In the News: Antarctica! Possible Interactive Notebook Activity

In the News: Antarctica!

Possible Interactive Notebook Activity

Go to https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Antarctica-An-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-4274563
 if you'd like the user friendly version of this posting.

With more and more tourists visiting Antarctica each year(estimates are about 40,000 people), scientists have detected a problem with some of the penguins, native to the continent. Seems the birds are getting germs from the tourists and this could mean serious troubles. Scientists tested the droppings of penguins and found they contain human bacteria. It is the first such transfer, called “reverse zoonosis" every found, in Antarctica. The gentoo, king and macaroni penguins as well as several other birds, including the kelp gulls, giant petrels and brown skuas, are infected with human pathogens. The gentoo penguins are very endangered birds and it is feared that the human bacteria may cause the birds further survival issues. 

Your Turn:

1. What are TWO facts you know about the continent of Antarctica? ______________________ and_______________________

2.   What would you suggest as a possible way to help these native creatures of Antarctica?  _________________________________

3. Why do you think tourists want to go to Antarctica?

____________________________________________________

4. Explain what “reverse zoonosis” means._______________________________________________

2. After 921 miles and 54 days, Colin O’Brady, has made history. He successfully crossed Antarctica, from coast to coast, unassisted and alone.  O’Brady, who called the trek, “The Impossible First”, dragged a 400 pound sled which carried his food, tent, a satellite phone, GPS tracker and fuel. He ate lots of oatmeal, soup and protein bars, trying for about 7000 calories per day to keep his energy levels up. During the journey, O’ Brady endured 30 mph winds ,extremely cold temperatures, averaging -40F degrees, and the solitude of not seeing anyone else! Another man,Louis Rudd, was also trying to be the first person to accomplish this task. About 70 miles away,O’Brady waited for Rudd to complete his journey, too. O’Brady has also climbed Mt. Everest and the other six highest peaks on each continent. 

Your Turn: 

1. What would be ONE personal item you would pack in your sled for such a journey? Why?_________________________________
2. Pretend you are O’Brady and list three things you would think about as you trekked across Antarctica._____________ _____________ ___________________________
3. What would be ONE fear you would have about such a journey?_____________________________________________
4. What would be the hardest thing to deal with in such a journey?

___________________________________________________

5. O’Brady waited for Rudd to finish his trek across Antarctica. Would you have done this?___________________________________
6. State an adventure that you would like to take sometime in your life.

____________________________________________________

7.  What do you think O’Brady meant by his calling his trek, “The Impossible First”?_______________________________________

Did You Know?

1. The continent of Antarctica was once part of a larger mass mass called Gondwanaland. India, Australia, SA and Africa were also part of Gondwanaland.

2. The highest point in Antarctica is Vinson Massif. It is 16,070 ft. (4897 m) 

3. The coldest temp ever recorded was -128.6 F(-89.2 C)on  July 21, 1983, at the Russian Vostok Station, on Antarctica.

4. Did you know that 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice and snow?

5. Did you know that only 100 tourists are allowed to be ON Antarctica at any one time?

6. The Antarctic Treaty states that “The area(Antarctica) is to be used for peaceful purposes only.”

7. There are NO countries on the continent of Antarctica.

8. From a Greek word, Antarctica means the opposite of north.

9. Lake Vostoc is a fresh water lake UNDERNEATH the ice of Antarctica! It is estimated to be about the size of Lake Ontario. It is under 2.29 MILES of ice.

10. It was only in 1820 that Antarctica was first seen by the outside world. It would take 20 more years before scientists determined it to be a continent.

More information about Antarctica: http://mentalfloss.com/article/29708/11-cold-hard-facts-about-antarctica

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. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Antarctica-A-Webquest-2389374

Photograph of penguins from zmescience.com

Photograph of O’Brady from irishtimes.com

World's Oldest Complaint Letter- Using the News in the Classroom

Written on a clay tablet, an ancient cuneiform letter of complaint is the world’s oldest such letter ever found. Cuneiform was an early writing system. The letter dates back to about 1750 BCE!

 Go to this link and read about this artifact:

https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/this-is-the-oldest-customer-complaint-in-history-and-its-great/

1. Where was the cuneiform letter found?____________

2. Who wrote the letter?______________

3. What were THREE complaints the man had in his letters to a supplier known as Ea-nasir?__________________ ______________ _____________

4. Although not on current display, where is this cuneiform letter kept? __________________

5. What is the name for the earliest known Semitic language?_______

6. Have you ever been unhappy about something you purchased or received? What was the item?________________________________

7. Have you ever written a letter to a company? Do you think it might have helped to contact the company?________________________

8. Pretend you are Ea-nasir and write a letter back to the customer.

What might you offer the customer to make him happy?

