- Have students write a paragraph stating any prior knowledge they have about Valentine's Day.
- Illustrate one of the facts.
- Make a chart showing 3 of the countries which celebrate Valentine’ Day. Write 2 facts about each country.
- Pretend you are a human heart. Write a day in your life. What are you doing today? What are you thinking? Include 2 facts about the human heart in your story.
I am hoping you will find my teaching resources of value to use in your classrooms. I taught for 33 1/2 years. I was awarded both the NY State Elementary Social Studies Teacher and the National Council for Social Studies Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year(1988). I am the author of over 35 books for children and teachers.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Happy Valentine's Day!
Friday, January 30, 2026
Happy Chinese New Year 2026 ( Begins Feb 17th)
Kung Hei Fat Choy! "Kung Hei Fat Choy" means Happy New Year in Chinese! 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. People born under this Zodiac sign are thought to be adventurous, honest, hard workers and talented. Fire Horse people tend to be positive even when dealing with difficulties and are great problem solvers.They are fast learners. Fire Horse people can also be a bit stubborn and have a temper. On the Chinese calendar, called Yan Tan, the new year is 4723. Chinese New Year is not always held on the same day each year. It depends on when the second new moon of the winter solstice occurs. In 2026, Chinese New Year starts on February 17th. It is the beginning of a 16 day celebration!
- Give students a handout of the information on Chinese New Year. Have small groups use the information to make 5 comprehension questions to exchange with another group to answer. Regroup as a class and discuss the information presented.
- Check which animal you were born. Draw a picture of your sign and write three character traits you feel you have. Give an example to back up your traits. http://china.mrdonn.org/zodiac.html
- Read a Chinese Folk story:The Foolish Old Man Who moved Mountains. https://www.story.com/ai-stories/ai-adventure-stories/the-foolish-old-man-moves-the-mountain
- Another Folk Story: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/tikki.html
- Check out my Purple Annie bear’s photographs of our trip to China: http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?purpleanniestravels.html Write a post card pretending to be visiting the country of China. Include 3 facts learned about China from Purple Annie’s Travel page.
- Dragons and bats are considered good luck. Draw/color a picture of either a dragon or bat. Pretend your dragon or bat could grant you three good things to happen. What would you choose and why?
- Let’s Explore China! Did you know that enough dirt was used to create the Great Wall of China to circle the earth with an 8 ft. high wall? Did you know that ice cream was probably first invented by the Chinese(frozen milk/rice)? Did you know that the yo-yo was invented by the Chinese or that the number 9 and the color red are considered good luck in China? I taught a unit on China for 32 years and would love to share some my notes, activities and resources I used with my students. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/China-Lets-Explore-China-520479
- Country in Focus: China. A Webquest/ Extension Activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Country-in-Focus-China-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-1085517
Friday, January 23, 2026
Snow FACTS: Possible Interactive Notebook Activity
Friday, January 16, 2026
Groundhog Day is Coming : Feb. 2nd
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-2309751Follow me at my TpT Store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Happy New Year, 2026! New Year's Customs from Around the World
Click here for the downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Customs-from-Around-the-World-FREEBIE-2215707
Fun World New Year Factoids!
In Russia, divers place a New Year’s tree into Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake.
Did you know that in Denmark, people like to through old broken dishes at the front door of friends, at New Year’s Eve?
Did you know that eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight is considered good luck in Spain?
Hogmanay is a custom celebrated in Scotland at New Year’s. The word means “last day of the year”. One of the activities is “first footing”, being the first person to visit a neighbor or friend in the new year. Usually, a gift is brought, too.
Christmas trees are made into bonfires to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands. This custom is done to symbolize getting rid of the old and welcoming the new year.
In Switzerland, don’t be surprised if you see people drop a bit of cream onto the floor on New Year’s Eve. It is thought that this will bring good luck in the new year.
In the South American country of Venezuela, people like to write a wish on a piece of paper and then burn it so that the wish may come true in the new year.
In the country of Italy, many people like wearing RED underwear at New Year’s believing the color will bring good luck in the new year. In other cultures, especially several countries in Latin America, wearing YELLOW is considered good luck.
In Mexico, don’t be surprised if you see people carrying empty suitcases around their house or street on New Year’s Eve. The custom is done if you would like to travel in the new year.
The custom of having a ball drop from Times Square, in New York City, on New Year’s Eve began in 1907. Some people in the south, believe eating black eyed peas will bring prosperity in the new year.
In Austria, people like to waltz when midnight strikes in the new year.
Did you know that throwing a bucket of water outside a window at midnight on New Year’s Eve is done in Puerto Rico? It is to get rid of bad spirits.
In Ireland, people bang bread on the walls and doors of their homes at midnight. This is done to scare away evil spirits and to bring good luck.
Finding an almond in rice pudding on New Year’s Eve means good luck in the new year. This custom is found in Sweden and Norway.
1. Which 3 customs did you find the most interesting? Why
2. How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve?
3. New Year's Eve is a time to make a resolution for the New Year. What is a goal which you'd like to try and work to accomplish in the 2018?
4.Illustrate one of the customs listed above.
5. Using a world map, locate the different countries mentioned in this list. Write ONE fact that you might know about each of these countries.
6. Rewrite 5 customs from the list and make mistakes in spelling or grammar. Exchange your list with another student for them to be a "proof reader" to find the errors.
