Back to School Activity: Why Study History?

 Perhaps, teachers may find this activity of interest:

A Back to School Activity.

Why Study History:

Show students that everything has a history, even them!

I started the activity by bringing in my childhood toy. It is rather sad looking after all these years. I shared memories about the stuffed animal, a dog, and how I remember dropping it in a street, when I was a little girl. My dad had to go back and retrieve it. It had gotten run over a few times! Pinky is no longer pink and my mom had to place new eyes on it several times.

1. What was your favorite toy as a younger child?
2. Why was it important to you?
3. Describe what it looked like?
4. What happened to your favorite childhood toy?

Write a paragraph with an opening sentence. Expand on your responses in your paragraph. Make sure to have a closing or wrap up sentence.

Ask the students to share their favorite childhood toys with the rest of the class.

Share this reading on Why Study History and how what we have in our lives today came to us from many different cultures when people came and exchanged their culture with others.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Why-Study-HistoryBack-to-SchoolSharing-CulturesReading-Passage-3164074

Time Recording- Great for the Beginning of the School Year!

 

                                            Do you have the Time?

People have long wanted to “remember” important events...that’s why time recording developed. Time was recorded based on ruler’s reigns, the Olympic Games and the movement of the earth, sun and moon.

FREE DOWNLOAD: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Time-Recording-Do-You-Have-the-Time-FREEBCADBCECE-433111#show-price-update

Fun TIME Facts:

1. Did you know that there are at least 40 calendars used today?

2. Most people use the Gregorian calendar(based on the earth’s movement around the sun). There is also the Islamic calendar which is based on the movements of the moon and the Jewish calendar which uses both the movements of the earth around the sun and the movements of the moon. What year is it? On the Islamic calendar, 2025 is the year 1447.The Muslims started counting again(622AD) when Muhammad left Mecca for Medina. This was a period of time called the Hijra. On the Jewish calendar, 2025 is the year 5785  On the Chinese calendar, 2025 is the year 4723.

3. AD doesn’t stand for After death of Christ, instead it stands for Anno domini (in the year of our Lord)

4. The word calendar comes from the Latin word, Kalends, the first day of each new month.

5. Dionysius Exiguus is created with inventing the AD/BC time recording concept back in 525 AD. He based events prior to the birth of Christ as BC and anything since his birth, as AD.

6. CE and BCE are used by many historians instead of AD and BC as they are not religious based. CE stands for Common Era and BCE stands for Before Common Era.

7. Circa (ca or C.)means we don’t know the exact date...it’s an approximate date.

8. Thank the ancient Egyptians for the 24 hour day...they were the first to use this idea! They also started the 365 days in a year.

9. The ancient Mayans of Central America used the sun and moon and the planet VENUS to create their calendar.

Activities:

1. Using the website on the Food timeline, make a time line of 5 foods before you were born and 5 foods since you were born.Research one food and write a paragraph using 4 facts learned about the history of that food. http://www.foodtimeline.org/ timeline on the history of food- lots of fun!

2. Make a self time line with 4 events before your birth and 4 events since your birth. The events must be things in history, science, literature and not “family” events.

3. Use a time line and make 5 questions for another group to find the answers. https://www.factmonster.com/comics-timeline Timeline on the history of comics might be a great one to use for this activity!

4. Discuss BC and AD and BCE and CE : https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/time7.htm

5. Timeline on the history of transportation from 3500BC to 1981 AD:  https://localhistories.org/a-timeline-of-transportation/ Have students draw/color 4 events.

Additional Resources:

https://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/bigtimeline/ Great- map your own timelines!

https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/popular-links/walk-through-time/walk-through-time-ancient-calendars  A Walk Through Time

Illustrations: classroom clipart and pixabay

Are You Ready for Constitution Day?

  

      

Constitution Day

by

Gail Skroback Hennessey

Click here for a free downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CONSTITUTION-DAY-FREEBIE-FUN-FACTS-3338019

Each year, Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th. This is the date, in 1787, when delegates to the Constitutional Convention, signed the Constitution. They had met for 116 days, at the State House(now called Independence Hall), in Philadelphia, PA. If Constitutional Day falls on a Sunday, as it did in 2017, the official observation is the following day. Constitution Day is also called Citizenship Day.  It’s a day to celebrate this important document of our nation!

