Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

.....To all the students of 1º ESO   
Congratulations for these lovely Christmas Cards

1º ESO "My ideal city"

In Unit 2 we have learnt to describe cities and towns.  Here are some projects the students of 1º ESO have made describing their ideal city.

Halloween 1º A

Here you have a power point to see the projects made by the students of 1º A to celebrate Halloween

Halloween ies santa catalina de siena from M Ángeles Palma 

Halloween is coming..............

Students in the third and fourth year of ESO will have to make a project on Halloween. Here you've got several ideas to include. You can also have a look at our last year entries which are included in our festivities tag. Click on the images and discover much more.................

Here we are again!

After such a long time, here we are again. Let's start with two of the songs we've already worked. That's for you to practise your listening. Remember to use the worksheets you have for the lyrics. Hope you like them!

Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

Call me maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen

Welcome back to school after your summer holidays!!!!!!

September  2012

A summer poem !!! See you in September!!!

Summer Sun
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.

Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool,
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through.

The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.

Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground,
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy's inmost nook.

Above the hills, along the blue,
Round the bright air with footing true,
To please the child, to paint the rose,
The gardener of the World, he goes.

Passive Voice for 3rd ESO: summer exercises

For those of you who want to revise the passive voice in summer, a few exercises to download. You can also do the exercises online we included in our last entry. Have fun  and see you in September!!

Passive Voice Chart (all tenses) 

Exercises on Passive Voice:present and past 

Grammar 1:unit 9                Grammar 2: unit 9                    Grammar 3: unit 9

Passive Voice for 3rd ESO

You need to practise passive voice for next test. It's important to do lots of exercises, transform sentences from active to passive and understand how to use it. Test your knowledge!!!!

Exercise 1: Change from active to passive, present simple

Exercise 2: Change from active to passive, present and past simple

Exercise 3: Present and Past simple passive, complete

Exercise 4: Active or Passive voice?
 

Exercise 5: Present and Past Passive, complete the sentences

If you don't understand how to use the passive or how to transform sentences, click on the following LINK and you'll watch an explanation  by a Spanish teacher.

Computers: vocabulary for 2nd ESO

In unit 8, we've studied vocabulary related to computers. Here you've got a video and several exercises to review for your next test.

Exercise 1: vocabulary extension                                                 

Exercise 2: computer words, spelling quiz

the BBC, A Web Quest

Unit 9 is about journalism and the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is the heart of British broadcasting. to learn more about it, here is the challenge: A Web Quest about the BBC. First, DOWNLOAD the worksheet HERE. Then, CLICK on the links provided and READ for information to ANSWER the questions posed.
I hope you enjoy!!!!

FALSE FRIENDS

Spanish and English have literally thousands of cognates, words that are basically the same in both languages, having the same etymology and similar meanings. But combinations such as decepción and "deception" are so-called false cognates — known more precisely as "false friends" or falsos amigos — word pairs that look like they might mean the same thing but don't. They can be confusing, and if you make the mistake of using them in speech or writing you're likely to be misunderstood. HERE You can download a list of Spanish-English false freineds and their actual meanings.  

WORKSHEET 1 for false friends practice

REPORTED SPEECH

Hi guys!here you have some useful links to further explanations for reported speech.
what's REPORTED SPEECH? it's when you tell someone what another person said.

There are also two worksheets (statements, questions and commands) for you to practise.  
WORKSHEET 1
WORKSHEET 2

Health Problems (2nd ESO)

In order to revise and do more practice with this topic, here you have several exercises:

• A worksheet with a great variaty of vocabulary and different kinds of activities, go ahead and click here
• You can also expand your medicine vocabulary by reading, listening and speaking. Click here.
• For the body, visit the following link
• Finally you can do more activities related to the topic and the treatments. Click here

Introduction to Second Conditional!! (3rd ESO)

Last week we talked about the second conditional. If you want to do more exercises to practise and listen again to the song that helped us to introduce this grammar point, here you are. 

