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.... Check out this new resource: 1. Great addition to a unit of study on the Middle Ages: 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. A Visit with Simon, A Victim of the Black Death: A Reader's Theater Script 2. One of the oldest lasting examples of graphic communication is the Bayeux Tapestry.It dates back to 1083. Bayeux Tapestry Reading 3. Students have always ask me..."Why do we have to learn this stuff about ancient Greeks or Middle Ages?" My answer-much of what we have today was because of things developed by people that lived long ago. This reading activity shares with kids how the pencil they are using, the writing system they are using, the eyeglasses they are wearing are just some of the many things we have today thanks to previous cultures of the past. I've included several comprehension questions and two extension activities. The Past Shapes our Present Reading Activity 4. I loved teaching about the Middle Ages and would like to offer teachers my notes, activities and resources that I found of value when I taught the subject. Let's Learn about the Middle Ages!

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 Roman Puzzler:Secret Message Review Activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms for a unit on ancient Rome. 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 Romans is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the "secret message". A great way to review vocabulary terms! If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well. Other resources you may find of interest: 1. Let’s Learn about the Romans! Did you know that the idea of “sealed with a kiss” comes from Romans who signed every contract with a kiss? Did you know that a good luck symbol to ancient Romans were snakes? Or, that the being pale was a sign of wealth to ancient Romans because it showed you didn't need to work outside(some women actually applied white chalk to their faces to get the look of being pale). I taught a unit on the ancient Romans to my 6th graders and thought you might find my notes, activities and resources of interest. I have a short 7 map question activity, lots of links and lots of activities to use with a chapter study on the ancient Romans. I also included a webquest activity. Let's Learn about the Romans!

Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms/famous people of the Age of Exploration? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Age of Exploration Secret Message activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review the Age of Exploration. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different answers into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about the Age of Exploration is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”. It’s a fun way to reinforce important terms/people of the Age of Exploration! If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box to the students, I have included this as well… Perhaps these additional resources may be of interest: Try my web quest on 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. The resource addresses several common core standards in social studies. Note: Columbus,Magellan, Prince Henry, Henry Hudson, Vasco Da Gama, Marco Polo, Juan Ponce de Leon, Sir Francis Drake, Amerigo Vespucci are covered. Also Latitude/longitude, sea monsters,navigational tools, timelines,St. Brendan, Zheng He, Vikings are mentioned in extension activities. Age of Discovery, A Webquest Learn about Christopher Columbus with this informative play. There are 10 questioners asking questions of Columbus. Additionally, comprehension questions and discussion questions are included. Use with a unit on the Age of Discovery or during October for Columbus Day. Christopher Columbus, A Webquest Use this informative Reader’s Theater Script to learn about Marco Polo. Marco Polo helped to start the Age of Discovery with his book on his adventures to China. The fun/informative play uses the format of Marco Polo 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:Marco Polo, A Reader’s Theater Script

Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on ancient Egypt? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Ancient Egyptian Secret Message activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on Egypt. 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 Egypt is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the "secret message". Check out these resources: 1. Covering ancient Egypt? I taught ancient Egypt for 32 years and would love to share some my notes, activities and resources I used with my students. There is also a 9 question webquest: Egypt: Unit of Study 2. Play on King Tut(Lots of information on mummies and the most famous mummy of all!) King Tut: A Reader's Theater Script 3. Mummies aren't just found in ancient Egyptian culture. Mummies have been found all over the world! In fact, the oldest man-made mummies are found in the country of Chile! Mummies can be naturally created or man-made. This web quest includes the different types of mummies and has 12 web questions including information on Bog Mummies such as Tollund Man, the Inca Mummies,the Taklamakan Desert Mummies of China, Otzi, the frozen mummy, the Chinchorro Mummies of Chile, the Egyptian mummies... and more. There are comprehension questions, a Did You Know? section, a teacher section with extension activities, additional links and the key. Great for a Friday activity, at Halloween time, or if you are studying ancient Egypt. MUMMIES: A Webquest 4. Let’ Meet…Hatshepsut, A Reading Passage.With this biographical reading passage, students will learn about the first female Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. There is a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extensions and links.Hatshepsut: A Reading Passage

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.

