Thanks to Education World for use of my Mrs. Waffenschmidt illustration.

Thanks to Education World for use of my Mrs. Waffenschmidt illustration.
Click on icon to go to my website: http://www.gailhennessey.com

Sunday, March 17, 2024

WATER FACTOIDS: World Water Day is March 22nd

 


World Water Day!
March 22, 2024
Possible Interactive Notebook Activity

Water actually has a day when people focus on just how important water is to all of us. World Water Day is March 22nd. In 2024, the theme for World Water Day is Water for Peace.
Did You Know?
1. Our planet is about 75% water.  Yet, less than 2% is able to be used by humans. Can you think of two reasons why most water is NOT available for human use?_____________ and  ____________

2. A jellyfish is almost 95% water!  A human body is made up of about 66% water.

3. Shutting off the water while brushing teeth saves about 4 gallons of water. For some people on the planet, that is a week’s supply of water. What are two ways to conserve(save) water?____________ and _____________


4. The water you are drinking is the same water that the dinosaurs drank!

We don’t have any “new” water on the planet. It just keeps getting recycled. Can you name the three stages of the water cycle?____________   __________   ______________

5. Scientists say that in a 100 year time period, a molecule of water spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice and just 2 weeks in rivers and lakes. It spends only about 1 week in the atmosphere.

6. In 1996 , NASA announced that water, in the form of ice, was found on the moon, near the South Pole. 

7. Did you know that hot water freezes more quickly than cold water? This is called the Mpemba Effect. Scientists aren’t sure why this is the case.

8. Water is the only substance on the Earth that has three stages. Can you name them?____________  ________   _________

9.. Water is made up of just two elements, hydrogen and oxygen.

10. Pure water doesn’t have any smell or taste. Other than for drinking, can you think of three uses of water?___________  ______________  ___________ 

11. Can you name the room in a house that uses the most water?____________

Your Turn:
  1. Illustrate one of the facts.
  2. Pretend to be a water drop and write about a day in your life.
  3. What are three ways you can conserve water in your daily life?
Teacher’s Page:
Before doing the activity, ask the students to share prior knowledge on the topic of water. Give the students the Did You Know? Fact Sheet. Regroup and discuss.

Additional Activities:
1. Teachers may find some information at this link of value to use with kids: http://savethewater.org/education-resources/water-facts/
3. Learn about the water cycle: http://www.kidzone.ws/water/



Check out these related resources:
  1. 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:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jacques-Cousteau-A-Readers-Theater-Script-2458467
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. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Oceans-Exploring-the-Ocean-Blue-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-705943

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. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Earth-DayWebquest-on-the-Blue-Planet-1790891
Key:
1.   salty and frozen 5.evaporation, condensation and precipitation 9.  liquid, solid and gas 11. cooking, energy, farming, fun 12. bathroom(toilet,shower,bathtub,faucet) 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Check what you READ before you SHARE it!

 



Early Happy April Fool’s Day!  A news story was posted the other day saying the famous landmark in England, a ferris wheel known as the LONDON EYE, was being dismantled. After about 25 years, the wheel was being relocated to Scotland, specifically Loch Lomand. There were even photographs of the famous landmark being dismantled.  The article went on to say that a convoy, 2 miles long, would be transporting all the pieces of the ferris wheel up to Scotland. However, the story was a FAKE! 

It seems with Artificial Intelligence(AI), which can create amazing “real-like” photographs or even the voice of a famous person, it is getting harder to determine real from fake. How can you spot something that isn’t true? When you see something that makes you say “really ?”, try checking for other stories to confirm or deny what you have read. Do some critical thinking. Do you really think the city of London would remove one of its most famous landmarks? Be careful what you read and hear and THINK before you share something before checking it out! More than 10,000 read the posting on Facebook and shared it with other people! And, if you are wondering,  the photographs showing the dismantling of the ferris wheel, were actually taken in 1999 when the ferris wheel was first being ERECTED in London!  Photograph from Pixabay.


