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.
There are many women who have made contributions that have shaped our world. Learn about some of these fascinating women with the following activity. There are 32 questions in the resource plus some additional information on women who have impacted our world. If you’d like a student version, just contact me. Also, if you’d like a version in Word, just ask for this, too. Great for a Friday activity and especially for Women’s History Month in March.
Learn about Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day with this “Challenge Activity”. There are 25 informative text questions where students test their knowledge on the answers about the country of Ireland and the holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. There are a few extension activities, too. Great for around St. Patrick’s Day or when you have a substitute or for a Friday activity to introduce students to a country of the world.
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
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. :-)
This 10 question webquest on the Renaissance is packed with lots of information.Extension activities, comprehension questions, fun facts and resource links and key.This activity can be done as a one day lesson to learn about the Renaissance or several days if you wish to use the extension activities. Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills.
Go on the Expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase with Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the rest of the group. The informative webquestions will give students lots of information about the famous expedition.Several extension activites/resources are also included. Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills.
Use this free Interactive notebook resource to learn about Martin Luther King Jr.
Check out my Reader’s Theater Script on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and my webquest on the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
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
Use this fun factoid activity on chocolate with your students on a Friday, for Valentine’s Day, a sub or when you are looking for a one-day activity. In additional to facts, there are question for the students to answer. A possible Interactive Notebook Activity to use with your students.
The International Day of Peace is held every year on September 21st. Also called Peace Day, the first celebration was adopted by the United Nations in 1982. It would be in 2001, that nations of the world established September 21st as International Day of Peace. In 2018, the theme for the International Day of Peace is “The Right to Peace.” At the United Nations, in New York City, the Japanese Peace Bell is rung to start the day. Made from coins collected by children from sixty countries, the Peace Bell has the following words engraved on the bell, “Long live absolute world peace”. There is a minute of silence at noon(at all time zones around the world).
Possible Activities to use for International Day of Peace.
Check out this Valentine Freebie, part of my larger resource. There are 4 web questions, 5 fun facts, 7 Red Game Statements and a Teacher page with extension activities.
Check out the complete resource: Valentine’s Day is February 14th. The symbol of the holiday is a heart. What do you know about the human heart and the Valentine’s Day holiday? Grab a red pencil and use this web quest to find out some very interesting facts about the human heart and the holiday of Valentine’s Day!
There are 9 web questions, a 20 All things Red Activity, lots of fun facts and 9 extension activities.
A fun/informative Interactive Notebook Activity for kids to do during the winter months. Learn lots of interesting facts about snow.
•One inch of water is about six inches of wet snow or 12 inches of fluffy snow.
• The world's largest snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. It fell in Fort Keogh, Montana, on January 28,1887.
• Snow can be colors other than white, including blue, orange, green, yellow, and purple. Actually, snowflakes are clear.
Lots more factoids...
Several extension activities included, too.
Share with students these fun facts about the history of Valentine's Day and facts about the human heart. Includes several extension activities.
1. Check out my webquest on Valentine’s Day and the human heart: The RED Game
3. Show kids that everything has a history with my web question on the History of Candy: History of Candy: A Webquest
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.
**
*Depending on the grade level, I have highlighted terms that might need to be reviewed such as humanitarian , activist, environmentalist, etc.
**
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
Use these pranks to introduce a discussion on FAKE NEWS. You may also find my resource on FAKE NEWS of interest to use in addition to this resource. Additionally, I have a resource on APRIL FOOL’S DAY which includes a reading, fun facts and activities.
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
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!