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”.

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.

I continue to add to my new series, Let’s Meet… people from the Ancient World includes several women who have made contributions in history. Now, I am beginning a series, Let’s Meet…people in the Middle Ages.This particular reading is on Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard was a Prophet, abbess, composer, religious leader, writer of the Middle Ages. Her play may be the FIRST known musical! Her writings are still read today. The short reading shares(in the first person) a recounting of the person’s life(in this case Hildegard). 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.

Let’s Explore China! Did you know that enough dirt was used to create theGreat Wall of China to circle the earth with an 8 ft. high wall? Did you know that the yo-yo was invented by the Chinese or that the number 9 is considered good luck? Notes,lots of activities and resources are included in this unit on China. Lots of information to introduce students to China! Great for February and Chinese Year Year.

Have your students learn about famous landmarks around the world. Use this web quest to learn about the Statue of Liberty, one of the most famous landmarks in the United States. There are 9 informative web questions, extension activities and comprehension questions. I also have a reading passage resource on the Eiffel Tower, Uluru Rock(Ayers Rock), the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.

Learn about the interesting gift that Thomas Jefferson received on New Year’s Day, in 1802. The whopper of a cheese tipped the scale at about 1235 pounds. The reading also includes a Did You Know? section with lots of informative factoids about Thomas Jefferson, comprehension questions and seven extension activities. For President’s Day,study on author of Declaration of Independence,reading in content area.

Covering the Ancient Greeks? This unit on Ancient Greece includes notes, lots of activities and resources I used with my students. Did you know that the ancient Greeks played with a yo-yo about 3000 years ago or that in the city of Athens, ancient Greeks sold snow cones that were mixed with honey and fruit?Check out my Let’s Explore the Ancient Greeks:

If you live where there is snow, you have probably built a snowman. The snowman has been around for quite a while. In fact, the earliest drawing of a snowman was found in a book dating back to 1380! The book,"Book of Hours" was found in a library in the country of the Netherlands. This resource has four snowmen reading passages: 1. Famous sculptor, Michelangelo, was hired to make a snowman for a wealthy person in Florence, Italy. 2. A snow man is used each April,to help predict the weather during a festival in the country of Switzerland. 3. One of the earliest written comments about snowmen dates back to 1690. Two snowman were left to guard Fort Schenectady, in New York, during a blizzard with very tragic consequences! 4. The world's record for the largest snowman, Olympia, was constructed in 2008. 13 million pounds of snow were used to make the amazing snow-woman! As of 2015, the record still stands. Each short reading passage includes following directions to identify answers. There are also several extension activities and a Did you Know? section.

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!

Benjamin Franklin’s birthday is January 17, 1706. A “founding father” of our country, Franklin was also a writer, inventor, statesman, post master and librarian! He once said, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Learn about Franklin with this fun/informative ten question web quest. There ares Fun Facts and lots of extension activities. There is also a Test Your Knowledge Quiz on Ben Franklin.

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!

Are you a bibliophile(someone that loves books)?The Library of Congress, called our Nation’s Library has over 33 million books. There are also over 12.5 million photographs and 6 million pieces of sheet music! Learn more about the Nation’s Library with this fun and informative webquest.

My Country in Focus series, highlights a country with a web quest, some fun facts and some extension activities.Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. Check out ICELAND! Also have Switzerland, India, Greece, China and Russia in this series… Yes…that’s me and a “friend” I met while visiting Iceland!

Learn about the White House with 10 informative web questions, comprehension and discussion questions and several extension activities.

Use this reading(close exercise where students slot the term in the blanks) for students to learn about the National Road(also called the Cumberland Road or the National Pike Road). There are several comprehension questions and fun facts. Additionally, there are lots of extension activities especially writing in the content area. I have also included several links for teachers. And, I have developed a board game for students to play about what it was like being a pioneer traveling the National Road. The Close reading and review would be one period. If you do some of the extension activities including the Traveling Along the National Road game, the resource could take a couple of days.