  

If I were a boy by Beyoncé

 

Exercise 1: click on the correct answer      Exercise 2: complete        Exercise 3: choose the correct verb

First Conditional!!!!! (2nd ESO)

We are learning the First Conditonal, so I would like you to watch this video in which you have a clear explanation and a lot of sentences.

You can also do more practice: activity 1, activity 2, activity 3 and look at the entry First Conditional !!!!!!! 3rd ESO

May Day!!!!

The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter. (taken from http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/)

Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole. Follow the links to learn more things about these traditions.

There are some photos here to show them:

May Day Pole

Dancing around May pole

Morris Dancing

          

The future!!! (3rd ESO)

In unit 7, we're studying future tense. Firstly, watch this presentation and do the exercise taking into account the uses of "going to", "will" and "present continuous" we've seen. Then, try to do the different online exercises. Remember that our next test is on Thursday!!!

Situations 3

 

Grammar explanation  



Exercise 1  

Exercise 2    

Exercise 3 

Shakespeare's Birthday

Britain’s top Shakespeare attractions

If you want to celebrate William Shakespeare’s birthday, who was supposedly born this day in 1564, you can have a look at some things you can do: you’ll find theatres devoted to his works, exhibitions and beautiful historic buildings – even the original houses he and his loved ones lived in.

Shakespeare’s birthplace
Hallowed ground for lovers of literature and history alike, Shakespeare birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 remains a star attraction to this day. A half-timbered, Tudor-style cottage, it’s furnished as it would have been in Shakespeare’s time and transports visitors into the atmosphere of England’s past. See the house, the exhibition on Shakespeare’s life and be sure to explore the gardens too.

Shakespeare’s grave
Shakespeare is buried in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, the same church where he was baptised in 1564. His final resting place is famous for its inscription, believed to have been penned by the Bard himself, which lays a curse on anyone who moves Shakespeare’s bones. In case you’re curious, the verse reads:

GOOD FRIEND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE,
TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE.
BLESE BE THE MAN THAT SPARES THES STONES,
AND CURST BE HE THAT MOVES MY BONES.

Shakespeare’s Globe
See Shakespeare’s plays in his very own Jacobean theatre! A faithful restoration of Shakespeare’s 16th century playhouse, it’s a truly atmospheric way to take in the Bard’s work, not to mention a rather grand building in its own right. Entry is just £5, which gets you a standing place as a ‘groundling’.

Royal Shakespeare Company
The primary theatrical body responsible for producing Shakespeare performances is the Royal Shakespeare Company. Based in Stratford-upon-Avon, visitors can tour the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres by day or by night on the RSC’s spooky after-dark tour. This is the other main place to see Shakespeare performed, but you can catch the company in action elsewhere on its national tours.

Shakespeare memorial in Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey
Keep your eyes open for the Shakespeare memorial in Westminster Abbey. While Shakespeare’s actual grave is in Stratford, you’ll find a special memorial statue in the famous Poets’ Corner, together with a collection of other famous writers.

to read more about it: http://www.visitbritainsuperblog.com/2012/04/the-best-of-the-bard-britains-top-shakespeare-attractions/

St. George's day, 23rd April

The Patron Saint of England is St. George  and his national holiday is celebrated on April 23rd of every year. However, although this is England's national holiday is not a public holiday. This means that schools, business, post offices, public transportation, and other organizations are open as usual.The traditional customs are to fly the St. George's flag and wear a red rose in one's lapel.

People celebrate St. George's Day in very different ways:

•  organizing a fun activity with friends or family members. These include things like bowling, watching films, even going dancing.
•  hosting a barbecue. You can cook traditional English food and have a good time with other people!
•  attending an official event such as a concert. There may be autograph sessions with musicians and sometimes there are even free refreshments!
•  in London they celebrate at Trafalgar Square with a fresh and varied selection of English music while reveling in the beautiful floral displays.

For more information click on the picture below

St. George's Day for 4th Year

As I told you today in class, today is St. George's Day, the Patron Saint of England. Here you have some exercises for you to learn more about English culture and folklore. We'll check them in class. See you then.

READING COMPREHENSION
JERUSALEM

Today is.................Earth Day!!!