Learn more about FAKE NEWS and digital literacy: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FAKE-NEW-Teaching-Digital-Literacy-to-Kids-3074653?st=68e3f02f1844b367b0ff156841c6511e

Friday, March 8, 2024

St. Patrick's Day is Coming. Learn about the country of Ireland

 






Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day
Did You Know? 
by
Gail Skroback Hennessey


1. The National Leprechaun Museum in Dublin, Ireland, is dedicated to the folklore and mythology of Ireland. 
2.  In Irish folklore, there are only male leprechauns. Leprechauns are cobblers(shoemakers) and they usually carry a tiny hammer wherever they go!
3.  Ireland was the very first country in the world to tax plastic bags.(2002) 
4. Muckanaghederdauhaulia is the name for the longest place name in Ireland. 
5.  A burial tomb found near Dublin, Newgrange, may be older than the pyramids of Egypt,and was built about 4000 BC. 
6. The Irish monk, St. Brendan, may have reached North America before Columbus, in the 6th century. 
7.  Halloween has its origins in Ireland. It dates back to Samhain, an Irish festival. 
8. Famous people from Ireland include the lead singer for U2(Bono), Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels), writer C.S. Lewis(Chronicles of Narnia) and poet, William Butler Yeats 
9. Did you know that corned beef and cabbage, a favorite food on St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t have any corn? The term refers to a large type of salt(called “corns”) used to marinate the beef. 
10. Hurling is a very popular sport which originated in Ireland.
11. There are NO snakes in the country of Ireland. 

12. Since the Bronze Age, Ireland has had their own type of Olympics Games. They are called the Tailteann Games. 

13. Leprechaun Day is May 13th.(YES…there is such a day!)

14. The Flag of Ireland has the colors green, white and orange. 
The harp is the musical symbol of Ireland.

15.  The language of Ireland is called Irish(Gaelic). There isn’t a word for “yes” or “no” in Irish.

16. People who visit Blarney Castle, in Ireland, often try to kiss the Blarney Stone. The legend says kissing the stone gives you the gift of being a great speaker. It’s a difficult thing to do as you have to  hang upside down to reach the stone!

17. The first St. Patrick’s Day in the United States was celebrated in the city of Boston, 1737.

18. Ireland is called the Emerald Isle because Ireland has lots of green fertile land.

Your  Turn:
  1. Illustrate one of the facts.
  2. Write down the 3 most interesting facts you learned.
  3. Create a postcard pretending you are visiting Ireland. Include 3 facts in the information you are writing to a friend or relative. Draw/ color a picture to go with your postcard.
  4. Would you wish to kiss the Blarney Stone? Why or why not?
Teacher’s Page:

1. Before giving the students the factoid handout, ask the students to share prior knowledge about the country of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day.

2.  Show the students a map of Ireland: http://www.mapsofworld.com/physical-map/ireland.html  Have students make 4 questions using the map to exchange with another group.

3.Have small groups of students review information on the country of Ireland and share 5 facts with the rest of the class.

4. Learn some Irish: 
A. Phrase: Thank you
Irish: Go raibh maith agat
Pronunciation: Guh row mah aguth (row as in cow)

B. Phrase: You're welcome
Irish: Tá fáilte romhat
Pronunciation: Thaw foil-cheh roath

C. Phrase: Hello
Irish: Dia dhuit
Pronunciation: Djee-ah gwitch

5. St. Patrick's Day is coming-a wonderful opportunity to introduce your students to the country of Ireland. Did you know that Ireland is called the Emerald Island because of its green fertile lands? Did you know that the Celtic knot is a very famous symbol of Ireland? Other well know symbols of Ireland include the harp, leprechauns and shamrocks. Learn more about Ireland with my fun and informative web quest on Ireland includes 12 questions and lots of extension activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Ireland-Webquest-and-Activities-517483

6. Another resource about Ireland to consider: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. Great for a unit on folk stories/folklore or as an activity around St. Patrick's Day. The play has 11 questioners, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension activities and links as well as the key: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/LeprechaunsSt-Patricks-DayIreland-A-Readers-Theater-Script-2315668

7. The Green Game: Need a fun activity where kids have to find answers that have the word GREEN in it or are the color GREEN? Great for St. Patrick's Day or for a Friday. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-The-GREEN-Game-1666115
NOTE: This resource is INCLUDED in my Ireland Webquest/Activity Resource:

8. Test Your Knowledge Challenge Activity. Learn about Ireland and St. Patrick's Day with this 
"Challenge" activity. There are 25 informative/ fun questions where students test their knowledge on Ireland and the history of St. Patrick's Day. A couple of extension activities are included, too. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ireland-and-St-Patricks-Day-Test-Your-Knowledge-Challenge-Activity-9196311



Gail 
Feedback appreciated! 

