January Highlighted Resources

 

Here are some resources that may be of interest in the month of January.

FREEBIES:

1. Inauguration Day FREEBIE: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidential-Election-FREEBIE-5969770?st=84d36db9cfbe0bcbf23704e8428ce229 

2. Chinese New Year Factoids: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-Factoids-FREEBIEInteractive-Notebook-Activity-2214973

C. Snow Factoids: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Snow-Factoids-An-Interactive-Notebook-ActivityFREEBIE-2259165

D. State of the Union Freebie: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/State-of-the-Union-Address-FREEBIE-FUN-FACTS-3605645

E.  Fake News: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FAKE-NEWS-Teaching-Digital-Critical-LiteracyFREEBIE-INA-4494790

F. Learn about Hans Christian Andersen, famous fairytale writer: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hans-Christian-Andersen-FREEBIEPossible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-4486171

G. Groundhog Day Freebie: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Day-Freebie-5189943

JANUARY RESOURCES:

1. INAUGURATION DAY is January 20th: Taking the oath of office, a big parade and evening balls(not in 2021 with the pandemic), Inauguration Day is a very busy day for the incoming President. This web quest has lots of information about Inauguration Day through the years. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Inauguration-Day-A-Webquest-2870347?st=56445ee8f1e8559de14303f9cf615979

2.  Webquest on Martin Luther King: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-A-Webquest-484492 I also have a Reader’s Theater Script on Martin Luther King: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-A-Readers-Theater-Script-6229923?st=d19dfa310c964cd24e929b2f7f428937

3. Australia Day is 1/26. Learn about the country of Australia with this webquest: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Australia-World-in-FocusWebquestExtension-Activities-877806

4. Snowmen: 4 READINGS: The earliest drawing of a snowman was found in a book dating back to 1380! The book,"Book of Hours" was found in a library in the country of the Netherlands. This resource has four snowmen reading passages:1. Famous sculptor, Michelangelo, was hired to make a snowman for a wealthy person in Florence, Italy.2. A snow man is used each April, to help predict the weather during a festival in the country of Switzerland.3. One of the earliest written comments about snowmen dates back to 1690. Two snowman were left to guard Fort Schenectady, in New York, during a blizzard with very tragic consequences!4. The world's record for the largest snowman, Olympia, was constructed in 2008. 13 million pounds of snow were used to make the amazing snow-woman! As of 2020, the record still stands. Each short reading passage includes following directions to identify answers. There are also several extension activities and a Did you Know? section.https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SNOWMEN-Four-Reading-Passages-2252375

5. Ben Franklin:  Benjamin Franklin's birthday is January 17, 1706. A "founding father" of our country, Franklin was also a writer, inventor, statesman, post master and librarian! Learn about Franklin with this fun/informative ten question web quest. There ares Fun Facts and lots of extension activities. There is also a Test Your Knowledge Quiz on Ben Franklin.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Benjamin-FranklinA-WebquestExtension-Activities-1645550

6. Polar Bears:  Did you know that a polar bear can swim up to 100 miles non-stop? Did you know that a polar bear doesn't hibernate like other bears do in the winter? Learn about this amazing mammal with this fun and informative webquest. Additional extension activities and resources are also provided. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Polar-Bears-A-Webquest-604797

7. FUN FRIDAY ACTIVITY: History of Pretzels: Use this reading passage to show students that everything has a history, even pretzels! The resource includes a reading passage, a Did You Know? section of fun facts about pretzels. For example: Baldies are what saltless pretzels are called! There is also a short map skill activity to show students the location of where pretzels originated. There are comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities and links https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PRETZELSReading-Passage-2484346

8. FUN FRIDAY ACTIVITY: SHOES: Show kids that even shoes have a history with this fun/informative web quest. There are 9 web questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, a teacher page with directions, extension activities and the key.Great for a Friday, day before a vacation or just when you'd like to show kids that history is all around us!  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shoes-A-Webquest-Everything-has-a-History-1773342

10. Chinese New Year (Learn about the country of China with this webquest): 

Want to introduce your students to the country of China during Chinese New Year? This web quest gives students an overview to the country including map skill questions, learning about the panda bears, the Great Wall of China, The Terra Cotta Solders and lots more. Extension activities and links as well as the key are also included. The 12 page resource has 10 informational web questions: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Country-in-Focus-China-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-1085517. In 2021, Chinese New Year begins on February 12th

11. Groundhog Day: A Reader’s Theater Script: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Day-A-Readers-Theater-ScriptVisit-with-a-Groundhog-2309751?st=0189ee453b5be2a261a363d2dcabc2b6 Sarsaparilla is a groundhog who is invited to Ms. Bie Ografee's talk show to tell about the life of a groundhog and the history of the holiday, Groundhog Day. "Audience" members ask questions of the guest who hopes to get a job as a weather forecaster like many of her famous “cousins". Groundhog Day is celebrated in the USA and Canada on February 2nd. I address this fact in the play.

