

April Bundle of NO PREP Activities!

William Shakespeare, A Reader's Theater Script (Birthday is April 23rd)

IN THE NEWS: Iran, A Webquest!

Greenland, A Webquest!

FAKE News!Can you Tell The REAL News?

Everything has a History, Even Tulips(reading)

EARTH DAY, A Webquest

Rachel Carson, A Reader's Theater Script

ARBOR DAY, A Webquest

Women's History, A Webquest

Women's History: Test Your Knowledge Challenge

A Bundle of Reader's Theater Scripts on Famous Women

A Bundle of Readings on Famous Women

Ada Lovelace, First Computer Programmer(A Reading)

Bundle of Black American Trailblazer Reader's Theater Scripts

Black History Month, A Webquest

Harriet Tubman, Reader's Theater Script

Bessie Colman, Reader's Theater Script

Tuskegee Airmen, Reader's Theater Script

Chinese New Year is in FEB. Learn about China, a Webquest

Civics:Learn about Our Government: A Bundle of Resources!

Civics:Learn about Our Government: A Bundle of Resources!

U.S. Landmarks!

World Landmarks!

Map Skills(Unit and Webquest)

Mesopotamia: A Bundle of Resources

Phoenicians, A Bundle of Resources

ALL Things Egyptian!

Revolutionary War Bundle

Civil War Bundle

STEM BIographies! 6 Reader's Theater Scripts

STEM BIOGRAPHIES, Reader's Theater Scripts (Part 2)
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NEW:MINI EBOOK: The Horse Librarians

The Election Process, A Webquest

Jane Goodall, A Reader's Theater Script

Everything has a History!)*also sold individually

Writers: A Bundle of Reader's Theater Scripts

My Book- Fashion Rules!

My Book-Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps
Reader's Theater Scripts(Biographies in Ancient History):

Click here to learn more:Reader's Theater Scripts (Biographies in US History)

Is That FAKE News?

Anti-Bullying Resources
 Need a quick activity?
Bell Ringers!

In the News! Updated regularly

Mrs. Portulaca Purpilopilis and the Purple Adventure Goggles

The COLOR GAMES!

The Wooden Cookie Box Story The Wooden Cookie Box
DBQ Activities!

Facts to Wow your Friends!
World Landmarks: Lots of fun things to use with your students!
Teaching Ideas!

Webquests!

Geography Activities
Geography Ideas!

Purpleannie's Travels
The official U.S. time - snapshot
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HAPPY SPRING!

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND SIGN MY GUESTMAP. I'D LOVE TO SEE WHERE MY VISITORS CALL HOME! Click on the GLOBE ICON on the left to open the map.

Click here:Gail's TpT Store
Teach PEACE and TOLERANCE


FRANCE and ALSACE, 2025

 
Germany,2019, Sunflowers(2022)
Cruise,2022
River
Try doing an act of kindness for someone, today!
"If I can not do great things, I can do small things in a great way."Martin Luther King Jr.
"The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to compromise."FDR
"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."(Ben Franklin)
"You must be the change you want to see in the world."(Mahatma Gandhi)
"School is a building that has four walls-with tomorrow inside."(Lon Watters)
"We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will live on in the future we make."(Senator Ted Kennedy)
"The purpose of life is a life of purpose." (Robert Byrne)
"The purpose of life is to amount to something and have it make some difference that you lived at all."(Dear Abby)



8/28/2021: Fashion Rules! was a finalist in the 2021 American Book Fest, Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction. So Exciting!
7/2021: Fashion Rules! won Honorable Mention for Picture Books 6 and older by Purple Dragonfly Book Awards!
8/1/2020: My latest book, Fashion Rules!, my latest book from Red Chair Press. Click here:
Fashion Rules!11/2020: Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps has won another children's book award,a Northern Lights Book Award Winner! Thank you! 7/2020:Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps won a 1st place Purple Dragonfly Book Award in the Picture Books 6 & Older category. Thank you, Story Monsters! 3/24/20:Excited to have my latest children's book, Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps, chosen as a 2019 Story Monster Approved winner!
Check out Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps which is available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps
History is full of fascinating stories of colorful characters, but some of the most interesting parts of history are really odd. You have probably seen scenes of government officials with their powdered white wigs, but in 1700s England and high-society in the American colonies, women created towering hairstyles. Decorations such as ships and flowers were sometimes added to their hairdos, especially if attending a big party. Taking hours to create, women used beef tallow and sugar-water to keep their hairdos in place. This fictional account explains a very real fashion trend and the problems it created for women trying to look stylish! 
  
