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

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Fake News! Teaching Digital Literacy (INA)


Teaching Digital Literacy
FAKE NEWS!

Seems like almost every day, this term is being used. Just WHAT is Fake News? Can you tell the difference between fake and real news?  

1. A cyclist in England snapped a photograph of some very unusual pigs. They looked like sheep with their wooly coats.  He posted the photographs on social media. Do you think what he posted was a real photograph or fake? Why? How would you go about determining whether this is a real or fake story? ___________________________________________________

2. A couple of years ago, it was announced that on a certain date, April 20th, the planet Uranus would be moving into the moon’s orbit and for ninety minutes, the moon would appear green. The very rare occurrence had a name. It was known as a “green Moon”. The news story posted on Facebook said that the last time this scientific event occurred was 420 years ago! People were encouraged to share the news story. What do you think of this story? Real or Fake? WHY?
_______________________________________________________

3. After a tragedy such as an earthquake or flooding, many people are homeless. Designed by architects in Poland, the Skysheltermay be helpful. An  accordion-like shelter, it can be airlifted easily to where temporary shelter is needed. Once on site, the “skyscraper” unfolds almost instantly and can be used as housing. There is a balloon inside which quickly can be filled with helium to raise the building. What do you think of this story? Could it be a real story or is it fake? ____________________________________________________

4. It was stated that when President Barack Obama was President, he signed an Executive Order banning the National Anthem at all sporting events in the United States? Do you think this was True or Fake news? Why?___________________________________________________

5.Why do you think people create “fake news”? _______________________
_______________________________________________________Why do you think so many people "believe" FAKE News stories?______________________________________________________

6. “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own set of facts,” said a famous lawmaker named Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. What do you think he was saying with this statement?________________________________________

7. For World Penguin Day(held every April 25th),the BBC announced an amazing discovery in Antarctica. Flying penguins were spotted! The announcement stated that the flying birds actually fly about 1000 miles to South America, in the winter time, to spend time in the tropics. What was used in the article to suggest this MIGHT be a true story?______________ How could you go about determining whether or not the story was true?_____________________________



For Teachers:

Check out my FREE April Fool's Day Pranks for additional examples of News/ FAKE News for your students to review. 

Additionally, my resource on the history of April Fool's Day has LOTS of materials  which could also be used to develop digital literacy with your students.Teaching Digital Literacy


Article on Determining Fake News





Great chart to help students learn how to determine FAKE and REAL News: More information deterimining Real and Fake News at this site.

Note: There is a Penguin Awareness Day held each January 20th.

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Monday, April 1, 2019

Famed Fairy Tale Writer Han Christian Andersen's Birthday is April 2nd! What do you Know about him?



Photograph of Hans Christian Andersen taken by Gail Hennessey in Copenhagen, Denmark
Happy Birthday, Hans Christian Andersen!(April 2nd)
It is said  that Hans Christian Andersen based his story, The Ugly Ducking, on his own life and the bullying he experienced.  Hans was often teased as a boy. He was very tall and skinny. He was called "scarecrow" by neighborhood children. One day, he actually climbed a tree to get away from bullies who were chasing him!  Once in the tree however, he got tangled and stuck. Hans' dad had to come get him down.
Did You Know?
1. In  2012, a fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen was found. It is believed to be his very first story, written as a teen. The six page story tells about a dirty candle that isn't used until a tinder box sees its inner value and lights the dirty candle's wick.
2. Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen met and Andersen visited Dickens at his home. It would be the end of a friendship when Andersen overstayed his welcome. Dickens wrote, "Hans [Christian] Andersen slept in this room for five weeks – which seemed to the family AGES!
3. Hans Christian Andersen may have had dyslexia making reading and writing very difficult for him.
4. One of the first stories Hans Christian Andersen remembers his dad reading to him was The Arabian Nights.
5. The fairy tale writers, the  Grimm Brothers(Jacob and Wilhelm), became friends with Hans Christian Anderson.
6. The stories of Hans Christian Andersen were translated from his native Danish into 150 languages.
7. The Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tale Theme Park opened in Shanghai, China, in 2017.
8. Some of the popular fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen include: The Emperor's New Clothes, Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Ducking and The Princess and the Pea.
9. You can see a statue  honoring Hans Christian Andersen in Central Park, New York City.
10. April 2nd, the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen is International Children's Book Day.
11. Unlike many famous people, Andersen was recognized during his lifetime for his amazing storytelling!
YOUR TURN:
1. Which fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen to you like the best and why?
2. Write TWO facts about the country of Denmark.
3. Look at the statue of Hans Christian Andersen found in Copenhagen, Denmark. Write a paragraph pretending to be the statue. What do you see? What do you hear? What are you thinking?
4. What is your definition of bullying? Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever do something which someone else might think is bullying? If you see someone being bullied, what could you do?

