NEW YEAR´S RESOLUTIONS

A new year is coming! Just 4 days to start 2011! This is a good moment to have a look at what we have done during this year and at what we want to do in the new one. Many people write a list of resolutions, things they want to change or improve in their lives, and keep it close to them to remember it. So why don´t we make our own list? Have a look at this slide show with the Top 10 New Year´s Resolutions to find inspiration...

Happy Christmas to all our friends, readers, supporters, families, teachers and pupils from all over the world!

I love you!

Rosa

WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS MEAN TO YOU?

What is Christmas? What does Christmas mean to you? Is this your favourite time of the year? What do you like more about Christmas? Please, send comments with your opinion. To inspire you, listen carefully to this lovely song by Stevie Wonder: "What Christmas means to me".

HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER)

Now it´s time to sing! Our Christmas show is near and we have to rehearse this year´s song: "Happy Christmas (War is over)" by John Lennon. So what are you waiting for? Take a mike and sing!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. BEAN

One more year I want you to laugh and enjoy with Mr. Bean at Christmas. It´s one of my favourites sketches. It´s got 3 parts. You can´t miss it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. BEAN

TOP 100 CLASSROOM BLOGS

Quess what? Our blog has been including in a list of the "TOP 100 CLASSROOM BLOGS", in concrete within the category "Elementary - Primary International". This list contains blogs from all over the world, and all of them are really interesting. The list was made by Alexis Brett from Canada, who tried to make a sort of "resource guide" for other teachers to get inspired to start their own classroom blogs too. And the result is fantastic! Thank you for sharing, Alexis! And for taking us into account! You have made a wonderful job.

You can visit this page and click on the different blogs. It´s worth it!

ADVENT CALENDAR

Yes! Today is the 1st of December. That means that it´s time to open the windows of the advent calendar one more year and see the surprises behind each one. Remember that an advent calendar is a special calendar to count the days until Christmas Day. Click on the image on the left and you will see the advent calendar of Woodlands Junior School (Kent - England). Click on a window each day and you will know how Christmas is celebrated around the world. But remember: you can´t open the windows until the proper day. So... don´t cheat!

SAINT ANDREW´S DAY

Today, November the 30th, is Saint Andrew´s Day, patron saint of Scotland. So Scots all over the world celebrate their national day with traditional food, music (bagpipes) and dancing. It is also a bank holiday.

But do you know many things about Scotland? Scotland is one of the countries of The United Kingdom. It´s located in the north. It´s capital city is Edinbourgh and it is also the country of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, the bagpipes and the kilts.

The Scotish flag is the cross of St. Andrew´s, also known as the Saltire, a white cross on a blue background.

The Scotish emblem is a thistle. A legend says that many years ago, a group of Scots were sleeping in a field when a group of Vikings came to attack them. But one of the Vikings stood up on a thistle and its prickles penetrated through to his foot and made him shout with pain. His cries woke up the sleeping Scots and saved them. From this day, the thistle became the emblem of Scotland.

And finally, if you want to know who St. Andrew´s was, watch this video. Enjoy it!
Happy St. Andrew´s Day!

CHILDREN´S RIGHTS: "Self-expression"

And finally, Chile did it also really well with this video about the right "Self-expression".

Remember all your rights. They are for you. But don´t forget we also have responsabilities.

CHILDREN´S RIGHTS: "A protective environment"

Scotland was in charge to make the video for this right: "A protective environment". And the results were excellent. Have a look!

CHILDREN´S RIGHTS: "Freedom from discrimination"

"Freedom for discrimination", this is the fourth right we are going to learn. Remember:

CHILDREN´S RIGHTS: KNOW THEM. LEARN THEM. DEFEND THEM. DEMMAND THEM

CHILDREN´S RIGHTS: Education

Are you enjoying these cartoons for Child Rights? I am, a lot. Now it´s time for the third right: EDUCATION (India).

