If you want to discuss Thanksgiving with your class, there are some really useful sites and online resources. This site has lots of pictures and information about the first Thanksgiving in the U.S.A., in 1621, when British colonists, or Pilgrims, invited the Wampanoag Native Americans to a big meal to thank them for teaching them … Continue reading “Thanksgiving on the Web”
Like Red Nose Day, Christmas Jumper Day is becoming a tradition for British people to do something silly – wear a kitschy Christmas jumper — to do some serious good, for the charity Save the Children. Christmas is of course a special time for children, which is why the charity wants people to donate to … Continue reading “Merry Christmas Jumper Day!”
This short video of a NASA astronaut on the International Space Station discussing how he is going to celebrate Thanksgiving is a great way to introduce or revise this American holiday as well as food vocabulary. ISS Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA explained how he and fellow American, Peggy Whitson, were going to … Continue reading “Thanksgiving Dinner in Space”
Many in the U.S. consider Thanksgiving the most American of holidays. The feast appeals to every religious and ethnic group, honours a turning point in American history, and encourages a spirit of good will. Plus, Thanksgiving offers one of the best meals of the year! In 1620, a group of 102 British people men, women … Continue reading “Thanksgiving”
The exhibition POP ART: Icons That Matter at the Musée Maillol has excellent teaching resources to explore a key movement in 20th century U.S. culture. The exhibition features works from the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. The Musée Maillol’s teaching page lets you download a detailed teaching pack. … Continue reading “Pop Art: Teaching Resources”
Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project site is a mine of materials to work on the environment. Many of them are regrouped under Climate 101. That is also the title of a downloadable 18-page booklet which would be perfect for use with B1-B2-level students. An excellent document for working on Education aux médias is this 5-minute … Continue reading “Climate Change Webpicks”
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”
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”
In 2017, the U.S.A. has been commemorating the hundredth anniversary of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s birth. In this B1-B2 sequence, pupils view a short, downloadable animated slideshow giving basic facts about JFK’s life. They will then work in groups to expand their knowledge before preparing a presentation in the Bac oral format. Language and structures John … Continue reading “President Kennedy Slideshow”
Hurricanes are dominating the news at the moment but how do hurricanes form and how are they classified? This video and animation are useful teaching tools. This animation from U.S. National Hurricane Center shows the intensity of different levels of hurricane. It is purely visual and can be used for description. This report for children … Continue reading “Hurricanes Webpicks”