Check out my fun/informative web quest on the history of New Years.
Learn about the history of New Year's with this fun/informative web quest. There are nine questions, lots of interesting customs of how people celebrate New Year's around the world, comprehension questions, extension activities and the key. Great activity for reading for information and research/computer skills. Included are also other holiday New Year's celebrations including Diwali, Chinese New Year, Songkran and Rosh Hashanah. The resources also mentions how April Fool's Day originated over when to celebrate New Year's! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Webquest-on- its-history-and-customsExtension-Activities-1584695
Gail
Check out my TpT Store(webquests/Reader’s Theater Scripts): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey
Note: I have other factoids including the following: pumpkins, turkeys, Diwali, mummies, Women’s History Month, Presidential Trivia, Chinese New Year and more...
Note:Illustration from openclipart.org
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Holiday Traditions from Around the World
Did you know that there are two islands in the world named “Christmas”? One is in the Pacific Ocean and the other is found in the Indian Ocean.
Someone figured that if you added up all the gifts from “The Twelve Days of Christmas, you’d get 364 presents.
A stocking filled with coal for naughty children originated in the country of Italy.
Did you know that three towns in the United States are named Santa Claus?
The first holiday song sung in space was Jingle Bells.
Two of the oldest ENGLISH spoken Christmas songs are “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World
Jingle Bells was actually written for the Thanksgiving holiday!
Did you know there aren’t any plums in plum pudding? Actually the word “plum” at one time meant raisins.
It is believed that seeing a spider’s web on Christmas morning is good luck in the country of Ukraine.
Advent calendars and gingerbread houses are traditions of the people of Germany.
Holiday Traditions at the White House!
Download this Interactive Notebook Activity: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/Holiday-Traditions-at-the-White-House-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-2219599
• In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the custom of a National Christmas Tree. It had 2500 electric lights!
• First lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the custom of having a theme for the official White House Christmas tree.
• Environmentalist President Theodore Roosevelt didn’t approve of cutting a tree down for the Christmas holidays. Because of this, he banned having a Christmas tree in the White House. However, Archie, his son, cut a small tree down and hid it in the closet in the swing room. He also decorated it.
• The first president to have electric lights on the family Christmas tree was President Grover Cleveland. The year was 1894.
• President Benjamin Harrison had one of the first White House Christmas trees. It was lit with candles. The year was 1889.
• Did you know that George Washington paid 18 schillings, a lot of money
at the time, for someone to bring a camel to Mt. Vernon for the
Christmas holidays? Ok, Mt. Vernon isn’t the White House but I liked this
fact. Interestingly, the tradition of having a camel come to Mt. Vernon
during the holidays continues to this day!
• In 1834, President Andrew Jackson’s children had fun at the holidays
including having snowball fights in the White House...with snowballs made
from cotton.
•Traditionally, the official White House Christmas tree, is the one placed in the White House’s Blue Room. The tradition of an official tree at the White house began with First Lady Lou Henry Hoover(1929).
In 1997, there were thirty-six trees decorated for the holidays, and in 2012, there were 54 decorated trees!
• The holiday tradition of a gingerbread house, in the White House, began with First Lady Patricia Nixon, in 1969. Did you know that the White House gingerbread house is made from about 150 pounds of gingerbread dough? More than 250 pounds of white chocolate are used for decorating.
Hanukkah is often celebrated around this time of year. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter became the first president to honor the Jewish
holiday of Hanukkah, by lighting a National Menorah. The tradition continues each year. In 1993, President Bill Clinton lighted the first menorah in the White House. President George H.W. Bush hosted the first White House Hanukkah Party in 2001.
President Benjamin Harrison dressed up as Santa Claus for his grandchildren!
QUESTIONS:
• If you had to create a theme for the official White House Christmas tree, what would you select and why. Draw and picture of your tree.
• Which do you think is more environmentally friendly, a REAL or ARTIFICIAL tree? Give 2 reasons for your opinion.
Teacher Page: Extension Activities:
1. The holiday season is a time of giving. Encourage students to “pay it forward”, doing an act of kindness for someone else.
2. Read a short version of a Christmas Carol: https://kidsshortmoralstories.com/short- summary-of-charles-dickenss-a-christmas-carol-christmas-ghost-stories/
3. Illustrate one of the facts learned.
4. Teachers may wish to read this article to share with students on which type of tree is MORE environmentally friendly: https://earth911.com/home-garden/real-vs-artificial- christmas-trees/
5. Share some Christmas customs from around the world:https://www.rd.com/article/ christmas-around-the-world-traditions/ Illustrate a custom.
6. Words such as abuzz, flummox, the creeps,round the clock and whiz-bang are credited with Dickens. Other words that Dickens helped to popularize include, kibosh, butter-fingers,boredom,messiness,squashed,bah humbug,and tousled. Have students create creative sentences using several of these words.• Check out my webquest on Charles Dickens! 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.https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A- Webquest-200480 Also have a Reader’s Theater Script on Charles Dickens. https:// www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charles-Dickens-A-Readers-Theater- Script-3286350
Check out my webquest: Holiday Traditions from Around the World: During the holidays is a great time to share with kids the many traditions which have been shared with different cultures. Learn the history behind some popular holiday traditions with this webquest. There are 14 information packed web questions!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Holiday-Traditions-from-Around-the-WorldWebquest-2864257Illustrations from: WPclipart.com