CHILDREN´S RIGHTS: "Right of family"

Let´s go on with children´s rights. Today we are going to learn the second one: RIGHT OF FAMILY.
This spot was made in Argentina. Enjoy it!

UNIVERSAL CHILDREN´S DAY

Today, November the 20th, is the Universal Children´s Day. This year we celebrate the 21st anniversary of this important day for you, dear kids.

In 2006, UNICEF released the "Top Ten Cartoons for Children´s Rights" to conmemorate the 15th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This initiative wanted to inform people all around the world about the children´s rights. All the spots are non-verbal in order to focus on the message, regardless the language. They were made in 32 different countries and last 30 seconds. Some of them won pretigious rewards.
During the next days, I will publish them one by one so that you can watch them all. Let´s start with the 1st right: IDENTITY (Iran)

YOUR VISION OF EDUCATION

What is your vision of nowadays education? Do you like school? Do you like the way your teachers teach? Do you think it is worthwhile to spend 5 hours a day and 5 days a week writing and solving exercises in your notebook? The kids that appear on the following video have got a very clear idea of what they want to learn and how to do it. Do you agree with them?

WONDERFUL WORLD

Soon we will have the exam of unit 1. Remember that this unit is about school and one of the things we have to learn is the school subjects. And nothing better than this famous song to do it. Ladies and gentlemen, "Wonderful world" by Sam Cooke.

HALLOWEEN WORKS

To finish with the Halloween week, I would like to say THANK YOU to you all for your collaboration and CONGRATULATIONS on your works. They are really fantastic! You always do it better than I expected. Don´t you believe me? Have a look at this slideshow and you will see...

BONFIRE NIGHT

Today, November 5th, people in Great Britain celebrate Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes´ Day. Guy Fawkes was one of a group of Catholics who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 to kill the king James I. But they failed: they put 40 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the Houses of Lords but they were discovered and arrested. This is known as the Gunpowder Plot. Since then, and to remember it, people light bonfires with a guy on top representing Guy Fawkes. There are also fireworks displays. It´s traditional to eat jacket potatoes, toffee apples, potato pie, ...
Watch this video to know more about this event and play the game below to help Guy Fawkes with the barrels of gunpowder. Enjoy it!

TEACHERS TODAY

After watching yesterday´s video about teachers, I was a bit worried. Of course teachers are GOOD. We do this and much more. We work in a world in constant change but we also change with it and improve our resources and methodology. Don´t you agree? If you watch this video, you can see how teachers are today.

YOU CAN´T BE MY TEACHER

Teachers, you can´t miss this video. Listen to this boy and check if you fit him. Think carefully about it. Can you be his teacher? Can you be the teacher of our kids? This is a transcription of what he says:

"If you don't know the internet you can't be my teacher, I need someone who knows what I know. Meet me on the web, at least half way. Teachers today need to be literate to relate to digital natives.

Are you going to teach me in a school?
Are you going to make me sit in a desk all day?
Is this what you are going to use to teach me with?
Do you know how to use a computer?
Are you a teacher?
Are you my teacher?
Are you going to teach me using the internet?
Are you going to teach me how to be safe on the internet?
Do you know what goes on on the internet?
Are you sure you are my teacher?
Are you going to learn how to use the technology?
I am a digital native.
Do computers scare you?
Are you afraid to use them?
Have you been on facebook?
Have you been on twitter?
Have you been surfing?
Do you even know what is on the internet?
Are you going to be my teacher?
Or just that textbook?

Because I want to know...
what the world has to offer
And if you are not on the internet...
and know nothing about computers.
you can't be my teacher!
I said you can't be my teacher.
Make room for somebody who knows how to use the internet.
Do you think I am going to be ready?
Do you think you are preparing me for the world that I have to live in?
Do you think I am going to be ready?
That's your job! "

JACK-O´LANTERNS AT INFANTS

And, of course, there were also many pumpkin lanterns at Infants and they all were absolutely fantastic. It is incredible how much you have worked and how imaginative you´ve been. It is a pleasure to work with families like you.