   

Did You Know?

1. Did you know that Ben Franklin arrived at the Grand Convention in Philadelphia on a sedan chair? Four prisoners from the local Philadelphia jail carried Franklin on the chair.

2. Before deciding on Mr. President, names for George Washington, the first leader of the United States, included “His Most Benign Highness” and “His Highness, the President of the United States of America and Protector of their Liberties.”

3. Philadelphia, the largest and most modern of cities at the time of the Convention, had a population of 40,000.  Gravel was used to cover the cobblestone streets to make it less noisy for the meetings.

4. It took 116 days to complete the draft of the document called the Constitution.

5. To date, only ONE amendment to the constitution has been removed(repealed). The 18th Amendment(1918) which abolished the making, sale and transportation of alcohol, was repealed in 1933.

6. Each night, the Constitution is lowered into a specially made vault for its protection.

7. George Washington announced the first national “Thanksgiving Day”, November 26, 1789, to “give thanks” for the creating of the Constitution.

8. The words “democracy” and “God” do not appear in the document of the Constitution.

9. Eighty-one year old Ben Franklin cried as he signed the Constitution.

10. James Madison, who would become the 4th President of the United States, was called the “Father of the Constitution”. 

Teacher Page:

Things to do:

1. Have students pretend they are the Constitution on display at the National Archives. Tell a day in your life as people come to see you. What do you hear? See? feel? https://www.archives.gov/publications/general-info-leaflets/1-about-archives.html

2.  This link explains the Bill of Rights  for kids: http://kids.laws.com/bill-of-rights  Groups of students could be assigned one of the rights and make a poster.  Have students write a paragraph explaining which right they feel is most important and why.

3. Have students create posters or greeting cards for Constitution Day.

Website of Interest:

http://www.constitutionday.com

*Check out my Ms. Bie Ografee Play on James Madison, Father of the Constitution: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ConstitutionReaders-Theater-Script-James-MadisonFather-of-the-Constitution-3337971

Highlighted Back to School Resources

 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/gail-hennessey

                    Here are some of my highlighted Resources for BACK to SCHOOL

Gail

1. FAKE NEWS. FAKE NEWS: The term FAKE News seems to be used a lot these days! A recent survey found that many young people(and adults for that matter) can't seem to determine which is a real news story from a fake news story. We need to develop digital critical literacy with our students. This Interactive Notebook activity also has extension activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FAKE-NEWS-Developing-Digital-Critical-Literacy-with-Kids-INA-3074653

 

2.  Need information to use with your students on map skills? Included are notes, lots of activities to use with your students(4-8th grade) and website resources. Also included, a 10 question web quest, comprehension questions(and writing in the content area), and some fun facts on the topic of maps and geography of the world. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Maps-and-Geography-Lets-Map-It-433017

 

3. Geographic Secret Messages: Need a geography activity? Try my geographic secret messages. Students find the answers to geographic questions and then use the first letter of the answer to arrive at a secret message. When the questions are answered, the "secret" term(a geography term) will be revealed!  

There are 5 geographic messages to solve. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geography-Geographic-Secret-Messages-709102   and https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geography-Geographic-Secret-Messages-Continuepart-2-709110

 

4.Mesopotamia, called the cradle of civilization, is where archaeologists have found the remains of the oldest historic people.People called the Sumerians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Akkadians and Assyrians, all called the area home. These people left behind many ideas which we still have today. This unit of study includes notes, map work, a webquest, activities and resources. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mesopotamia-First-Historic-PeopleUnit-with-notesactivites-and-resources-349937 Have students learn aboutHammurabi, the important lawmaker of ancient times with this biographical reading passage. Additional, there are several Did You Know? facts and comprehension questions. The teacher page gives additional links and the key.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hammurabi-King-of-Babylon-A-Reading-Passage-2728405. I also have a bundle of resources on this topic: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ancient-Mesopotamia-A-Bundle-of-Resources-2808475. A reading on Enheduanna, First Known Poet in History(Mesopotamia): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Womens-History-Mesopotamias-Enheduanna-First-Known-Poet-in-History-4039105

 

