Black History/Women's History- Reading on the 6888 Women's Battalion that Delivered the Mail During WW2 (Free)

Share with students the contribution of the 6888, the all women of color battalion who during WW2 did an important task of distribution 17 MILLION pieces of mail to soldiers. Use during Black History Month, Women's History Month or on a Friday when you want to share a piece of history! Includes comprehension questions. FREE https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-6888-Reading-Women-Battalion-Who-Distributed-Mail-to-Troops-during-WW2-12920576

Groundhog Day is Coming!

   

**** Download for free: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Day-Freebie-5189943

Are you READY for Groundhog Day?

Groundhog Day is February 2nd. It's a time when people look to a groundhog to find out whether or not we will be having six more weeks of winter. The idea dates back hundreds of years when people looked to hibernating animals such as badgers, hedgehogs and bears to see when they might wake up from their winter sleep.

According to the tradition, if the animals saw its shadow, winter would last several more weeks. If it didn't see its shadow, spring would be soon arriving.

When Europeans, especially the Germans, came to the United States, they brought the tradition. The groundhog became the animals of choice as it hibernated and looked something like the European hedgehog. Groundhog Day started back in the 1880s with the first official celebration on February 2, 1887. The most famous groundhog weather forecaster is Punxsutawney Phil, of Punxsutawney, PA. On February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil , who lives at the Punxsutawney Library is taken to Gobbler Knob and placed in a heated burrow underneath a simulated tree stump on the stage near where hundreds have gathered. At 7:25 if Punxsutawney Phil comes out to make his weather prediction. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, spring is on its way!

Did You Know? 

1. The groundhog, also called woodchuck, is a relatives of the squirrel. Learn some additional Fun facts about groundhogs at this link: https://animalsake.com/facts-about-groundhogs

2. Groundhog day is also celebrated in Canada on Feb. They have several weather forecasting groundhogs including Wiarton Willy, Shubenacadie Sam and Balzac Billy.

3. Did you know that Groundhog Day is an official university holiday at the University of Dallas(Irving, TX)? Celebrations are held in honor of the groundhog.

4. The very first mention of a Groundhog Day in the United States was found in a diary entry of James Morris. The year was 1841.

Extension activities:

1.Pretend you are a weather forecasting groundhog. Tell about your big day. What did you hear? What did you see? How did you feel being in the limelight?

2.Learn about the country of Germany: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/germany/#germany-munich-city-scene.jpg

3. Read more about the groundhog. Draw/color a picture and write 5 facts learned about the groundhog( in complete sentences): http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/groundhog/ 

4. The Groundhog isn't the only creature in nature that is used to help forecast weather. Can spiders predict a sunny day? My mother-in-law told me that if you see spiders hanging up their wash(making webs) early on a summer morning, it's a sign of a beautiful summer day. See chimney smoke going straight up on a winter's day? Another sign of nice weather. But, if you see ants building mounds, it's a sign of rain. Same with birds roosting on electrical wires, another sign of coming rain. There are lots of weather folklore. Being observant to nature, can help you predict the day's weather, without a weatherman. Illustrate a weather folklore: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-folklore.htm 

Check out my Groundhog Day, Reader's Theater Script: Learn about the groundhog and the history of Groundhog Day with Ms. Bie Ografee's guest, Sarsaparilla, the Groundhog:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Day-A-Readers-Theater-ScriptVisit-with-a-Groundhog-2309751

Follow me at my TpT Store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey

Photograph from wpclipart.com

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr.

  

Martin Luther King's birthday is January 15th.

Download the free resource at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-8947638

Did you Know?

1. The only non-president to be honored with a national holiday is Martin Luther King.

2. Only George Washington and Martin Luther King are honored on their birthdays with national holidays. Martin Luther King’s birthday and holiday is honored on January 15th.

3. Because of Martin Luther King’s protests for civil rights, King was arrested about 29(or 30) times. He was actually arrested and jailed for speeding 30 in a 25 mph area!

4. The first African American honored as Time Magazine’s Man of the Year(now called Person of the Year) was Martin Luther King.

5.Martin Luther King started college at the age of 15!

6. Estimates are that there are 700-1000 Martin Luther King Jr. streets in the United States and even a street honoring King located in Puerto Rico.

7. In his efforts to fight for civil rights, it is estimated that Martin Luther King traveled over six million miles and gave more than 2500 speeches!

8. Did you know that a young Martin actually jumped out of the second floor window of his home? He actually did this two times and fortunately didn’t get hurt(DON’T try this!!!). The first time he jumped from the window because he felt he needed to be punished because he didn’t watch his younger brother properly. His brother slid down the stair bannister and slid into his grandmother who fell. The second time he jumped out of the window was when his grandmother died. Martin felt she died because he had sneaked out of his house without asking permission.

9. Martin Luther King is the first African American to have a memorial in his honor in the National Mall area in Washington,DC.

10. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “There is nothing more tragic in all this world than to know right and not do it. I can not stand in the midst of all these glaring evils and not take a stand.”

11. Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest person to ever be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize(in 1964).

