The Labor Day holiday weekend signals the end of summer for Americans. Although it takes place at the beginning of September, and the hot weather may continue for weeks, after Labor Day, schools start again it feels like the summer vacation has ended. Labor Day is the U.S. version of May Day in most other … Continue reading “Labor Day: Back to School”
These three videos associated with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets provide plenty of opportunities to get pupils talking on a film many will have seen. This teaser trailer is almost without dialogue or voiceover, so it’s a great place to start, and can be used at all levels, with pupils commenting according … Continue reading “Valerian: Teaching with Trailers”
It’s one of the world’s last working palaces. It is also one of London’s major tourist attractions. The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace has always attracted visitors but, since 1993, crowds have flocked to visit the State Rooms where royal ceremonies take place. Parts of the Palace date back to the 17th century … Continue reading “Buckingham Palace Open for Visits”
Robin Hood is great way into British history as pupils can build on their prior knowledge of the character. If you are working on Robin Hood as part of a medieval theme, with the Robin Hood Festival in Nottingham, or as a theatre activity, these videos provide vocabulary help and food for thought. This one-minute … Continue reading “Robin Hood Videos”
Big Ben is a must-see on any trip to London. The iconic London landmark is undergoing major renovation work for the next three years. We take the opportunity to show pupils what makes Big Ben tick with an A2-level article. Language and Structures: Descriptive narration: simple present and preterite tenses Numbers: saying dates Modals and … Continue reading “Big Ben”
Dans notre série de suggestions pour tirer un maximum de bénéfice des documents fournis aux élèves, voici une idée pratique et simple d’activité qui favorise l’implication de tous et donne un feedback essentiel aux professeurs : l’utilisation de ce que l’on appelle exit cards dans les pays anglophones. Chaque élève se voit remettre une petite carte … Continue reading “Exit and Entry”
The centennial of John F Kennedy’s birth in 1917, and the recent film about Jackie Kennedy have put this short-lived but much-admired President back in the headlines. Here are some resources that will allow you introduce JFK into your classroom. The JFK Centennial site has a nice section on the President’s legacy. There is a … Continue reading “President Kennedy Webpicks”
The David Hockney exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris from 21 June to 23 October is a retrospective of the British pop artist’s work. Who better to acquaint your pupils with Hockney’s painting than the man himself in this excellent short video. Warning: There is a brief image of a naked man diving into … Continue reading “David Hockney Video”
For the United Nations World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, or any other time you want to discuss this important topic in class, here are some teaching resources for different levels. The Australian NGO Worldvision has a teaching resource on child labour with downloadable worksheets and photo stories. Several of the topics have … Continue reading “Teaching about Child Labour”
These videos of crazy contraptions inspired by Rube Goldberg and Heath Robinson’s drawings are a great addition to a project to make a machine. They allow you to show pupils some examples, practise describing the machines, and see models of how to present a machine. No commentary on this video, just the images of the … Continue reading “Rube Goldberg Machine Videos”