Homeschool Activities

Iceland is in the news with a recent volcanic eruption. Learn some interesting facts about the country of Iceland with this freebie.

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Gail

http://www.gailhennessey.com. My website for teachers/kids has lots of free resources in geography, current events, career interviews, sort reads, Fun facts, bell ringers and more.

Perhaps, you will find this handout of interest to use with your students around Groundhog Day.

Using the News in the Classroom. A Flamingo which escaped from a zoo in Kansas was recently spotted in Texas, 13 years ago! Use this news story to introduce kids to the flamingo. Possible Interactive Notebook Activity.

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Use this freebie to have students learn about famous fairytale writer, Hans Christian Andersen.

* This is also included in my World Book Day, Amazing Book Facts.

Check out my Reader's Theater Script on Hans Christian Andersen: The play is based on the Mark Goodson Production To Tell the Truth Game Show. 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 imposters do not have to do so. Kids must be "truth detectives" to determine just who is the REAL Hans Christian Andersen. Students in grades 4 and up will have fun acting out their parts and learning some interesting facts about fairy tale writer, Hans Christian Andersen. Comprehension questions, discussion questions, extension activities and resources are included.

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Hans-Christian-AndersenBiographical-play-To-Tell-the-Truth-Play-348807

If you aren't following my TeachShare Store and you find my free materials of value, I would appreciate your considering following me. Click by my photograph. I have lots of materials for teachers in the areas of history, science and language arts. Thank you!

I wanted to share some activities used with my students to foster geography awareness. Perhaps, you will find them of value.

More Geographic Resources:
1.https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Geography- Geographic-Secret-Messages-709102
2. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Maps-and- Geography-Lets-Map-It-433017
3. See Purple Annie’s Travels to China: FREE! http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?purpleanniestravels.html**\ 4. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Maps-and-Geography-Test-Your-Knowledge-Challenge-Activity-9239435**Test Your Knowledge Challenge(Maps and Geography)
5. US Landmarks: https://www.TeachShare.com/ Product/US-Landmarks-Test-Your-Knowledge-Challenge-ActivityEnd-of-Year-Activity-9270184 Test Your Knowledge on
US Landmarks
6. World Landmarks:https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/World-Capitals-Test-Your-Knowledge-Challenge-ActivityEnd-of- Year-Activity-9253008 Test Your Knowledge on World Landmarks

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Thank you,

Gail Hennessey

FREEBIES to Keep the Learning Moving Forward (Part 2)

Possible activities to use with your children or students during the Coronavirus school break to help keep the learning moving forward. Stay healthy!

This resource give links to free webquests, geographic activities, career surveys, short reads and possible Interactive Notebook Activities:

Where in the World is Mrs. Waffenschmidt ?(geography)

Iceland(Introduction to the country of Iceland)

China(Introduction to the country of China)

Mystery Landmarks(geography)

Mystery Landmarks(more geography)

Geographic Alphabet Safaris(Map activities)

U.S Landmark Webquest

World Landmarkk Webquest

Presidential Webquest

Mesopotamian Webquest

Egypt Webquest

Brain Fryers

Purpleannies(My purple bear's trip to China)

Career Surveys (I interviewed over 30 people and their career choices)

Fun Facts on lots of different topics

Ideas to Foster Geography

Short Reads:

A. Dog-Gone True Story about George Washington

B. Chinese Dragon Drool(Floating Gold)

C. The Banyon Tree of Lahaini

D. The Wooden Cookie Box

E. A Vegetable Garden of Sound

HERE IS ANOTHER LISTING of my FREE RESOURCES at TeachShare.

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Distance-Learning-Freebies-of-Interactive-Notebook-Activities-for-Students-5340277#show-price-update

Gail Hennessey

Learn about lots of interesting facts about books with this interactive notebook activity. Good for a Friday activity, for a substitute or for National Book Day or World Book Day.

Doing a Fall unit on apples? Looking for an activity during a study of pioneers? Doing a unit on folk hero? Doing a biography on Johnny Appleseed? This interactive notebook on Apples has several activities and 17 interesting fun facts about apples.Note: 9 of the facts are included in my biographical play on Johnny Appleseed.

1. Check out my play onJohn Chapman(Johnny Appleseed)dJohnny Appleseed, A Reader's Theater Script

Note: Other plays in the Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show Series: Dr. Seuss, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Bessie Coleman Sacagawea, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Sequoia, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Tuskegee Airmen, Susan B. Anthony, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, an interview with a groundhog, an interview with a leprechaun, an interview with Simon, victim of the Black Death, An Interview with Agent 355, a female agent in the Culper Spy Ring(Revolutionary War), Interview with a 49er from the California Gold Rush , Albert Einstein, Rachel Carson, Katherine Johnson and more.

