Back to School Highlighted 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

In the News: Gus the Tyrannosaurus rex sells for $50 million dollars!

 

One of the best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons was sold this week to a private collector for a whopping 50 million dollars. This is a new world’s records for such a purchase. The fossilized skeleton is called Gus and was named for the man whose  South Dakota land the discovery was made.It took two years, 2021-2023, to excavate the fossilized remains! It is thought to be the most complete and largest such skeleton of a T Rex ever found. Estimated to be about 67 million years old, it stands 12.5 feet tall! You will need a very large room to display Gus! Interestingly,  Gus’ head is too heavy  to be mounted on the skeleton and a  lighter replica was placed on the skeleton!  
* Photograph from Science.org

Your Turn:
1. Do you think such discoveries should be allowed to be purchased by anyone that can afford to buy it?
2. Do you think such discoveries should be housed in places that the public can visit?
3. Some countries including Brazil and Mongolia do not allow the private purchase of fossils.
4. Do you think the sale of such rare dinosaur fossils can have a negative effect on research of Earth’s past?                                                                SHARE your thoughts.

Things to do:
1. Pretend to be Gus and share a day in your life. What do you see while on display? What do you hear? Etc.
2. Find 5 facts about the Tyrannosaurus rex: Draw a picture of Gus and write your facts around the drawing.

Sources for Kids:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/facts/tyrannosaurus-rex

  
https://www.coolkidfacts.com/tyrannosaurus-rex-facts-for-kids/

Teachers:
Information on Gus: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2026/natural-history/tyrannosaurus-rex

Learn Fun Facts about Ice Cream. July is National 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.

Tour de France July 2026

 

The Tour de France 2026

Download a free version at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TOUR-DE-FRANCE-2026-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-FREE-3894291

In 2026, the Tour de France will begin on July 4-July 26th. The race will

start in Barcelona, Spain, and end in Paris, France, along the famous Champs-

Elysees. It’s considered the world's biggest and most exciting bicycling race.

Athletes competing in the race will travel approximately 3333km ( 2071

miles) during the 23 day race. Each day(called stages), a leader will be

awarded a yellow jersey(or Maillot Jaune in French). In addition to the yellow

jersey, there is a polka dot jersey awarded to the best climber(king of the

mountains), a white jersey( the best youngest rider) and a green jersey(best

sprinter).The Tour de France began in 1903.This year, there are 23 teams of

eight riders competing in the Tour de France, a total of 184 riders.

See a map with the 2026 route: https://www.letour.fr/en/overall-route

Fun Facts:

1. Only men compete in the Tour de France.

2. Approximately, 123,900 calories are burned by each

rider in the Tour de France.

3. 42000 water bottles will be used by the racers!

4. Someone figured out that enough sweat is created from

racers competing in the 22 day race, to flush a toilet 39

times!

5. Riders from France have won the most races!(36 as of 2015)

6. The Tour de France is also known as "La Grande Boucle".

Vocabulary word: Peloton, the term for the "pack" of riders.

Your Turn!

1. Write a diary pretending to be one of the cyclists in the Tour de

France. What do you see? Feel? Hear?

2. Do you think women should be allowed to compete with the men's Tour

de France? Why or why not?

3. What are 2 character traits of a person that would participate in the

Tour de France?

4. After reading the History of Bicycle facts, why do you think Susan B.

Anthony called the bicycle, the “freedom machine”?

5. What are two positive things about riding a bicycle?

6. Learn about the country of France. Write 4 facts learned.https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/france.html 

Illustrate a fact

History of Bicycles...Did You Know?

1. As of 2017, Copenhagen, Denmark, is the bike friendly capital of the world.

Amsterdam, Netherlands, came in second, with Utrecht, Netherlands, third. Some

sources say Utrecht is more bike friendly than Amsterdam.

2. Some sources say the invention of the first “bicycle” is credited to Comte Medi

De Sivrac, of France. His bike didn’t have any pedals! The year was 1792 and it was

called a hobby horse(or celerifere). To move you needed your feet!

3. Other sources credit Baron Karl von Drais, of Germany, with the Draisine

meaning “running machine”.The 1917 human-propelled vehicle didn’t have any pedals.

4. A bike similar to today’s bike was created by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, from Scotland.

The year was 1839. His bicycle had pedals!

5.The word “bicycle” comes from the French word “bicyclette”. The term became

popular in 1868. Previous to this, bicycles were called “velocipedes” meaning “fast

foot”.

6. The Penny-Farthing was a British bicycle that had a large front wheel and a much

smaller wheel in the back. The name represented two British coins, the Farthing and

the British Penny.

7. Early bicycles (velocipede) were known as bone shakers by their riders. With

wooden wheels inside an iron rim and an iron frame, it was a very bumpy ride!

8. In 1887, Thomas Stevens became the first person to ride a Penny Farthing around

the world!

9. In 1867, father and son, Pierre and Ernest Michaux, invented the modern bicycle.

10. Did you know that suffragette, Susan B.Anthony made a comment on the bicycle?

She said that the mode of transportation “has done more to emancipate women than

anything else in the world.” She called the bicycle the “freedom machine.”

