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Teaching Timelines: Happy Belated Birthday Frederic Auguste Bartholdi

8/3/2019

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FREE on TPT
I had every intention of posting this yesterday and just didn't get that far.  However, I was so excited to celebrate this birthday, that I figured a day late is better than nothing.  This upcoming year, one of my themes is going to be focused on immigration and the many gifts that ALL humans add to our world.  As an introduction, I am going to be looking at the individuals connected to building the Statue of Liberty.

Two weeks ago, my husband and I held the "golden tickets" to go on an adventure up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty.  I have to admit that this was a HUGE item on my bucket list.  It was a thrill to be some of the few people that have experienced the long climb up 354 steps into her crown.  Despite the many challenges that our country is facing, I do believe that she is a symbol of optimism and hope and I want to share her wonder to my students. 

Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi is known for his design of "Liberty Enlightening the World" otherwise known as the Statue of Liberty.  She was designed to commemorate the friendship between France and the United States.  The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in October 1886.  She is 151 feet, 1 inch tall and sits on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.  
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Amazon Affiliate
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Teaching Timelines: August Calendar

7/28/2019

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Teachers Pay Teachers
The classroom calendar is a perennial wall hanging in almost every elementary classroom across the country.  Many are decorated with seasonal pattern cut-outs such as red apple, yellow apple, green apple (can you tell I taught Kindergarten?) or fall leaves in various color patterns.  Teachers use the calendar as daily tool to show holidays, school events, a way to count to the 100th day of school, and classmates' birthdays.  However, for so many of us, the challenge of carving out time is an ever present battle during instruction.  

A couple of years ago, while I was teaching timelines in class, I realized that I needed to be more intentional with my calendar time and could incorporate quality literature while connecting them to the classroom calendar and the larger timelines that I teach in class.  I have streamlined my calendar design and added new history makers for students to learn about.  I have tried to share not only my favorite grade level books, but some other strong pieces of literature for upper grades.  I use these books as part of our regularly scheduled read aloud time.  Additionally, I have MANY Youtube cues that I continue to add to for each month (I will share more later).  

If you are interested in using this in your classroom, the August file can be found on my Teachers Pay Teachers site for FREE for the month of August.  Additionally, if you are interested in any of the book recommendations, please click on the images below to go to my Amazon Affiliate store.  
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Landing on the Moon-50 Years Later

7/20/2019

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Be honest...when you were a kid, how many of you thought it would be cool to be an astronaut?  If you didn't, you certainly had a friend who did.  The picture above was taken in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's gift shop while on an adventure with my nerdy history friend Jessica.         I couldn't resist.   My kids are going to love it, particularly as we have a year long space theme (among other themes) going on in class this upcoming school year.  I am busily researching STEAM projects we can explore in class.  

So much of my social studies instruction is based upon teaching timelines that having a focused theme on space exploration will be a timely touch.  I have to admit that I am a bit partial this year as I am celebrating the same number.  I am still searching for the perfect t-shirt to add to my collection for teaching history.  I'll keep you posted.

As always when teaching timelines, I LOVE finding new children's literature to support our studies.  Whenever there is a big anniversary celebration coming out, authors are quick to think ahead and write for the event.  Recently, I have become obsessed with the new line of Little Golden Books of historical events/characters.  I recently picked up the new Statue of Liberty on our last visit.  I was pleased to see a new one focusing on the first moon landing.  Additionally, if you are unfamiliar with Chris Gall, he published a book on America The Beautiful that has incredible illustrations to use with your students and I am excited to get my hands on Go For The Moon.  Admittedly, I don't have either book YET, but have added them to my Amazon cart.  Please click on the images below if you would like to order from Amazon as well.  I am Neil Armstrong is a new addition to Brad Meltzer's series.

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As I mentioned earlier, almost all of my social studies teaching centers around teaching timelines.  I have discovered over the last many years that students find great success when given the ability to organize people and events via a master timeline.  I have many mini-timelines that merge into my GIANT anchor chart and the history makers from this mini timeline are then embedded into the larger.  Please enjoy the images below as a small sample of the MEGA pack that can be found on Teachers Pay Teachers if you are interested.
space exploration Mega Pack
Lastly, no major event would be complete without a GOOGLE DOODLE! Yes, I love them and this one is particularly grand.  The eagle has landed!!
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Three for Thursday Week One: Dolly Parton

1/3/2019

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I truly can't think of a better way for me to start the new year and a weekly post that I have been wanting to start for awhile than with one of my heroes, Dolly Parton.  Tomorrow, January 4, the Grand Ole Opry will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dolly's membership at the Grand Ole Opry.  Fifty years!  That simply goes to show the talent and determination Dolly shows both in her career and her life.  Dolly will also be celebrating her birthday on January 19th. 
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Three For Thursday will feature a timely book, a primary source/artifact, and a Moffat postcard(s). These items can be used together as a lesson in the classroom or a fun inspiration for home studies.  I hope you find this inspiring.  
Moffat has a truly magical life, one that many of us want, as he travels from place to place learning along the way.  This time, Moffat hitched a ride with my good friend Jill and her family, as they got to explore Dollywood during the holidays.  I have to admit that I am a bit jealous as I DREAM of going there. I want to explore the park and take in Dolly's museum, Chasing Rainbows.  Someday...

The photograph below is Dolly's loved and iconic "coat of many colors" that is the real life artifact that inspired her favorite song "Coat of Many Colors" in 1971.  At that time she wrote the lyrics, she was traveling with Porter Wagoner.  Unable to find paper, she wrote the lyrics on the back of a dry cleaning ticket!  
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Dolly's family including her parents, Avie Lee and Lee Parton and her eleven brothers and sisters. Image: Dolly Parton Front Porch series 
This is the newer version of Coat of Many Colors by Dolly and illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes.  An earlier version of the book is also available.  I use this book in my classroom as a mentor text for personal narrative.  Several themes in the book, including the love and support of a family and being mistreated by classmates, are easily related to by most students.  The book also demonstrates how a story can be inspired by a personal object.  If you are unfamiliar with the song, the book or even the new movie, I highly encourage you to to take a closer look.

In closing, I would like to share Dolly reading this book at the Library of Congress as part of her Imagination Library program.  

Yet one more reason to love Dolly, like I needed one!
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What's Your Favorite Book?

7/20/2018

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For several weeks now, I have been watching friends tag other friends while posting the cover to their favorite books.  In the midst of this, I was tagged by a good friend, and until now, have yet to respond.

The truth is, I struggle with getting through novels.  Don't get me wrong, I desperately want to.  My nightstand has a substantial collection of them that I have the best intention of truly enjoying.  I want to, but struggle greatly to complete the books.  It's tremendously frustrating.

Recently, I was attending a teaching seminar in Washington DC and enjoyed as many of the museums as my off time allowed.  If you haven't spent time in the book section of a museum store, you are missing out!  Before the internet, the best place to locate a high quality selection of amazing literature was in a museum book store.  When I was at the National Gallery of Art and rounded the corner in the children's book section, I felt like I was home! 

THESE ARE MY BOOKS!  

To quote Thomas Jefferson, "I cannot live without books."  I just prefer my books to be children's picture books.

Over the last ten years, since I have focused on cataloging children's books through the lens of geography and history, a whole new world of literature has burst onto the scene.  Whenever I am sharing one of these pieces with my first graders, we always look to the back of the book at the author's note and the bibliography.  Just because it is a short picture book, does not mean that there has not been some research on the subject.  I like to use these examples with my kids to share what writers do for their craft.  

So...with this being said, I am going to challenge ten of my friends to post the cover of their favorite children's books, no other comment.  I will be posting too, picture books of course!!


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Three for Thursday with Martin Luther King, Jr.                                                      #BLOG365 Day 134

1/12/2017

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 Engaging students in stories through different perspectives is a key element when teaching history.  It is important to help students understand that humans experience an event through different eyes and walks of life.  I like to extend this teaching to photography and primary sources.  

Most commonly, the images of MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech are focusing on him as he is standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  I like the image above as it encourages a different perspective.  I am curious to see if my students can identify the location of the image based upon the Washington Monument in the background.  Secondly, this view encourages a discussion around the overwhelming number of people gathered on this particular day.  Why are they there?  What event could draw such a large crowd?

