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.
Founded in 1948 by Kim II-Sung, North Korea is officially called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. About the size of the state of Pennsylvania, it has been nicknamed the Hermit Kingdom because it is a country that few from the outside world have visited. With North Korea being in the news a lot lately, this might be a great opportunity to introduce students to the “Hermit Kingdom”.
This web quest has 8 web questions, lots of interesting facts(did you know that North Korea has their very own time zone classification or that at one time all teachers had to learn to play the accordion? There are comprehension questions, extension activities and the key.
Additional Resource of Interest:
Introduce students to the county of South Korea. There are 11 web questions, lots of Did You Know? facts, comprehension questions and a teacher page with 7 extension activities. There is also a key for both the web quest and comprehension questions and additional links for teachers. Although the activity could be done in one class period, if you decide to do some of the extension activities, this resource could be used over several days.
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Gail Hennessey
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
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 country of Brazil with this informational web quest. There is also a map skill activity and fun facts. Additionally, there is a teacher page with extension activities and additional links.
Although the map skill/webquest can be completed in one session, if you opt to do the extension activity, additional days could be used.
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.
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.
Oyez, Oyez, Let’s Learn about the Supreme Court! The Supreme Court begins its new session the first Monday of October. Used to call the Supreme Court to order, the word OYEZ means “Hear Ye”. The word originates from the Latin word which means “to hear” The Supreme Court hears a number of cases each year in which questions to the Constitution are raised. Use this web quest to learn about the highest court of our land…the Supreme Court! There are 13 informative questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, a Teacher page with extension activities/links/key.
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, in this case, “Describe Life on the Home Front During World War 2”, citing several of the documents reviewed.
A teacher page includes the Key and suggestions for a rubric to grade the DBQ.
If a teacher wishes to use the activity as a web quest, suggestions are also given.
I also have a similar activity on Life of a Japanese-American Child living in an Internment Camp during WW2.
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.
Overview of different Native American tribes,famous Native Americans in history, and contributions of Native Americans in arts, government, language and more!The Trail of Tears, shelters, contributions(i.e: hockey, lacrosse, ideas in government, words in English), Sacagawea, Sequoyah, Jim Thorpe, Sitting Bull, Squanto, Native American Heritage Month, the importance of the buffalo, and more.Great for activity with unit on Native Americans or for November’s Native American Heritage Month.
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
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
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
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. 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!
Webquest/ Did you Know?/Comprehension Questions/ Sweet Quiz, Extension activities.
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.
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 some of the famous landmarks around the world. This web quest includes: Uluru Rock, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Mt. Everest, Dead Sea, Rock of Gibraltar, Great Pyramid, Suez Canal. Stonehenge, Sahara Desert,Abu Simbel, Easter Island and Angkor Wat. There are comprehension questions and several extension activities:
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.
Studying the Ancient Romans? Looking for a Friday Activity to introduce students to countries of the world? Part of my Country in Focus Series, this web quest covers the country of Italy and the ancient Romans. Students will learn about the contributions of the people from Italy, famous people, places to visit and more. There are 11 web questions, a map skill activity on Italy, a Did You Know? fun fact section, comprehension questions and a Teacher Page with Looking for an internet activity that includes 10 extension activities, additional links and the keys.