Quotes of Hans Christian Andersen:
1. "Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale."
2. "Where words fail, music speaks."
3. "Just living is not enough," said the butterfly,"one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."
4. "To be of use to the world is the only way to be happy."
5. "The wise a man becomes, the more he will read, and those who are wisest read most."

A. Take a quote and write a paragraph explaining what you think the quote is saying.
B. Illustrate one of the quotes of Hans Christian Andersen

Mapwork on Denmark:
1. Denmark is a peninsula meaning it is surrounded by water on THREE sides. Name the 3 bodies of water which touch Denmark.______________  _________   _____________
2. Which country touches the country of Denmark?______________
3. On which continent is Denmark located?___________________
4. Which country is across a bridge(Oresund Strait) from Denmark?___________
5. Which famous amusement park is located near Jutland?____________________

Learn more about bullying: http://gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?newbullyingresources.html

Use this free download to learn amazing book facts! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/WORLD-BOOK-DAY-Amazing-Book-Factoids-FREEBIE-2478333






 The informative play is based on the Mark Goodson Production To Tell the Truth Game Show. To Tell the Truth was a popular television show which has returned with host Anthony Anderson(of Blackish). Three guests all claim to be the real guest being interviewed by a panel. The real guest must tell the truth where the other imposters do not have to do so. Kids must be "truth detectives" to determine just who is the REAL Hans Christian Andersen.
Students in grades 4 and up will have fun acting out their parts and learning some interesting facts about fairy tale writer, Hans Christian Andersen. Comprehension questions, discussion questions, extension activities and resources are included. 

This play would be a great starting point to discuss bullying. 

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Sunday, March 24, 2019

April Fool's Day is Coming!Use this day to teach Digital Literacy(Fake/Fact News)

April Fools' Day is Coming!


APRIL FOOLS’ DAY! 
April Fools’ Day is coming. I remember when I was young eager to tell my father that his shoes were untied so he’d look down and I could say,”April Fools Day”.
I remember kids calling the local zoo and asking for Mr. Peacock(or other resident of the zoo). Whispering to someone that they had a rip in their pants was also a popular thing to say to someone. Gluing a coin to the floor and seeing someone bend down to pick it up was another prank done on April Fool’s Day.

 April Fools’ Day is an opportunity to show kids that history is all around us, even holidays such as April Fools’ Day have a history! April Fool's Day is a great opportunity to discuss and identify FAKE NEWS.  It is also a great opportunity to discuss bullying and the difference of doing silly pranks as opposed to mean-spirited or hurtful ones. It’s a day I encouraged students to do an act of kindness for someone else.

READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS’ DAY
All Fools’ Day as April 1st was once called, is a custom that came to the American colonies from the French and British. Although the actually start of April Fools’ Day is not certain, many say the day of doing pranks dates back to the 16th century France. At this time, the new year was celebrated on April 1st and not January 1st. When a new calendar, called the Gregorian Calendar, was introduced, the new year fell on January 1st. Without television, radio, internet, etc., and with many people not being able to read, some people didn’t get the news of the new day for ringing in the new year for a couple of years! Other people just refused to change their celebration day for the new year. These people became the joke of others for whom tricks were played. Things done included sending these people on foolish errands, or to try and tell them things which weren’t true. 
The idea of April Fools’ Day soon spread to other countries. In England, pranks are only done in the morning and it’s considered bad luck to attempt an April Fools’ trick on someone after noon time. And, if you are the victim of someone’s joke, you are called a noodle! In India, in addition to pranks, people put colors on each other to celebrate the start of spring. If you go to the country of Portugal, watch for flying flour, which is what people like to throw on April Fools’ Day! In France, people call each other Poisson d’Avril which means April Fish instead of April Fools! Why a fish? That’s because a young fish is thought to be easily caught, not knowing better. A common activity on this day in France is to put a paper fish on someone’s back.
Some famous April Fools’ Day Pranks:
1. A famous April Fools’ Day activity occurred in 1998 when Burger King said they had a new “left-handed Whopper” which had the ketchup, pickles and other condiments on the left side of the bun to help left handed eaters. Many came in to order “left” Whoppers on that day!
2. In 1957, a news show aired a video on a spaghetti harvest in the country of Switzerland. People were pulling strands of spaghetti dangling down from trees. People actually called the news show asking how they could purchase a spaghetti tree!
3. In 1996 the Taco Bell Company said they had bought the famous Liberty Bell and were renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell! Many people called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia, PA, saying they were angry about the sale of the Liberty Bell to a food restaurant!