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

World Book Day is Thursday, March 7th

 


  




* Click here for the free Interactive Notebook activity. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BOOK-FUN-FACTS-9209703

Personally, I love to read. Books are a way to visit the Taj Mahal, the pyramids, climb Mt. Everest, travel back through history or rocket into the future, all without living home.  

To, me, the public library was an awesome idea. Just think, before a library, you had to purchase anything you wanted to read,limiting assess to those that couldn’t afford to make such a purchase.


I grew up on Nancy Drew books, I eagerly awaited the next published adventure of Nancy and her friends. I read biographies on women including Amelia Earhart, Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony and more.  Kids need to see the wonderful world of books.  Perhaps, the next time you need to get gifts for your child, niece or nephew, include a book as one of you gifts.

Each child should have a library card. As educators, ask your students if they own a library card and if,not, try and encourage them to get one!

Whether you read traditional books that you can hold in your hand or ebooks, it doesn’t matter, just grab a book and read!


Book Facts:

1. Did you know that the Chinese invented paper around 105 AD?

2. Each second, 57 books are sold. Someone figured that in one day, you’d need 78 miles of book shelving to store that amount of books.http://infactcollaborative.com/things/book-facts.html 

3. Each year, the main library at Indiana University sinks about one inch from the weight of all the books!

4. Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, worked as a boy, at Cadbury, as a chocolate taste tested! Shows you never know how your childhood may shape what you do as an adult! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oliver-tearle/fascinating-literary-facts_b_4368760.html

5. A new book by Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr.  Seuss, was found in 2013. The books is called What Pet Should I Get? and was published in 2015.

6. Another fun fact about Dr. Seuss was that he was challenged to write a book using only 50 words. The result, Green Eggs and Ham. Here are the 50 words he used: a, am, and, anywhere, are, be, boat, box, car, could, dark, do, eat, eggs, fox, goat, good, green, ham, here, house, I, if, in, let, like, may, me, mouse, not, on, or, rain, Sam, say, see, so, thank, that, the, them, there, they, train, tree, try, will, with, would, you.

7. Did you ever read, Where the Wild Things Are, written by Maurice Sendak? He originally wanted the book to be called Where the Wild Horses Are, but couldn’t draw horses and told his editor, he could draw…things.

8. The author of Frankenstein was Mary Shelley. The monster was NOT Frankenstein, he had no name. Frankenstein was the scientist who created the monster!

9.  The author of  Alice in Wonderland ,Lewis Carroll, is credited with introducing 21 made-up words to the Oxford English Dictionary. https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/388572/Top-10-facts-about-children-s-books

10. Someone calculated that Charles Dickens used 4.6 million different words in his writings. Also, a new treat, the lollypop was featured in a couple of Dickens' books!

11. Books helped to build a road! 2.5 million books were shredded and added to the road asphalt for part of the M6 road in England.

12. The world’s first library was built by Ashurbanipal(668-627BC) in Assyria.

13. In 2012,  998 people, in Sydney, Australia, set a record for the most people balancing books on their head!

14. Did you know that people in the country of India take the title for the most reading done each week? On average 10.7 hours a week is spent reading.  http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/508275/Top-10-facts-about-books

15. The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered the oldest written story. It comes from the people of Mesopotamia , telling the adventures of the King of Uruk( @2750-2500 BC).

16. The first book printed on the printing press was the Bible, in 1450. It was done on Johann Gutenberg’s press. The Bible is also the largest-selling non-fiction book in the world!
17. A library in Charleston, South Carolina, opened its doors in 1698, making it the first public  library in America. http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0932506.html
18. As of  2014, the handwritten,The Codex Leicester, by Leonardo da Vinci, which sold for a whopping $49.4 million dollars,in 1994, is still the most expensive book ever sold. The buyer was Bill Gates.
19. According to the Pew Research Center, 1 out of 4 Americans said they didn’t read even ONE book in the past year! http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/opinion/blow-reading-books-is-fundamental.html?_r=0

20. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, was the first book written on a typewriter!

