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.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
Includes:
Greeks: A Unit of Study with notes, activities and links
Socrates: A Reading Passage with comprehension questions, activities
History of the Famous Games which began in Ancient Greece-an Internet Activity
County in Focus: Let’s Learn about the country of Greece-an Internet Activity with activities, links.
Ancient Greek Secret Message Review Activity
My Country in Focus series, highlights a country with a web quest, some fun facts and some extension activities.Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. Check out ICELAND!
Also have Switzerland, India, Greece, China and Russia in this series…
Yes…that’s me and a “friend” I met while visiting Iceland!
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:
Want a student version only, just send along a note and I will sent it along. I am in the process of adding a student version to my different resources. Gail
WORLD LANDMARKS:
A BUNDLE OF RESOURCES
Includes:
Eiffel Tower Reading Passage/Comp. Questions/ extension activities
Taj Mahal Reading Reading Passage/Comp. Questions/extension activities
Great Wall of China Reading Passage/Comp. Questions/ extension activities
Uluru(Ayers Rock) Reading Passage/ Comp. Questions/extension Activities
World Landmark A Webquest(13 webquestions/ Comp. Questions/ extension Activities
US Landmarks, A Webquest (12 webquestions/Comp. Questions/ extension Activities
Learn about Astronaut John Glenn’s historic flight to become the first American to Orbit the Earth. Years later, he would also become the oldest American to go on the Space Shuttle! This biographical web quest (internet search activity) also contains several questions about the early days of space exploration. There are several extension activities and the key.
Check out this resource on Space: The Final FrontierSpace: The Final Frontier(A Webquest) There are 12 webquestions, comprehension questions and lots of extension activities.
Studying the Romans? This resources includes the following products to assist in the teaching of Ancient Rome and the Romans.
Ancient Romans-Unit of Study with activities and links
Ancient Roman- Secret Message Review Activity
Italy and Ancient Rome-A Webquest with activities and links
Diocles: Famous Charioteer (Reading Passage with activities)
Spartacus: Roman Gladiator(Reading Passage with activities)
Julius Caesar: ( Reading Passage with activities)
All resources are also available to be purchased individually.
Gail Hennessey
COUNTRIES IN FOCUS:
A BUNDLE OF RESOURCES ON COUNTRIES OF THE WORLDWEBQUESTS
RUSSIA
SWITZERLAND
CHINA
ICELAND
GREECE
ITALY
INDIA
BRAZIL
AUSTRALIA
IRELAND
Introduce young people to these 10 countries of the world with these different webquest. Additionally extension activities, links and the key are included. Use as part of a unit of study or as a Friday activity to foster world geography.
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.
Pencils, paper, pens…We use them every day but what do you really know about them? Did you know that 2 billion pencils are made each year just in the United States? Did you know pencils were designed to have six sides to help prevent them from rolling off tables? Try this fun webquest to learn lots of interesting bits of information!
Great for the beginning of the school year or to show kids that EVERYTHING has a history…even pencils, pens and paper!