I have an April Fools' Day resource. In addition to the reading passage on the history of the holiday, there are 15 famous April Fools’ Day pranks. There is also an activity with 8 “What do You Think?(Prank or True). For example: Scientists are working on Smell-O-Vision, televisions that can produce thousands of smells so, for example, if you are watching a cooking show, you may be able to smell the onions!(answer: Once done as a hoax back in 1965, some scientists are currently experimenting with this idea…so true)
There are also 8 comprehension questions and 7 extended activities. Click here:

PS: I have seen April Fool's Day and April Fools' Day. Reference books say that April Fools' Day is more correct...

Use this time to start a discussion on FAKE NEWS: This resource works well with my April Fool's Day Resource: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FAKE-NEWS-Developing-Digital-Critical-Literacy-with-Kids-INA-3074653

More April Fools' Pranks to Share:
Click here for FREE download: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/APRIL-FOOLS-FREEBIEReally-2474186

The oldest recorded April Fools’ Day prank may date back to 1698!  People in London, England, were told that lions would be washed in the moat(ditch) around the Tower of London.  Several people went to see the washing of the lion. Arriving at the Tower of London, there were no lions to be seen in the moat getting lathered up with soap. The date of the event: April 1st!

Thomas Edison was featured in an April Fools’ Day prank dating back to 1878. The New York Graphic Newspaper announced on its front page that the famed inventor had developed a machine that could take soil and change it into cereal and vegetables. It could also turn water into wine and produce biscuits. No one would ever need to go hungry again. Newspapers around the country announced the invention giving Edison much praise. The invention would change the world! The date of the article said it all…April 1st.

People lined the banks of the Arkansas River. in 1906, after the Wichita Daily Eagle’s front page told of a massive wave(11 ft. high) carrying millions of frogs would get to the city of Wichita at exactly 10AM. Said to be 11 miles in length, people waited for hours for the amazing occurrence only to realize that it was an April Fools’ Day prank.

In 1974, people living in Sitka, Alaska, were frightened when billows of black smoke rose from Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano.  Could the volcano be erupting?Turns out that someone had brought old tires into the crater and set them on fire as an April Fools’ Day prank.

In 2013, people were amazed to hear that Virgin was introducing a glass-bottom airplane!  Imagine, sitting in an airplane and SEEING the clouds beneath your feet. Many people were very excited about this new airplane and took to social media to spread the word. It was an April Fools’ Day prank.
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Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Shakespeare Week has Begun!(March 18-24)


William Shakespeare
In Great Britain, March 18-24th(2019) is Shakespeare Week!
The anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death is April 23rd.
What do YOU know about this famous writer?

I though you may find the following information of interest to share with your students.


Did You Know?
1. Did you know that there are actually many ways to spell his name? The estimate is that there are over 80 ways to spell Shakespeare’s name!

2. Considered to be the greatest writer of the English language, Shakespeare wrote 37 plays* during his lifetime. Probably, the three most famous works were Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth. Shakespeare introduced thousands of words to the English language and also wrote 154 sonnets. 
It is said that next to the Bible, his works are the most quoted!

3. Shakespeare also used lots of expressions that are common today.  Examples include: “Knock, knock, Who’s there?”, “green eyed monster”, “vanish into thin air”, “wild goose chase”, “makes your hair stand on end”, “so-so”, “good riddance”, “tongue tied”, “night owl” and “eaten out of house and home”.  More expressions of Shakespeare can be found at this link: 

4. Did you know that pencils were a new invention when Shakespeare was born?

5. It is thought (based on a 17th century portrait of him), that Shakespeare wore a gold hoop in his left ear.

6. During the time of Shakespeare, plays were only performed in the afternoon.

7. Women were not allowed to participate in plays during the time of Shakespeare so all the roles were performed by men.

 Click here to learn more interesting facts about William Shakespeare: https://www.folger.edu/10-ways-be-shakespeare-expert


Your Turn:
1. Illustrate an expression of William Shakespeare. See examples below in 3.  Place three of his expressions into sentences.

