The founding fathers stated in the Constitution that the President "shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” It wasn’t spelled out HOW the president was to do this or even when such an update should be given. The State of the Union Address has taken many forms since the birth of our nation. It has come to be an annual speech given by the President of the United States and is done in the month of January. In 2018, the address will be given on January 30th. Learn about the history of the State of the Union Address with this internet activity so you can WOW your friends with all you know about the history of this yearly event! There are 10 web questions, 9 Did You Know? Facts, 6 comprehension questions, a student page(handout to give for homework or extra credit for the night of the State of the Union Address), a teacher page with a couple of extension activities and the key to both the web quest and the comprehension questions.

This resource is part of my series, “Let’s Meet…” famous people in ancient history. With this biographical reading passage, students will learn about the Archimedes, Famous Mathematician, Scientist and Inventor of Ancient Greece. There is a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extensions and links. Some of the ideas of Archimedes are still used today! My Let’s Meet… series is growing. Currently, I also have the following in the series: Hatshepsut, Ramses, Socrates, Hammurabi, Aesop and Hannibal, Aristotle, Alexander the Great and more.

Learn about the contributions of our first ladies! Practice oral reading fluency with this biographical reader’s theater play on Eleanor Roosevelt,an amazing first lady. The play includes directions, a short link to a You-Tube clip to show what the game show was like, discussion/ comprehension questions and extension activities. I have lots of plays on famous people in history…

With the Presidential Election coming, this would be a great activity to use with your students. Do YOU Know Your Presidents is a series of three challenges. Each challenge worksheet has 25 questions(with 3 choices). The first challenge is the easiest with the third, the hardest. There is also a Presidential Did You Know? Page. Kids can do one or all the challenges to learn interesting facts about U.S. Presidents. The teacher page includes several extension activities and the key. I also have a web quest on the White House, Presidential Trivia and a Webquest activity on First Ladies on the United States.

Learn about the contributions of our first ladies!Great for May 16th Biography Day! Need a quick Friday(or before a vacation activity)? Want to practice oral reading fluency in Language Arts?Try this fun/information Dolly Madison play. Grades 4 and up. Comprehension questions,discussion questions,activities as well as links for more information included. I have lots of other plays on famous people in history…

What exactly is impeachment? In U.S. History, only three presidents have been impeached. Those presidents were Andrew Johnson , Bill Clinton and Donald Trump(impeached twice) None were convicted during a trial and finished out their terms of office. President, Richard Nixon, was going to be impeached but he resigned, pressured by members of his own Republican party, before he was impeached. Use this webquest to introduce students to the issue of impeachment, how the founding fathers determined the use of impeachment in the U.S. Constitution and the history of impeachment. There are 11 web questions on this topic(including the Order of Succession and the Checks and Balances between the three branches of government). There is also a short Did You Know? section and several comprehension questions. The Teacher Page includes the key and several extension activities,

No matter your political leanings with the upcoming Presidential election, Hillary Clinton has made history becoming the first woman ever to lead the presidential ticket of a major political party(the Democratic Party). Check out this Reader’s Script on Hillary Clinton where kids learn about Hillary’s childhood and career to the present. TRIVIA: Hillary wanted to be an astronaut and at the age of 14 wrote a letter to NASA. She was very disappointed to learn that girls could NOT be admitted to the astronaut program(that would change in 1978).Grades 4 and up. Comprehension questions,discussion questions and activities as well as links for more information are also included: 6/8/16- I uploaded a revised version on this play to include Hillary Clinton making history by becoming the first woman ever to lead the presidential ticket of a major political party(the Democratic Party).

Teaching American History and want to introduce your students to First Ladies of the United States? Try this fun and information play based on the Mark Goodson Production To Tell the Truth Game Show on Mary Todd Lincoln. 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 impostors do not have to do so. Kids must be “truth detectives” to determine just who is the REAL Mary Todd Lincoln. Students in grades 4 and up will have fun acting out their parts and learning some interesting facts about First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Discussion questions,comprehension questions and activities are also included.