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day was started in 1970 by a man named John Mc Connell from the United States. It was originally held on the annual celebration of the March Equinox and still is by many people. However, it is generally celebrated on April 22. Earth day is now celebrated worldwide.

What is the History of Earth Day?

Earth Day is a very special day specifically designed for all of us to think about earth issues. It is a day that the whole world participates in! Often there are celebrations, events or campaigns that concern us with earth matters.

You can participate in one of the existing projects, or start one of your own. The possibilities are endless. Try to think of something you would like to do. You can make a difference too!!  

Now try several exercises online:

Exercise 1: general vocabulary           Exercise 2: global warming

Download information and exercises here. Ask your teacher for the answers.

General information                   Worksheet 1: recycling  set

First Conditional!!!!!!! (3rd ESO)

Let's practise conditional sentences. In unit 7, we've only seen  first conditional and here you've got several exercises to review.

You can download the following powerpoint game to practise first here and several exercises with their key here. 

Now, let's try online exercises:

Exercise 1: match and mix   Exercise 2:complete the sentences   Exercise 3:complete the sentences 2

Exercise 4: match up the sentences      Exercise 5: matching 2         Exercise 6: filling the gaps and song

Means of transport (2nd ESO)

In unit 7 we’ve studied vocabulary related to means of transport. Here you have got a good page to practise and expand it. 

There are several parts: vocabulary, different expressions related to transports and places, speaking useful phrases, dialogues and games. 

Click here

At Easter Time....!!!

     1) What is the Easter story?

Easter is the story of Jesus' last days in Jerusalem before his death. The Easter story includes Maundy Thursday (the Last supper leading to the Eucharist), Good Friday (the day on which Jesus was crucified) and Easter Day (the day on which Jesus came back to life).

          2) Where does the name “Easter” come from?

According to Bede, the English monastic historian, the English word Easter comes from the Anglo-Saxon name for the month of April, which was known as "Eostremonath"(the month of openings) in the AngloSaxon tongue and since Pascha was most often celebrated in Eostremonath, the English Christians began calling it "Easter". 

3) Why do we have eggs at Easter?

Eggs are a forbidden food during Lent, making them a welcome return to the menu on Easter Day.  

      4) Why do we give eggs at Easter?

Easter is a Christian festival. For Christians the custom of giving eggs at Easter celebrates new life. Christians remember that Jesus, after dying on the cross, rose from the dead. They believe that, through his resurrection, Jesus defeated death and sin and offers people the promise of eternal life if they follow his teachings. 

      5) What were the first Easter eggs like?

The first eggs given at Easter were birds eggs. These eggs were painted in bright colours to give them further meaning as a gift. We still paint bird eggs today but usually only chicken eggs.

6) An Anglo-Saxon legend - the Easter bunny and eggs

An Anglo-Saxon legend tells how the Saxon goddess Eostre found a wounded bird and transformed it into a hare, so that it could survive the Winter. The hare found it could lay eggs, so it decorated these each spring and left them as offering to the goddess.

If you want to learn more about Easter, click the image above.

April Fool's Day

What's April Fool's Day?

April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries on April 1. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes. The day is marked by  funny jokes, hoaxes on friends, family members, teachers, neighbours, etc.

Traditionally, in some countries such as Canada, New Zealand or the UK the jokes only last till noon. Elsewhere, such as in Greece, France, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and the U.S., the jokes last all day. In France and Italy children traditionally tack paper fish on each other's back as a trick and shout "april fish!" in their local language ("poisson d'avril!" in French, for instance).

The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). In Spain, an equivalent date is December 28.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

If you want to read about famous hoaxes in history, click the image above.

                                                                                                                                                            

Comparatives and superlatives: 2nd ESO

In unit 6, we've already studied how to form comparatives and superlatives in English. You have to revise for next test so we've prepared several online exercises . First, let's watch two videos explaining the rules (just to check you remember) and after that, you can practise by doing the exercises.

Comparatives: explanation

Superlatives: explanation

Exercise on comparatives 1

Exercise on comparatives 2

Exercise on superlatives 1

Exercise on superlatives 2