VERY MANY THANKS TO YOU ALL!

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PUMPKIN LANTERNS AT PRIMARY

Wow! You can´t miss this slideshow! It is about the pumpkin lantern exhibition at Primary. You can´t imagine how many pumpkins there were in the hall of our school and how nice they were. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, IMAGINATION AND STRENGH!

Photo slideshow generated with Smilebox

HAUNTED MEMORIES 6 C

Our "Haunted memories" are really spooky and very, very funny! We had a great time today playing Halloween games in the English classroom. It was a shame it hadn´t been a bit longer...

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HALLOWEEN FUN 6 B

What a scary Halloween party! We all laughed a lot and got really excited with the games and the music. But the most emotional moment was when we lighted up the sparkle. So nice!

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HALLOWEEN FUN WITH 6 A

Look at this slideshow. It has got the photos of the Halloween games played by the 6 A kids. It´s very funny. We all had a great time. You can´t miss it!

This slideshow design made with Smilebox

TRICK OR TREAT

Look at this funny video! These two dogs didn´t want to miss "trick or treat".

MONSTER MASH

This is my favourite Halloween song: "Monster mash". That´s why we used it today in the Halloween games that we were playing in class. Enjoy it!

HALLOWEEN IS HERE!

Halloween is here at last! We all spend the year waiting for this scary time! Remember that the first thing we have to do is to carve a pumpkin to decorate the hall of our school. You can get some ideas from this video. Shoulders to the wheel!

AUTUMN WORKS

The autumn has already arrived to our English classroom. We can see the autumn leaves swirling around and the autumn fruits in a beautiful display. Have a look at this slideshow and you will understand what I am saying.

A picture slideshow by Smilebox

WE ARE ROBOTS

Testing assumes students are all the same but teachers know students are all different. This video done by a 4th grade class from San Antonio (Texas) shows the difference between robots and children. What do you think? Are we all the same?

COLUMBUS DAY

Today, October the 12th, is Columbus Day, also called Día de la Hispanidad or Día de la Raza. It´s celebrated in many countries of North and South America and also in Spain, along with its National Day. It commemorates the arrival of Cristopher Columbus to the New World on the 12th of October of 1492. This video shows you the preparations and the trip that he made.

Happy Columbus Day!

CONKERS

Have you ever heard about CONKERS? During the months of September and October, a favourite playground game is CONKERS. There are two players. Each player has got a conker or chestnut hanging on its string. Players take turns at hitting the oponent´s conker. The game goes on in turns until one of the two conkers is completely destroyed.

When you find your first conker of the autumn you must say this:

"Oddly oddly onker,

my first conker"

This ensures good fortune in the coming season. So... what are you waiting for? Go and find yours!

Kids Channel:
How To Win At Conkers

AUTUMN LEAVES

Now that we are talking about the autumn, we can´t forget this wonderful song by Nat King Cole: "AUTUMN LEAVES". It appeared in the film with the same title "Autumn leaves" that starred Joan Crawford in 1956. Originally it was a French song and it was played by lots of different artists all over the years.
It is a love song. Someone talks about a summer love and how much he or she misses it now that it´s autumn and the leaves are falling.
Ladies and gentlemen, "AUTUMN LEAVES":

www.quedeletras.com

AUTUMN IS HERE

Autumn is already here. But don´t miss the summer! You can do lots of things during this marvellous season, many of them very funny. Have a look at this video. You can add other ideas to have fun in the autumn. I´m sure you will enjoy it!

THINGS TO DO IN AUTUMN on PhotoPeach

NEW BLOG FOR INFANTS

Wow! This year we are growing very much. Apart from the new blog for the year 6 pupils, we´ve got another one just for Infants. Would you like to visit it? Just click on the image and enjoy! A magical world is waiting for you! But remember... in English!

GREAT NEWS!

