Meet Series: I have a number of similar reading passages on famous people in this series, “Let’s Meet…” including: Phillis Wheatley(poet), Joan of Arc(Military leader/Heroine of France), Mary Anning (paleontologist) ,Caroline Herschel(Astronomer), Hildegard of Bingen(writer/composer), Artemisia(Female Naval Commander during the Battle of Salamis), Sophie Brahe(Astronomer), Enheduanna(first known Poet),Hanno(Sea Explorer of the Phoenicians), Agnodice(First Female Doctor of Ancient Greece), Hypatia(First female mathematician), Aglaonike(astronomer), Alexander the Great(famous general), Aesop(Fable Writer of Ancient Greece), Hannibal(famous general), Ramses(Great Pharaoh), Hatshepsut(Female Pharaoh) and Socrates(Philosopher of Ancient Greece).
Spartacus: Roman Gladiator(Reading Passage with information on Roman Colosseum)
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Spartacus: Roman Gladiator(Reading Passage with information on Roman Colosseum)

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Spartacus, was a famous gladiator of Ancient Rome(@109 BC-71 BC) . Originally, a soldier when he tried to leave the army, Spartacus was sold into slavery. His “job” would be to entertain people as a gladiator (fighter).Spartacus would later lead an uprising of slaves seeking freedom in what historians called the Third Servile War or The Gladiator’s War. Some people also refer to the revolt, The War of Spartacus. The reading includes a Did You Know? fact section, comprehension questions, a map activity and a teacher page with extension activities and the key. Additional Resources on this topic: Ancient Rome: Italy, A Webquest: Ancient Roman Secret Diocles: Famous Charioteer of Ancient Rome A Reading:
Everything  Has a History...Even PRETZELS!
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Everything Has a History...Even PRETZELS!

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Use this reading passage to show students that everything has a history, even pretzels! The resource includes a reading passage, a Did You Know? section of fun facts about pretzels. For example: Baldies are what saltless pretzels are called! There is also a short map skill activity to show students the location of where pretzels originated. There are comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities and links. This resource is a fun Friday activity, before a vacation, substitute day or just a day you wish to show kids that everything has a history! Other resources in my Everything has a History: 1. The first in my series, Everything Has a History. Why not show your students that even candy has a history with this fun/informative web quest! Learn facts including marshmallows date back to 2000 BC and King Tut’s Tomb contained licorice. I also have included several additional resources and extension activities. Great for a Friday, a day before a vacation activity or just when you’d like to share with kids that…everything has a history! History of Candy: A Webquest 2. Everything Has a History…even chewing Gum: History of Chewing Gum! 3. Check out my History of Shoes! Everything Has A History, even SHOES! 4. Check out my History of Peanuts! Learn about the history of the PeanutLearn about the History of the Peanut 5. TULIPS: With spring, comes the sprouting of tulips. Tulips have a very interesting history. Sharing information about the history of the tulip is a great way to show kids that EVERYTHING has a history. Reading passage, Did You Know? fun facts, comprehension questions, Map-skill activity, Teacher page with extension activities and key.Tulips: Reading Passage/Activities
Black Death: A Reader's  Theater Script
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Black Death: A Reader's Theater Script

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Use this informative Reader’s Theater Script to learn about the Black Death, a disease that killed almost 1/2 the population of Europe(1347-1351). The fun/informative play uses the format of Simon, a victim of the Black Death being a guest on Ms. Bie Ografee’s talk show. A studio audience asks questions about his experiences during the time(the medical beliefs,cause, the effects the Black Death had on Europe, etc.Great for study on the Middle Ages or science unit on bacteria/contagious diseases.
April Fools' Day! Reading Passage and More
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April Fools' Day! Reading Passage and More

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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?
Santa Fe Trail: Wind Wagon Thomas(Reading Passage)
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Santa Fe Trail: Wind Wagon Thomas(Reading Passage)

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Use this reading passage(and extension activities) to learn about the Santa Fe Trail and specifically Wind Wagon Thomas. As people were beginning to travel west by covered wagon along the plains of the Santa Fe Trail, William Thomas, had a most unusual idea. The average trip along the Santa Fe Trail took about eight weeks! He envisioned prairie schooners with sails that could move across the plains on wind-power much faster than wagons hitched to horses. The resource includes a map activity, a Did You Know fun facts about the Santa Fe Trail and several discussion questions. The Teacher page has several extension activities and the keys.
A Thanksgiving and Turkey  Webquest!
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A Thanksgiving and Turkey Webquest!