2. What are 2 character traits you think a writer needs to have?

3. Select one of the quotes of Shakespeare and illustrate it. Write a short paragraph explaining what you think the quote is saying.
A. "Better three hours too soon than a minute too late."
B. "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."
C. " I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see you are unarmed."
D. "What's done can't be undone."
E. "Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."

4. Create a compliment using Shakespeare's words. Go to this link: https://www.folger.edu/sites/default/files/QuotesScripts_Compliments.pdf

5. See the grave of William Shakespeare and what he had written on it: http://poetsgraves.co.uk/shakespeare.htm Interestingly, recent scans seem to suggest that Shakespeare's skull is missing from his grave! Why do you think someone may have stolen it?



Check Out These Resources:
  1. Check out my Reader’s Theater Script on William Shakespeare.  Shakespeare is a guest on a talk show and the studio audience asks questions about his life. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee's Talk Show Series. Comprehension/Did You Know?section, LOTS of extension activities/links/key. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/William-Shakespeare-A-Readers-Theater-Script-2299401

  1. William Shakespeare: Possible Interactive Notebook Activity. Short reading, fun acts, comprehension questions and a few extension activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/William-ShakespeareA-Reading-and-Possible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-2501243

Note: Other Reader's Theater Scripts on Famous Writers:



Note: Illustration from wpclipart.com Photograph of Shakespeare’s home was taken by Gail Hennessey


*37 plays are what most believe Shakespeare wrote in his lifetime.
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Monday, March 18, 2019

Spring is Coming! Show Kids that EVERYTHING has a history, even Tulips!

Click here for a user friendly download of this resource: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TULIPS-A-Sign-of-SpringFREEBIE-4458064


With spring, comes the sprouting of tulips. Personally, I love purple tulips. Although I try year after year to grow them in my gardens, the chipmunks seem to find them and haul the bulbs away! 

Tulips have a very interesting history. Sharing information about the history of the tulip is a great way to show kids that EVERYTHING has a history.

In 1634, tulips caused people to go a bit crazy, in the country of Netherlands. The bulb, looking like a onion was as prized as diamonds. It got so nobody was planting the pretty posies, they were just buying and selling the bulbs. People used tulips to purchased homes, food, clothing and even horses. Government officials kept a record of tulip purchases. Tulipmania is what this time was called. One tulip could be worth over $35,000!(Yes, you read that correctly)

Fun Facts about Tulips:
1. To have a tulip in your home was a way to impress others!
2. Interestingly, the tulips with the most value, really were infected with a virus and were feathered and not solid colored tulips.
3. It is believed the tulip came from Asia and the area of Turkey,1000AD. Its name, is thought to come from the word dulban or tuliban(meaning turban), because the flower looks like an upside down turban. In Turkey, tulips were very much prized and in fact, for a time, it was forbidden to buy or sell the bulbs outside of the capital city. Such crimes could mean exile!
4. The tulip capital of the United States is Holland, Michigan.
5. During World War 2, people ate tulips and made tulip bread. Neither were very tasty but when you are hungry, taste isn't that important.
Your Turn:
1. Do you know which two flowers are more popular than the tulip?If, not, take a guess!________________ and ______________
2. What is your favorite flower? Why do you favor this flower over other flowers?
3. What do you know about the country of Turkey? Write ONE fact:__________________
4. What do you know about the country of Netherlands? Write ONE fact:________________
5. Write a haiku about tulips. A haiku has 3 lines and each line has the following syllable pattern. 5-7-5. Not sure how many syllables are in a word? Place your hand under your chin. Count thow many times your chin drops as you say the world. For example: ELEPHANT. It has 3 syllables. Don't worry about sentence form, think descriptive words. The Haiku comes from the people of Japan. Write TWO facts you know about the country of Japan.