Part of my Series: Interesting Stories about Presidents, students will learn about Calvin Coolidge and his many animals. Some nicknamed the White House , “Pennsylvania Avenue Zoo”. Additionally, students will learn interesting facts about the 30th President of the United States. The reading passage also include a Did You You? Fun facts and comprehension questions. Check out my other Interesting Stories about Presidents: George Washington and the Camel: Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Cheese: John Quincy Adams Goes for A Swim:

Bookmark Bios By Gail Skroback Hennessey Recently, while watching the morning news, two of the hosts couldn’t name the famous woman, from Rochester, NY, who helped women get the right to vote! One said, I think her name was Susan “something”. That got me thinking that Bookmark Bios might be a great way to introduce young people to many(not all) the famous women and men in history, STEM and Literature! Giving the Bookmark Bios, could be a weekly activity, perhaps as a handout for an interactive notebook, after a testing period, or as a “bell ringer” before your class instruction begins. You could print the Bookmark Bios on cardstock or colored paper, cut them out and you might consider laminating them for a more durable handout. Additionally, the included Bookmark Bio Cards might be helpful to have the students do some critical thinking! I have also included a blank template should you wish to use the idea as a research activity where students develop their own Bookmark Bios! **Included: **20 Bookmark Bios on 5 sheets of 4 bookmarks on a page and the Bookmark Bio Card(with two on a page). You have permission to reproduce a class amount of the bookmarks and cards . Women in Modern Times(History, STEM, Literature) First in the series and offered now. Women in Ancient Times( History, STEM, Literature). Men in Modern Times(History, STEM, Literature) Men in Ancient Times(History, STEM,Literature) Included in Women in Modern Times(1700s on): Susan B. Anthony Harriet Tubman Rosa Parks Sacagawea Amelia Earhart Clara Barton Nellie Bly Rachel Carson Margaret Mead Marie Curie Elizabeth Blackwell Jane Goodall Sandra Day O’Connor Sally Ride Dorothea Dix Eleanor Roosevelt Hillary Clinton Mother Teresa Florence Nightingale Helen Keller

Check out this fun/informative Reader’s Theater Script on First Lady Edith Wilson. When her husband became ill, some say Edith did many of the responsibilities of the Presidency. Called the Acting First Man, Secret President and Presidentress of the United States, learn about this first lady with this Reader’s Theaters Script. The play uses the format of To Tell the Truth, 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 impostors do not have to do so. Kids must be “truth detectives” to determine just who is the REAL Edith Wilson.

Learn about the contributions of our first ladies!Great for May 16th Biography Day! Need a quick Friday(or day before a vacation activity)? Wish to to practice oral reading fluency in LA?Try this fun and information reader's theater play on Abigail Adams. Grades 4 and up. Comprehension questions,discussion questions,activities as well as links for more information are also included.

Mary Anning (1799-1847) was a famous fossil hunter. Some people gave her the title, “The Greatest Fossilist the World has ever Known.” Back in her time, the study of paleontology didn’t yet exist. Some people also call Mary, one of the very first paleontologists! Part of my Let’s Meet… Series, there is a reading passage, a Did You Know? Section, a map activity, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities and key. I have a number of similar reading passages on famous people in this series, “Let’s Meet…” including: 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) Socrates(Philosopher of Ancient Greece).

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 Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, only the 3rd woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court and the first Hispanic American to be on the Supreme Court. Students will also learn information about the Supreme Court. A great resource for Women’s History Month, a study of the Supreme Court, Hispanic Heritage Month, a Friday activity or as a substitute lesson. Extension activities included. There are 9 Audience Questioners in this Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series of Reader’s Theater Scripts. I also have a resource on the history of the Supreme Court and a Reader’s Theater Script on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Need a quick fun Friday(or day before a vacation activity)? Teaching American History and want to introduce your students to First Ladies of the United States? Try this fun and information play based on the Mark Goodson Production To Tell the Truth Game Show on Lady Bird Johnson. 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 impostors do not have to do so. Kids must be “truth detectives” to determine just who is the REAL Lady Bird Johnson. Students in grades 4 and up will have fun acting out their parts and learning some interesting facts about First Lady Lady Bird Johnson,called one of Washington’s first environmentalists! Discussion questions,comprehension questions and activities are also included.

On December 29, 1787, George Washington had a very special surprise for guests at Mount Vernon. A Camel came for a visit! This reading passage shares information on customs and traditions of the holiday season during Colonial times and the visit of the camel. Additionally, there is a Did You Know? fun fact section, comprehension questions, a map skill activity and the teacher page with several links of interest. Part of my new series: Unusual Stories about Presidents! Check out Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Cheese! Another resource that may be of interest: Learn about Martha Washington with this informative Reader”s Theater Script:

Introduce young people to the country of Iran. Included is cultural, historical and current events. There are 10 web questions, a map activity, a Did You Know section? Comprehension/Discussion questions and a teacher page with 8 extension activities and the keys(map questions, web quest and comprehension questions).

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.

The region of the Middle East is in the news. Introduce your students to this region of the world with this informative webquest! Additionally, I have included several extension activities.It would be a great one day activity for before a vacation or for an enrichment activity or for a unit of study on this part of the world. There are 15 webquestions.