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Gail Hennessey's Teacher Emporium

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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.

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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.
Rachel Carson: A Biographical Play *EARTH DAY ACTIVITY
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Rachel Carson: A Biographical Play *EARTH DAY ACTIVITY

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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.
Mummy Facts! FREE Resource
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Mummy Facts! FREE Resource

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Studying Egypt? Want to share with kids some fun mummy facts? Check out this Amazing Mummy Facts FREEBIE. I also have an internet activity on mummies of the world, a reading on Hatshepsut, a reading on Ramses, a unit of study(with notes, links, activities AND an internet Activity) and a review activity on vocabulary on Ancient Egypt.
Harriet Tubman(A Reader's Theater Script)
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Harriet Tubman(A Reader's Theater Script)

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Use this informative Reader’s Theater Script to learn about Harriet Tubman, ex-slave who became the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad, a Union Spy and women’s suffrage advocate. The fun/informative play uses the format of three historians being guests on Ms. Bie Ografee’s talk show and the studio audience asks questions to the Historians to learn about the life of Harriet Tubman. Great for Black History Month,unit on the Civil War,or Women’s History Month. Comprehension questions/extension activities, key. Kids get a chance to “ham” it up and try out their acting skills!
Japan(Travel to Japan, a Reading Passage)
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Japan(Travel to Japan, a Reading Passage)

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Introduce students to the country of Japan with this reading passage. It also includes several comprehension questions, a map activity and a Teacher page with extension activities and additional links.
Ancient Greek Secret Message Activity!
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Ancient Greek Secret Message Activity!

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Want a fun activity to review vocabulary terms for a unit on ancient Greece? Looking for an enrichment activity in history? Try my Ancient Greek Secret Message activity. The activity involves students working individually or in groups to review vocabulary terms on the Ancient Greeks. Then,a following direction activity is next where students place letters from the different terms into boxes found at the end of the activity page. Once all the boxes are filled, a “secret message” about the ancient Greeks is revealed! The teacher page includes additional information to share about the “secret message”. It’s a fun way to reinforce important vocabulary for a unit of study on the Greeks! If you prefer to offer a vocabulary box, I have included this as well.
Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter ( A Reading Activity)
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Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter ( A Reading Activity)

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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).
Marco Polo: A Reader's Theater Script
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Marco Polo: A Reader's Theater Script

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Use this informative Reader’s Theater Script to learn about Marco Polo. Marco Polo helped to start the Age of Discovery with his book on his adventures to China. The fun/informative play uses the format of Marco Polo 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. Grades 5 and up
Geography! Geographic Secret Messages! Can you solve them?
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Geography! Geographic Secret Messages! Can you solve them?

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Need a geography activity? Try my geographic secret messages. Students find the answers to geographic questions and then use the first letter of the answer to arrive at a secret message. When the questions are answered, the "secret" term(a geography term) will be revealed! There are 5 geographic messages to solve. If you find this of value, there is also a second set of geographic messages available for purchase. Grades 5 and up. You may find these resources of interest: 1. Want to introduce your students to the region of the world called the Middle East? This webquest will work great. Additionally, I have included several extension activities that I think will be of value.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. Exploring the Middle East, A Webquest 2. SECOND geographic secret message activity: Students find the answers to geographic questions and then use the first letter of the answer to arrive at a secret message. When the questions are answered, the "secret" term(a geography term) will be revealed! There are 5 geographic messages to solve. Geography Secret Message 2 3. 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. Antarctica, A Webquest 4. In 1923, English mountaineer George Mallory was asked,”Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest?” HIs response, “Because it’s there.” Thousands has been trying to summit the world’s highest mountain peak since this time. Learn about Mt. Everest, Nepal and the Yeti with this webquest! May 29th,2013(60th anniversary of the first successful climb)Lots of extension activities,interesting facts and comprehension questions are included. Addresses several common core standards in social studies and language arts. Grades 5 and up. Mt. Everest, A Webquest
Moon Landing: Man Walks on the Moon! A Reader's Theater Script
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Moon Landing: Man Walks on the Moon! A Reader's Theater Script

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After 76 days, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, the astronauts for the historic Apollo 11 mission to the moon, made history on July 20, 1969. After the Columbia reached the moon’s orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin went into a smaller module, the Eagle. They began a descent onto the surface of the moon and successfully landed on the moon where both men would become the first humans to actually walk on the moon. The date was July 21, 1969! Just think, from the first powered flight in 1903, it was just 66 years before we had humans walk on the moon! In 2019, it will be the 50th anniversary of this remarkable achievement! Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins are guests of Ms. Bie Ografee and her studio audience ask the guests questions about their historic trip to the moon. In addition to the play, with 10 audience questioners, there are Did You Know Fun Facts, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension activities and the key to the comprehension questions. Check out these additional resources: Learn about the history of space with this informative web quest. There are 12 web questions, comprehension questions and extension activities: /teaching-resource/space-the-final-frontier-an-internet-activity-11941871 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 also contains several questions about the early days of space exploration. There are several extension activities and the key: /teaching-resource/astronaut-john-glenn-a-webquest-internet-search-activity-11453536
Black Death: A Reader's  Theater Script
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Black Death: A Reader's Theater Script

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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.
April Fools' Day! Reading Passage and More
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April Fools' Day! Reading Passage and More