5. This product covers an introduction to the Phoenicians and their contributions to the world(Alphabet, color purple, first sea traders).Notes, extension activities and links and several comprehension questions, too. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Lets-Learn-about-the-Phoenicians-366696. Learn about Hannibal with this reading resource: This resource is part of my new series, "Let's Meet..." famous people in ancient history. With this biographical reading passage, students will learn about Hannibal, the famous general of ancient times. There is a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, map activity and a teacher page with extensions and links and the key.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hannibal-Famous-General-of-Ancient-TimesReading-Activity-3978956. I also have a bundle on this topic: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phoenicians-A-Bundle-of-Resources-4028719

I also have a reading on Hanno, Phoenician explorer: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hanno-Phoenician-Sea-Explorer-4028002

 

6.  Learn all about mummies of the world. Included: Bog Mummies, Otzi, Chinchorro Mummies, Taklamakan Desert Mummies, Egyptian Mummies and more. 12 informative text questions/comprehension questions/extension activities, key, fun facts: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/MUMMIES-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-1915946King Tut: Learn lots of fun facts about mummies and specifically the discovery of King Tut's tomb with this play based on the To Tell the Truth Game Show Format(currently on ABC Television during the summer months). Directions and a suggested YouTube Clip to show the idea of the game, comprehension questions, discussion questions and extension activities(and resources) are included. The biographical play meets several common core standards in social studies and language arts.

I really think your students will have fun with this play on King Tut!https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/King-Tut-Wrapping-with-a-Mummy-Biographical-PlayTo-Tell-the-Truth-Play-338665

 

7. With this biographical reading passage, students will learn about Hatshepsut,the first female Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. There is a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and a teacher page with extensions and links. This resource is part of my new series, "Let's Meet..." famous people in ancient history. More titles are being added in the coming weeks. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hatshepsut-First-Female-PHARAOH-of-Ancient-EgyptReading-Passage-2733259. I also have a similar resource on Ramses: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ramses-the-Great-Pharaoh-of-Ancient-Egypt-A-Reading-Passage-2763573. I have a bundle on all things Egyptians: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ancient-Egyptians-A-Bundle-of-ResourcesAncient-Egyptians-2808551

 

8. This mini-unit on Early Humans/Prehistoric Cultures will assist the classroom teacher in presenting this topic of history to students.In addition to an overview and notes, lots of additional resources, websites and activities are also included. This resource also includes a web quest with 12 web questions. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Prehistoric-Man-Earliest-Cultures-Early-Humans--342418

 

9. Show kids that pretzels, shoes, chewing gum, peanuts, tulips and candy all have a history with my Everything Has a History series ! For the beginning of the school year, show kids that even pencils, pens and paper have a history! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pencils-Pens-Paper-Webquest-Back-to-School-Activity-737576 I also have a bundle on this topic: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/History-Everything-has-a-History-A-Bundle-of-Resource-4448553

 

11. Learn about the U.S. Constitution(Constitution Day is September 18th). Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee series of plays, this Reader's Theater Script is on the "Father of the Constitution", James Madison(1751-1836). With 13 audience questioners, a Did You Know Section, comprehension questions, a Teacher Page with extension activities, key and additional links, students will learn about the writing of our important government document, the Constitution. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ConstitutionReaders-Theater-Script-James-MadisonFather-of-the-Constitution-3337971

 

12. Countries in Focus: Great for a Friday Activity, a substitute or if you are covering the areas in your units of study: TEN countries are in the bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Countries-of-the-WorldA-Bundle-of-Webquests-on-Different-Countries-4725632

FREEBIES!

 

1. FREEBIE ON APPLE FACTS: This interactive notebook on Apples has several activities and 17 interesting fun facts about apples. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/APPLE-FACTS-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-3259122.

 

2. FREEBIE: CONSTITUTION Fun Facts!Learn some fun facts on the Constitution. Activity for Constitution Day! Each year, Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CONSTITUTION-DAY-FREEBIE-FUN-FACTS-3338019

 

3. Mummy Facts:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Amazing-Mummy-Facts-Possible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-906580

 

4. Antibullying: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Antibullying-FreebieINA-2971457

 

5. International  Peace Day: September 21st. The International Day of Peace is held every year on September 21st.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/International-Peace-Day-September-21st-3379110

 

6.  World Rhino Day( 9/22)  Freebie: http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?rhinofacts.html

 