We have great news! There is a new blog just for my pupils in 6th year. And they are going to be the BLOG REPORTERS! Yes! They will be in charge of writing the blog posts and publishing all the news about cinema, music, sport, ... Its name is "A BLOG 4 US".
You can find interesting posts on this blog and I´m sure you will like our reporters. They will start next Monday (October 4th) writing amazing articles about lots of topics. You can´t miss it!

EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES

Today, September the 26th, is the European Day of Languages. This day has been celebrated every year since 2001 at the initiative of the Council of Europe. Lots and lots of activities are going to be organised in many countries to promote it: conferences, language classes, radio and television programmes, ...
Do you know how important it is to learn more languages? So what are you waiting for? Use your tongue... and speak! IT´S FUN! TRY IT!

CLASSROOM RULES

After nearly 2 weeks at school, I think everyone is more relaxed and calm, isn´t it? I am too. That´s why it´s a good moment to make a revision of the classroom rules. They are really important and all of us must know and obey them. You can watch them in this nice presentation on PhotoPeach made by the teacher Carmen Vázquez Casanova. Thank you very much, Carmen!

Classroom Rules on PhotoPeach

TOMORROW IS THE GREAT DAY!

Are you nervous? I am. Just hours to start school again after the long summer holidays. I´m longing to see you all!

As you know, a new school year is a great time to get excited about all the things we are going to learn and do. But don´t forget that we must work very hard to get good marks. So it´s a good moment to start doing our best. Here you are the top 10 new school year´s resolutions. Do you remember them? We wrote them last year and we must go over them once again. They will help us to start on the right foot.
See you tomorrow!

By the way, do you like Audrey? She is the new girl on the side bar. She will tell you different things during this year. Do you want to listen to her? Just click on the play button.

101 THINGS TO DO OVER THE SUMMER

How are things? Are you enjoying your summer holidays? I´m sure you are doing lots of interesting and funny activities. But if one day you are bored, get some ideas from this lovely video with 101 things to do over the summer. Enjoy yourselves!

FOOTBALL PLAYERS ALSO LEARN ENGLISH!

Now that all of us are following the results of the Football World Cup, we know a bit more about football and footballers. For instance, I bet that you know the two goalkeepers of the Spanish team. That´s it! Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina. But do you know what they do when they are not playing football? They learn English! Pay attention to this video: Pepe Reina gives an English lesson to Iker Casillas. You can´t miss because we need to know English to be the champions!

BYE-BYE SCHOOL, HELLO SUMMER

One more year, school is over. It´s a bit sad to say goodbye to your friends till September. But we have to say goodbye to school and HELLO to summer. Have you thought about how many things we can do in the summer holidays? We all deserve a rest after so many months of activities, homework, exams, ... So...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

GOODNIGHT MOON

Do you like looking at the moon before you go to bed? I do. And I love this lovely goodnight tale. Have a look...

Shhhhhh....! Goodnight everyone. See you on Monday.

PENPALS FROM MANCHESTER

This school year, my year 5 pupils have been exchanging letters with the students of an English school: St. James´ Church of England Primary School, in Manchester. This project can be held thanks to Ms. Jackie Fay, a very enthusiastic teacher and better friend. She teaches Spanish and is in charge of international contacts .

We have sent 3 letters:
- the 1st one was sent before Xmas and we talked about ourselves: our likes, hobbies, families, favourites, ...
- the 2nd one was written before Easter and we explained how our education system is: our school timetable, our subjects, the exams and marks, ..
- and the 3rd and last one is going to be witten these days; we want to tell them about our plans for the holidays.

A few weeks after posting our letters, we always received their replies. You can´t imagine how excited and happy we were!
I think it is a very interesting experience and we have learned many things, not only about English, also about British children like us: their daily life, their routines, hobbies, interests, ... We would like to keep on with this project next school year and, who knows?, maybe we can become good friends and go to visit them in the future.
If you want to know more about this school, you can visit its website. Just click on this image.