Quotes about Reading and Books:

1. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.  Richard Steele

2. "To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."  Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

3. "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."  Walt Disney  

4. “ A book is like a garden, carried in the pocket." Chinese Proverb

5. "The things I want to know are in books. My best friend is the man who'll get me a book I [haven't] read." Abraham Lincoln

6. “A house without books is like a room without windows.” Heinrich Mann

7. "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Dr. Seuss

8. "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." Harry S Truman 

Your Turn:

1. Illustrate one of the quotes.
2. Illustrate one of the fun facts about books.
3. Which quote do you like the best and why? Write a paragraph explaining what you think your favorite quote means.
4. Would you be embarrassed if a friend saw you reading a book? Why, why not?
5. What is one of your favorite books? Why do you like it so much?
6. A study by the National Literacy Trust(2019) found that only 26% of those under 18 years of age spent any time reading during a day! Do you read each day? 



Additional Resources of Interest for World Book Day.
1.  World Book Day would also be a great opportunity for kids to learn about Charles Dickens: 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! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A-Webquest-200480

2. World Book Day-have kids learn about William Shakespeare with this Reader's Theater Script: 
Considered to be the greatest writer of the English language, learn about William Shakespeare with this fun/informative play. Shakespeare introduced about 3000 words to the English language . It is said that next to the Bible, his works are the most quoted! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/William-Shakespeare-A-Readers-Theater-Script-2299401

3. World Book Day would be a great time to read about one of the most famous fairy tale writers, Hans Christian Andersen. Did you know that Andersen said that the story, The Ugly Duckling, was a story about him? He was bullied as a kid, called "scarecrow" because he was tall and skinny. Once to avoid kids chasing him, a young Andersen climbed a tree(and then got stuck!). His father had to get him down, only making for more taunts! This reader's theater play introduces kids to fairy tale writer,Hans Christian Andersen. Grades 4 and up.Comprehension questions, discussion questions, extension activities and resources are included. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hans-Christian-AndersenBiographical-play-To-Tell-the-Truth-Play-348807

4. Check out my web quest on the Library of Congress, our Nation's Library! The Library of Congress, our Nation's Library has over 33 million books. There are also over 12.5 million photographs and 6 million pieces of sheet music! Learn more about the Nation's Library with informative webquest.(Grades 4/ up) Great informational text/research skill activity!   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Library-of-Congress-Explore-Our-Nations-LibraryWebquest-604584


5. An American short story writer and poet, Edgar Allan Poe, is remembers for such stories as Murder in the Rue Morgue ,The Tell Tale Heart and The Fall of the House of Usher. Poe’s poem, The Raven, is considered the most famous poem in American history! Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of the first science fiction writers and first writer of the modern detective story. Use this Reader's Theater Script to introduce students to this famous American Writer.
Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, there are 8 Audience Questioners who ask questions of Ms. Bie Ografee's guest, Edgar Allan Poe. There is a Did You Know? fun fact section, comprehension questions and a Teacher Page with extension activities and the key. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Edgar-Allan-Poe-A-Readers-Theater-Script-4345227

6. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, students will be introduced to the life of Charles Dickens, one of the most famous writers of all time. There are 11 questioners in the play as well as a Did You Know? section of fun facts, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities, additional links and the key. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A-Readers-Theater-Script-3286350

7. Part of my Ms.Bie Ografee Talk Show series of Reader's Theater Scripts, the guest is Louisa May Alcott. A "studio" audience asks Ms. Bie Ografee's guest questions about her life and accomplishments. There are 11 audience questioners, a Did You Know? section of fun facts, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities, additional links and the key. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Louisa-May-AlcottWriterSuffragette-and-AbolitionistA-Readers-Theater-Script-5290583





Clipart from: wpclipart.com/pixabay

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Pi Day is March 14th!