MAY FREEBIES!
1. Endangered Species Day is May(21st) Endangered Species FREEBIE
2. Space Day is 5/7: Space Day Freebie
3. World Ocean Day: World Ocean Day Freebie
4. FAKE News! Can you Tell Real from Fake News?Freebie

MAY Highlights!
1. Show Kids that everything has a history, even TULIPS! Reading passage, Did You Know? Fun Facts, comprehension questions, map activity, Teacher page with extension activities: Spring/ History of Tulips
2. Learn lots of fun facts with this Exploring the Ocean Blue: A Web quest.World Ocean Day is June 8th.Oceans, A Webquest
3. 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 Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series(extensions/comprehension questions, Did You Know?, key): Jacques Cousteau, A Reader's Theater Script
4. Asian American and Pacific Islander(AAPI) Heritage Month(MAY): A Webquest:Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Webquest
5.Studying folklore? Leprechaun Day is May 13th(YES...there is such a day!)This fun/informative play has Ms. Bie Ografee's guest being McSean, a leprechaun. McSean is asked questions by the studio audience about the country of Ireland and the long Irish folklore about leprechauns. A Visit with A Leprechaun, Reader's Theater Script
6. Learn about the History of Football(Soccer) and the World Cup(Summer 2026) World Cup,2026, A Webquest
7. World Ocean Day is June 8th: Webquest Exploring the Oceans, A Webquest Learn about Jacques Cousteau with this Reader's Theater Script: Jacques Cousteau, A Reader's Theater Script
8. Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition 5/14 Webquest/ Reader's Theater Script. Lewis and Clark, A Reader's Theater Script Here is a webquest on Lewis and Clark, too.Lewis and Clark Webquest
Learn about Sacagawea with this Reader's Theater Script:Sacagawea,A Reader's Theater Script
9. Space Day is 5/7: Learn about the Final Frontier,Space, with this web quest:Space, the Final Frontier, A Webquest
Learn about the first men to walk on the moon with this Reader’s Theater Script:First Men to Walk on the Moon, A Reader's Theater Script
Learn about Katherine Johnson with this Reader's Theater script, physicist, space scientists and mathematician, who played a very important role with NASA's early space missions. Katherine Johnson, the Computer who wore a Skirt!Reader's Theater Script
10. Memorial Day: Learn about the history of the American Flag with this webquest:Our Flag, a Webquest
11. Jules Verne(A Reader's Theater Script): Jules Verne, A Reader's Theater Script
12. May 29th: Sir Edmond Hillary and his Guide, Tenzing Norgay (1953) Reach Top of Mount Everest. Learn about Mt. Everest, Nepal and the Yeti with this webquest: Mt. Everest! A WebquestI also have a Reading on Sir Edmund Hillary that goes great with this webquest topic:Sir Edmunmd Hillary, A Reading Activity
A GREAT FRIDAY or SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY:
1. World Capitals: World Capitals, Test Your Knowledge
2. US Landmarks: U.S. Landmarks, Test Your Knowledge
3. Maps and Geography: Maps and Geography, Test Your Knowledge
4. Women Trailblazers: Women Trailblazers, Test Your Knowledge
Learn about countries of the world:
Bundle on Countries of the WorldAll sold individually, too.
MATH and STEM Biographies:
1. Hypathia: Hypathia, Woman Mathematician
2. Ada Lovelace: Ada Lovelace, Woman Mathematician
4. Katherine Johnson: Katherine Johnson, STEM Biography
4. Marie Curie: Marie Curie, Stem Bio
READINGS on Famous Women:Aida De Acosta(first woman to fly a powered aircraft), Sojourner Truth(abolitionist, women's rights activist, author), Joan of Arc,Caroline Herschel, Mary Annings,Aglaonike(Greek Astronomer), Hypatia(First Known Woman Mathematician), Agnodice(First Female Doctor?), Enheduanna(First Known Poet), Sophie Brahe(Astronomer and Horticulturist of the Renaissance), Hildegard of Bingen (first musical play, write/abbess of the Middle Ages), Artemesia(Female Naval Commander-Persian War)

Bookmark Bios!Great for a bell ringer activity for Women's History Month.Click here to purchase:Bookmark Bios! Women in Modern Times(1700s on)
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Check out FREEBIE of TWO Bookmark Bios:Sample of TWO Bookmark Bios

Use my THINGY letters to have kids write spelling words, vocabulary words or as an art activity! Have students try and guess what some of the THINGY Letters are.(also have Black/White option):ClipArt: Alphabet Thingy Letters!
Check out my series of Children's Books from Aadarsh Publishing!
 
Colour Fairies: Go Go's Flying Lesson
Colour Fairies: Yay Yay Gets Her Wand
 
Check out my blog on Education World: Click here:EducationWorld Blogger
BUY MY READER'S THEATER SCRIPTS on my website. Pay with PayPal or Venmo and email me(geshrwh@hotmail.com) of your purchase and I will email the resource by the next day. ALL my Reader's Theater Scripts are $4.00.
My Latest Reader's Theater Scripts:Go to the link and click "Preview" to see a sample of the Reader's Theater Script you may find of interest:The Vikings: A Visit with Erik the Red and Leif Eriksson:A Reader's Theater ScriptMarco PoloColumbus,a Reader's Theater ScriptFerdinand Magellan, A Reader's Theater ScriptLouisa May Alcott, A Reader's Theater ScriptGalileo Galilei, A Reader's Theater ScriptMoon Landing!A Reader's Theater ScriptWright Brothers: A Reader's Theater ScriptWorld War 2 FEMALE Pilots(WASP)Frederick DouglassEdgar Allan PoeCivil War: Women Soldiers, A Reader's Theater ScriptMathew Brady, A Reader's Theater ScriptCrusadesSir Isaac Newton, A Reader's Theater ScriptLewis and Clark: A Reader's Theater ScriptConstitution: A Visit with James Madison, "Father of the Constitution: A Reader's Theater ScriptA Visit with Joshua Crabtree,An American Revolutionary War Tory: A Reader's Theater ScriptCharles Dickens: A Reader's Theater ScriptJohnny Appleseed:A Reader's Theater ScriptAlbert Einstein: A Reader's Theater ScriptRachel Carson: A Reader's Theater ScriptKatherine Johnson:Scientist/MathematicianThomas JeffersonGeorge Washington Carver: The Peanut ManThomas Edison, A Reader's Theater ScriptMarie Curie,ScientistJacques Cousteau, A Reader's Theater ScriptRevolutionary War Spies(Culper Spy Ring).A Visit with Female Agent 355A California Gold Rush Prospector!Elizabeth Blackwell, First Woman DoctorSusan B. AnthonyWilliam ShakespeareBessie Coleman,AviatorMarian AndersonLeonardo da Vinci,"Renaissance Man!"Michelangelo!SacagaweaSequoyahTuskegee Airman!The Bus Ride That Changed History(A Visit with Rosa Parks)Harriet TubmanSimon,A Victim of the Black DeathAbraham LincolnLove Brewster,Interview with a PilgrimMcSean, the Leprechaun, A Reader's Theater Script
      
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Stop Bullying!
Click here to learn more about Anti-Bullying Activities to use in the classroom.Stand up to Bullying!
To any young people visiting my website. Please,if you are being bullied, seek help...SPEAK TO AN ADULT today!And, if you SEE something that looks like bullying-SAY something to an adult!
Check out my Pinterest page to see all my resources in one easy place!Click here to learn more:Gail's Social Studies Emporium(and More)