Images from Pixabay and WPClipart

Using the News in the Classroom: Bayeux Tapestry to go on Loan to British Museum in 2026

 

CLICK here to download a reading on the Bayeux Tapestry: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Bayeux-Tapestry-A-Reading-Passage-Middle-Ages-463984

The Bayeux Tapestry, actually an embroidery, was  made more than 900 years ago, depicts the famous 1066 Battle of Hastings. For the first time, in the fall of 2026, the tapestry will be on display at the British Museum in London, England, due to an agreement between the countries of France and Great Britain. The French are loaning the tapestry as a gift to honor the upcoming 1000 birthday of William the Conqueror.  Artifacts will be loaned to France in the exchange. 

Made up of six pieces of bleached linen, the tapestry is about 230 ft. long and includes 626 humans(of which 4 are women), 202 horses, 41 ships, 33 buildings, 49 trees and 55 dogs! The tapestry gives a wealth of information on the period of time including the types of ships used, the clothing worn, architecture, hair styles and lots more. Halley’s Comet is also woven into the embroidery as it was in the sky during the battle. 

The tapestry was almost destroyed when it was used to cover military wagons in the French Revolution (1792). Later, it was almost cut up to decorate a float! Realizing the historical importance of the  Bayeux Tapestry, it was eventually placed in a safe place during World War 1 and World War 2. Today, the tapestry is on display behind protective glass, in the Musee de la Patisserie de Bayeux, in Bayeux, Normandy, in the country of France. While the tapestry is in Great Britain, the  French museum will go through a renovation. 

Fun Facts:

1. FOUR of Aesop’s fables are in the borders,
2. It is believed that the Bayeux Tapestry was made in England.
3. Writer, Charles Dickens, is said to have stated that the embroidery was “a work of amateurs, very feeble amateurs”.
4. Historians believe that about 6 meters are missing, showing the coronation of William 1.

Your Turn:

1. Draw a section of the Bayeux Tapestry.  

2.Write a Day in the life of someone who was working on embroidering a section of the work or someone that tried to protect it from harm.

3. Learn 5 facts about the country of France. Learn 5 facts about the country of Great Britain.

Photographs from the Bayeaux Museum.

Learn more about the tapestry at this link: https://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/the-bayeux-tapestry/discover-the-bayeux-tapestry/

Using the News in the Classroom: VERY large Roman Shoe found!

 

*Click here for the free downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shoes-Free-Fun-Facts-ActivitiesPossible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-13884824

SHOES!
Gail Skroback Hennessey

The oldest shoes ever found are thought to be about 8000 years old.

IN THE NEWS:(2025)

A soldier’s shoe being discovered may not seem newsworthy until you learn it belonged to a Roman soldier who wore it more than 2000 years ago! Found in Northumberland, Great Britain, the letter shoe was pretty much intact. It is also a really BIG shoe, suggesting the wearer was a big man. The shoe is about a size 11.5. (The average man’s shoe size is about 10.5).Found at the Magna Roman Fort, other artifacts unearthed including children’s shoes and pottery.

Learn more: https://www.vindolanda.com/news/magna-shoes

Photograph from Vindolanda Charitable Trust

 

Did You Know?

1. Men wore the first heeled shoes. It was helpful to have a heel to keep feet in the stirrups when riding a horse.

2. The ruby red slippers that Dorothy wore in the movie, The Wizard of Oz sold for $660,000( in 2000 )making them the most expensive pair of shoes!

3. The length of the tip of a shoe showed your rank in Middle Ages. Some people wore tips so long they needed to tie a chain from the tip to the knees to walk. Depending on your social class, some had 24 inch long tips!

4. Chopines were elevated shoes worn during the 14th century.To walk and not fall, wealthy women walked with attendants. Some chopines had wooden platforms 30 inches high!

5. Kabkabs(for the sound created walking on marble floors) were worn by wealthy women in the Middle East. For special occasions, some were 2 ft. high!

6. The largest collection of sneakers according to Guinness World Records, is Jordy Geller, Nevada, USA, who has 2388 sports shoes!(2012)

7. People in the Middle East added heels to their shoes to keep down the heat of the sand.

8.King Louis X1V passed a rule that only members of his court could wear red heels!

9.In Japan, you must remove your shoes before entering a building and put on slippers. In Thailand, it is considered very rude to point your shoes at someone.