DUCK GOOSE GAME

Did you enjoy playing "What´s the time, Mr. Wolf? Then we can play another game. This time we´ll play "Duck - goose". Watch at this video and learn its rules.


Playground Games:
How To Play Duck Duck Goose

WHAT´S THE TIME, MR. WOLF?

And now it´s time for a game. The weather is being nicer these days so we can learn some playground games. Do you know how to play "What´s the time, Mr. Wolf? It´s a very funny and exciting game. Have a look. We have to play it!



Playground Games:
How To Play 'What's The Time Mr Wolf'

WOLRD ENVIRONMENT DAY

World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on the 5th of June every year to stimulate awareness of the environment and to enhance political attention and public action. The first World Environment Day was in 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition on the week that 5 June is on.

Under the theme 'Many Species. One Planet. One Future', this year’s event will celebrate the incredible diversity of life on Earth as part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.
This year’s host, Rwanda will lead the celebrations with three days of keynote events.
Thousands of activities will also be organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.

Finally, here you are a calendar of environmental events fo this month:
World Environment Day - 5th
World Ocean Day - 8th
Global Wind Day - 15th
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought - 17th

HANDA´S SURPRISE

And here you are another version of our favourite story: Handa´s surprise.

HANDA´S SURPRISE

This story is about an African girl, Handa, who prepares a basket with 7 fruits as a present for her friend Akeyo. But Akeyo lives in other village and Handa has to walk through the savannah with the basket on her head. In her way she meets different animals (an elephant, a giraffe, a monkey, an ostrich, ...) and this fact is going to change something... Have a look!

IT´S WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS BLOG!

Aurora Jove, an English teacher from CEIP. Ponte dos Brozos in Arteixo, have included our blog in a list called "It’s worth keeping an eye on that blog". As part of the initiative now we have to:

1.- Embed the award stamp on our blog.

2.-Add a link to the blog we have received the prize from.

3.- Select 10 more blogs for being awarded as well.

4.- Write the ten links on my blog.

Steps number 1 and 2 are already done, so the only thing we have to do is to create our Top Ten List of Blogs. And here they are:

1.- The Blog

2.- Science for kids

3.- Bloggit

4.- Los Rosales in English

5.- Think in English

6.- Sada in English

7.- Anxo in English

8.- Aula Blogue

9.- Rabadeira in English

10.- Miss Tyler-Smith´s class blog

Thank you so much, Aurora! A big kiss for you!

And thanks to the blog community for this initiative!

WHO TOOK THE COOKIE?

And now it´s time for a game: "Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?". After practising it at school today, you can watch this video to remember the song and the actions. Enjoy it!

HOT, HOT, HOT

It has been very hot these last days, hasn´t it? It seems as we were in the summer. After having a long hard winter, it is so nice to feel the warm of the sun and see its light... If you think about the summer, which words come to your mind? Sea, sun, sand, sandals, swimsuit, ice-cream, ... and lots more. Watch this video and enjoy this early summer!

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY

Today, May the 18th, is the International Museum Day. Each year, the Advisory Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) defines a specific theme for International Museum Day. The theme for 2010 is "Museums for Social Harmony". International Museum Day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977. The spirit of the celebration is: «Museums are an important mean of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, co-operation and peace among peoples ».

And now... why don´t we visit some famous museums? Let´s go to the British Museum in London, to Le Louvre in Paris and to El Prado in Madrid. Enjoy your visit!

GALICIAN LETTERS DAY

Today, May the 17th, is Galician Letters Day or Galician Literature Day. The first celebration took place in 1963 to commemorate the centenary of "Cantares gallegos", the first work written in the Galician language by Rosalía de Castro. Since 1963, each Galician Literature Day has been dedicated to a different writer in the Galician language. This year is dedicated to Uxío Novoneyra, a poet from O Courel, who died in 1999. He wrote many poems and tales for children, such as "Ilda, o lobo, o corzo e o xabarín" or "Gorgorín e Cabezón".

