Contest: My Advent Calendar

Our Christmas contest is here! Can you create your own Advent Calendar?

RULES: 1) You can use any theme, any material. 2) Click on the links to look for information and ideas. 3) Be creative and original. 4) Deadline:19th December 5) Have fun! PRIZE: umm, let me think...we'll ask the 3 Wise Men! Good luck!

- Wikipedia - Online Advent Calendar - Countdown to Christmas (activities) - Pictures (Flickr) - History - Advent tree - Crafts

Past simple and continuous (more practice)

The Idiot Test

I bet you aren't an idiot. Are you brave enough to take this test? Click on the picture and follow the instructions.

Cheer up!

Freeze My Senses

When we watch the Christmas Lottery spot, we know Christmas is coming. This year the music used in the commercial is "Freeze my senses" by Lionel Neykov. Listen to the song and read about this young singer. (Thanks to Ana)

- Myspace

- Garage Band

Song lyrics | Freeze My Senses lyrics

Ana's contribution

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you wearing?

Clothes (For beginners)


- Can you colour her clothes?
- Matching clothes
- Cards matching
- Wordsearch
- Quiz
- Hangman
- Puzzle and song
- Short story
- English-Spanish games
- Dress-up games

Sources: englishbanana.com, British Council,

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, 27th November

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday, and is a form of harvest festival. The date and whereabouts of the first Thanksgiving celebration is a topic of modest contention. Though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8, 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida, the traditional "first Thanksgiving" is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members.

- Send E-cards

- You are the Historian, investigating the first Thanksgiving (audio needed)

- Story and quiz

- Vocabulary

- Vocabulary (youtube)

- DLTK 's activities (coloring pages, crafts, games, poems, recipes, printables)

- Black Friday (article and listening)

- ESL KidStuff's games and activities

- Webquest

- Quiz

- Kaboose's games

- More games

- Crossword

- Wordsearch

Sources: istockphoto, wipipedia,

Say NO

International Day for the Elimination of Violence

25th November

Song lyrics | Rain On Me lyrics

Harry Potter

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

July 2009

- Official site

- Wikipedia

- Activities and links (Isabel Pérez)

- Games

- Listening (BBC)

- Pronunciation

Unit 2: Translation (4º ESO)

UNIT 2: TRANSLATION (4º E.S.O.)

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Cuando Jack llegó, estábamos viendo la televisión.

2. “¿Qué hacías ayer a las 10?” “Hacía la tarea”

3. El teléfono no sonó a las 8, sonó a las 8 y cuarto y yo estaba duchándome.

4. Están confundidos y desilusionados . No entiendo por qué( why)no quieren que nosotros les ayudemos.

5. Llevaba puesto un vestido blanco muy bonito. Parecía feliz.

6. Cuando conocí a mi novio, nevaba.

7. Mientras mis primos cenaban, nosotras dormíamos. ¡Estábamos agotadas!

8. A menudo me siento tímida cuando hablo con gente muy segura de sí misma.

9. ¿Estaba tu padre durmiendo la siesta cuando llegó el cartero?

10. Con frecuencia los adolescentes se sienten frustrados porque sus padres no los entienden.

11. ¿Os gustó la película? Sí. Fue muy sorprendente y emocionante.

12. ¿Qué te hace sentir furioso? Las personas groseras y antipáticas.

13. Cuando oímos la noticia, nos pusimos muy nerviosos. Estábamos cenando.

14. ¿Por qué no estábais sentados cuando llegó el profesor?

15. ¿A dónde iba tu cuñada ayer a las 6 de la mañana?

Pepa's contribution

Unit 2 - 4º E.S.O.

* FEELINGS AND PERSONALITY

EASY
- Feelings and family
- List and activities
- Matching
- Wordsearch

DIFFICULT
- Hangman
- Matching
- Crossword
- Vocabulary builder (-ed/-ing)

* PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS

EASY
- Fill in the gaps 1, 2, 3
- Was or were
- Grammar and exercises
- The Others
- Game

DIFFICULT
- Complete the texts 1, 2, 3, 4
- Verb tenses review
- Translation

Past Continuous Form And Use

* ADJECTIVES ENDING WITH -ED OR -ING


The lesson is boring, so the students are bored.
The lesson is interesting, so the students are interested.