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Want a fun and informative activity to teach your students about the history of Thanksgiving?This webquest has 11 informative text questions on the history of Thanksgiving(including the Macy’s Day Parade). TURKEY facts,too!
Age of Exploration: A Webquest/Extension Activities
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Age of Exploration: A Webquest/Extension Activities

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Studying the Age of Exploration? This fun and informative webquest will be a great resource to use with your students(grades 4-8) There are 14 questions and lots of extension activities and links. There are also comprehension questions to use after the completion of the web quest. Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. Grades 5 and up
Halloween!All Things Halloween Webquest
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Halloween!All Things Halloween Webquest

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With 15 informational web questions, this resource is just the thing to use as a learning tool about the holiday of Halloween. Bats, Owls, pumpkins, the human skeleton, the origin of Halloween, superstitions, and famous stories in literature, are covered. There are comprehension questions, lots of fun facts, extension activities(including writing in the content area), and additional links for teachers.
Charles Dickens: A Webquest
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Charles Dickens: A Webquest

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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! Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. I also have a Reader’s Theater Script on Charles Dickens.
Christopher Columbus: A Reader's Theater Script
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Christopher Columbus: A Reader's Theater Script

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Learn about Christopher Columbus with this informative play. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, three historians are asked by 13 audience questioners about the life of Columbus. Additionally, comprehension questions and discussion questions are included. Use with a unit on the Age of Discovery, during October for Columbus Day or for a Friday, Biography Day!
Australia: A Country in Focus
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Australia: A Country in Focus

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Want to introduce your students to different countries of the world? My Country in Focus series, highlights a country with a web quest, some fun facts,map skill and extension activities. Great for a one day activity before a vacation,end of year activity,enrichment or for a substitute activity.
Sacagawea: Reader's Theater Script
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Sacagawea: Reader's Theater Script

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Learn about Sacagawea with this Reader’s Theater Script. Sacagawea is a guest on a talk show and the studio audience asks questions about her life and contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. There are 10 questioners, a Did You Know? fun fact section, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension activities, the key and additional links. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series
Civil War(Webquest/Extension Activities)
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Civil War(Webquest/Extension Activities)

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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 12 questions have lots of information.I’ve also included a few comprehension questions, a number of extension activities and resource links.
Pilgrims: A Reader's Theater Script
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Pilgrims: A Reader's Theater Script

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A Ms.Bie Ograffee Reader’s Theater Script, an interview with Love Brewster, a Pilgrim of Plymouth Colony.Love was an actual member of the 102 Pilgrims that came to America. He was about nine years old. The play includes info on Mayflower, first winter and Thanksgiving feast. Fun facts,Comprehension questions, extension activities, links.
Prehistoric Man: Mini Unit/Webquest
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Prehistoric Man: Mini Unit/Webquest

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This mini-unit on Prehistoric cultures will assist the classroom teacher in presenting this topic of history to students.In addition to an overview and notes, lots of additional resources and activities are included. 12 question web quest,too! Did you know that historians say the needle was a tremendous advance for early man?Enabled clothes to be more form fitting to protect from winter cold!
Chewing Gum: Everything has a History!(Webquest/Extension Activities)
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Chewing Gum: Everything has a History!(Webquest/Extension Activities)

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Show kids that even chewing gum has a history with this fun/informative web quest. There are 11 web questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, a teacher page with directions, extension activities and the key.Great for a Friday, day before a vacation or just when you’d like to show kids that history is all around us!
Black History Month Factoids(Interactive Notebook Activity)
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Black History Month Factoids(Interactive Notebook Activity)

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Great for an Interactive Notebook Activity. Have students do some of the extension activities. Covering Black History Month? Check out these resources: • Check out my twelve fact-packed Black History Month Webquest/Extension Activities: Check out my Reader’s Theater Script on Bessie Coleman: Check out my fact-packed Webquest on Martin Luther King/Extension Activities: Check out my Reader’s Theater Script on Harriet Tubman: Check out my Reader’s Theater Script on Rose Parks: Check out my web quest on First Lady Michelle Obama: