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Moffat's Travels

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What's Your Story?

1/7/2019

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We all have stories.  Stories of sadness, hard times, loneliness, and fear.  Stories of birthday parties, time spent with friends, trips to the zoo, and bicycle riding.  These stories weave us together, creating bonds and memories and building dreams for the future.

The picture to the right is me at age three at the park with both sets of grandparents and my parents.  Don't you just love the dated clothing?  Classic!  Like every individual, I, too, have stories.  These stories bring back memories and emotions and create dreams.  I am dreaming big this year!  To quote my favorite president, Theodore Roosevelt, "Believe you can and you're halfway there."  Time to dream big!

As I teacher, I love to bring the stories in history alive for my students and help them connect to the many history makers we learn about.  They too, are history makers with stories to tell.  Stories of hurt and sadness and stories of joy and happiness.  Stories create hopes and dreams and connect us as individuals.

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What is your story?

What are your dreams?

​What are you doing to reach them?

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History Matters...

5/29/2015

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As many of us have been packing up our classrooms this last week, I have come across some old notes and received new ones and thought I would share that history really does make am impact.  These are a few of my favorites and they bring great joy to my heart!  The bottom image is the self-designed card cover with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt.  Love teaching!!!
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Happy BIrthday Nellie Bly!

5/5/2015

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History Calendar for Elementary Classroom on TPT (Nellie is featured in May)
Happy birthday to Nellie Bly, female journalist and role model!  Nellie lived during a period in American history when women were not allowed to vote and one of the only true "suitable" jobs for a woman was that of a teacher (not that that is a bad profession). Instead, Nellie went on to do undercover reporting and eventually went on to break Jules Verne's fictitious "Around The World In 80 Days" calculation. She completed the journey in a record breaking 72 days!   She did not like to take "no" for an answer.  Nellie's  own motto being "Energy rightly applied and directed will accomplish anything." It is such a simple motto, but one that I truly admire and strive for daily.  Happy birthday Nellie!  You are an inspiration!
Google Doodles has done it yet again!  It ALWAYS thrills me to see one of these pop up while researching.  I admire the individuals that possess such creative abilities and appreciate the fun historical information.
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Nellie Bly Resource Website
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Made my day!!!

4/10/2015

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I was honored to again be a guest teacher at a local school and share my love of Theodore Roosevelt with two third grade classrooms.  I am still finessing the lessons, but with any teaching, each time improves.  TR is the president of study for the district's third grade students.  As he is my favorite (the more I learn, the more I want to learn), I have a grand time sharing my collection of period artifacts including a stereoscope, period purse and collar box, a camera and other fun treasures.  

As we were wrapping up, one of the students came up to me and announced that the afternoon was "better than field day!"  I think that was a great way to end the day.  Wish I could spend more time teaching kids history all day long!
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Happy President's Day 2015

2/16/2015

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It is fitting that the two Moffat photographs I have chosen were both taken in Virginia, after all, it it known as the "Mother of Presidents." During my visit there in 2013 to attend an NCHE conference, I was reminded of so many of the pivotal events in our nation's history that have happened in the state of Virginia.  It is amazing to think that events from early colonization to the American Revolution to the Civil War all took place in this state.

Aside from the historical events that have taken place in Virginia, can you name the eight presidents that were born in Virginia? All eight of the presidents are represented in the rotunda in the Virginia State Capitol. George Washington was of course the first and has the center display.  

Hint: The other presidents are the 3rd, the 4th, the 5th, the 9th, the 10th, the 12th and the 28th presidents.  Watch the Youtube video below to see if you can name them.

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Go Google!  Happy 113th Birthday to Langston Hughes for the beginning of Black History Month!

2/1/2015

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I'm extremely excited to teach in the month of February!  Between Black History Month, Mardi Gras, Presidents' Day and Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthday, we have a ton of great learning coming up!!  I am thrilled every time I go to Google and they post one of their doodles.  You never know when they will show up and they never fail to inspire me with the level of creativity in the piece.

I have been working very hard on some new products for my Teachers Pay Teachers store for Black History Month.  Please take the time to look at African American History Characters Powerpoint and Timeline and Characters in African American History Timeline,  Quotes and Primary Source Cards. Both products are appropriate for all elementary grades and offer information on a wide variety of people.  Geography and math are easily incorporated for cross-curricular studies. Both products are on sale through February 3rd.
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Happy Birthday Teddy!!!

10/27/2014

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"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
                                          - Theodore Roosevelt
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Theodore Roosevelt is by far my favorite president!  When I think about it, I believe that he seemed larger than life and dabbled in so many areas of interest.  He is also a fascinating topic for kids to study. I am currently hosting an after school book club for second graders and we are using "Who Was Theodore Roosevelt?" as our text.  The students have been enjoying sharing their own collections after learning about young TR's natural history collection.  

Oddly, they were not very amused with me after I broke their hieroglyphic pots during our study of Egypt (after learning about Teddy's family trip there).  We learned about the job of an archeologist by watching a Scholastic video by archeologist Dr. Ruben Mendoza and then headed off to the sandbox to dig up their broken pots.  Much to their chagrin, their pots are still not completely assembled!

Despite their frustration over their pots, we are having a grand time learning about Teddy and his travels as a young boy. I am looking forward to our time as we focus on the relationship that Teddy had with conservationist John Muir and am planning a school wide conservation effort in conjunction with our student council.

If you don't know much about TR yourself, I highly encourage you to take the time to learn.  He truly was an amazing man and one of great inspiration for all!
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New School Clothes By Ben

8/7/2014

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Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I will remember.
Involve me and I learn.
                      - Benjamin Franklin
This post is dedicated to all my NEH Benjamin Franklin Buddies!  I am sending you new school clothing virtually (oh how I wish).

I first learned more about Ben and his amazing life while attending a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar in 2011. Before this experience (which I will tell more stories of), I had very little understanding of the truly incredible life led by Benjamin Franklin.  I love this quote by him, because as a teacher, it is a great inspiration for us as we begin a new school year.

Involve your children and they will learn! Have a great year!!!
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If you would like to learn more about Benjamin Franklin and his amazing life, click the link above.

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Thank you to my former student, Ava, who very kindly dropped this surprise package on my doorstep.  You are so thoughtful!!!  I can't wait to wear it!
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STRONG CHILDREN by Frederick Douglass

8/4/2014

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With school starting across the country, we all understand the importance of this quote. Whether your school has already started, you are just stepping back into the bare room or are staring at that empty planner, all of us approach our day with the understanding that we are helping to build strong, curious and productive citizens. We take our jobs very seriously and Frederick Douglass knew the importance of childhood.

This photo is taken from one of my TPT timeline sets.  I use a ton of primary source images in my classroom to familiarize my students with how to analyze them and prepare them for intermediate grades when they will be analyzing them for state testing.  
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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