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

Saturday, April 9, 2016

National Library Day and Library of Congress Day are coming!(April 16 and April 24th)

  

National Library Day is April 15 and Library of Congress Day is April 24th. Use this resource as a possible Interactive Notebook Activity to share with students about interesting book facts throughout history.

Amazing Book Facts:
Did You Know?

1. Did you know that the Chinese invented paper around 105 AD? Before this, people wrote on parchment(animal skin) to create books.

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.

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 tester! Shows you never know how your childhood may shape what you do as an adult! 

5. In 2013, while cleaning out a box, a manuscript by Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr.  Seuss, was found. Called “What Pet Should I Get?”, the “new” Dr. Seuss book was published in 2015.

6. Another fun fact about Dr. Seuss, 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. 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.

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 Dicken’s 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 ancient Assyria.

13. In 2012,  998 people, in Sydney, Australia, set a record for the most people balancing books on their head!

14. Sadly, worldwide, 1 in 5 adults can not read or write.(as of 2014) 

15.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.  

16. 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).

17. 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!
18. A library in Charleston, South Carolina, opened its doors in 1698, making it the first public library in the America. 
19. As of  2014, the handwritten,The Codex Leicester, by Leonardo da Vinci, which sold for a whopping $30.8 million dollars,in 1994, is still the most expensive book ever sold. The buyer…Bill Gates.
20. According to the Pew Research Center, 1 out of 4 Americans said they didn’t read even ONE book in the past year! 

21. Did you know that books were once shelved backwards(spine facing the back)?

22. The word “hurry” is said to have been invented by William Shakespeare.

23. JK Rowling was once told by people in the Mugglenet chatroom,not knowing her real identity on the chat site, that she didn’t know much about Harry Potter and should be quiet.

24. Can you imagine a sentence with 823 words?  It is found in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.

25. At 5 ft 9 inches(1.75 m tall), and 6.3 inches when opened(1.90 m), The Klencke Atlas is the world’s largest book! 

26. The letter ‘e” is found in one out of  every eight letters you read.
Quotes about Reading and Books:

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”  Richard Steele

"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."  Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."  Walt Disney  

“ A book is like a garden, carried in the pocket." Chinese Proverb

"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

 “A house without books is like a room without windows.” Heinrich Mann

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Dr. Seuss

"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." Harry S Truman 

Teacher Page:
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.

Illustrate one of the quotes.

Which quote do you like the best and why? Write a paragraph explaining what you think your favorite quote means.

In a 2014 study, posted at Buzzfeed.com, one out of five kids asked said that if a friend found them reading a book, they’d be embarrassed! The study also found that of those kids responding, 54% said they prefer to watch television than read a book. How do you feel if a friend finds you reading a book? Do you prefer reading, watching television or playing video games?

Pretend you are Hans Christian Andersen’s statue found in Denmark’s capital city of Copenhagen. What do you see,hear, smell, etc., as you sit there? What are you thinking about?

Have groups of students make 7 comprehension questions from the Did You Know? facts to exchange with another group to answer.


Check out my informative web quest on the Library of Congress, our nation’s library! Are you a bibliophile(someone that loves books)?The Library of Congress, called 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 this fun and informative webquest. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Library-of-Congress-Explore-Our-Nations-LibraryWebquest-604584

Additional Resources on this topic:
1. Considered to be the greatest writer of the English language, learn Shakespeare with this play. It is said that next to the Bible, his works are the most quoted! 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

2. A Christmas Carol is probably the most popular holiday story.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! Skills include:reading for information and using research/computer skills. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A-Webquest-200480

3. This reader's theater play introduces kids to fairy tale writer,Hans Christian Andersen. Comprehension questions, discussion questions, extension activities and resources are included.His Ugly Ducking was said to be about his life. He was badly bullied as a kid. Perhaps,sse play to start discussion about bullying. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hans-Christian-AndersenBiographical-play-To-Tell-the-Truth-Play-348807

Photography by Gail Skroback  Hennessey
Illustrations from openclipart.org

Sources:

Gail
FEEDBACK FOR MY FREEBIES ARE ALWAYS MOST WELCOME!
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Thursday, April 7, 2016

CHECK out MY Latest Everything has a History...only $1

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April 26th is National Pretzel Day!

Part of my Everything Has a History Series! Everything has a History even Pretzels! A Reading Passage/Extension Activities

Use this reading passage to show students that everything has a history, even pretzels! The resource includes a reading passage, a Did You Know? section of fun facts about pretzels. For example: Baldies are what saltless pretzels are called! Comprehension questions/mapskill activity, teacher page with extension activities. 