9. Many artifacts are located in countries other than where they originated. Some of the countries want their historic artifacts back. What do you think about this issue?________________________________

10. Archaeologists find many artifacts(things made and used) left behind by ancient cultures. What are two things we can learn from artifacts?____________________________

11.  If you could leave 7 things for a future archaeologist to find to tell about your culture, what would you place in a box and why?____________________________________________________

Teachers: Click here for the complete Freebie(with Extension Activities): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Customs-from-Around-the-World-FREEBIE-2215707

Looking for a possible Interactive Notebook Activity to use with kids just before the holidays(or the week you return in the new year)?

NEW YEAR’S EVE TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

by
Gail Hennessey 

Bonne annee(French)

Frohes neues Jahr(Germany) 

Felice anno nuovo(Italian) 

Gott nytt ar(Swedish)

Feliz ano nuevo(Spanish) 

Shana tova(Hebrew)

Hauoli makahiki hou(Hawaiian) 

Gelukkig nieuwjaar(Dutch) 

Fun World New Year ’s Factoids! 

1. In Russia, divers place a New Year’s tree into Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake. 

2. Did you know that in Denmark, people like to through old broken dishes at the front door of friends, at New Year’s Eve? 

3. Did you know that eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight is considered good luck in Spain? 

4. Hogmanay is a custom celebrated in Scotland at New Year’s. The word means “last day of the year”. One of the activities is “first footing”, being the first person to visit a neighbor or friend in the new year. Usually, a gift is brought, too. 

5. Christmas trees are made into bonfires to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands. This custom is done to symbolize getting rid of the old and welcoming the new year. 

6. In Switzerland, don’t be surprised if you see people drop a bit of cream onto the floor on New Year’s Eve. It is thought that this will bring good luck in the new year. 

7. In the South American country of Venezuela, people like to write a wish on a piece of paper and then burn it so that the wish may come true in the new year. 

8. In the country of Italy, many people like wearing RED underwear at New Year’s believing the color will bring good luck in the new year. In other cultures, especially several countries in Latin America, wearing YELLOW is considered good luck. 

9. In Mexico, don’t be surprised if you see people carrying empty suitcases around their house or street on New Year’s Eve. The custom is done if you would like to travel in the new year. 

10. The custom of having a ball drop from Times Square, in New York City, on New Year’s Eve began in 1907. Some people in the south, believe eating black eyed peas will bring prosperity in the new year. 

11. In Austria, people like to waltz when midnight strikes in the new year. 

12. Did you know that throwing a bucket of water outside a window at midnight on New Year’s Eve is done in Puerto Rico? It is to get rid of bad spirits. 

13. In Ireland, people bang bread on the walls and doors of their homes at midnight. This is done to scare away evil spirits and to bring good luck. 

14. Finding an almond in rice pudding on New Year’s Eve means good luck in the new year. This custom is found in Sweden and Norway. 

15. People in the Philippines believe that round things bring good luck and often wear cloths with polka dots on New Year’s Eve. Another custom is to have all the lights on in the home on New Year’s Eve so that it will insure a good new year. 

16. Did you know that April Fool’s Day involved New Year’s Day? People used to celebrate the new year around March 25-April 1st. When the calendar changed the new year to January 1st, pranks were played on those that continued to celebrate the New year on April 1. 

YOUR TURN:

1. Which 3 customs did you find the most interesting? Why? 

2. How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve?

3. New Year's Eve is a time to make a resolution for the New Year. What is a goal which you'd like to try and work to accomplish in 2018?

4. Illustrate one of the customs listed above.

5. Using a world map, locate the different countries mentioned in this list. Write ONE fact that you might know about each of these countries.

6. Rewrite 5 customs from the list and make mistakes in spelling or grammar. Exchange  your list with another student for them to be a "proof reader" to find the errors.

Check out my fun/informative web quest on the history of New Years. 

