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!!!

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!

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.

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.

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!