March is Women's History Month. Interactive Notebook Activity

Women’s History Month(March)

"Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." 

—Eleanor Roosevelt  

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. The 20198 theme for Women’s History Month is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and NonViolence”.

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.

Check here for the free downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Womens-History-Month-FREEBIEpossible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-2391333

Lucy Brewer

First woman Marine

1812

Elizabeth Blackwell

First woman to receive a medical degree

1849

Amelia Jenks Bloomer

Publisher/editor of first prominent women's rights newspaper

1849

Harriet Tubman

First woman to run underground railroad to help slaves escape

1850

Lucy Hobbs

First woman to graduate from dental school

1866

Arabella Mansfield Babb

First woman admitted to the bar to practice law

1869

Frances Elizabeth Willard

First woman to become a college president (Evanston College)

1871

Victoria Chaflin Woodhull

First woman to be presidential candidate

1872

Helen Magill

First woman to receive a Ph.D. degree (Boston University)

1877

Belva Ann Lockwood

First woman to practice law before U.S. Supreme Court

1879

Clara Barton

Founder of the American Red Cross

1881

Suzanna Madora Salter

First woman mayor (Argonia, Kansas)

1887

Marie Curie

First women to win  a Nobel Prize AND first person awarded TWO Nobel Prizes(as of 2016)

1903 AND 1911

Mary McLeod Bethune

First woman to establish secondary school that became 4-year accredited college

1904

Blanche Scott

First woman to fly an airplane

1910

Jeannette Rankin

First woman U.S. House Representative (Montana)

1917

Bessie Coleman

First African American Female pilot in USA and first AMERICAN to receive an international pilot’s license

1921

Hallie Ferguson

First woman governor of U. S. state (Texas)

1924

Amelia Earhart

First woman to be a passenger on an airplane across the Atlantic Ocean (1928)

and first woman to fly  across the Atlantic Ocean

1932

Jane Addams

First American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize

1931

Hattie Wyatt Caraway

First woman elected to U.S. Senate

1932

Amelia Earhart

First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean

1932

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova

First woman to fly in space, aboard Vostok 6

1963

Mary Clarke

First woman to be named major general in U.S. Army

1978

Sandra Day O'Connor

First woman to become a Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court

1981

Sally Kristen Ride

First American woman to reach outer space.

1983

Ann Bancroft

First woman to walk to North Pole

1986

Christa McAuliffe

First woman citizen passenger on a space mission(teacher)

1986

Lt. Col. Eileen Collins

First American woman to pilot a Space Shuttle

1995

Madeleine K. Albright

First woman Secretary of State and highest ranking woman in the U.S. government

1997

Condoleezza Rice

First African-American woman to be appointed Secretary of State

2005

Nancy Pelosi

First woman to become Speaker of the House

2007

Hillary Clinton 

First FIRST LADY to become a senator(from NY).First woman to be in a presidential primary and caucus in every state. She would go on to be the first female candidate for President for a major political party(Democratic Party)

2008/2016

Michelle Obama 

First African American First Lady

2008

Kathryn Bigelow

First woman to win the Best Director Award

2010

Mary Barra 

First female CEO of General Motors

2013

Women 

Allowed to compete in ski jumping events at the Winter Olympics for the first time

2014

Katie Higgins 

First female pilot of the Blue Angels(US Navy Flight demonstration squad)

2014

Megan Brennan

First female United States Postmaster General

2014

Carla Hayden

First woman(and African American woman) to become the 14th Librarian at the Library of Congress

2016

Susan Polgar

First woman in history to achieve the Grandmaster title in chess

2017

Questions:

1. Are there any areas in which women still have yet to make a contribution?

2.  What are 3 character traits of women who have been trailblazers? What would you list as 3 of your best character traits?

3.  There is a Hispanic Heritage Month, a Native American Month, a Black History Month and a Women’s History Month. Why do you think such months were established? Do you think there is a need for such months to highlight different groups? Why, why not?

4.  If you could interview a woman trailblazer(past or present), who would it be and why? What might be 2 questions you would ask of that person?