 




HAPPY PI DAY!
FUN FACTS:
1. Pi is the circumference of any circle, divided by its diameter. No matter the size of the circle, Pi is always the same!(3.14)

2. In 2015, Rajveer Meene, of India, memorized the first 70,030 digits of pi! It took him 17 hours and 14 minutes to recite the digits. Prior to this, Chao Lu, in 2005, was the record holder when he was able to recite the first 67,689 digits of pi.  Amazing feat of memory for both men!

3. Scientists Sir Isaac Newton and Greek mathematician Archimedes studied the numbers for Pi.
4. Scientist Albert Einstein was born on March 14, or 3/14, now Pi Day.
5. The ancient Babylonians(of present day Iraq) knew about pi more than 4000 years ago. Other cultures including the ancient Chinese and ancient Egyptians knew about pi. The oldest reference to pi dates back to 1650 BCE. It was mentioned in the Rhind Papyrus.
6. P is the 16th letter of the alphabet and pi, the Greek letter, is also the 16th in their alphabet.
7. The very first Pi Day was held in 1988, on 3/14. Why this date? The digits for pi start with 3.14. Larry Shaw, a physicist, celebrated the day by eating pie and walking in a circle. Shaw is nicknamed the “Prince of Pi”.
8. Did you know that an episode of the original Star Trek television show had Spock confused a computer by asking for the last digit in the value of pi?
9. The Ludolphine Number is named for Ludolph van Ceulen, who in the late 1500s, calculated the first 36 digits of pi.
10. In 2018, a scientist named Peter Trueb, used a computer to calculate 22,459,157,718,361 digits of pi. It took 105 days to list the numbers!
11. Pilish is a text using the numbers of pi. Michael Keith wrote a 1000 word short story using the digits of pi. For example: Tap a tree(3-1-4)
12. Write 3.14(pi) in BIG letters and hold it up to a mirror. Backwards, 3.14 looks like the word-PIE!
Many people eat PIE to celebrate Pi Day!
Do you remember singing “Four and Twenty Blackbirds”? 
Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was open the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?
During the Middle Ages, there was a dinner course called the ENTREMET. During a banquet, it was an entertainment surprise for an important guest.
Some say that King Henry got a surprise when the pie that was served was cut open and 24 blackbirds flew out of the crust.
The birds were placed into the thick pie after it was baked. The crust would rise forming a type of pot shaped pie. This top was removed and the birds were placed inside just before serving. Note: Another pie was served for eating, thank goodness!
Some sources say that in addition to birds, live frogs, dogs and rabbits were also sometimes placed inside a surprise pie!
Your Turn:
1. Illustrate a factoid
2. Write a three word Pilish.
3. Write a fact about Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.
4. Write a diary entry pretending to be attending a party where blackbirds came out of a pie.
5. Did you know that telephone numbers are 7 digits because most people can’t easily remember more than 7 numbers. How many digits of pi can you memorize?
6. What is YOUR favorite type of pie? Write a paragraph explaining what it is the BEST type of pie.
TEACHER PAGE:
Give the Interactive Notebook handout to students and after completing the Your Turn, regroup and discuss.
Ideas for Pi Day:
Sources for Teachers:
https://www.piday.org/million/ one million digits of pi 




1. Looking for a reading about math? Check out this reading passage on Hypatia, the first known female mathematician: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Womens-HistoryFamous-WomenAncient-HistoryHypatiaFirst-Woman-Mathematician-4018160

2. 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. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ada-Lovelace-Woman-MathematicianWorlds-First-Computer-Programmer-7890823?st=df7b7a7c8420a6b06834cfa34ec76f63



3. Learn about Katherine Johnson, a physicist, space scientist and mathematician, who played a very important role with NASA’s early space missions. The movie Hidden Figures highlights the role of NASA's "computers" such as Katherine Johnson and their contributions. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series of Reader's Theater Scripts, there are comprehension questions, a Did You Know? section, a Teacher page with extensions/links and key. A great STEM biography! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Katherine-Johnson-ScientistThe-Computer-that-Wore-SkirtsPlay-2961216




I also have Reader’s Theater Scripts on Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Marie Curie and Galileo.


Illustration from openclipart.org