12. Asked one day as how he hoped to be remembers, Martin Luther King Jr. replied, “Say I was a drum major for peace.

1. What do you think this quote of Martin Luther King Jr. means?  “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”

______________________________________

2. What do you think this quote of Martin Luther King Jr. means? “The time is always right to do what is right.” _______________________________________

3. What do you think this quote of Martin Luther King Jr. means? “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” ___________________________________

___________________________________  

4. Illustrate one of the facts you found most interesting.

Check out this Reader's Theater Script on Martin Luther King Jr. : https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-A-Readers-Theater-Script-6229923?st=2517eb0f96d0eec2d96794a568982b34

Check out this Webquest on Martin Luther King Jr. :https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-A-Webquest-484492?st=2517eb0f96d0eec2d96794a568982b34

Inauguration Day 2025!

                                                      

Inauguration Day Facts!

Possible Interactive Notebook Activity by

Gail Skroback Hennessey

Click here for the free download: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Inauguration-DayPossible-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-2933282

Did You Know?

1. The First Inauguration Ceremony to be on television was in 1949, for President Harry S. Truman. 

2. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was actually lassoed by a cowboy who came up to him on a horse during the 1953 Inaugural parade ceremony. 

3. The first President to get out of his limo and walk down the parade route was President Jimmy Carter. 

4. Did you know that President George Washington carried a sword to his Inaugural Day ceremonies? 

5. The Constitution doesn’t require the president to hold his hand on a Bible but all Presidents have done so except for Theodore Roosevelt and John Quincy Adams. 

6. President Gerald Ford was the first UNELECTED President. He assumed the office of President when President Richard Nixon resigned.

7. President Barack Obama had to take the Oath of Office TWICE. Because of a mix-up of the 35 word oath by the Chief Supreme Court Justice, it was done again the next day to make sure everything was legal. 

8. The first President to wear long pants to his Inauguration Ceremony was President John Quincy Adams. Prior to this, men worn knee breeches. 

9. Tradition has been that the President-Elect rides to the Inaugural Ceremony with the current President of the United States. The custom is for the current president to sit on the RIGHT and the President-elect to sit on the LEFT side of the limo. 

10. The first Inauguration to be streamed on the internet was President Bill Clinton. 

11. The new President is elected at exactly 12 noon on January 20th. 

12. The longest Inauguration speech(8,445 words) was given by President Harrison. It was 100 minutes long and it was a very cold day. President Harrison got pneumonia and died after only about one month in office! 

13. The shortest Inauguration Speech was given by President George Washington. It was only 135 words! 

14. The first time the Marine Corps Band performed at an Inaugural Day Ceremony was for President James Monroe. 

15. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had FOUR inaugural Day Ceremonies. After his presidency, a two term limit was placed into the constitution. 

16. During the Inaugural Ball of President Madison, the ballroom was so hot that people broke windows to get some cold air into the room! 

17. President Woodrow Wilson’s second inaugural parade included WOMEN participating in the parade for the very first time! 

18. It was during President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address where he said,“...ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what, together, we can do for the freedom of man.”(1961) 

19. Lady Bird Johnson was the first First Lady to participate in the Inaugural ceremony. She held the Bible for her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson.(1965) This has now become a tradition. 

20. In 2021, President Donald Trump was the 4th President NOT to attend the Inauguration of the next elected president of the United States, President-Elect Joe Biden. In 2025, President Joe Biden WILL attend the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump. President Biden also plans to renew the long tradition of riding to the inauguration ceremony with the incoming president which wasn't done in 2021.

Your Turn: 

1. Illustrate one of these factoids about Inaugurations. 
   
2. Pretend you are the President-elect. Write a diary entry about your 
   Inauguration Day. 
   
3. How would you feel if your parent became president of the United 
   States? List three positives and three negatives being the child of the President. 
   
4. How has the coronavirus changed this year's inauguration Ceremony from what it would normally be? How would you feel if you couldn't have the normal ceremonies that day?
5. As the new President, what might be three things you would state in your speech to the nation?

Teachers: 
Before giving the students the handout on the history of Inauguration Day, as the students what prior knowledge they may have about Inauguration Day. 
NOTE: Check out my web quest on Inauguration Day. Taking the oath of office, a big parade and evening balls, Inauguration Day is a very busy day for the incoming President! There are 10 web questions, a Did You 
Know? section, comprehension questions and extension activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Inauguration-Day-A-Webquest-2870347

Gail


Additional Resource of Interest:
1. Learn about the WhiteHouse with 10 informative webquestions, comprehension and 
discussion questions and several extension activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Learn-about-the-White-House-Webquest-359868

2. 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

3. Did you know that First Lady Hillary Clinton was the first First Lady to become a senator of New York? Did you know that Florence Harding was the first woman to be able to VOTE for her husband in a presidential election? Did you know that Eleanor Roosevelt was called 
the " First Lady of the World"? Learn about the contributions of some of our first ladies with this fun and informative webquest: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Ladies-of-the-United-States-Wequest-604151

4. 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? Section: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidential-Facts-To-Challenge-Your-Students-2586425