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!
Teaching Ideas!
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Happy New Year(2026)!
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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!
JANUARY FREEBIES!
B. Snow Factoids: Snow Factoids
C. Fake News: Fake News
D. Learn about Hans Christian Andersen, famous fairytale writer: Han Christian Andersen Factoids
E. Groundhog Day Freebie: Groundhog Day Freebie
F. Chinese New Year Fun Facts 2026: Chinese New Year Fun Facts
JANUARY Highlights!
2. The State of the Union Address is usually around the end of January or early February. This webquest shares the history of the address with 10 web questions, a Did You Know? Section, Extension Activities including a worksheet that students can be assigned. History of theState of the Union Address Webquest
3. Australia Day is 1/26. Learn about the country of Australia with this webquest: Learn about the Country of Australia, Webquest
4. Snowmen: 4 READINGS: The earliest drawing of a snowman was found in a book dating back to 1380! The book,"Book of Hours" was found in a library in the country of the Netherlands. This resource has four snowmen reading passages:1. Famous sculptor, Michelangelo, was hired to make a snowman for a wealthy person in Florence, Italy.2. A snow man is used each April, to help predict the weather during a festival in the country of Switzerland.3. One of the earliest written comments about snowmen dates back to 1690. Two snowman were left to guard Fort Schenectady, in New York, during a blizzard with very tragic consequences!4. The world's record for the largest snowman, Olympia, was constructed in 2008. 13 million pounds of snow were used to make the amazing snow-woman! As of 2025, the record still stands. Each short reading passage includes following directions to identify answers. There are also several extension activities and a Did you Know? section. Famous Snowmen in History, A Reading Activity
5. Ben Franklin: Benjamin Franklin's birthday is January 17, 1706. A "founding father" of our country, Franklin was also a writer, inventor, statesman, post master and librarian! Learn about Franklin with this fun/informative ten question web quest. There ares Fun Facts and lots of extension activities. There is also a Test Your Knowledge Quiz on Ben Franklin. Ben Franklin, Webquest
6. Polar Bears: Did you know that a polar bear can swim up to 100 miles non-stop? Did you know that a polar bear doesn't hibernate like other bears do in the winter? Learn about this amazing mammal with this fun and informative webquest. Additional extension activities and resources are also provided. Polar Bears, A Webquest
7. FUN FRIDAY ACTIVITY: History of Pretzels: 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! There is also a short map skill activity to show students the location of where pretzels originated. There are comprehension questions and a teacher page with extension activities and links. History of Pretzels, A Reading Activity
8. FUN FRIDAY ACTIVITY: SHOES: Show kids that even shoes have a history with this fun/informative web quest. There are 9 web questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions, a teacher page with directions, extension activities and the key.Great for a Friday, day before a vacation or just when you'd like to show kids that history is all around us! History of Shoes, a Webquest
9. Groundhog Day: A Reader's Theater Script: A Visit with a Groundhog, A Reader's Theater Script
Sarsaparilla is a groundhog who is invited to Ms. Bie Ografee's talk show to tell about the life of a groundhog and the history of the holiday, Groundhog Day. "Audience" members ask questions of the guest who hopes to get a job as a weather forecaster like many of her famous "cousins".
10. Chinese New Year begins February 17th: Learn about the country of China with this webquest: Learn about China, A Webquest
11. I have lots of biographical plays on famous people in history, Language Arts, Math and Science. Check out Galilei and see a listing of all available plays: Galileo, A Reader's Theater Script
12. I also have a number of readings on famous people you may find of interest. Check out mathematician Ada Lovelace and see the others that I have to offer. Ada Lovelace
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)
Carpenters and archaeologists are working to restore a very unique boat. The 137 ft. boat once belonged to King Khufu of ancient Egypt , more than 4500 years ago! Khufu was the builder of one of the famous landmarks in the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza. The wealthy ancient Egyptians packed their beautiful possession with them when they died, believing they could use them again in the afterlife. Khufu buried two boats outside the Great Pyramid, both discovered in 1954. With more than 1650 pieces, it is estimated that the restoration will take about four years. It is being done at the Grand Egyptian Museum's exhibition hall so that visitors can watch the work being done.
Photograph from Yahoo NewsYou may not know about Barbara Rose Johns, who had a statue unveiled this week at the U.S. Capitol. In 1951, Johns, 16, wanted change for her poorly funded high school in Farmville, Virginia. During her time, her school was primarily a black school and did not receive the funding other schools for mostly white students received. She organized a strike and the attention given about segregated schools eventually reached the Supreme Court for a decision. The Supreme Court Justices, in 1954, determined separate by equal public schools were unconstitutional. Johns died in 1991. The statue of Johns includes the words, "Are we going to just accept these conditions, or are we going to do something about it?" Interestingly, her statue replaces Confederate Robert E. Lee, whose statue was removed a few years ago.
Photograph from Moton MuseumIf you use social media in Australia and are under the age of 16, a new law is going into effect. The country is the first in the world to ban Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and others to those under the age of sixteen. It is felt the law will protect young people from the possible negative effects of such platforms. Other countries including Malaysia and Denmark are considering similar bans. What do you think of this idea?
Illustration from Pixabay
Scientists have made an amazing discovery in the country of Bolivia. Thousands of footprints made by dinosaurs were found near what was a coastal area. Most of the fossilized footprints were that of therapods. Theropods walked on two legs. They also had three toes. Dating back to 66 million years ago, it is estimated that 16,600 tracks were discovered in Toro Toro National Park.
Photograph from Earth.com
PAST NEWS STORIES
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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