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.
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.
Use Our American Flag webquest of 12 informative questions to learn about Flag Day,Fourth of July and flag history. In addition to the webquest there are 7 extension activities.I always try to include a multi-curricular idea such as writing in the content area with my activities. There are also 16 fun facts about the American flag, flags of the world and the Fourth of July. After students in small groups complete the webquest activity, discuss the information learned as a class. Students can also create a short comprehension review of 5-7 questions to exchange with another group to answer. Grades 4 and up.
Use on Flag Day or any day you have an opportunity to discuss the American Flag with your students!
Learn about the history of Arbor Day and all about trees with this web quest! There are 11 web questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a teacher section with keys, additional links and lots(11 extension activities).
This could also be something to use with EARTH DAY, when you are studying TREES and, of, course, for ARBOR DAY! Did you know that more than 30 countries in the world have a day to celebrate trees?
Other resources that would go well during this time:
1. Exploring the Ocean Blue: A Web quest, will introduce students to our oceans. There are nine informative web questions. Fun Facts, comprehension questions,extension activities and links are also provided as is the key. Can be used as part of a unit on oceans, for Earth Day, World Ocean Day or as an activity for a Friday, before a vacation break or as an end of the year activity. This can be a one day class resource or used for a couple of days depending on whether the activities(creative writing/art work/online simulation games, etc.) are used with the students. There are 9
informative web questions. Fun Facts, comprehension questions,extension activities,links: Let’s Explore the Oceans: A Webquest
2. Learn about Jacques Cousteau with this Reader’s Theater Script: Oceanographer, photographer,filmmaker, scientist, writer, inventor, Cousteau spent his life studying the oceans and the marine life that lived in the oceans. His books and films on his studies sparked much interest in our oceans and created an awareness about the need for marine conservation. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series where Jacques Cousteau is a guest on her talk show and answers questions of her studio audience. There are 10 audience questioners, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, a teacher section with extension activities, links and the key.Jacques Cousteau: A Reader’s Theater Script
Learn about the history of Earth Day and, our planet, EARTH, with this informative web quest. There are 15 web questions as well as comprehension questions and a Did You Know? fun fact section. The teacher page includes extension activities, the key, and additional links. EARTH DAY, A Webquest"
4. A Biologist and marine zoologist, Carson’s books shared her love of nature, especially the ocean and its inhabitants. Her book, Silent Spring, sparked concern in how chemical pesticides were harming our environment. Carson helped to start the environmental movement in our country, which led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This Reader’s Theater Script could be used as a STEM biography any time of year or especially during the time of Earth Day.Rachel Carson, A Reader’s Theater Script
Updated for 2024 Election.
Students will learn about the election process including who the candidates are, requirements to run for office, requirements to vote, the Succession Act, the Electoral College and more. There are 15 web questions, a Did You Know? fact section and comprehension questions. The Teacher Page includes extension activities, the keys and additional links.
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.
American Revolution/ Revolutionary War: Studying the 13 Colonies/Colonial Times? This resource would work great for such a unit of study. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee’s Reader’s Theater Scripts, I really had fun developing this play about the Culper Spy Ring and specifically, Agent 355, one of the female member of the organization!
During the Revolutionary War, the Culper Spy Ring was organized to work to defeat the British. Agent 355 and other members of the spy organization were very important in the colonists being victorious in the War for Independence from England. Although Agent 355’s real name remains a mystery, she was one of the women spies who showed that patriotism has no gender! Secret codes, invisible ink, LAUNDRY used to communicate messages, what spies did during the Revolutionary war, lots of information is weaved into Agent 355 being a guest on Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show with the studio audience asking her questions.
Great for study on the Revolutionary War, during Women’s History Month or any time you are looking for a fun/informative play to use with your students!
Lots of extension activities, links, a Did You Know Fact section, comprehension questions and the key are also included.
George Washington asked for the spy ring to be organized and interestingly, it’s secret group was only discovered in the 1930s, about 140 years after the American Revolutionary War by historians reviewing some of George Washington’s private papers.
During the American Revolution, Tories supported the British in the war. Loyalists, the King’s Friends and Royalists were other names for those that took sides with the British. Students will learn about what it was like to be a Tory during the American Revolutionary War. Joshua Crabtree(fictitious character) is a guest on Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show. The format of the Reader’s Theater Script is that a studio audience asks questions of Ms. Bie Ografee’s guest to learn what it was like to support the British and not the Patriots during the American Revolution.
There are 10 questioners, A Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a Teacher Page with extension activities and the key. American Revolutionary War: A Visit with a Tory!
The Revolutionary War and the Birth of Our Nation:
A Bundle of Resources!
Includes:
Reader’s Theater Script: Revolutionary War Spies! A Visit with a Female Agent Reader’s Theater Script:
A Visit with Joshua Crabtree, a Tory! Reader’s Theater Script:
James Madison, “Father of the Constitution”. Reader’s Theater Script:
A Visit with Thomas Jefferson
5.Reading Passage Activity: Phillis Wheatley
Benjamin Franklin: A Webquest
Reader’s Theater Script: Dolly Madison
Reader’s Theater Scripts Include:
World War 2 Female Pilots(Members of WASP)
Revolutionary War Female Spies!
Civil War Female Soldiers
S.B. Anthony
Elizabeth Blackwell
Eleanor Roosevelt(“First Lady of the World”)
Amelia Earhart
Bessie Coleman
Sacagawea
Katherine Johnson
Learn some fun facts about King Tut with this freebie. The day, November 4th, was selected as that is the day the tomb of King Tut was discovered.
Great for a Friday or during a unit of study on ancient Egypt.
What is this event in the USA called an “Inauguration”? Taking the oath of office, a big parade and evening balls, Inauguration Day is a very busy day for the incoming President! There are 11 web questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and extension activities.
This resource would be a great activity for around Inauguration Day to learn all about the history and festivities surrounding our country’s inauguration procedures. It could be used as a Friday activity or when you are studying US Government and for Presidents’ Weekend. UPDATED for 2025.
My bundle for the 2016 Presidential Election includes:
1. Presidential Challenges:What do You Know about the Presidents?
2. Presidential Webquest/Extension Activities
3. White House Webquest/Extension Activities
4. Election 2016: Webquest/Extension Activities