5. Illustrate one of the women’s history facts.

For Teachers:

Sites of interest for additional materials:

1. http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/unit/womens-history-month-everything-you-need

2. http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/50850.htm

3.  http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0768462.html   Statues built to honor woman 

4.  http://www.infoplease.com/quizzes/whmadventurers/1.html   Quiz your women’s history knowledge(women adventurers)   http://www.infoplease.com/quizzes/womenleaders/1.html   Quiz your women’s history knowledge (women leaders)

5. Check out the National Women’s Hall of Fame, opened in 1979, in Seneca Falls, NY.    Check out the inductees to the National Women’s Hall of Fame:  https://www.womenofthehall.org/women-of-the-hall/

6.  http://www.historyswomen.com/1stwomen.html Another great source of women past and present 

7.  http://multiculturalkidblogs.com/2015/03/02/womens-history-month-strong-girls-books-for-kids/  Books to recommend

POSSIBLE RESOURCES of INTEREST:

1. Women’s History Month: A Webquest on 12 women that made a difference: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Womens-History-Month-Webquest-501023

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

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

4. Check out my web quest on famous First Ladies: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Ladies-of-the-United-States-Wequest-604151

5. Check out my TpT Store for Reader’s Theater Scripts on Famous women in history, science and literature: Susan B.Anthony, Elizabeth Blackwell, Hillary Clinton, Bessie Coleman, Michelle Obama, Edith Bolling Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart,Dolly Madison, Abigail Adams, Florence Harding, Lady Bird Johnson, Sacagawea, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Marian Anderson, Katherine Johnson and Rachel Carson:  I also have a Reader's Theater Script on WW2 Pilots(part of the WASP) and a Reader's Theater Script on Women Soldiers during the Civil War. I also have a Reader's Theater Script on Revolutionary War Female Spies.https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey

Note: Photographs from wpclipart.com(photograph of Elizabeth Blackwell:public domain)

• Left to right: Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Blackwell

World Book Day!

Click here for the Free Interactive Notebook Activity on Amazing Book Facts!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Book-Fun-Fact-FREEBIE-2478333

Did you know that March 2nd is World Book Day?  The day was established 17 years ago and was designated by UNESCO, as a worldwide celebration of reading books.  Over 100 countries participate World Book Day as a way to share the joy of reading books.

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 was saddened to read that according to a  2014 study, posted at Buzzfeed.com, one out of five kids asked said that if a friend found them reading a book, they’d be embarrassed! The study also found that of those kids responding, 54% said they prefer to watch television than read a book. How can we turn such poll numbers around?

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 Dicken’s 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.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/qi/10174462/QI-some-quite-interesting-facts-about-books.html

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?

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, 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

Note: Source of study: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/utterly-disappointing-facts-about-books#.krLXka6XD

Clipart from: wpclipart.com

Another School Shooting, another sad day. Will this be the day people say...ENOUGH?

I am taking to my soap box as this is my blog.  I taught in the public school for 33 years. Seeing a place of learning become a killing field is beyond comprehension for me. It makes me sad,  upset and...angry! 

I am so upset that this country refuses to do something about the gun violence in this country. I also am upset with social media such as Facebook and Instagram that do not seem able to identify hate/violent comments and notify the authorities. Why should people be allowed to own such weapons of violence, the type used by this killer in Florida? They are weapons of war for our military and law enforcement officers. You don't shoot turkeys or deer with such weapons!  Why could the shooter LEGALLY purchase an AR 15 at 18 years of age but couldn't purchase a handgun(until he turned 21)? Let's also not forget, at 18 you can purchase an AR 15 but can't purchase a beer until the age of 21. Something is seriously wrong!  People can purchase gas masks,bullet proof vests and other items which can be used in violence.Unless you work in a profession needing these items, shouldn't such a purchase be flagged for authorities to at least investigate?

Sadly, I am afraid nothing will be done, it's just another day in the USA. Outrage turns to another subject in days, until the next mass killing. As with previous mass killings, the usual comments  are made including, " Thought and prayers are with the victims and families" and "This isn't the time to make the gun issue political." Another is that those that commit such horrible killings are mentally ill. Donald Trump repeated this issue about mental illness today in his speech to the nation, yet the SECOND bill he signed into law when he came into the office was allowing mentally ill people to legally have the right to purchase a gun! Additionally, people on the watch list or no-fly list also have the rights to purchase guns. I also read that some states want to allow felons the right to purchase guns as long as they make their purchase "out of state"? What?

Sorry,thoughts and prayers are NOT enough, otherwise why is this the18th school shooting since January? This repeated news story doesn't happen in other nations. Why, here?(OK, I know the answer, other countries have reasonable gun laws). NOW, is the time to do something. ANY parent with a child in school should demand changes! Vote out any politician in November that take money from the NRA and votes with the gun lobby over the citizen safety of this country and refuse to try and pass sensible gun laws. To lawmakers and pundits who say that no gun laws would have prevented this horrible school shooting, I say, how do you know? Do you think getting millions from the NRA in donations may effect the opinions of those  lawmakers?  At this point, "doing nothing" is about all the majority of lawmakers are willing to do!  