Get it for the sale price...
Gail



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Saturday, April 2, 2016

World Elephant Day is April 16th. Possible Interactive Notebook Activity



April 16th is Save the Elephant Day!(also called World Elephant Day).

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, announced in March, that by 2018, elephants will be phased out of their circus acts! This is after 145 years. Many people have questioned the treatment of these massive and unique creatures and due to this concern,the circus has made this change. As the elephants retire from performing, they will live out their lives at the Elephant Conservation Center, owned by the circus, in Florida.  Although, I wish the decision went into effect immediately, I am very happy to hear of their decision.

Use the week of Save the Elephant Day to do an activity with your students about elephants!




Share These Elephant Facts with your Students:

Did you know that elephants can be right or left tusked, similar to how humans are with their hands?

Quickly waving of ears, twirling of its trunk and blowing dirt are signs of an angry elephant!

The elephant has the largest brain of the animal world. They are very intelligent! 

Elephants can show many emotions including joy, anger, playfulness and grief with the death of a family member

Surprisingly, peanuts are NOT a favorite food of elephants.

The world’s largest LAND mammal, elephants eat about 300-600 pounds of food every day. They are herbivores, non-meat eaters.

Elephants live in families with females being the head of the heard(called a matriarch). There can be as few as 8 or as many as 100 in a group.

Did you know the elephant can use its trunk as a “snorkel” making it possible to swim in deep water.

In the last 100 years, the number of  Asian elephants in the wild have declined by about 90%  due to habitat destruction and  killing for their  ivory tusks.

Elephant throw dirt onto their backs to prevent getting sunburned.

Did you know that ever 15 minutes a poacher kills an African elephant?

Of the two, Asia and African, there are much less Asia elephants left in the wild.

Elephants make a sub-sonic rumble sound to communicate over long distances. The feet and trunks are very sensitive and other elephants can feel the sound being sent over the ground.

The word, jumbo, comes from the circus animal by that name. It means “large” or “huge”.

Elephants walk on average about 4 mph but can actual run up to 24 miles per hour!

The skin of an elephant is about 1 inch thick.

An elephant tusk can be as long as 10 ft. and weigh over 200 pounds.

Elephants are one of the few animals that can recognize itself in the mirror.

There are 40,000 muscles, but no bones in an elephant’s truck.

Did you know that an elephant tooth can weigh up to 12 pounds?

What can you do?
* Spread the word of the dwindling number of elephants.
* Draw a picture of an elephant.
* Write a poem about an elephant using all the letters in the word, elephant, or write a haiku.
* Read a story about elephants.
* Read this article on Elephants: http://www.timeforkids.com/news/elephant-alert/86631  Write 7 facts learned from the reading.  Illustrate one of your facts.

Links for teachers to share with students:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/angels-help-elephants/ Children’s efforts to stop ivory and destroy stockpiles of Ivory in Hong Kong

Check out my Elephant Webquest!
*Photograph from WPclipart.com



NOTE:  IN THE NEWS: Hannibal is remembered for being a most unique thinking general of the ancient world. One of his ideas was to attack the city of Rome during the Second Punic Wars with horses and ELEPHANTS.  In  218 BC, Hannibal and his 30,000 troops marched from Spain, up the snow covered Alps, with about 15,000 horses and about 37 elephants into Italy. From there, those that survived the trek, moved forward to the city of Rome.For years, historians were unsure of the route Hannibal took. Now, archeologists have found an area of boggy terrain that was badly trampled near the French/Italian border. Could it have been done by Hannibal’s animals? Scientists have been digging into the earth and have come upon what may be the remains of large deposits of  horse manure and elephant dung. Further study of the microbes in the samples, suggest large amounts of microbes commonly found in horses and elephants. The narrow mountain pass, Col de la Traversette, just may be where Hannibal, his soldiers and animals made their trek! 
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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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! 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:

Gail

PS: I have seen April Fool's Day and April Fools' Day. Reference books say that April Fools' Day is more correct...
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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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Radar Scans Suggest Two Hidden Chambers in King Tut's Tomb! Possible Discovery of the Century?

