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.
Introduce students to the Pacific island of Guam, a U.S. Territory.
There are 9 Webquestions, a Did You Know? fact section and a Teacher Page with extension activities and keys to the web quest and key to the Comprehension questions.
The Arctic!Geographical web quest which introduces kids to the region of the Earth known as the Arctic. There are 14 web quests(with lots of information in the questions), Did You Know? facts, comprehension questions(including several “thought question”), a teacher page with a number of extension activities, additional links and key.Great for a Friday activity, before a vacation, or when you are looking for a geography resource.
Also check out my ANTARCTIC resource: Geographical web quest which introduces kids to the continent of Antarctica. There are 10 web quests(with lots of information in the questions), 14 Did You Know? facts, comprehension questions(including several “thought question”), a teacher page with a number of extension activities, additional links and key.Great for a Friday activity, before a vacation, or when you are looking for a geography resource.
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
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.
Purple Turtle EBOOK: The stories involve Purple Turtle and his friends including Zing,the stuttering rabbit, Biggy Bear, Melody the bird, Squirty the squirrel and others. In each story,a topic is addressed such as friendship, honesty, conservation, getting over fears, etc.
Use this story to discuss children’s common fears.
An exciting Purple Turtle story! In this story, " Purple and the Cupcakes",Purple brings cupcakes to the park to share with his friends. Leaving them on a log, the cupcakes are gone when the friends return from playing.Who took the cupcakes? Purple and his friends are surprised at just who did! Grades 1-3. Aadarsh Publishing.
Great for kids to read or as a book to read to children. The books have beautiful and colorful illustrations. I am sure your kids will enjoy Purple Turtle Ebooks!
What is Friendship? Purple Turtle EBOOK: The stories involve Purple Turtle and his friends including Zing,the stuttering rabbit, Biggy Bear, Melody the bird, Squirty the squirrel and others. In each story,a topic is addressed such as friendship, honesty, conservation, getting over fears, etc. In "Purple’s Birthday Party,Purple’s friends are all excited because it’s Purple’s birthday. When Biggy breaks his ankle, he can’t attend and is very disappointed. Purple has a great idea and shows that friendship is one of the very best gifts one can have. Grades 1-3, 19 PagesAadarsh Publishing
Great for kids to read or as a book to read to children. The books have beautiful and colorful illustrations. I am sure your kids will enjoy Purple Turtle Ebooks!
Purple Turtle EBOOK: The stories involve Purple Turtle and his friends including Zing,the stuttering rabbit, Biggy Bear, Melody the bird, Squirty the squirrel and others. In each story,a topic is addressed such as friendship, honesty, conservation, getting over fears, etc. In this story, “Purple and World Peace”,Purple meets Dovey the Dove, while walking in the woods. A symbol of peace,the dove is sad that there is so much fighting in the world. Purple tries to find a way to make Dovey smile.
Can use with discussion on cooperation/anti-bullying.
Grades 1-3, Aadarsh Publishing
Great for kids to read or as a book to read to children. The books have beautiful and colorful illustrations. I am sure your kids will enjoy Purple Turtle Ebooks!
Purple Turtle EBOOK: The stories involve Purple Turtle and his friends including Zing,the stuttering rabbit, Biggy Bear, Melody the bird, Squirty the squirrel and others. In each story,a topic is addressed such as friendship, honesty, conservation, getting over fears, etc. In this story, “Purple Learns to Use Less”, the friends learn that each of us can help the planet in saving water.Grades 1-3, Aadarsh Publishing
Great story to introduce conservation with your students.
Great for kids to read or as a book to read to children. The books have beautiful and colorful illustrations. I am sure your kids will enjoy Purple Turtle Ebooks!
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
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):
Use this Test Your Knowledge Challenge Activity for students to learn about U.S. Landmarks. There are 20 statements and several extension activities in this resource. Could be used as independent work or small group work. Great for a Friday resource, before a vacation or for a substitute day.
If you would like a student version OR a resource in Word, please let me know and I would be happy to provide these for you.
Other Test Your Knowledge Challenge Activities: (more coming)
Candy and Sweets:
Women Trailblazers:
Presidents:
Maps and Geography:
Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day:
World Capitals:
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!