CAUSES THE FEELING/EFFECT: -ing
RECEIVES/EXPERIENCES THE EFFECT/FEELING: -ed

- Matching
- Quiz1, 2, 3, 4

Sources: teachplay.com.mx, amazon.com, rosarioa.slide, cartoonstock.com

Billy Elliot (2000)

QUESTIONS

1.Where and when is set the film?
2. What is the real nature of the prejudice against ballet shown by Billy's father and brother? What other examples of prejudice are there? To what extent are these prejudices still alive and well in our society?
3. Billy’s Mother is represented in the film by her piano. What happens to the piano? How does the family react to this?
4. Can you describe the kitchen? And the neighbourhood?
5. What lesson was Billy taking in the boy’s club? Was he good at it?
6. Who was Mrs Wilkinson?
7. Who was on strike?

SUBJECTS --- Dance; World/England;
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING --- Breaking Out; Families in Crisis;
MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS --- Caring; Responsibility; Respect.

SUMMARY: FILL IN THE GAPS (Use: grandmother, cigarettes, secret, 11-year-old, Royal Ballet School, responsibility, on strike, ballet class, talent, enthusiasm, food, passion, friend, Northern England, mine).

The life of ______Billy Elliot, a coal miner’s son, in _______is forever changed one day when he sees a _________during his weekly boxing lesson. He finds himself demonstrating the kind of _______ seldom seen by the class’s instructor Mrs Wilkinson.With a never-ending stream of ________ in her hand, Mrs Wilkinson’s ________ for teaching is revived when she sees Bill’s potential. She wants to teach her new pupil.
But Billy must keep the ballet classes a ________from his widowed father and elder brother, as both men are ________ from their jobs at the ________, and are finding it difficult to put _______ on the table. Their frustrations finally explode when they discover Billy spends his boxing money on dancing classes.
Banned from ballet, and troubled by the mental problems of his ________Billy finds comfort with his school __________Michael.
Meanwhile, Mrs Wilkinson encourages Billy to try out for the ________ in London, where he can improve his skill and escape his oppressive background.
But Billy is torn between his _________ to his family and to his talent. His to dance is more than a means of self- expression. It is his ___________, and it is his
destiny.

- Webquest
- Quiz

Sources: British Council, Damaris, worksheet by luisa2008, billyelliot.com, teachwithmovies.org

Madagascar 2

28th November

---CAST---

Ben Stiller as Alex, Chris Rock as Marty, Andy Richter as Mort, David Schwimmer as Melman, Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria, Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien, Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice, Tom McGrath as Skipper, John DiMaggio as Rico, Chris Miller as Kowalski, Christopher Knights as Private, Elisa Gabrielli as Nana AKA Old Lady, Bernie Mac as Zuba, Sherri Shepherd as Florrie, Alec Baldwin as Makunga, will.i.am as Moto Moto, Conrad Vernon as Mason.

---ANIMALS FEATURED---

Zebra - Hippopotamus -Lion - Giraffe -Penguin - Chimpanzee -Ring-Tailed Lemur - Mouse Lemur - Aye-Aye - Ruffed Lemur - Drouhard's Shrew Tenrec -Chameleon - Butterfly - Ocelot Gecko - Giant Rat - Snake - Hawk - Hummingbird - Duck - Nile Crocodile -Dolphins - Horse -Fossa

---ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES---

- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

- Lists of animals and exercises (hangman, dictation, word search)

- Exercises (all levels)

Source: Wikipedia

Michael Crichton dies

Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, dies of cancer

Michael Crichton, the author behind the fictional world of Jurassic Park, died yesterday at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer that he hid from the public eye. Crichton, the author of more than a dozen bestselling novels and creator of the medical drama series ER, died unexpectedly in Los Angeles, his family said.