Just like my grandparents never thought we'd be walking around with cell phones in our pockets or an internet that brings the world to our fingertips, our founding fathers didn't foresee weapons of war when they placed the 2nd amendment into our Constitution. People at their time had muskets. There must be SOMETHING we can do to safeguard the 2nd amendment AND protect our citizens, especially children going to school to learn in a safe environment!

Might today be the day, people in this country start to rally and say ENOUGH of this repeated news story?  I will take the pledge, that I will work for NOT ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING.  If, not now, WHEN?  VOTE in November and get rid of NRA supported lawmakers standing in the way of any gun safety legislation. 

We must demand our lawmakers  stand to protect both young and old and, if they are unwilling, VOTE them OUT of office! 

NOT ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING,or church shooting, or mall shooting or movie theater shooting...

Stepping off my soapbox...

PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA

NOTE: Click here for a free downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PRESIDENTIAL-TRIVIA-FREEBIEInteractive-Notebook-Activity-2212314

1. Dogs, cats and birds  have often found a home in the White House. 

2. There have also been some unique pets such as John Quincy Adams’ pet alligator,Martin Van Buren two tiger cubs and James Buchanan’s elephant. President Coolidge had a wallaby and a pygmy hippo and Theodore Roosevelt had a lion, hyena, five bears, a piebald rat, and a zebra. Only Presidents Arthur, Fillmore and Piece had no pets.

3. President Washington was an avid spelunker,enjoying exploring caves. 

4. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only president to be elected  four times.The constitution was later changed to allow only two four-year terms.

5. President Theodore Roosevelt named the Executive Mansion or President’s House, the White House.

6. Only President George Washington did  not live in the White House. It was opened in 1800.

7. The Star-Spangled Banner became the National anthem under President Herbert Hoover.

8. President William Henry Harrison only served one month after taking the oath of office, dying from pneumonia.

9. President Van Buren is said to have started the expression OK, signing paper with his “Old Kinderhook” nickname.

10. Left handed President James Garfield  could write with both hands at the same time and in different languages such as Greek and Latin.

11. President John K. Kennedy was the first president who had been a Boy Scout in his youth.

12. President George W. Bush was appointed President in 2000 by Supreme Court after the election results gave him more electoral votes but his opponent, Al Gore won the popular vote. John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. hayes and Benjamin Harrison also won the presidency without the majority of the voters. 

13. The teddy bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt. 

14 .President Richard Nixon was the first president to resign his presidency over a scandal called Watergate.

15.President Taft became chief justice of the Supreme Court after leaving the White House, saying he preferred this job to that of being President of the United States 

16. Gerald Ford was the only president of the United States to not be elected by the people. He was appointed vice president by President Nixon and later assumed the office of president when President Nixon resigned.

17. President John Quincy Adams liked to swims naked in the Potomac River ...in the early morning.

YOUR TURN:
1. Pretend you are the President of the United States. Write a diary entry about a day in your life. Who did you meet in the Oval Office? What issue do you address? Etc.

2. Which president would you like to meet and why? What would you ask of this President?

3. What are FOUR characteristics you feel that someone who is President should possess? Why are these characteristics important?

TEACHER PAGE:
Extension Activities:
1. Try this free web quest on the Presidents of the United States: 
http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?presidentcyberhunt.html

2. Have students illustrate a Presidential Factoid.

3. Have students share some of their responses from YOUR TURN.

You may wish to check out these resources:

The Election Process! (A Webquest/Extension activities)Students will learn about the election process including who the candidates are, requirements to run for office, requirements to vote, the Succession Act, the Electoral College and more. There are 12 web questions, a Did You Know?Comprehension Questions, Teacher page with extension activities, key, links. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidential-Election-2016-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-2695264

Do YOU Know Your Presidents is a series of three challenges. Each challenge worksheet has 25 questions(with 3 choices). The first challenge is the easiest with the third, the hardest.There is also a Presidential Did You Know? https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidential-Facts-To-Challenge-Your-Students-2586425

Did You know that President John Quincy Adams had an alligator? Martin Van Buren had two tiger cubs and President McKinley's pet parrot could whistle, "Yankee Doodle". Did you know that President Franklin D. Roosevelt served HOT DOGS to the King of England? Did you know that President Garfield could write with both his right and left hand at the SAME time? Presidential Webquest/Extension Activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-A-Presidential-Webquest-338700

Learn about the White House with 10 informative web questions, comprehension and discussion questions and several extension activities.NEW:Check out all my resources(summaries) in one place: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Learn-about-the-White-House-Webquest-359868

Gail Hennessey