Extension Activities:
1. Read a fairytale about tulips: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/spring/short-stories/the-fairy-tulips.html Have students write a summary of the story. Have students write their own story about a tulip.

2. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/plants/tulips.html More Tulip facts. Illustrate one of the facts about tulips.


Sharing information about the history of the tulip is a great way to show kids that EVERYTHING has a history. The resource includes a reading passage, Did You Know? fun facts, comprehension questions, Map-skill activity, Teacher page with extension activities and key. Click here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-A-Reading-Passage-History-of-TULIPS-2426247


Illustrations from wpclipart.com and openclipart.org
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Wednesday, March 13, 2019

World Water Day is March 22nd.


 

World Water Day!
March 22, 2019
Possible Interactive Notebook Activity

Water actually has a day when people focus on just how important water is to all of us. World Water Day is March 22nd. In 2021, the theme for world Water Day is “Valuing Water”. The organization says the focus for the day is  “exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.”

Did You Know?
1. Our planet is about 75% water.  Yet, less than 2% is able to be used by humans. Can you think of two reasons why most water is NOT available for human use?_____________ and  ____________

2. A jellyfish is almost 95% water!  A human body is made up of about 66% water.

3. Shutting off the water while brushing teeth saves about 4 gallons of water. For some people on the planet, that is a week’s supply of water. What are two ways to conserve(save) water?____________ and _____________


4. The water you are drinking is the same water that the dinosaurs

We don’t have any “new” water on the planet. It just keeps getting recycled. Can you name the three stages of the water cycle?____________   __________   ______________

5. Scientists say that in a 100 year time period, a molecule of water spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice and just 2 weeks in rivers and lakes. It spends only about 1 week in the atmosphere.

6. In 1996 , NASA announced that water, in the form of ice, was found on the moon, near the South Pole. 

7. Did you know that hot water freezes more quickly than cold water? This is called the Mpemba Effect. Scientists aren’t sure why this is the case.

8. Water is the only substance on the Earth that has three stages. Can you name them?____________  ________   _________

9.. Water is made up of just two elements, hydrogen and oxygen.

10. Pure water doesn’t have any smell or taste. Other than for drinking, can you think of three uses of water?___________  ______________  ___________ 

11. Can you name the room in a house that uses the most water?____________

Your Turn:
  1. Illustrate one of the facts.
  2. Pretend to be a water drop and write about a day in your life.
  3. What are three ways you can conserve water in your daily life?




Teacher’s Page:
Before doing the activity, ask the students to share prior knowledge on the topic of water. Give the students the Did You Know? Fact Sheet. Regroup and discuss.

Additional Activities:
1. Teachers may find some information at this link of value to use with kids: http://savethewater.org/education-resources/water-facts/

2. http://www.thewaterpage.com/water-conservation-kids.htm  Brainstorm with kids ways to save on water, then show this page and have students illustrate a water conservation tip.
3. Learn about the water cycle: http://www.kidzone.ws/water/


Check out these related resources:
  1. Studying the ocean? Looking for a resource for Earth Day or World Ocean Day? Introduce your students to Jacques Cousteau with this informative Reader's Theater Script. Oceanographer, photographer, scientist, inventor, writer and filmmaker, Cousteau spent his life studying the oceans and the marine life that lived in the oceans. Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series where Jacques Cousteau is a guest on her talk show and answers questions of her studio audience. There are 10 audience questioners, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, a teacher section with extension activities, links and the key:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jacques-Cousteau-A-Readers-Theater-Script-2458467
2. Exploring the Ocean Blue: A Web quest, will introduce students to our oceans. There are nine informative web questions. Fun Facts, comprehension questions,extension activities and links are also provided as is the key. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Oceans-Exploring-the-Ocean-Blue-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-705943

3.  Learn about Earth Day and our planet Earth, with this informative web quest! In 2018, the theme for Earth Day is “Environmental and Climate Literacy”. Although this resource could be used for Earth Day, it really could be used throughout the year. There are 15 web questions as well as comprehension questions and a Did You Know? fun fact section. The teacher page includes extension activities, the key, and additional links. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Earth-DayWebquest-on-the-Blue-Planet-1790891
Key:
1.   salty and frozen 5.evaporation, condensation and precipitation 9.  liquid, solid and gas
11. cooking, energy, farming, fun 12. bathroom(toilet,shower,bathtub,faucet)
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