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In 2024, the State of the Union Address is scheduled for March 7th. Introduce students to the speech given by Presidents with this freebie.

Check out this resource to have students learn more about the history of the State of the Union Address. 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 would be a great opportunity to bring the news into the classroom with the 2018 State of the Union Address scheduled for January 30th.

State of the Union Address: A History(Webquest)

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Please consider following me: :-) Click follow under my picture in the upper right hand corner. Thank you!

In 1978, a school district in  California, organized a “Women’s History Week”. By 1981, Congress passed a resolution establishing a National Women’s History Week and in 1987, Congress created a month, March, to honor the contributions of women and to promote the teaching of women’s history.  The following information may be helpful for Women’s History Month.In

2025, the theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and

Inspiring Generations.”

At one time, women weren’t able to do many things because of their gender. Here are some women trailblazers.  Being the first, made it easier for other women to follow in their footsteps. Every year, new firsts continue to be made by women. Here is just a sampling of firsts made by women.

This free listing of women trailblazers includes lots of links that Teachers may find helpful to use with their students during Women's History Month. There are several questions for students to answers making the resource a possible Interactive Notebook Activity.

1. Check out this Women's History Month Webquest: There are many women who have made contributions which have shaped our world. This webquest can be done at any time during the year.Each web question contains information on the women highlighted. Extension links/activities are included as is the key. Grades 4 and up. Here are the highlighted women in this web quest: Elizabeth Blackwell, Clara Barton, Amelia Earhart, Susan B Anthony,Sally Ride, Rosa Parks, Jane Goodall, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marie Curie, Sacagawea , Sonia Sotomajor and Katherine Johnson:Women's History Webquest!

2. Women History: A Bundle of TEN  Reader's Theater Scripts on Women in History: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/WOMENS-HISTORY-A-BUNDLE-of-10-READERS-THEATER-SCRIPTS-4409951

3. Readings on TEN Famous Women in History: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Women-in-History-Bundle-of-Ten-Reading-Passages-on-Women-in-History-4409979

4. Reader's Theater Script: Revolutionary War Spies:Culper Spy Ring and Female Agent 355: Learn about women spies during the Revolutionary War! I really had fun developing this play! Female Spies during Revolutionary War

5. 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: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/BookmarksBookmark-Bios-Women-in-Modern-Times-1700s-on-4170805

6. Women Trailbrazers. Test your Knowledge Challenge: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/WOMEN-Trailblazers-Test-your-Knowledge-Challenge-Activity-9195084?st=da25b3ae15b8ae09cac74e6b62f3a402

I have lots of other Reader’s Theater Scripts on first ladies in my To Tell the Truth series. Michelle Obama: Michello Obama, A Reader's Theater Script

Eleanor Roosevelt: Eleanor Roosevelt, A Reader's Theater Script

Hillary Clinton: Hillary Clinton, A Reader's Theater Script

Lady Bird Johnson: Lady Bird Johnson, A Reader's Theater Script

Mary Todd Lincoln: Mary Todd Lincoln, A Reader's Theater Script

Martha Washington: Martha Washington, A Reader's Theater Script

Dolly Madison: Dolly Madison, A Reader's Theater Script

Abigail Adams: Abigail Adams, A Reader's Theater Script

Additionally, I have READER'S THEATER SCRIPTS on Susan B. Anthony, Katherine Johnson, Rachel Carson, Marie Curie, Elizabeth Blackwell, Sacagawea, Amelia Earhart, Marian Anderson, Bessie Coleman, Joan of Arc, Sojourner Truth, Phillis Wheatley, Mary Anning, Caroline Herschel, Sophie Brahe, Hypatia, Hildegard of Bingen, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks ,Aida de Acosta and more. I also have a play on Revolutionary War Female Spies, Women who Fought in the Civil War and Women Pilots during World War 2 (WASP).

Gail Hennessey

Gail Hennessey's Website for Teachers/Kids

Other FREEBIES:

1. BOOK Fun Facts(great for National Library Day, 4/15 and Library of Congress Day, 4/24: Book Fun Facts

2.Earth Day Freebie: Earth Day Freebie

3. April Fools’ Day Freebie: April Fools’ Day Freebie

4. Black History Month Freebie: Black History Month Freebie

5. Pumpkin Facts: Pumpkin Fun Facts

6. Amazing Mummy Facts: Amazing Mummy Facts

7. Amazing Chinese New Year Factoids: Chinese New Year Factoids

8. King Tut Day Freebie: King Tut Day Freebie

9.Amazing Presidential Fun Facts: Presidential Factoids

10. Learn about Diwali: Diwali Fun Facts

Check out my web quest on the Giraffe(it includes these fun facts as well as extension activities and links for the teacher. The Giraffe: A Webquest Check out this additional resources about animals: 1. Learn about the rhino with this fun and very informative webquest. There are 9 web questions and lots of extension activities and resources. There is also a comprehension activity and key. Great for a Friday activity, before a vacation or if you are studying endangered species! Grades 4 and up. One class period unless you opt to do additional extension activities: Rhinosaurus! A Webquest 2. Did you know that a polar bear can swim up to 100 miles non-stop? Did you know that a polar bear doesn't hibernate like other bears do in the winter? The polar bear is in trouble! Warming temperatures has cause a decrease in the sea ice-something the polar bear needs to survive. Learn about this amazing mammal with this fun and informative webquest. Additional extension activities and resources are also provided: Polar Bears! 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. Learn about the leopard with 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 4. Learn about the elephant: 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:Elephants! A Webquest My website for teachers/kids: Lots of geographic activities, short reads, bell ringers, news, career surveys, factoids on different topics and more: Gail Hennessey's Website for Teachers/Kids Please consider following me. Click by the green star by my logo.Thank you.

Use this interactive Notebook Activity to learn about the Tour de France and the history of bicycles.

Appreciate your considering following my TeachShare Store. Thank you. Gail

Check out this webquest on the country of France. From famous landmarks, to famous people, to contributions of the French to the world, this 14 question webquest gives a great introduction to the country. It is packed with lots of interesting facts! There are 10 Did You Know fun Facts, 5 comprehension questions and a Teacher page with extension activities and the key. Additionally there is a map skill activity. Could be used as a Friday activity, before a vacation or for a substitute resource. You could also give it to your students for a "summer" activity to keep the learning going! https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/FRANCE-a-Webquest-Part-of-my-Country-in-Focus-Series-11641940

Gail Hennessey

**http://www.gailhennessey.com**-my website for teachers/kids

Use this free resource during your discussions of the famous games which began in ancient Greece. The 2022 Winter Games will be held in Beijing, China, in February.

Check out these resources:

1. Learn about the History of the Famous Games of Ancient Greece with this fun/informative webquest: History of the Ancient Games of Ancient Greece

2. Learn about the country of France, host country for the 2024 Summer Games: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/FRANCE-a-Webquest-Part-of-my-Country-in-Focus-Series-11641940

3. Learn about the country of Greece, where the famous games originated with this webquest. There are also comprehension questions and extension activities:Learn about the country of Greece!

Check out my website for teachers/kids:Gail's Website for Teachers/Kids

Please consider following my TeachShare Store. Click follow by my photograph. Thank you.

World Water Day is March 22. Use this freebie to give to students which includes several fill in the blanks and You Turn ideas.

Check out these related resources:

Studying the ocean? Looking for a resource for Earth Day or World Ocean Day? 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. 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

2. 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. Exploring the Oceans, A Webquest

3. Learn about Earth Day and our planet Earth, with this informative web quest! In 2018, the theme for Earth Day is “Environmental and Climate Literacy”. Although this resource could be used for Earth Day, it really could be used throughout the year. 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

A fun/informative Interactive Notebook Activity for kids to do during the winter months. Learn lots of interesting facts about snow. •One inch of water is about six inches of wet snow or 12 inches  of fluffy snow. • The world's largest snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. It fell in Fort Keogh, Montana, on January 28,1887. • Snow can be colors other than white, including blue, orange, green, yellow, and purple.  Actually, snowflakes are clear. Lots more factoids... Several extension activities included, too. Gail

In 2022, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson made history as the first African American female being confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. There have been 115 Supreme Court justices as of 2021! Justice Jackson becomes only the 6th woman to become a Supreme Court Justice. It is also the FIRST time there will be four women, out of the nine justices, on the Supreme Court!

FREEBIE..

Possible Resources of Interest:

Supreme Court: A Webquest: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Supreme-Court-A-Webquest-913089?st=7a003370e6e93ba0cc044c0ad33e00d7

Justice Sonia Sotomayor: A Reader’s Theater Script: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Sonia-Sotomayor-Supreme-Court-Justice-A-Readers-Theater-Script-6044779?st=7a003370e6e93ba0cc044c0ad33e00d7

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, A Reader’s Theater Script: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Ruth-Bader-Ginsburg-A-Supreme-Court-Justice-Readers-Theater-Script-6045122?st=7a003370e6e93ba0cc044c0ad33e00d7

Please consider following my TeachShare Store. Thanks, Gail

Learn about 4 famous pranks done on April Fools' Day.

April Fool's is a great time to have a discussion on REAL and FAKE News.

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.April Fools' Day Reading Passage/ Fun Facts and Activities

Other resources in my Everything has a History Series you may find of interest:

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!Everything Has a History, Even Candy: A Webquest

Check out my newest in the series: Everything Has a History...even chewing Gum: History of Chewing Gum!