12. The State of the Union Address is scheduled for Feb/2021: This web quest  shares the history of the address with 10 web questions, a Did You Know? Section, Extension Activities including a worksheet that students can be assigned. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/State-of-the-Union-Address-A-HistoryWebquest-3599380?st=908d402aee1b46159c7438abf6f6589d

Man Does CPR on a Baby Elephant! Using the News in the Classroom

 

                  

A baby elephant was walking across a road in Thailand with its family when it was in an accident, hit by a motorcycle. Mana Srivate, a rescue worker, happened upon the scene and realized that the baby elephant needed help. He wasn’t sure just where the heart of an elephant was but he made an assumption and began…CPR(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the elephant. As he administered compressions for about 10 minutes, Srivate said he could hear the mother elephant and others making noises near the woods, crying out for the baby pachyderm. Revived, the elephant got up and rejoined its family. Srivate,  said he’s given CPR a number of times, but never on an elephant!

What do you know about elephants?

Sadly, the Wildlife Conservation Society says that 96 elephants are killed EVERY day in Africa!

Did You Know?

1. Did you know that elephants can be right or left tusked, similar to how humans are with their hands? Which are you?__________________________

2. Elephants will quickly wave their ears, twirl their trunks and blowing dirt when they are ___________________.

3. The elephant has the largest brain of the animal world. They are very intelligent!

4. Elephants can show many emotions including joy, anger, playfulness and grief with the death of a family member

5. Surprisingly, peanuts are NOT a favorite food of elephants.

6. The world’s largest LAND mammal, elephants eat about 300-600 pounds of food every day. They are herbivores, non-meat eaters.

7. Elephants live in families with females being the head of the heard(called a matriarch). There can be as few as 8 or as many as 100 in a group.

8. Did you know the elephant can use its trunk as a “snorkel” making it possible to swim in deep water.

9. In the last 100 years, the number of  Asian elephants in the wild have declined by about 90%. What are TWO reasons for the declining numbers of elephants in the wild?_______________________  and ________________________________

10. Elephant throw dirt/mud onto their backs in the hot sun. Why do you think this is done?___________________________________

11. Did you know that ever 15 minutes a poacher kills an African elephant?

12. Of the two, Asia and African, there are much less Asia elephants left in the wild.

13. Elephants make a sub-sonic rumble sound to communicate over long distances. The feet and trunks are very sensitive and other elephants can feel the sound being sent over the ground.

14. The word, jumbo, comes from the circus animal by that name. It means “large” or “huge”.

15. Elephants walk on average about 4 mph but can actual run up to 24 miles per hour!

16. The skin of an elephant is about 1 inch thick. Look around and find something that is about 1 inch thick._______________________________

17. An elephant tusk can be as long as 10 ft. and weigh over 200 pounds.

18. Elephants are one of the few animals that can recognize itself in the mirror.

19. There are 40,000 muscles, but no bones in an elephant’s trunk.

20. Did you know that an elephant tooth can weigh up to 12 pounds?

Which three facts did you find the most interesting to learn about and why?_____________________. _____________________  ___________________________

Teacher Page:

Extension Activities to Use with Your Students:

* Have students write a letter to a parent, grandparent, etc. to spread the word of the dwindling number of elephants. Include 3 facts about the elephant in the letter.

* Draw a picture of an elephant. Write 3 facts about elephants on the picture.

* Adopt an elephant project: http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/African-Elephant.aspx?sc=AWY1500WCM18&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Adopt%20-%20Elephant&utm_term=adopt%20a%20elephant  ( WWF) or https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_elephant

* Write a poem about an elephant using all the letters in the word, elephant, or write a haiku.

* Read a story about elephants. https://www.peacecorps.gov/educators/resources/story-blind-men-and-elephant/. The Blind Men and the Elephant.  Discuss summary writing and have students write a summary of the story.

* Write three facts from this site about elephants: https://www.ducksters.com/animals/elephant.php

* http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/angels-help-elephants/ Children’s efforts to stop ivory and destroy stockpiles of Ivory in Hong Kong

Check out my web quest on Elephants:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ElephantsOn-SafariA-Webquest-610125


Note:
If you see an elephant quickly move its ears, throw dirt and twirl  its trunk, it is angry!
Elephants are dwindling because of the destruction of their habitats and for their ivory tusks.
Elephants apply dirt/mud on their backs in the sun to prevent sunburn!

