September 25, 2017, marks 60 years since the “Little Rock Nine”, a group of African American students managed to gain access to the all-white Central High School in Arkansas. It was a landmark moment in the civil-rights movement to obtain equal treatment for all citizens, irrespective of colour. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court had … Continue reading “Little Rock School Integration, 1957”
In 2006, the documentary The Inconvenient Truth made Al Gore into the most prominent ecologist on the planet. Gore won a Nobel Prize for its impact on public opinion about climate change. Ten years on, An Inconvenient Sequel shows the positive changes that have been made, and Gore’s tireless work in continuing to promote solutions … Continue reading “Al Gore: Still Saving the Planet”
Pendant la première semaine de cours de septembre, Sarah se tourne vers l’un de ses camarades. Elle glisse le bout de son index du haut de sa paume gauche vers le bas, et dit en même temps “What’s…”, pointe le garçon en face d’elle “your…”, puis tapote les deux premiers doigts de sa main droite … Continue reading “Hands Up to Speak!”
The organisers of National Poetry Day in the UK, 28 September, have a treasure trove of poems and teaching activities on their website, including a free ebook of poems to download. This year’s theme is freedom. We’ve made a selection of those that work best for language teaching, with teaching suggestions. The Freedom Films page … Continue reading “Creative Activities for National Poetry Day”
This year’s UK National Poetry Day is on 28 September. A great opportunity to get some poetry into your class, and to explore this year’s theme: Freedom. The National Poetry Day site shows the amazing variety of experiences that simple word can evoke, from “Invictus”, the poem that inspired Nelson Mandela in prison, to Edward … Continue reading “Freedom Poems for National Poetry Day”
2017 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the a major landmark in ending school segregation in the U.S.A.: when nine courageous black students braved screaming mobs, police and troops to gain access to Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. Both the National Parks Service Visitors’ Center on the site, and the Dwight Eisenhower Memorial have … Continue reading “Little Rock School Integration Videos”
How did an Italian explorer working for the Spanish crown become an American hero? Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. It is celebrated on the second Monday in October and commemorates Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas on 12 October 1492. In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue Children’s … Continue reading “Columbus Day”
Jules Verne imagined travelling around the world in 80 days. Scottish cyclist Mark Beaumont did better, cycling around the world 78 days, 14 hours and 28 minutes! When Beaumont set off from Paris on 2 July, 80 days seemed a hefty challenge. The Guinness World Record for circumnavigating the world by bicycle was 123 days, … Continue reading “Around the World In 78 Days!”
A slideshow, an article and a video to explain the United Nations General Assembly to your students, and let them see how young people can participate. This article from BBC children’s news programme Newsround does exactly what it says on the tin: explains “What is the United Nations”? The language is fairly simple. It’s usable … Continue reading “United Nations Webpicks”
From 19 to 25 September, the world’s leaders will take the lectern in New York for the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations. Amongst the delegates seeing world diplomacy at work for the first time are young people from more than 35 countries. United Nations Youth Delegates bring young people’s issues to the Assembly, … Continue reading “Young People Represent Their Countries at the U.N.”