Check out my History of Shoes! Everything Has A History, even SHOES!

Check out my History of Peanuts! Learn about the history of the Peanut**Learn about the History of the Peanut**

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

Other FREEBIES:

1. BOOK Fun Facts(great for National Library Day, 4/15 and Library of Congress Day, 4/24: Book Fun Facts

2.Earth Day Freebie: Earth Day Freebie

3. Women' s History Month Freebie: Women's History Month Freebie

4. Black History Month Freebie: Black History Month Freebie

5. Pumpkin Facts: Pumpkin Fun Facts

6. Amazing Mummy Facts: Amazing Mummy Facts

7. Amazing Chinese New Year Factoids: Chinese New Year Factoids

8. King Tut Day Freebie: King Tut Day Freebie

9.Amazing Presidential Fun Facts: Presidential Factoids

10. Learn about Diwali: Diwali Fun Facts

Use this possible free interactive notebook activity to introduce students to some of the contributions of Native Americans.

Resources of Interest:

1. Learn about Sacagawea with this Reader's Theater Script. Sacagawea is a guest on a talk show and the studio audience asks questions about her life and contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. There are 10 questioners, a Did You Know? fun fact section, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension activities, the key and additional links. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series. Sacagawea, A Reader's Theater Script 2. Learn about Sequoyah, the only person in history to "invent a written language"! Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee's Talk Show Series. A studio audience ask questions of Sequoia. Sequoyah, the Man that Invented a Writing System: A Reader's Theater Script. 3. Native Americans: A Webquest: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Native-AmericansA-WebquestExtension-Activities-2121792?st=2957771651d42c1f0e3fcb3ba8121b92

Mrs. Bie Ografee Talk Show Reading Theater Scripts:

Vikings

Ferdinand Magellan

Marco Polo

Christopher Columbus

Leonardo da Vinci

Michelangelo

Visit with a Crusader

Visit with a Victim of the Black Death

Martin Luther King Jr.

Rosa Parks

Harriet Tubman

George Washington Carver

Katherine Johnson

Tuskegee Airmen

Marian Anderson

Marie Curie

Galileo Galilei

Sir Isaac Newton

Albert Einstein

Jane Goodall

Moon Landing: Interview with first astronauts to walk on the moon

Rachel Carson

Jacques Cousteau

Thomas Edison

Elizabeth Blackwell

Visit with a Pilgrim

Revolutionary War Female Spies

Revolutionary War Tory

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison, Father of the Constitution

Pioneer Woman, Narcissa Whitman

Civil War Women Soldiers

Sacagaewa

Sequoyah

Lewis and Clark

Abraham Lincoln

California Gold Rush: Visit with a ‘49er

Wright Brothers

A Road trip Across the USA for Women’s Suffrage

WW 2: Women Pilots

Susan B. Anthony

Sonia Sotomayor

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Louisa May Alcott

Edgar Allen Poe

William Shakespeare

Charles Dickens

Johnny Appleseed

Visit with a Leprechaun

Visit with a Groundhog

To Tell the Truth Plays:

Hans Christian Andersen

Amelia Earhart

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady Edith Wilson

First Lady Florence Harding

King Tut

First Lady Hillary Clinton

First Lady Michelle Obama

First Lady Abigail Adams

First Lady Martha Washington

First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln

First Lady Dolly Madison

First Lady Lady Bird Johnson

My website for teachers/kids has lots of geography activities, short reads, factoids on different topics, news, career surveys, bell ringers and more.

Space Day is the first Friday in May. It was started in 1997 to highlight space and to spark an interest in science among young people. John Glenn promoted the day as International Space Day. Possible Interactive Notebook Activity.

Use this Space Interactive Notebook Activity any time of the year, for a unit on space, for a Friday activity, before a vacation or on Space Day!

Other resources you may find of interest:

1. The Eagle Has Landed. Man Walks on the Moon, A Reader’s Theater Script. 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! 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: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Moon-Landing-Man-Walks-on-the-Moon-A-Readers-Theater-Script-4538523

2. Learn about astronaut John Glenn with this web quest! John Glenn, Astronaut!

Free Facts about the Brain for kids! Possible Interactive Notebook Activity. June is Brain Awareness Month. Appreciate your clicking to review and perhaps, download this freebie. I'd be very happy if you'd check out other resources in my TeachShare Store. I have over 25 Reader's Theater Scripts on famous men and women in history, science and language arts as well as many web quests and reading resources in the content area of social studies and science. Always happy to gain new followers! Click the green star by my photograph in the upper right hand corner. :-) Gail My website for teachers/kids has lots of geography activities, short reads, factoids, news, career surveys, bell ringers and more.