A statement from Mr Crichton’s family posted on the writer’s website described his fight with cancer as “courageous and private” and added: “While the world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us . . . his family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University before tutoring at Cambridge University in anthropology and later registering at Harvard Medical School.

Crichton, whose books have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide, was heavily influenced by his scientific training, and often conjured up visions of dystopian worlds that bore the brunt of botched attempts at scientific advancement. His first bestseller, The Andromeda Strain, which speculated upon the devastating effects of an extraterrestrial microorganism on the human race, was published while he was still a medical student.
Thirteen of his books were turned into films, including Jurassic Park, which told of recreating dinosaurs via DNA contained in the blood of mosquitoes preserved in amber. The film, released in 1993, took nearly $1 billion (£630 million) worldwide, and in 2002 Mr Crichton had a newly discovered ankylosaur named after him: Crichtonsaurus bohlini.
The family statement added: “Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand.”

Working knowledge
—Legend has it that at his peak Michael Crichton could write up to 10,000 words a day. He described the process as excruciating, however, and for an agonising period in the 1980s he was struck by writer’s block. He “cured” himself by consulting all manner of New Age gurus
—Crichton’s writing regime was eccentric. He wrote seven days a week and would hide himself away in a sparsely furnished room to minimise distraction, eating the same thing for lunch every day
—He would break off from his labours only to take exercise or to see his family. As each work progressed, he would wake up earlier and earlier until towards the end of each book he would be at his computer at 2am
—To ensure that his works were as accurate as possible he became an expert in all manner of subjects, from genetic engineering to international economics, taking in Nordic myths, primatology, medieval European history and even airline deregulation
—Crichton used two pen names when he was at medical school – John Lange and Jeffrey Hudson – to knock out pulp fiction. Both included a play on his lankiness, Lange meaning “tall one” in German, Dutch and Danish, while Sir Jeffrey Hudson was a famous dwarf who mixed in 17th-century court circles

Sources: timesonline.co.uk and bbc.co.uk

Obama wins US election

He's American. He's black. He's 47 years old. He's BARACK OBAMA. He has been elected president of the United States.

QUESTIONS

1. What's his full name?
2. Where was he born?
3. When was he born?
4. How tall is he?
5. Where are his parents from?
6. Is he married?
7. What's his job?
8. What are his favourite books?
9. What's his favourite music?
10. What are his favourite films?
11. What's his favourite television show?
12. What does he like doing in his free time?

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night (5th November)

Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night, Cracker Night, Fireworks Night) is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605 in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, England.It is primarily marked in the United Kingdom where it was compulsory, by Royal Decree, to celebrate the deliverance of the King until 1859, but also in former British colonies including New Zealand, parts of Canada, and parts of the British Caribbean. Festivities are centred on the use of fireworks and the lighting of bonfires. (From wikipedia)

- Animated Story
- Listening
- Reading and multiple choice
- Game
- Tic Tac Toe
- Poem
- Ordering a text (doc)
- Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot (ppt)

Articles and quantifiers

A un/una + sustantivo singular (empieza por consonante) -----> A book

An un/una + sustantivo singular (empieza por vocal) -----> An apple

The (de/dí)* el/la/los/las + sustantivo contable o incontable -----> The book / The music

How much? ¿Cuánto? + sustantivos incontables -----> How much money?

How many? ¿Cuántos? + sustantivos contables -----> How many books?

Much (mách) Mucho + sustantivo incontable -----> Much time

Many (méni) Muchos + sustantivo contable -----> Many apples

Some (sám) Algunos/algo de + afirmativa -----> I need some books.

Any (éni) algún/ningún + negativa / interrogativa -----> I haven´t got any books.

* Pronunciación figurada

Image from inglesmadrid.com

ACTIVITIES

- A or An: one, two

- A, An, The or Nothing

- A, An, Some, Any

- A, An, The

- Some /Any

- Some / Any (different levels)