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.
Studying the ocean? Looking for a resource for Earth Day or World Ocean Day? Need a biography to use with your students? Introduce your students to Jacques Cousteau with this informative Reader’s Theater Script. Oceanographer, photographer, scientist, inventor, writer and filmmaker, 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.
These resources would go great with this Reader’s Theater Script on Jacques Cousteau.
1. Have students learn about the ocean:Check out my webquest on the
Oceans of the world: There are 9
informative web questions. Fun Facts, comprehension questions,extension
activities,links:Oceans: A Webquest
2. Check out my web quest on The Blue Planet: NOT JUST FOR EARTH
DAY.Learn about the history of Earth Day and, our planet, EARTH, with
this informative web quest. There are 14 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:
The Blue Planet: A Webquest
3. Check out my web quest on Antarctica: Antarctica! A geographical
webquest 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: Antarctica: A Webquest
Learn about the contributions made by Caroline Herschel, astronomer. Caroline was the first female to discover a comet and found eight. She also discovered 14 nebulae and went on to compile a catalog of nebulae which is still used today. In addition to the reading passage, there is a DiD You Know? section, comprehension questions , a map activity and a Teacher page with additional activities.
Great for a unit on astronomy or during Women’s History month.
Other readings in my “Let’s Meet…” series include: Alexander the Great, Hammurabi, Hannibal, Hatshepsut, Ramses, Aglaonike , Enheduanna, Sophie Brahe, Hypatia, Agnodice and Aesop.
Check out my internet activity on Space: There are 12 web questions, comprehension questions and extension activities: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/space-the-final-frontier-an-internet-activity-11941871
Looking for a reading passage and activities on Sojourner Truth? If, so, check out this resource which is part of my Let’s Meet Series. Done in the first person, students will learn about the life of Sojourner Truth. Also included are Did You Know? Fun Facts, Comprehension Questions, a Map Activity and a Teacher Page with extension Activities. Could be helpful during Black History Month, Women’s History Month or if you are covering this period of history. The reading passage activity could also be a lesson for a substitute of for a Friday activity.
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 (paleonotologist) ,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).
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, 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:
Learn about microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, protists and virus with this informative web quest. Students will also learn about famous people who work with microbes, including Louis Pasteur, Alexander Fleming, Joseph Lister, Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek and Edward Jenner. Students will also learn about helpful and harmful microbes. The web quest also mentions the coronavirus, has a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a Teacher Page with extension activities and links. There are 12 webquestions in the resource.Contact me at Q/A if you’d like a student version.
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
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.
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.
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!
Use this FREE worksheet/handout with your students to start a discussion on the importance of our oceans. It could be used as an interactive notebook activity.
Please also check out my two resources on this topic:
Oceans, A Webquest
Jacques Cousteau, A Reader’s Theater Script
Please check out my other resources:
I’d appreciate if you’d consider becoming a “follower” of my TES Store. :-)
With the recent volcanic eruption in the country of Iceland, I thought young people might like learning some information about this island country. FREEBIE
This webquest of 10 questions will enable young people to learn lots of information on the country of Russia! Extension activities, resources, fun facts,key. Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. Great for an activity before a vacation, as an extension activity for a unit of study or for a substitute lesson.
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.
Learn about Michelangelo, one of the world’s greatest sculptor and painter, with this reader’s theater script! Included are 7 questioners, comprehension questions, a Did You Know? section, a teachers page with extension activities, links and the key.Great addition to a unit on the Renaissance,art history or for a Friday biography day! Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series.Audience Questioners ask questions of Michelangelo.
Did you know that Michelangelo was hired to build a BIG snowman for the Medici family?
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
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.
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.
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!