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NOTE: April Fools’ Day and April Fool’s Day are both used but sources say April Fools’ Day is more correct to use. Great Activity to Introduce students to REAL vs. FAKE News Identification! Want to introduce your students to the history of April Fools’ Day? This resource provides a reading for students as well as lots of interesting famous April Fools’ Day pranks such as this one that happened in Switzerland in 1957.A news show aired a video on a spaghetti harvest in the country of Switzerland. People were pulling strands of spaghetti dangling down from trees. People actually called the news show asking how they could purchase a spaghetti tree! Additionally, there are extension activities as well as a Test your April Fools’ Day IQ(can you spot the True News Stories from the Fake ones?). There are also comprehension questions for the students to answer after reviewing the resource.One class period for Grades 4 and up. This Resource Goes well with April Fool’s Day: Check out my Resource on Digital Critical Thinking(Is that FAKE News?) Is That FAKE New?
California Gold Rush: A Reader's Theater Script
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California Gold Rush: A Reader's Theater Script

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Another Reader’s Theater Script in my Ms. Bie Ografee series! Students will learn lots of information about the California Gold Rush with this play, A Visit with Murdoch McLeary, A Gold Prospector during the California Gold Rush. There are 9 audience questioners supplying information and asking questions of Ms Bie Ografee’s guest. There is a Did You Know? fun facts section about the time, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension activities, additional links of interest and the key. Great as an introduction to this time period, as an enrichment or review activity or just as a fun/informative play to do with your students on a Friday or before a vacation. Check out my other plays in the Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series: Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Sacagawea, Sequoia, Elizabeth Blackwell, Abraham Lincoln, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Tuskegee Airmen, Susan B. Anthony, William Shakespeare, Love Brewster(one of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower), interview with McSean, a leprechaun, interview with Sarsaparilla,a groundhog.More to be added…
Ada Lovelace: Woman Mathematician/World's First Computer Programmer!
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Ada Lovelace: Woman Mathematician/World's First Computer Programmer!

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Share this STEM reading resource with your students. This particular reading is on Ada Lovelace, thought to be the world’s first computer Programmer. The short reading shares(in the first person) a recounting of the person’s life(in this case Ada Lovelace) There are several Did You Know? fun facts, comprehension questions, a map skill activity for the area of the world the person lived, a teacher’s section with extension activities, the key and additional links. Great for a STEM reading on a women mathematician, a Friday activity, for Women’s History Month, Pi Day, a substitute lesson and more. STEM Woman Mathematician Reading Passage
Elephants! A Webquest
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Elephants! A Webquest

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Did you know that elephants can be right or left tusked, kind of like humans are with their hands? Did you know that the elephant has the largest brain of any LAND mammal?(The sperm whale has the largest brain of all…) And if you think elephants like peanuts…they really do not! I think your students would have fun learning about the elephant with this web quest! I have included extension activities, additional trivia and the key. You might be interested in web quests on additional animals: 1. The polar bear is in trouble! Warming temperatures has cause a decrease in the sea ice-something the polar bear needs to survive. The polar bear needs our help! Learn about this amazing mammal with this fun and informative webquest Additional extension activities and resources are also provided. Polar Bears, A Webquest 2. Only about 5,000 rhinos are left in the wild.Use this informative web quest to learn about this endangered species. 9 web questions,lots of extension activities,comprehension questions/links. Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. Rhinos, A Webquest 3. Need a webquest activity in science? Maybe, you are looking for a language arts activity for students to skim to find answers and use informational text to develop a creative writing task. Maybe, you are looking for a cooperative lesson activity.Try my Leaping Leopard’s Webquest! Grades 4 and up. The webquest has 8 webquestions and 8 extension activities(and links to more information). Leopards, A Webquest
History of Football(Soccer) : Everything has a History Series
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History of Football(Soccer) : Everything has a History Series

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Students will learn about the history of the sport of “football”, (only the USA and some say Canada, use the term, soccer) and the famous games held every four years. Great for a Friday activity to show kids that everything has a history, even sports! Includes 11 web questions, a map skill activity on the 2022 Host Country of Qatar, A Did You Know? Section, Comprehension. Questions, a Teacher page with several extension activities and the key.
Phoenicians: A Bundle of Resource on these Ancient Sea Traders
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Phoenicians: A Bundle of Resource on these Ancient Sea Traders

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Learn all about the ancient Phoenicians, lived in present day Lebanon, who gave the world the alphabet, the color purple, glass and more. Phoenician Bundle includes: Mini Unit on the Phoenicians Review Secret Message Activity Reading on Hannibal, Carthage General during Punic Wars Reading on Hanno, Phoenician Sea Explorer Purple Game
Is that FAKE NEWS? Teaching Digital Literacy FREEBIE (INA)
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Is that FAKE NEWS? Teaching Digital Literacy FREEBIE (INA)

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FAKE NEWS! We hear this phrase almost every day. Teaching Digital Critical Literacy is more and more important. Use this freebie , an interactive notebook activity to open a discussion on techniques to determine whether a story students read or hear is real or fake. This is part of my resource on FAKE NEWS, Developing Digital Critical Literacy with Kids(INA): Click here to learn more: /teaching-resource/fake-news-developing-digital-critical-literacy-with-kids-possible-interactive-notebook-activity-11806581 Additionally, my resource on the history of April Fool’s Day has LOTS of materials which could also be used to develop digital literacy with your students: /teaching-resource/april-fools-day-reading-passage-and-more-11809047
Charles Dickens: A Webquest
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Charles Dickens: A Webquest

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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.
Age of Exploration: A Webquest/Extension Activities
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Age of Exploration: A Webquest/Extension Activities

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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