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

Monday, February 27, 2023

I LOVE BOOKS! Celebrate World Book Day, March 2nd

 

  




* 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
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Saturday, February 25, 2023

International Polar Bear Day is February 27th


Photograph from Pixabay

Fun Facts about Polar Bears:
1. Ursus maritimus is the correct term for polar bears. They are carnivores and the world's largest LAND carnivores? What does this mean?
2. Greenland, Norway, Canada, the United States and Russia are countries which have polar bears.
3.  Polar bears have 42 VERY sharp teeth!
4.  Very intelligent, polar bears can smell food 20 miles away! 
5. Polar bears are very good swimmers and spend much of their time in the water.
6. Underneath their white fur, a polar bear has BLACK skin which helps absorb heat and helps them stay warm.
7. A male polar bear can stand 10 ft. tall!  Polar bear, which can weigh over 1200 pounds, can also run 25 mph.
8. A polar bear can stay underwater for about 1 minute.
9. Polar bears can swim up to. six miles per hours.
10. Polar bears do NOT hibernate like other bears. 


Your Turn:
1. What are TWO facts you know about polar bears(not found in the paragraph above)?
2. Draw a picture of a polar bear and write a paragraph pretending to be a polar beard tell about what you see, hear, smell, etc. as you come into a town.
3. Use a world map and locate the country of Russia and specifically the area called Siberia. Write 4 facts learned about Russia from the world map.


Learn more about the Polar Bear with this Webquest activity:
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Pi Day is Coming 2023

 




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

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Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Presidents' Day!

 


PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA






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


I also have internet activities for students to learn about the IMPEACHMENT process and its history, INAUGUARATION DAY and its history and the history of the STATE of the UNION ADDRESS.

Gail Hennessey

Photograph from Pixabay
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Thursday, February 9, 2023

Valentine's Day is Coming!

  



Valentine’s Day and the Heart Factoids
Possible Interactive Notebook Activity
by
Gail Skroback Hennessey



1. At one time, Valentine’s Day was also the day to celebrate Groundhog Day! 

2. Ever wonder why lace is associated with Valentine’s Day? Seem the word comes from a Latin word, “laques”meaning “net.” Someone tries to capture  someone’s heart on Valentine’s Day.

3. Because blood is red and people once thought the heart was the center of feelings, red became the color of Valentine’s Day.

4. The first Valentine’s Day card dates back to 1415. It was in that year France’s Duke of Orleans send a love message to his wife while a prisoner in the Tower of London. He was captured in the Battle of Agincourt.

5. It is believed that Valentine’s Day began around 270 AD in ancient Rome.

6. One of the legends of Valentine’s Day says that the Roman emperor, Claudius 11, banned marriage during war time.  A priest named Valentine(some say a Bishop) continued to marry and was arrested and jailed for his “crime”.  While in prison, he sent the jailor’s daughter a note and signed it “from your Valentine.” He was eventually sentenced to death on February 14th.
7. Did you know that over 8 billion candy hearts are made each year for Valentine’s Day?

8. In 1537, King Henry VIII, of England, made February 14th, an official holiday.

9. On Valentine’s Day, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented his idea of the telephone!
10. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Italy, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, France, Great Britain, Australia and the United States.

11.Back when most people couldn’t write, people often signed their name with an X. Another person would witness their “signature”. The person would then kiss their X . Today, people sign notes with Xs to stand for kisses.

12. Have you heard the expression, “to wear your heart on your sleeve”? This saying dates back to the Middle Ages when men and women would draw a name and wear their  “valentine” on their sleeve for a week.

13. Did you know that the human heart is about the size of a fist?

14. In a lifetime, a person’s heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood! That’s about 2,000 gallons each day or 5 quarts a minute!

15. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart throughout the body. Veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart.

16. People used to believe that your heart stopped when you sneezed. That’s why people started saying “bless you”. Actually, the heart does NOT stop. It just isn’t pumping blood as well. 

17. The heart is a MUSCLE. It is found in the MIDDLE of your chest, between your two lungs. 

Extension Activities:
  1. Have students write a paragraph stating any prior knowledge they have about Valentine's Day.
  2. Illustrate one of the facts.
  3. Make a chart showing 3 of the countries which celebrate Valentine’ Day. Write 2 facts about each country.
  4. Pretend you are a human heart. Write a day in your life. What are you doing today? What are you thinking? Include 2 facts about the human heart in your story.
All things RED!
Test you “red” knowledge:


1. Name a jewel that is the color red:__________________________
                      2.   Who is the famous cartoon dog of this color?__________________________
3.                   3.   A story about a girl and a wolf: ____________________________
4.                   4.   Name a traffic sign which is red: ___________________________
5.                   5.   Name a red bird: _______________________________________
6.                   6.   Name a red insect: _____________________________________
7.                   7.   Name two red fruits: ______________________________________
         8.   Name three red vegetables:__________________________
9.            9.  Which large planet has several big red    spots__________________________page2image10520 page2image10680Teacher Page:

1. Have students watch this short video and write 3 facts learned about Candy Hearts:  http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/valentines-day-ideas/a26945/candy-heart-facts

2.  Show the nutritional information of Candy Hearts:
Calories
60

Fat
0g

Carbs
15g

10 Candy Hearts contain 60 calories.
Have students bring in a candy wrapper and discuss the nutritional information.

3. Have students review the heart diagram at this link: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/heart/labelinterior/label.shtml

4. Check out my webquest on Valentine’s Day and the human heart: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-1659788

5. Check out my activity, The Red Game(also included in my Webquest activity): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-The-RED-GameActivity-1666108

6.  Show kids that everything has a history with my web question on the History of Candy: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Candy-History-of-Candy-Webquest-516787

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Thursday, February 2, 2023

February is Black History Month

 

Black History Month Is in February!

Black History Month:
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, organized a two week period in February,in 1926, to highlight contributions of African Americans. In 1976, the month of February was established as Black History Month.
The month of February was selected as it was the month in which both Frederick Douglass(abolitionist) and Abraham Lincoln (Emancipation Proclamation)were born.  Black History Month is also celebrated in Canada in February and in October in Great Britain.4. Since 1976, (President Gerald R. Ford),every president has deemed the month of February “Black History Month.”


*  Click here for the free Interactive Notebook download:


Did You Know?
The first African American invited to the White House(by President Theodore Roosevelt) was Booker T. Washington. The educator was also the first African American to be honored on a U.S. postage stamp.

Dr. Mae C. Jemison was the first African American female astronaut. She went into space, in 1992.

Guion Bluford was the first American American to travel into space.

In 1821,Thomas L. Jennings was the first African American to receive a patent for an invention.(dry cleaning process)

George Washington Carver developed 300 products from the peanut, 118 from the sweet potato and 75 for the pecan! 2. Carver also invented PEANUT BUTTER.

The first American American to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court was Thurgood Marshall, in 1967.

The first African American elected to the U.S. Senate was Hiram Rhodes Revels.( 1870-1871)

Bessie Coleman was the first American American woman to get a pilot’s license and the first American to hold an international pilot’s license.

Olympian Jesse Owns broke 4 world records for track and field, at the 1936 Olympics, in Berlin, Germany. 

In 1909, African-American explorer Mathew A. Henson and Robert E. Peary made the first successful expedition to the North Pole.(for the USA).

In 1940,Dr. Charles Drew found a way to preserve blood and started the first blood bank.

Garrett Morgan invented a traffic light and a gas mask.

Ralph J. Bunche, in 1950, was the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, for his efforts to mediate an  Arab-Israeli truce.

Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play for a Major League Baseball team.

In the 18th century, astronomer and inventor, Benjamin Banneker helped design Washington, DC.

During WW 2, the first African American pilot group were the Tuskegee Airmen.

An African American named George Crum, a chef, is created with inventing potato chips. The year was 1853.

Do you own a Super Soaker? Lonnie G. Johnson, an aerospace engineer invented the water gun.

Basketball great, Bill Russell, was the first black coach for a NBA team.

Like instant mashed potatoes? Dr. William C. Davis, invented them in 1959.

One of the earliest published African American authors was Phillis Wheatley. Her “Poems on Various Subjects “ was published inn 1773.

In the 1930s, Frederick McKinley Jones invented the air-cooling units that enabled foods to be transported distances without spoiling.




Questions:

  • Dr. Carter G. Woodson once said,” It is never too late to learn.” What do you think he is saying by this statement?

  • Hispanic American Heritage Month is in October,Native American Heritage Month is in November, Black History Month is in February and Women’s History Month is in March. Do you think there is a need to highlight groups of people for their contributions today? Why, why not?

  • It is said that an important question we should each ask ourselves is: “ What is something you have done for someone else this week?

•“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” What do you think this quote by Martin Luther King means?


Extension Activities:
•Learn more famous African American Inventors: 
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmscientists1.html  Illustrate one of the African American Inventors with one of their inventions.
• Check out my Thirteen fact-packed Black History Month Webquest/Extension Activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Black-History-Month-WebquestResources-491555

• Read this article to your students: In November,2015, Samuel Burris was pardoned(after 168 years!) for helping fellow African American escape from slavery on the underground railroad. https://history.delaware.gov/2015/11/10/gov-markell-pardons-underground-railroad-conductor-samuel-d-burris/
Have students listen and write 4 facts learned from the article

* Illustrate one of the factoids. 

Other resources of interest:



Check out my Reader's Theater Script on Frederick Douglass:

Check out my Reader’s Theater Script on Katherine Johnson:
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. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Katherine-Johnson-ScientistThe-Computer-that-Wore-SkirtsPlay-2961216


Reading on Sojourner Truth:
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