IN THE NEWS: 4/18/2026
In the Sahara Desert of Niger, archeologists have discovered a new species of Spinosaurus. The dinosaur remains, the first Spinosaurus fossils to have been found in 100 years, dated back about 100 million years ago and were the size of a school bus! At least that is the size of the juvenile remains found. Archeologists aren't sure the size of an adult would have been. Named S. Mirabilis, meaning "amazing"", it is thought that the S. Mirabilis, which had a long snout, lived along rivers and caught fish Illustration from Smithsonian Magazine
If you like riding an elevator, you will love the world's longest outdoor escalator which recently opened in China. Found in the city of Chongquing, a series of elevators takes passengers 800 ft. up along a 3000 ft. elevator system. Called the "Goddess"", there are actually four moving walkways, eight elevators and 21 escalators and takes about twenty minutes to make the journey. Once at the top, there is a beautiful view of the Three Gorges. Photograph from Nice News.
For the first time in history, four astronauts on the Artemis 11 mission traveled farthest away from the Earth, more than any other astronauts have ever done. They reached a distance of 252,756 miles away from Earth! They also traveled around the moon to see the side we never see, another first, taking amazing photographs. They also saw a solar eclipse and observed five meteors hitting the moon.The astronauts will splash down in their spacecraft, Orion, into the Pacific Ocean, on Friday. See some amazing photographs at this site: Photographs Photograph from NASA.
When Artemis 11 blasts off for its mission around the moon, a stuff mascot will be joining them. Named Rise, it will be used to let the astronauts know when zero gravity has been reached. Rise was designed by a young boy named Lucas Ye, from Mountain View, California. He won a contest held by NASA called the Moon Mascot contest. Photograph from NASA
A piece of sewn elk hide was found in the Cougar Mountain Cave in the state of Oregon back in 1958. It was kept by its discoverer until he died and was eventually given to the Favell Museum. It was recently carbon dated and archeologist believe it is the oldest known example of something being sewn! It dates back to the Ice Age, about 12,900 to 11,700 years ago. It is believed that indigenous people of the area used animal hair and plant fiber to stitch the hide. It may have been part of a bag or piece of clothing.Because hides are organic material, they decay making it very rare to have made this discovery. " Photograph from Smithsonian Magazine
Ryan Hulance, 13, Solihull, Great Britain, started collecting cans to recycle hoping to raise some money for local food banks. He has now collected over 1.5 MILLION cans and has raised an amazing $20,000 thus far! He turned in the collected aluminum cans to a local scrap metal company earning about 10-50 cents per pound.
When people heard of what Ryan was doing, they began dropping off cans to his home. His parents were crush the can so they didn't take up too much space. Someone heard about Ryan's efforts and donated an industrial crushing machine that also bundled the cans. Ryan estimates that he works about 20 hours a week collecting cans. Congrats to Ryan for his caring spirit to help others and for helping the environment, too. Photograph from Goodnewsnetwork

TAKE A PEEK at THESE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Teaching Tips A-Z

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

Calender of Resources for the Year:

Landmarks from Around the World

Mrs. Waffenschmidt
Special thanks to EducationWorld for letting me use this image of my "alter ego" as Mrs. "Waffenschmidt!

Crossword Puzzles!

Short Reads of interest

Dive into Career Choices

Calender of Resources for the Year:
 wpclipart.com
Science Fun!
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P.R.A.I.S.E

About Gail:
I retired from teaching after 33 1/2 years in the classroom. Of that time, I taught Grade 6 Social Studies teacher for 31 1/2 years.I earned my BA in early secondary education with a concentration in social studies from SUNY Oneonta, New York, and my MST in social studies education from Binghamton University in New York. In 1988, I was awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from the New York State Council for the Social Studies. Additionally, in 1988, I was also awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award by the National Council for the Social Studies. I am the author of 8 books for teachers and over 35 books for children(Purple Turtle Series by Aadarsh Publishing and Odd History Series by Red Chair Press).
My work has appeared in most children's publications including:
Highlights for Children,News-O-Matic,Appleseed,,Scholastic's Super Science,,Scholastic's Science World,Jack and Jill,National Geographic World, Ranger Rick, Cobblestone, Faces, Muse Magazine,Contact Kids, US Kids,Action Magazine(Scholastic),Girls' Life,Boys' Life,American Girl, Instructor,Creative Classroom,Middle Years,Time for Kids,Scholastic News,Scholastic News Zone, Time for Kids , Ask Magazine, Dig,Calliope, Cobblestone, FACES, Studies Weekly, Glo Adventurer, and more.
Mail Gail:
Gail Hennessey
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