My Book-Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps
Anti-Bullying Resources
Bell Ringers!
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Mrs. Portulaca Purpilopilis
and the Purple Adventure Goggles
Facts to Wow your Friends!
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7/2020:Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps won a 1st place Purple Dragonfly Book Award in the Picture Books 6 & Older category. Thank you, Story Monsters!
3/24/20:Excited to have my latest children's book, Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps, chosen as a 2019 Story Monster Approved winner!
Back to School FREEBIES!
2. Amazing Book Facts: World Book Day, Amazing Book Facts(Freebie)
3. THE 6888(FREEBIE) Reading: 6888 Reading
4. FREEBIE ON APPLE FACTS: This interactive notebook on Apples has several activities and 17 interesting fun facts about apples. Apple Fun Facts
5.. FREEBIE: CONSTITUTION Fun Facts!Learn some fun facts on the Constitution. Activity for Constitution Day! Each year, Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th. Constitution Day
6. Mummy Facts:Mummyy Facts
7. Antibullying: Antibullying Freebie
8. International Peace Day: September 21st. International Peace Day
9. World Rhino Day( 9/22) Freebie:World Rhino Day Fun Facts
Back to School Highlights!
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. Maps and Geography, Unit/Webquest
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. and Geographic Secret Messages
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.Mesopotamia,Unit 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. Hammurabi, A Reading Biography I also have a bundle of resources on this topic: Mesopotamia, A Bundle of ResourcesA reading on Enheduanna, First Known Poet in History(Mesopotamia): Enheduanna, First known Poet of Mesopotamia
5.The Phoenicians and their contributions to the world(Alphabet, color purple, first sea traders).Notes, extension activities and links and several comprehension questions, too. Phoenicians, A Unit of Study 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. Hannibal, A Reading I also have a bundle on this topic: Phoencians, A Bundle of Resources
I also have a reading on Hanno, Phoenician explorer: Hanno, A Phoenician Sea Explorer, Reading
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: King Tut, A Biographical Play(To Tell the Truth Format) 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.
7. 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. Hatshepsut, First Female Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt I also have a similar resource on Ramses: Ramses the GreatI have a bundle on all things Egyptians: Ancient Egyptians, A Bundle of Resources
8.Early Humans/Prehistoric Cultures -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. Prehistoric Man, A Unit/Webquest
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! I also have a bundle on this topic: Everything has a History, A Bundle of Resources
11. Learn about the U.S. Constitution(Constitution Day is in September. 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. James MAdison, Father of the Constitution, A Reader's Theater Script
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: Countries of the World, A Bundle of Resources
1. World Capitals: World Capitals, Test Your Knowledge
2. US Landmarks: U.S. Landmarks, Test Your Knowledge
3. Maps and Geography: Maps and Geography, Test Your Knowledge
4. Women Trailblazers: Women Trailblazers, Test Your Knowledge
Bundle on Countries of the WorldAll sold individually, too.
MATH and STEM Biographies:
1. Hypathia: Hypathia, Woman Mathematician
2. Ada Lovelace: Ada Lovelace, Woman Mathematician
4. Katherine Johnson: Katherine Johnson, STEM Biography
4. Marie Curie: Marie Curie, Stem Bio
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Use my THINGY letters to have kids write spelling words, vocabulary words or as an art activity! Have students try and guess what some of the THINGY Letters are.(also have Black/White option):ClipArt: Alphabet Thingy Letters!
Check out my series of Children's Books from Aadarsh Publishing!
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Stop Bullying!
To any young people visiting my website. Please,if you are being bullied, seek help...SPEAK TO AN ADULT today!And, if you SEE something that looks like bullying-SAY something to an adult!
Check out my Pinterest page to see all my resources in one easy place!Click here to learn more:Gail's Social Studies Emporium(and More)
IN THE NEWS: 8/15/2025:
The recent flooding in Texas has revealed dinosaur footprints! At least 15 footprints, dating back 115 million years were found as volunteers were cleaning up debris. The footprints, perhaps of a meat-eating Acrocanthosaurus, were about 20 inches in size. It appears to be several dinosaurs that made the tracks. Actually, the area of Texas is known for dinosaur remains. This discovery was about 200 miles from Dinosaur Valley State Park!
Photograph from LiveScience
Something that happened in 2017 has gotten a new look thanks to better technology.In that year, a lighting strike dazzled the sky in the USA, stretched across Texas to Kansas City.In 2025, using orbital satellites, the strike has been recorded as the world's longest lightning strike! The distance of the lightning strike was about the size of the country of Great Britain. The lightning strike's distance was measured at 515 miles The previous world record lightning strike was 477 miles (in 2020).
Photograph from clipart-libraryMove over Three Gorges Dam. The title of world's largest dam will be going to another dam which when completed will provide China with three times more energy! Begun in 2025, China is planning on a new and bigger dam to be built in Tibet. Actually, it will be five dams! As with the building of the Three Gorges, there is concern about destruction of habitats and eroding of riverbeds. Another concern is the dam is on a geologic fault line. Could the huge dam trigger earthquakes? Additionally, the river(Yarlung Tsangpo) in Tibet, continues to flow into both Bangladesh and India(where it is called the Brahmaputra River). These countries are very concerned about how this huge dam will affect the water flow into their countries. Concern is that the dam will stop the water from flowing into their countries! The Motuo Hydropower Station is expected to be completed in 2033.
Photograph from MSNA complete handprint was found on a clay object that is estimated to be 4000 years old! The very rare handprint, of an ancient Egyptian craftsmen, was found on a soul house. A soul house was a piece of pottery where it was believed a deceased soul could live. Food, such as bread, could be left in the area that was open.A complete handprint was found on a clay object that is estimated to be 4000 years old! The very rare handprint, of an ancient Egyptian craftsmen, was found on a soul house. A soul house was a piece of pottery where it was believed a deceased soul could live. Food, such as bread, could be left in the area that was open.
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Mrs. Waffenschmidt
About Gail:
I retired from teaching after 33 1/2 years in the classroom. Of that time, I taught Grade 6 Social Studies teacher for 31 1/2 years.I earned my BA in early secondary education with a concentration in social studies from SUNY Oneonta, New York, and my MST in social studies education from Binghamton University in New York. In 1988, I was awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from the New York State Council for the Social Studies. Additionally, in 1988, I was also awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award by the National Council for the Social Studies. I am the author of 8 books for teachers and over 35 books for children(Purple Turtle Series by Aadarsh Publishing and Odd History Series by Red Chair Press).
My work has appeared in most children's publications including:
Highlights for Children,News-O-Matic,Appleseed,,Scholastic's Super Science,,Scholastic's Science World,Jack and Jill,National Geographic World, Ranger Rick, Cobblestone, Faces, Muse Magazine,Contact Kids, US Kids,Action Magazine(Scholastic),Girls' Life,Boys' Life,American Girl, Instructor,Creative Classroom,Middle Years,Time for Kids,Scholastic News,Scholastic News Zone, Time for Kids , Ask Magazine, Dig,Calliope, Cobblestone, FACES, Studies Weekly, Glo Adventurer, and more.
Mail Gail:
Gail Hennessey