10. Most people have worn flip flops. The name comes from the sound made as you walk in them in them. The ancient Egyptians are believed to have been the first to wear “flip flops”!

11. The earliest shoes did not have a right or left shoe. Shoelaces came about in 1790.

12. President Obama was the first President to be photographed wearing flip flops!

13. Sneakers got their name because they were quiet and you could “sneak” up on someone!

14. Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the Moon. He did this in 1969. His boots were left on the moon!

ACTIVITIES:

1. http://imaginationsoup.net/2011/03/pile-of-shoe- picture-books/ Discuss summary writing and have students write a summary of one of the stories about shoes. Here is also a link to Hans Christian Andersen’s The Red Shoes.https://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/RedSho.shtml

2. Draw a flipflop or a sneaker. Write a day in the life of a flip flop or sneaker. Tell about your day. What did you see? What did you feel? What happened to you? Etc. Include 3 facts learned about the history of shoes.

3. Show students some shoes throughout history. Have students draw a picture of a shoe and write 3 facts learned from the web quest about shoes. http://all-that-is-interesting.com/fascinating-history-footwear

LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SHOES: https:// www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shoes-A-Webquest-Everything- has-a-History-1773342

NOTES: Free images from :Pixabay, Creazilla, Freeimages

JULY is Ice Cream Month!

  

 COOL facts about Ice Cream

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Mine is Mint Chocolate Chip with rainbow sprinkles.

Did you Know that JULY is National Ice Cream Month  in the USA? It was established by President Ronald Reagan, in 1984. National Ice Cream Day is the 3rd Sunday in July. Learn some fun facts about ice cream!

• One scoop of ice cream needs about 50 licks to finish.

• The Chinese were making a type of ice cream with milk,rice and snow, about 2000 BC.

• The average American eats 48 pints of ice cream each year.

• To make one gallon of ice cream, you need 12 pounds of milk. A dairy cow can produce enough milk for about 9000 gallons of ice cream in its lifetime.

• The USA is the world's leading producer of ice cream.

• Alexander the Great liked nectar and honey flavored snow.

• National Ice Cream Month is in July.

• Yes...vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor(followed by chocolate and strawberry).

• An ice cream tester for Breyer's Ice Cream actually insured his tongue for $1 million dollars!

• Dolly Madison served strawberry ice cream at the second inaugural ball of her husband, President James Madison, in 1812.

• Sunday is the day of the week when the most ice cream is sold in the United States.

• Did you know that one of the main ingredients in ice cream is ....AIR.(makes it lighter and gives it  smoothness)

• During WW2, the U.S. Navy(1945) built a floating ice cream parlor   for our sailors fighting in the Pacific.

• More ice cream is sold in the WINTER months in Canada than the summer months.

• Strange ice cream flavors? Jalapeno, dill pickle ice cream, garlic ice cream, bacon ice cream,blue cheese and shallots, squid ink and curry carrot ice cream might be flavors to include in this list.

• The world's largest ice cream cone weighted 2204 pounds. It was 13 feet tall. It was made in Gloucester, UK, in 2012.

• The world's largest ice cream sundae was created in Kingston, NY, in 2014. It  was 1606 ft. tall.

• Ever get a brain freeze from eating ice cream?  The top of the mouth has lots of nerves. When cold ice cream comes into contact with these nerves, it causes blood vessels in the brain to dilate, giving the short headache also known as an ice cream headache.

* During World War 2, Mussolini banned ice cream in the country of Italy. He thought it was too American!

• Thomas Jefferson loved ice cream. See his recipe for Vanilla Ice Cream.

Extension Activities:

* Write a haiku poem on ice cream.

* If you had to describe ice cream to an alien from outer space, what would be 3 descriptives you'd use to explain the treat.  Write a paragraph about your encounter sharing ice cream with an alien.

* Draw/color a picture of an ice cream sundae. Exchange your drawing with 3 others and have them write descriptive words to describe what they see. When your drawing is returned, write a paragraph using the comments about your ice cream sundae.

* There is a saying, " A picture is worth a 1000 words. Illustrate/color one of the facts about ice cream which conveys the fact.

Additional Link:

1. https://www.almanac.com/content/history-ice-cream Timeline on the history of ice cream.