Learn about the rhino with this fun and very informative webquest. There are 9 web questions and lots of extension activities and resources. There is also a comprehension activity and key. Great for a Friday activity, before a vacation or if you are studying endangered species! Grades 4 and up. One class period unless you opt to do additional extension activities.
You might be interested in web quests on additional animals:
1. The polar bear is in trouble! Warming temperatures has cause a decrease in the sea ice-something the polar bear needs to survive. The polar bear needs our help! Learn about this amazing mammal with this fun and informative webquest Additional extension activities and resources are also provided. Polar Bears, A Webquest
2. Need a webquest activity in science? Maybe, you are looking for a language arts activity for students to skim to find answers and use informational text to develop a creative writing task. Maybe, you are looking for a cooperative lesson activity.Try my Leaping Leopard’s Webquest!
The webquest has 8 webquestions and 8 extension activities(and links to more information). Leopards, A Webquest
3. Did you know that elephants can be right or left tusked, kind of like humans are with their hands? Did you know that the elephant has the largest brain of the animal world? And if you think elephants like peanuts…they really do not! I think your students would have fun learning about the elephant with this web quest! I have included extension activities, additional trivia and the key.
Elephants, A Webquest
Covering Japan? I taught a unit of study on the country of Japan for 32 years and would love to share some my notes, activities and resources I used with my students.
This resource is for teachers to use to introduce the country/culture of Japan to their students. There is also an activity page with 10 web quest, a map skill activity and some fun facts about Japan.
Other resources that go along with my unit on Japan:
1. If you’d like to have a reading in the content area for social studies, Travel to Japan, may be just the thing for a classroom lesson! The reading takes students(grades 4-8) on a trip to Japan to learn about its geography, customs and places to see. There are also extension activities,a map skill activity and comprehension questions to use with your students as well as a list of resources. Japan, Travel to Japan Reading Activity
2. Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on Japan? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Japanese Puzzler: Secret Message Activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on Japan. 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 Japan 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 Japan! If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well.Japan Puzzler, A Secret Message Review Activity
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
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
In less than 30 years, the numbers of giraffe have drastically decreased by almost 40 percent. That makes giraffe in more danger of extinction than the elephant. In 2016, the conservation group, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, listed the giraffe on its Red List of species which are endangered. Specifically, the giraffe has been moved from “least concern” to “vulnerable”.The main cause for their dwindling population is destruction of their habitat. Additionally the group says that illegal hunting of giraffe and civil unrest in the areas where giraffes roam are also causes for their declining numbers. Learn about the giraffe with this web quest!
The resources also includes Did You Know? fun facts, a teacher page with extension activities, additional links and the key.
Check out this additional resources about animals:
1. Learn about the rhino with this fun and very informative webquest. There are 9 web questions and lots of extension activities and resources. There is also a comprehension activity and key. Great for a Friday activity, before a vacation or if you are studying endangered species! Grades 4 and up. One class period unless you opt to do additional extension activities: Rhinosaurus! A Webquest
2. Did you know that a polar bear can swim up to 100 miles non-stop? Did you know that a polar bear doesn’t hibernate like other bears do in the winter? The polar bear is in trouble! Warming temperatures has cause a decrease in the sea ice-something the polar bear needs to survive. Learn about this amazing mammal with this fun and informative webquest. Additional extension activities and resources are also provided: Polar Bears! A Webquest
3. Need a webquest activity in science? Maybe, you are looking for a language arts activity for students to skim to find answers and use informational text to develop a creative writing task. Learn about the leopard with my Leaping Leopard’s Webquest! Grades 4 and up. The webquest has 8 webquestions and 8 extension activities(and links to more information): Leopards! A Webquest
4. Learn about the elephant:
Did you know that elephants can be right or left tusked, kind of like humans are with their hands? Did you know that the elephant has the largest brain of any LAND mammal?(The sperm whale has the largest brain of all…) And if you think elephants like peanuts…they really do not! I think your students would have fun learning about the elephant with this web quest! I have included extension activities, additional trivia and the key:Elephants! A Webquest
My website for teachers/kids: Lots of geographic activities, short reads, bell ringers, news, career surveys, factoids on different topics and more: Gail Hennessey’s Website for Teachers/Kids
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
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.
Use this activity with students during Chinese New Year 20234 which starts on February 10th and is the year of the DRAGON.
Please consider following my store if you like this resource. Thank you!
Gail Hennessey