Thursday 24 December 2009

Let's See the Christmas Lights in London!

If you want to see the Christmas lights in London, don't miss this opportunity. Get in my car and I'll give you a lift from Piccadilly Circus to Marble Arc. Meanwhile we'll listen to a song we can sing quite well, can't we? By the way, don't panic! Remember people drive on the left here!

My Best Wishes for You All!

Sunday 20 December 2009

Happy Christmas (War is Over)

We would all be very happy is war was in fact over all over the world. However, there are many things we can do everyday to make the lives of the people around us easier, can't we. Now we can listen to this song by John Lennon, sing the karaoke version and think about the lyrics.


Jingle Bell Rock

If you feel like singing today, here goes this Jingle Bell Rock. Pay attention to the lyrics and then sing the karaoke version!



Do They Know it's Christmas?

Band Aid is a British charity that calls artists to record a Christmas single. Do They Know It's Christmas Time at All? is a song written in 1984 to raise money for the relief of famine in Ethiopia in 1984 and 1985. Many famous singers contributed with their voices. Although the song is almost 25 years old, I think the message is still valid. What do you think?



Here are the lyrics for you to think about the content:

All I Want for Christmas . . . is You!

Do you want a lot for Christmas? Well, here is a song that perhaps will help you be merry and happy . . .



And here goes the karaoke version for the artists!

Last Christmas

Tomorrow we'll celebrate Christmas in our English class. Among other things we'll review verb tenses by singing Last Christmas by Wham. Here is the song with the lyrics for you to rehearse before singing the karaoke version below.

Enjoy yourselves!





Thursday 17 December 2009

Christmas is coming!

Everybody knows Christmas is coming very soon. Here you will find lots of materials and activities to learn and review both Christmas content and vocabulary. I hope you also have fun with it.

To begin with, you can read and listen to a story about Christmas Day by clicking here. Is Christmas Day a special day in your life, too? What do you do at home to celebrate it? Is there any other special day in your life? What do you usually do on this day? Don't forget to post a comment answering these questions!

Moreover, you can find out more about Christmas customs and traditions in England with this online game and you can review some vocabulary with this card game where you just have to turn over pairs of cards and match words and pictures.

If you need something more challenging and international, this is an online quiz to play either in pairs or on your own, don't miss it! You'll learn how Christmas is celebrated all over the world.

As you know, one of the main characters of this time of the year in England is Santa Claus. Here is a funny song about him. Do you like it? Well, you can always play this game with . . . or against Santa!

Monday 14 December 2009

Past Simple

As you know, these days we have been learning the form and use of the past simple tense in English. In this site you'll find an interesting explanation of it, with links to activities. If you think you need to review the past form of verb 'to be', click here or here.

Still difficult? Well, you can always have a look at this website and read the explanation in Spanish!

Friday 27 November 2009

Treasure Hunt: Three Constitutions

On 6 December Spanish people remember the day we ratified our constitution. A constitution is the set of rules that establish the structure and duties of a government. It also guarantees certain rights to the people.

In this activity we will review some important aspects of the Spanish Constitution and we will learn some facts about the Constitution of the United Kingdom and the Constitution of the United States of America. The three of them protect the Human Rights.

Read these questions carefully and think if you can answer them:

1. Which of the three constitutions is the oldest? When was it written?
2. When was the Spanish Constitution adopted?
3. What happened on 6 December 1978 in Spain?
4. What is the main difference between the Constitution of the United Kingdom and the other two constitutions?
5. Name three rights American, British and Spanish citizens have.
6. Complete these sentences with one of these words: Parliamentary monarchy, constitutional monarchy, federal constitutional republic.

a) Spain is a . . . . . . . . . .
b) The United States of America are a . . . . . . . . . .
c) The United Kingdom is a . . . . . . . . . .

These are the websites that you should visit to answer the questions:


Please send a comment with your answers and don't forget to include your name!

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Happy Turkey Day!

I came across this funny video. I know you like videos and songs, so here it is for you to listen and see!



And here goes the original song:

The First Thanksgiving Day

If I were you I wouldn't hesitate to visit this fantastic website. You will be able to experience what the voyage on the Mayflower was like. You will also learn about a typical day in the life of both Pilgrims and native Americans. Are you hungry? Well, you can always take part of the first Thanksgiving feast! At the end, you can even do a WebQuest and check your knowledge . . . Don't miss it!

A Thanksgiving Day Worksheet

As you know, on the fourth Thursday of November people in the USA celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Members of the family meet around a huge dinner where stuffed turkey with gravy, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes play an important role. Americans also enjoy American football on TV and there is a famous parade along the streets of New York.

Here is the worksheet we will be working in class these days. I hope it help you learn new things. Moreover, you can see another activity we will do if you click here.


Thanksgiving

Let's Give Form to our Letters!

Do you think you need help with your letter? If you click here you will see the format of a friendly letter in English. Here you can see a picture of what a neat letter is. If you click on any part of the picture, you'll get a description.