11. In 1896, Margaret Valentine Le Long rode a bicycle from Chicago to San Francisco!

Did you know that before Orville and Wilbur Wright became famous for their

flying machine, they owned a bicycle repair shop? It was in their shop, in 1903, that

they made their first airplane! It was called the Wright Flyer!

Teacher Page:

Ask students if they have heard of the Tour de France and share any information they may

have on the famous race. Have students locate the country of France on a world map.

Give the students the handout pages. Have students do one or more of the following

activities.

Extension Activities:

1. Try this FREE crossword puzzle on France: http://gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?

francepuzzler.html

2. Draw/color a picture of a bicycle. Write a fact learned about the Tour de France on your

drawing.

3. Reading on the Eiffel Tower, one of France's most famous landmarks:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Eiffel-Tower-Explore-World-LandmarksReading-Passage-773097

Timeline on the history of the bicycle.

5. Interesting article for teachers: Impact of the Bicycle on American Women: https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/pedaling-path-freedom

6. World Bicycle Day is 6/3: https://nationaltoday.com/world-bicycle-day/

#:~:text=On%20April%2012%2C%202018%2C%20the%20resolution%20declaring%20June,by%

20Turkmenistan%20and%20co-sponsored%20by%20around%2056%20countries.

7.How bicycles changed the world for women(for teachers): https://www.jalopnik.com/how-the-bicycle-changed-the-world-for-women-1834087720/

8. Webquest on France: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FRANCE-a-%20Webquest-Part-of-my-Country-in-Focus-Series-11641940

Juneteenth is Coming!

 Juneteenth. In 1865, the last enslaved people(in Texas) learned that they were free people. Actually, the Emancipation Proclamation, of 1863, freed the enslaved people in southern states, but those in Texas didn’t learn about their freedom for TWO more years! June and the date, 19th, were joined to create the word,Juneteenth. In 2021, President Biden signed the legislation into law making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

 Photograph from TpT

Check out these resources to learn more about Juneteenth:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/celebrating-juneteenth

https://historyforkids.org/juneteenth-facts-information-for-kids/

https://www.timeforkids.com/g56/a-juneteenth-celebration/

https://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/juneteenth-facts-for-kids/

Flag Day is June 14th

 

                             FLAG DAY 2026 is June 14th

FREE DOWNLOAD: Click Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Flag-Factoids-8156239

If you check out the 195 world flags, there is a color not found except on TWO world country flags. Did you guess the color purple?  The reason dates back to ancient history when the color purple was very rare and very expensive. The people known as the Phoenicians (present day Lebanon) were credited with making the first purple dye.  The dye, called Tyrian purple, was made by squeezing the gland of a tiny sea creature called the Murex snail , to obtain some of its secretions. It was estimated that over 10,000 snails had to be squeezed just to get a tiny amount of the coloring. For a time, the dye was worth more than a similar amount of gold!  Purple became  highly valued and becoming the color of royalty. In case you wish to check, the two countries with some purple on their flags are Dominica, a tiny island country and Nicaragua. The most popular flag colors include red, white and blue. 

Fun Flag Facts:

1. A vexillologist is someone that studies flags! 

2. Most flags have the colors red and white. 

3. Only Vatican City and the country of Switzerland have square flags.

4. Most world flags are rectangle in shape. The flag of the country of Nepal is the only one which is not rectangular or square in shape.

5. When Sir Edmond Hillary and his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, summited Mt. Everest, the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain, was placed.

6.The idea of a National Flag Day,a day to honor our flag, was started by Bernard J. Cigrand, in 1885.  

7. There are currently 6 American flags on the moon.  

8. The country of Bhutan has a white dragon on its flag.

9. “From Old Saxon," Fflaken" , meaning “to fly or to float in the air”, is where the word FLAG originated.

10.The largest American Flag is called the Superflag. It weighs 3000 pounds and is the size of 2.8 football fields.

11. A WHITE flag is the symbol of a truce or ceasefire.

12.The last of the 50 stars represents the state of Hawaii.

Check out this link: https://www.almanac.com/content/flag-day-celebration-american-flag

Extension Activities:

1. https://www.factmonster.com/take-quiz/usflag
Take this Flag quiz

2. Pretend you are an American flag on the moon or in a town, or on a mountain top. What do you hear, see, feel, etc. as you wave in the air? Remember...on the moon, there is no atmosphere so the flag wouldn’t wave!

3. Write a haiku to describe the American flag. A haiku has 3 lines(5-7-5 syllables per line). Use descriptive words. Sentence structure isn’t necessary. To check syllables, place your hand under your chin. Each time the chin drops is a syllable. For example: elephant. Three drops = 3 syllables.

4. Illustrate one of the factoids. Write a sentence to go with your drawing.

5. Read about the history of Flag Day: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/flag-day. Write a paragraph explaining the history of Flag Day, including 3 facts learned from the reading.

Check out my Flag Webquest!  

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Our-American-Flag-A-Webquest-Extension-Activities-726295

Learn about the History of the Star Spangled Banner and Francis Scott Key:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Francis-Scott-KeyThe-Star-Spangled-BannerA-Webquest-1401231

Gail