Many events will take place today around Galicia, so why don´t you go and enjoy this important day for us? Let´s live as Galicians! Let´s be proud of our language! Because... MALO SERÁ!

THE COOKIE MONSTER

Do you know the Cookie Monster? He is a funny character from Sesame Street. He is always hungry and his favourite food is cookies. Watch these two funny videos: on the first one the Cookie Monster has problems to spell the word "food" and on the second one he thinks about some words starting with the letter C. Just click on the images below and enjoy!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Have you read this fabulous story? It is "The very hungry caterpillar" by Eric Carle and it´s one of my favourite books. Now that we are learning the food, it´s a good way to go over the names of some food. Are you hungry? I am...

MOTHER´S DAY

Have you said to you mother: "I love you, mum"? I can write 10 reasons why I love my mum:
1. She makes me smile when I´m sad.
2. She takes care of me when I´m ill.
3. She helps me with my homework everyday.
4. She has hot chocolate ready when it´s cold.
5. She listens to me when I have a problem.
6. She comes quickly to my bed when I have a nightmare.
7. She prepares delicious cakes and biscuits.
8. She gives me sweet kisses and hugs.
9. She is happy if I´m happy.
10. She is always by me, helping me and encouraging me.
Happy day to all you, mums!

We are about to have another exam and I want to tell you how important it is not to cheat. Make an effort and study hard! And to have fun about exams, watch this smart video. Enjoy it.

INTERACTIVE BOOK: SHOPS AND PLACES IN A TOWN

Hi again! Now that we are learning the most common places in a town, it´s good to go over the vocabulary once and again. A good way to do it is with this interesting interactive book. Try it! In the end you get your score! Click on the image and start.

WORLD BOOK DAY

Today, April 23rd, is WORLD BOOK DAY: a symbolic date for world literature. On this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. So the UNESCO wanted to pay a tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading.
The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. St. George is the patron saint of England. There is also a very beautiful legend about this character. Do you know it? Look and listen...

EARTH DAY

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970 and it´s celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. Earth Day is celebrated in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. While climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, it also presents the greatest opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean and green planet now and for the future.
But what can we do, as individuals, to help the Planet? Watch this video of Polly Bear. She wants to tell you about Earth Day and what you can do to SAVE THE PLANET . You know... THINK GREEN! Happy Earth Day!

WHAT A SHOW!

Wow! The play "Monster Madness" was fantastic! We had a great time because the two actors were very funny. Besides, some of the children from the audience could participate as actors too. Noemi Zubieta from 5ºB acted as Janet and she did it really well. And Sergio Blanco from 6ºB was a wonderful Igor, playing as a professional actor. Good for them!

Would you like to see some pictures of this event? Here you are...

MONSTER MADNESS

Yes! Tomorrow is the great day! We are going to see a play in English: MONSTER MADNESS. This is the story of a newly married couple, Brad and Janet. Their car breaks down on a deserted road in the middle of a storm. There is a light in the distance. They hear voices and music. They decide to look for help at the sinister-looking castle on top of the hill. Dr Frankenstein is throwing a wild party to celebrate the birth of her latest creation, and she welcomes the young couple into her dark and mysterious abode. She will help them ... but at a price.

Wow! Scary... I can´t wait!

Here you are this fantastic book by Eric Carle, one of my favourites writers and illutrators: "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see". It´s a good way to go over the animals once and again. Enjoy it!

PETS

And now its´time for pets. Have you got a pet? What colour is it? You can send me a comment telling things about your pet. Enjoy this video!

And now it´s time for Infants to learn the name of some animals. Let´s start with jungle animals. Are you ready? Let´s go...

BACK TO NORMAL!

It hasn´t been so terrible, has it? Back to normal routine again. It´s nice to see your friends again and even your teachers. There is just one term left. We are almost in the end. Just a little bit of more effort and that´s it! The holidays are round the corner!