Several years ago, I taught with a woman who is one of those little specks of a human in that overwhelming crowd. Her father had taken her and her brother on a bus from Philadelphia to see MLK's speech that day.  She was very young and doesn't remember all that much aside from the large crowds.  She does know that they were standing to MLK's left.  I like to look at this photograph and think of my friend standing in this huge crowd witnessing this life altering speech.  

Perspective is important, both for the stories and the images.
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Three for Thursday with Thomas Jefferson

1/5/2017

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I have been wanting to start this segment of my blog for awhile.  I incorporating a strong piece of literature with a Moffat photograph and a primary source document in as many of my lessons as I can.  It's hard to go wrong when you have the primary source and a Moffat photograph!

Our studies are finishing the American Revolution and moving into the Louisiana Purchase.  Thomas Jefferson is the perfect bridge and this book is a gem.  I start the lesson with the photograph of Moffat at Monticello and have the students recall who might have lived there.  We then move into discussion around Thomas Jefferson's amazing diagram of the macaroni machine.  Students love hearing about the "love apple(tomato)" and how Thomas tempted others to try it.  It is rather easy to find a parent that wants to bring in some TJ mac and cheese to finish out the leaning fun. 

Thomas Jefferson's Macaroni Recipe
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The Annual Lighting of the Rockefeller  Christmas Tree

12/2/2015

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It's that time of year when I look forward to the Annual Lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.  Oddly, Moffat has hitched a ride to see the amazing site THREE times and I have yet to go!  It is very high on my bucket list. In 2011, The Carpenter's Gift by David Rubel was published.. This is the story of 8-year-old Henry, who works alongside his father during the Depression selling Christmas trees.  Henry dreams of living in a home other than the drafty shack they currently have and the kindness of others, brings Henry's wish to life.  

David Rubel wrote this book in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity.  Today, deserving families now call the magical wood from a Rockefeller Christmas Tree their home!  Enjoy the video links below to learn more about this wonderful partnership and giving back to the community! 

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The Carpenter's Gift
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On this day...Dolley Madison comes to the rescue!

8/23/2015

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Moffat was fortunate enough to view the painting of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.
National portrait gallery
In 1814, James Madison was the president of the United States and the US was once again at war with the British during the War of 1812. President Madison left the White House to visit troops, advising his wife, Dolley, to be ready to leave the White House at a moments notice. On August 23, when she received word for evacuation, she ordered the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington to be saved.  The frame was broken (it was bolted to the wall) and the canvas was rolled and evacuated before the British troops occupied and burned the White House. Due to the damage, the Madisons were never able to reoccupy the White House again.
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To learn more about the portrait and the story of Dolley, take the time to explore the links below or read the book that can be found on Amazon.

Smithsonian interactive portrait
Dolley madison book on amazon
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National American Eagle Day

6/20/2015

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American Eagle Federation Information
eagles.org
It is rather challenging (no pun intended) to photograph Moffat with a real bald eagle, so when I came across this beauty in Franklin Square in Philadelphia, I was very excited! Today is National American Eagle Day, a day to remember the importance of one of our national symbols and raise awareness to continue to care for the once close to extinct species.  The bald eagle was chosen by our Founding Fathers during the Second Continental Congress on June 20, 1782 to be our national emblem.

Today, the bald eagle represents freedom and democracy.  Young learners can study more about bald eagles in the children's book "Challenger" by Margot Theis Raven. Challenger is cared for by the American Eagle Federation that has its headquarters at Dollywood in Tennessee (Dolly is one of my own personal heroes).  
Interestingly, in my own hometown of Colorado Springs, our city's founder's home, Glen Eyrie, literally means "Valley of the Eagle."  General William Jackson Palmer's "castle" still offers regular tours, tea, overnight stays and retreats while enjoying a glimpse into his history.  Below are images from a book that I wrote in partnership with the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum on General Palmer.  The book can be downloaded free of charge by clicking on the following link.

Colorado SPrings Pioneers museum
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If you would like to learn more about General WIlliam Jackson Palmer's Glen Eyrie, click the link below.
Glen Eyrie
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    Christy Howard
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    Passionate about photography, travel and teaching social studies to young learners.

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  • Moffat's Blog
  • About
  • My Support People
  • Geography in the Classroom
  • History In The Classroom
  • Diverse Kids
  • Honors and Continued Work
  • #Blog365
  • #historymakers