World Elephant Day is August 12th and April 16th is Save the Elephant Day

If you'd like this Possible Interactive Notebook download, go to this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elephant-Fun-Facts-Possible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-1793743

Latest Article in January Issue of Highlights for Children

 

My latest article just came out in the January issue of Highlights for Children! I interviewed Sunniva Sorby and Hilde Falun Strom, two women Arctic Explorers(first female team to solo at the North Pole). After a brutal winter and having to extend their time at the pole due to the Coronavirus, Sunniva and Hilde returned home after 14 months. WOW...these two brave citizen scientists have since RETURNED to the Arctic for another winter at the Arctic to observe and collect data!

New Year's Eve Traditions from Around the World

                                         

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 2021?

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 

Mt. Everest got a couple of feet taller!

 

The highest mountain(above sea level), Mt. Everest, has gotten a bit taller by about 2ft. For a few years, the countries of China and Nepal have disagreed on the record height of the mountain. Previously, Nepal had said the snow at the summit should be factored in to the measurement but China had disagreed. The two countries have just announced that Mt. Everest is officially 29,032 ft. tall. It is believed that the 2015 earthquake, that hit the area,  may have been a factor in the change of the height of the mountain. Scientists have also believed that moving tectonic plates could also cause the mountain’s height to alter. Previously, the measurement was 29,029 ft. tall.

Learn more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55218443

Did You KNOW?

* In 2007, Samantha Larson, 18 , of California, became the youngest foreigner to summit Mt. Everest.The previous youngest person to summit the highest peak was Temba Tsheri, 16,(some records say 15) of Nepal. In 2010, Jordan Romero, from California, became the youngest to summit Mt. Everest. He was 13 at the time.

*If you measure from the bottom of the ocean, Mauna Kea, a volcanic crater in Hawaii, is the tallest mountain on Earth.

*  The Pacific Ocean, specifically the Mariana Trench is so deep(36,201 ft) that you could place Mt. Everest in the water and it still wouldn’t break through the surface!

* May 10, 1993 was a very crowded day on the summit of Mt. Everest. 40 climbers reached the top!

*One teenager made history by being the first person with Down syndrome to climb to Mt. Everest’s base camp. In 2013,Eli Reimer, a 16-year-old from Oregon, hiked 70 miles to Everest’s South Base Camp, in Nepal, with a team of eight other people, including his father. The trek promoted the Elisha Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps to raise money and support for those living with disabilities.  

* You must pay a permit fee to Nepal of $10,000 for each expedition to climb Mt. Everest!

*  Edmund Hillary went on an expedition to the South Pole, in 1958. It was  the 3rd expedition to journey over land and the first to use motor vehicles.

* If you summit Mt. Everest, you are just below the cruising altitude of a jet!

*In 1988,  Jean-Marc Boivin paraglided down Mt. Everest. It took only 11 minutes to make his descent from Mt. Everest’s summit!

* Sir Edmund Hillary brought Grape-Nuts cereal with him on his trek up Mount Everest.(source: immagazine.com/grape-nuts-leverages-hillarys-everest-climb-in-facebook-promo/)

* George Mallory’s body was discovered, in 1999, on the North Face of Mt. Everest. Attempts, including one in 2010 to find Mallory’s Vestpocket Kodak camera, have yet been successful. The question...how close to the summit did he and Irvine get back in 1924? If found, will the pictures on the camera give any clues?

*As of 2017, Lhakpa Sherpa has an amazing record when it comes to climbing Mt. Everest. She has the most summit climbs by a woman with an amazing eight ascents!

* As of 2018, Sherpa guide, Kami Rita, has reached the summit of Mt. Everest, a record 22 times!

* Did you know you can get high speed internet as you climb Mt. Everest?

*  Kami Rita, a Sherpa climber successfully reached the summit. ofMount Everest 23 times, (5/2019)breaking his own record!

LEARN ABOUT MT. EVEREST with this webquest! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mt-Everest-Trekking-up-Mt-Everest-Webquest-Activities-Distance-Learning-649400?st=728db77d5d9643aff359ed8c4b269545

It's the Time of Year for A Christmas Carol and Learning about Charles Dickens!

 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 9 fun/informative questions to learn about Dickens. Additional activities/links,too. 

 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

Learn about the History of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Possible Interactive Notebook Activity

                                                   

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 2021, a Norway Spruce tree from the state of Maryland was selected as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. It is 79 ft. tall. It is the first time a tree came from outside the Tri-state region.

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.}

^{7. Write a story pretending to be the owl that found itself traveling from Oneonta, NY, to NYC. What did you see? Here? Feel? Etc.}

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-6229838

Gail

Note:photograph from wpclipart.com