Learn about the history of New Year's with this fun/informative web quest. There are nine questions, lots of interesting customs of how people celebrate New Year's around the world, comprehension questions, extension activities and the key. Great activity for reading for information and research/computer skills. Included are also other holiday New Year's celebrations including Diwali, Chinese New Year, Songkran and Rosh Hashanah. The resources also mentions how April Fool’s Day originated over when to celebrate New Year's! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Webquest-on-its-history-and-customsExtension-Activities-1584695 

Remembering a Historic Day in History: Wright Brothers Fly over Kitty Hawk(12/17th) INA

Did you know that people actually thought that the airplane would have no real purpose? WOW...were they wrong!  On December 17, 1903, less than 10 people showed up to watch Orville and Wilbur Wright make history. In fact most papers(only 3 carried the story in the USA) refused to print the press release of the Wright Brothers' historic flight, believing it was not possible for a human to fly. The December 17, 1903 event had to have been a hoax! 

To honor this historic day in history, use this resource to learn a bit about the history of flight.

Did You Know?

1. Most people at the time of the Wright brothers’ first flight attempts on December 17, 1903, thought that the airplane had NO purpose for transportation and was just a dangerous sport.

2. The distance covered by the 1903 Wright Flyer was less than the wingspan of today's 747 Jumbo Jet!

3. The Wright brothers’ first attempt went 120 ft. That’s about 20 people, about 6ft. tall, lined end to end!

4. Charles Lindbergh was the first to fly non-stop from New York to Paris. The trip, in 1927, took 33.5 hours.

5. Amelia Earhart was the first woman aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The year was 1928.

6. Lillian Gatlin, was the first woman to ride as a passenger in an airplane! The year was 1922.

7. In 1939, Willa Brown was the first African American woman to earn a commercial pilot’s license.

8. Did you know that pilots and co-pilots can not eat the same meal while in flight?

9. Every 37 seconds, an airplane takes off from Chicago O’Hare’s International Airport. That’s about 100 airplanes each hour.

10. The word used for aviation help, “Mayday”, comes from the French “m’aides" meaning “help me.

11. Did you know that 1/3 of your taste buds get numb while flying?

12. Bessie Coleman was an American aviator and the first African American female pilot. She was also the first American to receive an international pilot’s license. 

13. It is said that Gustave Whitehead successful powered an aircraft in Bridgeport, CT, on August 14, 1901. That is two years before the Wright Brothers. Whitehead's craft, called the Condor, did two flights on that date. Reaching 50 Ft., the distance covered was 1 1/2 miles.

14.Aerophobia is the fear of flying.

15. KLM is the world’s oldest airline, started in 1919.

16. Someone estimated that if you add up all the miles flown by all the 747 airplanes, it’s the distance from the Earth to the Moon and back over 75,000 times.c

17. National Aviation Day, August 19th, was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, on the birthday of Orville Wright, who first piloted the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903.

Your Turn:

1. Write a diary entry pretending to be Lindbergh, Earhart, Coleman, Orville/Wilbur Wright and tell about a day in your aviation life.

2. Illustrate one of the factoids. Write a sentence of your own explaining the illustrated fact.

3. Have you ever flown in an airplane? Tell about something you remember about your first time in an airplane.  If you haven't flown, would you like to experience flying? Why, why not.

4. Illustrate one of the facts listed above. Write a sentence of your own explaining the illustrated fact.

5. If you could meet one of the aviators mentioned above, what would be TWO questions you would ask of the aviator?

6. Write 3 POSITIVE(i.e.: helpful) character traits that a person can have. Write 3 NEGATIVE (i.e.: jealousy)character traits a person can have. What would be 2 positive character traits you would describe for yourself. What would be ONE negative character trait you would describe for yourself. What are 3 character traits that you would give to someone that is an aviator such as Lindbergh, Earhart, Coleman, Orville/Wilbur Wright? 

Links:

Visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: https://airandspace.si.edu 

Wright Brothers' National Memorial: http://www.outerbanks.com/wright-brothers-national-memorial.html

Teachers, check out these resources on the History of Flight.

     1. Wright Brothers( A Webquest): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wright-Brothers-and-the-AirplaneA-WebquestExtension-Activities-628501

2. Bessie Coleman( Reader’s Theater Script): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bessie-Coleman-AviatorReaders-Theater-Script-1687487

3. Amelia Earhart (Reader’s Theater Script): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Amelia-EarhartBiographical-PlayTo-Tell-the-Truth-Play-348663

Note: Photograph from Gail Hennessey(Wright Brothers' National Memorial)

It's that Time of Year for "A Christmas Carol". Learn about Charles Dickens with this Interactive Notebook Activity

With this being the time of year for the story, A Christmas Carol, it's a great opportunity to learn about its author,Charles Dickens. One of the most famous writers of all times,Dickens also wrote Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield and more. 