Make sure you write a nice letter. First impressions are important!

Please Mr Postman!

As you know, we are preparing our first letters for our American pen pals. Soon we'll receive their letters, too. Have a look at this video, listen to Please Mr Postman by The Carpenters and answer these questions:

1. What's the name of the person that delivers letters?
2. Where does he carry the letters?
3. What is the singer waiting for?
4. Who is the addressee of the letter?
5. Who is the addresser of the letter?






Here is a version by The Beatles. What is the main difference with the song above? Which one do you prefer?

6. Who is the addreeser now?







Ready to sing alone? Click here for a karaoke version and enjoy yourself!

Say NO in Any Language!

The United Nations designated November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. We should be aware of how important this issue is all over the world. Here is a video for you to refect on violence:



And this is another short one, because NO is NO in any language!

Monday 23 November 2009

How Healthy is your Diet?

You know that these days we have been working on food and healthy diet. Here you are the food pyramid we have seen in class. I hope you take it into account and put the pieces of advice given in class ("should / shouldn't") into practice. You will go on working on this topic in your Physical Education lessons, so don't forget it!

You can click here if you want to play a game called Mission Nutrition. Follow the instructions . . . and good luck!

Sunday 22 November 2009

English is the FUNNIEST subject!

Did you understand all the explanations about comparatives and superlatives? If you think you need further clarification, click here and surf the site.

Now you are ready for a quick quiz, aren't you? Click here and do your best!

Now you can send a comment comparing Al, Joe and Ed, can't you?

Present Simple and Present Continuous

As you know, in unit 1 we studied Present Simple and Present Continuous. I think it's time to review both tenses. From here you will have access to explanations regarding their forms and uses, together with activities to check your knowledge.

Present Simple Present Continuous

Moreover, if you click here you can do an activity to distinguish one from the other.

Would you like to do something more challenging? Click
here and complete the text!

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Let's Meet our Pen Pals!

Very soon we'll send our first letter to our pen pals. Click here if you want to see the list of the pairs. Would you like to know where they live and study? If you skim this website you'll get a lot of information about them. Make sure you are able to answer these questions and send a comment with the answers:

1. What is the name of the school?
2. What is the name of the town where the school is?
3. In the USA there are 50 states. Which is the state where the school is? (Perhaps you'll have to click here.)
4. Which is the county to which it belongs?
5. Have a look at the location of the state in this map. What is the capital of the state where our penpals live? Which is the ocean their state borders?

I'm waiting for your answers!

Sunday 8 November 2009

The Health Benefits of Physical Activity

These days you will be seeing how good physical activity is for your health. According to your PE teacher, you should visit this website, read it carefully and learn about five of the benefits mentioned here. Once you've done it, you'll be ready to talk about them in Spanish, won't you? Moreover, you should also be ready to mention three benefits in English.


Apart from that, we'll deal with foods and healthy diet in our English class (you're doing it right now in your biology lessons, aren't you?). So, with the things you learn here you also should be able to mention three things you should eat and three things you shouldn't eat if you want to be healthy.


Good luck!

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Halloween

Last week we celebrated Halloween in our class by reading a text and answering a questionnaire about its origins . . . and we also played a scary bingo, didn't we? Here you are some other activities you can do to review vocabulary and have a good time . . . if you dare!

Click here to match words and pictures.

Try this quiz to check how much you know about Halloween.

Here you can read and listen to a story about a haunted house.


Sunday 25 October 2009

Walking along Oxford Street (London)

As you know, these days we are going shopping in our class. We learnt Oxford Street is the most famous shopping street in London, with many big department stores and popular shops. It is also 2.4 kilometeres long!

Enjoy walking along Oxford Street with the help of this video. What things can you buy in Oxford Street? Which is your favourite shop?


Wednesday 21 October 2009

We are street entertainers!

Here you can see in full colour the worksheet we were working on in class the other day. And don't forget to write your composition!
We Are Street Entertainers (Unit 1)

Saturday 17 October 2009

Works by Julian Beever

The other day we read a text about Julian Beever, a brilliant British pavement artist. We learnt his pictures are three dimensional. Here are a couple of interesting videos. In the first one you'll see Julian actually creating a picture, with his pieces of chalk and his camera. The second one is a compilation of some of his pictures. What's your favourite one?

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Let's Visit Covent Garden!

These days we have read about Covent Garden, London. Here is an interesting website with information about the market and piazza, its street entertainers and its history. Moreover, here you can read what one of the street entertainers says about performing there.

If you prefer to watch a couple of street performers, here are two interesting videos. What are these people doing? Which one do you prefer? Why?





Would you like to visit Covent Garden? Well, if you have about 10 minutes, here is a nice man that can show it to you. Enjoy the visit!

Tuesday 13 October 2009

Greetings!

Hi, students! I know this blog doesn't have many things yet, but I'm sure that with your help and contribuitions, it will soon include many interesting posts. You should check it frequently and write all the comments you want.