Very exciting news! I have always been fascinated with ancient Egypt and mummies. Archaeologists(3/16/16) say radar scans show "90%" chance of two hidden chambers in Tut's Tomb! Hopefully, more information will be announced in the coming weeks. It is being called the possible "Discovery of the Century". There is talk that the mummy of Queen Nefertiti(a wife of King Tut's father) and her treasures MAY be hidden in these chambers!  
Wow...I am so excited about the prospects of this discovery!
Learn about King Tut. Practice oral reading fluency in Language Arts with this biographical reader's theater on King Tut.Learn lots of cool facts about mummies and the discovery of King Tut's tomb. Comprehension/discussion questions/ extension activities,Great for informative text/listening standards.

If you aren't a social studies teacher, the Reader's Theater Script might be something for an " In the News" or Friday activity. Kids love mummies.

Also have a FREEBIE: My King Tut Day(yes, there is one!) resource could be used as a possible Interactive Notebook Activity if you are discussing this news story. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Amazing-Mummy-Facts-906580


Did I say I am very excited about this news story???
Gail
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Friday, March 4, 2016

St. Patrick's Day is Coming!


What comes to mind when you think of Ireland. Perhaps, it's shamrocks, no snakes, the Blarney Stone, leprechauns? With St. Patrick's Day coming, it's a great opportunity to introduce kids to the country of Ireland. First ask students to locate the country of Ireland on a map. Ask the students to share any prior knowledge they may have on the country of Ireland.

1. Learn about a dolmen, peat,St. Brendan, a clochan, New Grange and more:  Check out some photographs of Ireland at my website for teachers/kids: http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?stpatrickdemoweb.html  

2.   Learn about the history of the Kerry Bog Ponies, the Blarney Castle and more.  Read my travel diary of one of my visits to Ireland: http://gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?ireland.html

Did You Know? Facts about Ireland:

1. Famous people from  Ireland include  Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver's Travels.  The story of Dracula was written by Bram Stoker, also of Ireland!  Famous poets from Ireland include W.B. Yates  and James Joyce.

2. The Republic of Ireland, or Eire(in Irish) is nicknamed the "Emerald Isle"  because of its very green landscape.

3. Irish(also called Irish Gaelic) is the first official language(with English second).

4. St.Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland. 

5. The national symbol of Ireland is the shamrock.

6. The Celtic Knot symbolizes the continuity of life and is a symbol of Ireland.

7. Muckanaghederdauhaulia is a village found in County Galway.  Meaning “marsh of the pigs between two seas", it is the longest name for a place in Ireland.
8. The National Leprechaun Museum in Dublin, Ireland, is dedicated to the folklore and mythology of Ireland.

9. In Irish folklore, there are only male leprechauns.

10. Ireland was the very first country in the world to tax plastic bags.(2002)

11. A burial tomb found near Dublin, Newgrange, may be older than the pyramids of Egypt,and were built about 4000BC.

12. The Irish monk St. Brendan may have reached North America before Columbus, in the 6th century.

13. Halloween has its origins in Ireland.





Check out my Reader's Theater Script on McSean, the Leprechaun and learn a "wee" bit about the country of Ireland and about leprechauns! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/LeprechaunsSt-Patricks-DayIreland-A-Readers-Theater-Script-2315668

Gail

Illustration from WPClipart.com
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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Welcome Back to Earth, Astronaut Scott Kelly!

WECOME HOME!
An Amazing accomplishment Scott Kelly!

 Could you stay in a small confined space for almost year? Could you stay indoors and not feel the sun or breeze on your face for almost a year? Could you be apart from your families and friends for almost a year? That's what astronaut Scott Kelly did. He just returned to Earth after spending 340 days at the International Space Station.  Admitting that it was a long time, Kelly said he was encouraged that astronauts could even spend longer times in space. That is what would be needed for a manned trip to the planet Mars. Kelly's living space at the ISS was about the space of a phone booth. He did have internet access to keep in touch with famiy and friends back on Earth. Kelly said there were definitely things he missed while at the ISS. He said that being apart from people that he cared about was difficult. However, Kelly also says the return to earth was bittersweet. Just imagine the spectacular view he had of the Earth from space as he traveled around the Earth at about five miles per second or the beautiful sun rises he got a chance to see from space. Together with his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, who stayed Earth-bound, the brothers were also able to do much to help scientists to study the long term effects of space on the human body.
In total, Astronaut Kelly has the most time in space for an American, with a total of 520 days(over four flights). He ranks 17 in the world for total time in space. 

What do YOU Think?
1.What would be the first food you would eat on returning to Earth? 
2. What would be the first activity you would want to experience after such a long time in space?
3. Would YOU be able to endure such a record time in space? Why, why not?

Photograph from Scott Kelly's Twitter Page

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