Today, a person who is very tight with money, is often called a scrooge, after, the main character in A Christmas Carol. Did you know that several other words and phrases were coined by Charles Dickens?

Words such as abuzz, flummox, the creeps,round the clock and whiz-bang are credited with Dickens. Other words that Dickens helped to popularize include, kibosh, butter-fingers,boredom,messiness,squashed,bah humbug,and tousled. 

Interesting Facts about Charles Dickens:

1. In addition to a canary(named Dick), dogs(including Mrs. Bouncer), Charles Dickens had two pet ravens. Both were named Grip. The first was stuffed and now resides in the Philadelphia Free Library. 

2. A paw of a Dickens’ cat, Bob, became a letter opener after it died. You can see the letter opener on display at the New York Public Library. 

3.Someone said that if you counted all the words which Dickens used in his writing, it was an amazing 4.6 million different words! 

4. Charles Dickens may have had epilepsy. He also may have had obsessive-compulsive behavior making him comb his hair hundreds of times a day or to touch something several times for good luck.

5. Phrases including “Merry Christmas!” and “Bah! Humbug” became popular after reading Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

6. Did you know that Charles Dickens created 989 characters for his 

books?

7. Hans Christian Andersen was a good friend of Dickens. Interestingly, after 5 weeks of being a guest of Dickens’ home, Andersen was encouraged to leave when Dickens wrote on the mirror in Andersen’s room, “Hans Andersen slept in this room for five weeks, which seemed to the family like AGES”.

8. A “new”treat called the lollypop was featured in several of Dickens’ books.

Activities: 

1. Illustrate a quote of Charles Dickens and write a brief paragraph explaining what you think the quote is saying:
A. “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” 

B. “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” C. “Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” 

D. “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.” 

E. “There is always something for which to be thankful.” 

2.  Would you have enjoyed reading an installment book, popular during the time of Charles Dickens? Why, why not?

3. Dickens got lots of his ideas for his characters from people he met in his life. Who might be 3 people you'd use in a story that you have met? Why would you use these people in your story?

Resources of Interest:
1. My webquest includes 8 fun/informative questions to learn about Dickens. Additional activities/links,too. 

Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A-Webquest-200480

2. In addition to a webquest, I have a Ms. Bie Ografee Reader’s Theater Script on Charles Dickens. Great for this time of year! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A-Readers-Theater-Script-3286350

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Possible Interactive Notebook Activity

* Click here for Free download: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Rockefeller-Center-Christmas-Tree-Interactive-Notebook-ActivityFREEBIE-2906947

1. In 2018, a Norway Spruce tree from Wallkill, NY, was selected as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. It is 72 ft. tall.

2.  The tallest Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was 100 ft. tall (1999).

3. Trees usually arrive in New York city by flatbed truck(with a sign saying it was the Rockefeller Center Tree). In other years, a tree has come to the city by a barge and one was actually brought in by helicopter! 

4. The history of the tree dates back to the Great Depression. At the construction site, workers erected a 20 ft. tall tree.  The balsam fir was decorated with paper garland, some tin cans and strings of cranberries. Some references say some blasting caps and gum wrappers were also used to decorate the tree. 

5. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree goes up the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. It is taken down at the end of the twelve days of Christmas, on January 7th. 

6. The singing of “Joy to the World” has been a tradition following the tree lighting ceremony, since 2011.

^{7. Since 2004, the Christmas tree has been topped with a star weighing 550 pounds and measuring 9.5 ft in diameter. There are 25,000 crystals and a total of one million facets in what is called the Swarovski Star. It was designed by Michael Hammers, a German artist.}

^{8.  Only one Rockefeller Center Tree was not from a state in the USA.  In 1966, Canada donated a tree.  Trees have come from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Connecticut.}

^{9. Did you know that there are  five MILES of electrical wire strung with light bulbs used to decorate the tree? There are 50,000 colored LED lightbulbs.}

^{10 . Since 1971, the tree has been RECYCLED after the holiday season. The tree has been turned into mulch and donated to the Boy Scouts of America. Mulch was also used  for nature trails in the city. The U.S. Equestrian team in New Jersey has been given the trunk to be used as an obstacle jump. Since, 2005, the tree is milled and given to Habitat for Humanity to be used in housing construction. Houses in New York, Louisiana and in the countries of India and Brazil have been constructed from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree!} 

^{11. To be considered for the Rockefeller Center Tree, the tree must be at least 75 ft. tall and 45ft. in diameter.} 

12. For most of the holiday season, the tree is lighted from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm. On Christmas Day, the tree shines brightly for 24 hours.

