Sunday 30 May 2010

Speaking Gambits

Speaking Gambits


When we have to face an oral exam, there are some tips on speaking you should keep in mind. But apart of these, be yourself and try to talk about something you like and you feel comfortable, this way you'll enjoy the experience!

Saturday 22 May 2010

International Day for Biodiversity



Biodiversity is our life: 2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations.
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It is essential for sustaining the natural living systems or ecosystems that provide us with food, fuel, health, wealth, and other vital services.
Humans are part of this biodiversity too and have the power to protect or destroy it. Currently, our activities are destroying biodiversity at alarming rates. These losses are irreversible, impoverish us all and damage the life support systems we rely on. But we can prevent them.

Enter the National History Museum for the celebrations,
learn about the endangered species,


And, of course, learn about how to classify animals What makes a mammal a mammal, or a bird a bird? Click on the buttons to learn more!
And if you look for fun play the endangered animals game.

Thursday 20 May 2010

Identifying Colours


Fran is a new student in our class and he needs to revise some vocabulary. So we are trying some materials about words, numbers, colours....

For example the number circus or the image above showing a game in which you have to drag the letters into the square in the correct order to form colour words.

Have a try and good luck!

Friday 14 May 2010

I'm Mad as Hell





We find unacceptable that close one billion people are chronically hungry.Through the United Nations, we call upon governments to make the elimination of hunger their top priority until this goal is reached

Put pressure on politicians to end hunger. Sign our petition, and push for action wherever you are.


What is hunger?
Why is there hunger?
Who are the hungry?
What can be done?
Stories about hunger

Friday 7 May 2010

UK Parliament

Yesterday people in UK had to vote to elect their new government as in all democracies.

But what do you know about the Parliament,
its functions,
its placement and history?

The main work of Parliament is to make laws, debate topical issues and look at how our taxes are spent to help run the country. The issues that are discussed in Parliament affect us all: health, the environment, transport, jobs, schools, crime. For instance, Parliament has recently debated and voted on how long people arrested on suspicion of terrorism can be held without being charged.

The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is in the centre of London. As well as the home of the UK Parliament, it is also a royal palace and former residence of great kings. The Palace comprises many famous sites including the green-coloured House of Commons Chamber and the red-coloured House of Lords Chamber where political decisions are made to this day. It also includes the famous Clock Tower, popularly known as Big Ben.

The English Parliament traces its origins to the Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot. In 1066, William of Normandy brought a feudal system, by which he sought advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws. In 1215, the tenants-in-chief secured the Magna Carta from King John, which established that the king may not levy or collect any taxes (except the feudal taxes to which they were hitherto accustomed), save with the consent of his royal council, which slowly developed into a parliament.
In 1265, Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester summoned the first elected Parliament. The franchise in parliamentary elections for county constituencies was uniform throughout the country, extending to all those who owned the freehold of land to an annual rent of 40 shillings (Forty-shilling Freeholders).
In the boroughs, the franchise varied across the country; individual boroughs had varying arrangements. This set the scene for the so-called "Model Parliament" of 1295 adopted by Edward I. By the reign of Edward II, Parliament had been separated into two Houses: one including the nobility and higher clergy, the other including the knights and burgesses, and no law could be made, nor any tax levied, without the consent of both Houses as well as of the Sovereign.

More info:

An illustrated Guide,

Whiteboard resources,

Games,

Your guide to what happens in Westminster and how it affects YOU