13. According to the head gardener,Erik Pauze, no one has tried to harm the tree. There is a fence around it and there is 24 hour security to make sure no one tries to harm the tree.

14. Did you know that the tree isn’t watered?The cold temperatures and nature help to keep the tree fresh.

15. People can submit photographs of trees for consideration to become the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.  A helicopter is also used to search the northeast for the perfect tree.

^{16. From 1942-1944, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was not lighted due} 

^{to World War 2.}   

^{17. In 1980, for a few minutes, there was a human ornament on the tree as someone attempted to climb it! The man was quickly arrested.}

^{YOUR TURN:}

^{1. Pretend you are the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Tell about a day in your life. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel? Etc.}

^{2. Design a new tree topper for the tree.}

^{3. Illustrate one of the facts.}

^{4. Which THREE facts were most interesting to you?}

^{5. Write sentences for the vocabulary words recycled, diameter and equestrian.}

^{6. Look up Habitat for Humanity, World War 2 and the Great Depression. Write 4 facts learned.}

Check out these resources to use for this time of year:
1. During the holidays is a great time to share with kids the many traditions which have been shared with different cultures. Learn the history behind some popular holiday traditions from around the world with this webquest: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Holiday-Traditions- from-Around-the-WorldWebquest-2864257

2. A Christmas Carol is probably the most popular holiday story. 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. I also have a Reader's Theater Script on the life of Charles Dickens. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A-Readers-Theater-Script-3286350

3. Which president didn't allow a Christmas tree because he was an environmentalist? Which president organized a snowball fight in the White House for kids(using cotton balls). Which president hired a camel to entertain kids at Christmas time? Learn 12 informative facts about the Holidays at the White House: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Holiday-Traditions-at-the- White-House-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-2219599

4. Need a fun/informative activity to celebrate the New Year after vacation? There are nine questions, lots of interesting customs of how people celebrate New Year's around the world, comprehension questions, extension activities and the key. Great activity for reading for information and research/computer skills. ( Diwali, Chinese New Year, Songkran and Rosh Hashanah included): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Webquest-on-its-history- and-customsExtension-Activities-1584695

Gail
Photograph from: http://publicdomainclip-art.blogspot.com

Rosa Parks' Day is December 1st

            Rosa Parks Day is December 1st!

On December 1, 1955, a tired seamstress living in Montgomery, Alabama, made history. Rosa Parks was an African American woman who broke the law when she refused to give up her seat on a crowded bus for a white passenger. Her act of civil disobedience resulted in her being kicked off the bus and her arrest! She was charged  and found guilty of violating the segregation law of the city even though she had NOT taken a white-only seat that December day.That action resulted in a long boycott against the buses in Montgomery lasting 381 days and led to a Supreme Court action which overturned such discrimination laws. Rosa Parks is called the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement”.

When Parks received the Congressional Gold Medal(the highest civilian honor of our country), President Bill Clinton said of her,” We must never ever, when this ceremony is over, forget about the power of ordinary people to stand in the fire for the cause of human dignity.”

Use December 1st, designated as Rosa Parks Day, to discuss the contributions of Rosa Parks.

Your Thoughts:

1. Have you ever taken a stand about something?

2. Perhaps you have seen someone being bullied. Did you say or do anything? 

3.What makes someone a hero? Would you say that Rosa Parks was a hero?(Why,why not?) Find a news story that shows an act of heroism.

Did You Know?

1. White people, even those that couldn’t read or write, were “grandfathered” into being able to vote without a literacy test. A law stated that if a relative could vote before the Civil War, you could, too,without haven’t to show you could read.

2. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, made Jim Crow laws illegal in the United States.

3. The term “Great Migration” was used to describe the six million African Americans who moved from the South while Jim Crow laws were legal

4. When Rosa Parks died, she was the first woman and second African American to lie in state in the Capitol Building. President George H. W. Bush, ordered all flags at half staff in her honor, on the day of your funeral.

5. There is a statue of Rosa Parks in the Statuary Hall of the US. Capitol Building. 

6. In 2014, an asteroid was named in Rosa Parks' honor (asteroid 284996)

7. Time Magazine named Rosa Parks one of the 20 most influential figures of the 20th century.

Check out this Reader’s Theater Script on Rosa Parks for kids to learn all about her life and contributions:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Rosa-Parks-A-Readers-Theater-Script-2041121

Gail

Note:photograph from wpclipart.com