KIDDLE

Kiddle is a visual search engine designed for kids. It has the following features:

1) Safe search: sites appearing in Kiddle search results satisfy family friendly requirements, as we filter sites with explicit or deceptive content. 

2) Kids-oriented results: the boxes below illustrate how Kiddle returns results for each query (in the order shown):

Safe sites and pages written specifically for kids. Handpicked and checked by Kiddle editors. 
Typically, results 1-3.

Safe, trusted sites that are not written specifically for kids, but have content written in a simple way, easy for kids to understand. Handpicked and checked by Kiddle editors. 
Typically, results 4-7.

Safe, famous sites that are written for adults, providing expert content, but are harder for kids to understand. Filtered by Google safe search. 
Typically, results 8 onwards.

2) Big thumbnails: most Kiddle search results are illustrated with big thumbnails, which makes it easier to scan the results, differentiate between them, and click the most appropriate results to your query. Thumbnails serve as visual clues and are especially beneficial to kids as they don't read as fast as adults.

3) Large Arial font in Kiddle search results provides better readability for kids.

4) Privacy: we don't collect any personally identifiable information, and our logs are deleted every 24 hours. 

Source: http://www.kiddle.co/

Leap year

What is a Leap Year? when did it begin? how often is a Leap Year? 

As you know, tomorrow is 29th February, so we have an extra day in our calendars. But, do you know why? You'll find answers to that questions, together with the ones above, in this post. I hope you find it useful ;)

A leap year is a year containing one additional day added to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year. Because seasons and astronomical events do not repeat in a whole number of days, calendars that have the same number of days in each year drift over time with respect to the event that the year is supposed to track. By inserting an additional day or month into the year, the drift can be corrected. A year that is not a leap year is called a common year.

The name "leap year" comes from the fact that while a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar normally advances one day of the week from one year to the next, the day of the week in a leap year will advance two days (from March onwards) due to the extra day added at the end of February (thus "leaping over" one of the days in the week). For example, Christmas fell on Tuesday in 2001, Wednesday in 2002, and Thursday in 2003 but then "leapt" over Friday to fall on a Saturday in 2004.

The practice of adding extra days to the year is at least as old as these 360-day systems.“When the Egyptians adopted this calendar they were aware that there was a problem, but they didn't add any more days to the calendar; they just added an extra five days of festivals, of partying, at the end of the year.” In 46 BCE, Roman emperor Julius Caesar sought to fix this problem. He introduced the Julian calendar—an amended version of the existing Roman calendar. A year, he said, would now include 365 days, with an extra leap day—or intercalary day—every fourth year.

Sources:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160226-leap-year-science-time-world-cultures-february/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year

http://qz.com/626563/how-leap-year-babies-celebrate-their-birthdays/

British vs American English (BrE - AmE)

Do you speak British or American English? do you use British or American vocabulary? This is a topic my students love because they find very interesting to learn different words which mean the same.

In English abbreviation, we refer to British English as BrE and to the American one as AmE.

This is a list of vocabulary for you to see the difference. How many did you know? ;)

Source: http://genial.guru/admiracion-curiosidades/diferencias-entre-el-ingles-britanico-y-americano-92005/#image396405

You can also watch those words on these videos:

Tea Time!

In English, there are several expressions (commonly noun as idioms) with the word 'TEA', with a completely different meaning from its original. Here are some:

If you want to know more on this, click on http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/idioms-about-tea

You can also watch this video:

I hope you enjoy this post!! ;)

Jobs - what do you want to be when you grow up?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

This is a topic we are currently dealing with in primary education. Students are learning vocabulary related to occupations as well as how to answer to the above question.

If you want to revise this new words at home, you can watch this video and test your knowledge ;)

And you can also learn while singing this song:

In the following links, you'll find flashcards, worksheets and games to practice this topic :)

http://www.anglomaniacy.pl/occupationsTopic.htm

http://www.eslkidslab.com/worksheets/set3/jobs/

http://bogglesworldesl.com/kids_worksheets/jobs.htm


Have fun!!

Musixmatch - Lyrics

Alberto Pérez, one of my intermediate students, told me yesterday about Musixmatch, a wonderful music app that he has in his mobile phone. He loves music and with Musixmatch he's learning a lot of vocabulary and expressions commonly found in songs, since he can follow the lyrics while he's listening to the song.

Musixmatch is a popular lyrics destination on ICT devices with more than 40 million people using it worldwide. This great app lets you discover the words to your music.

You can use it in class with your students when dealing with songs; it's amazing!

https://www.musixmatch.com/

Valentine's Day (14th February)

What is LOVE? can you define it or even explain it?
The Guardian gives you some tips ;) http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/12/what-is-love-valentines-day-experts


If you want to deal with Valentine's Day in class to let your students know about its history, visit http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/valentinesday/listening/history-of-valentines-day.html to do a video listening activity. It's great!

You can also use a Scavenger Hunt with your students, a task that motivates them a lot! The best one is this by Svetlana Kandybovich: https://eltcation.wordpress.com/author/svetlanakandy/

The British Council has a lesson plan dedicated to this day for intermediate-advanced students. It's based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/shakespeare-love-romeo-juliet

Without a doubt, when I deal with Romeo and Juliet with my students, I also use the couple of one of the greatest works of Spanish literature which takes place in my city, Salamanca (Spain). They are Calisto and Melibea, from the Tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea. You can learn more in: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Celestina

The following are resources for younger students:

http://www.anglomaniacy.pl/valentinesDayPrintables.htm

http://bogglesworldesl.com/valentines_day_worksheets.htm


Now, you have no excuses to celebrate Valentine's Day ;p

The UK - Four Nations

What do you know about the United Kingdom? Do you know they are four nations that make up the UK?

If you want to know more about England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, watch the following video and complete the provided tasks, you'll have fun and learn lots of interesting things!! ;)

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/sites/teens/files/four_nations_-_exercises.pdf

This is a lesson plan taken from: http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/uk-now/video-uk/four-nations


Thanks to the British Council for these wonderful resources!!

Creatubbles

Creatubbles is a safe social platform for creative kids and teachers. You can motivate and excit your students with this wonderful resource. They can upload and share their piece of art and even message other people from lots of different countries. It can be a picture, music, a writing composition, etc.

As a teacher, you can connect and collaborate with teachers around the world, and much more!!

It's totally free and I'm sure you'll enjoy it! ;)


Click on:                         https://www.creatubbles.com/

The Parts of Speech

With this wonderful poem, you can practice the pronunciation of words with the same sounds and learn about the parts of speech at the same time, so important to be able to produce a correct English.

Source: https://www.duolingo.com/comment/3324307

Pancake Day - Shrove Tuesday

Today, 9th February 2016, we celebrate Pancake Day in the UK, also called Shrove Tuesday. It is the Tuesday seven weeks before Easter.

Do you know why do we celebrate a day like this? and why is it called Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday? If you want to know about this festivity, please, watch this great clip:

A tradition mentioned in the video is the Pancake Race in Olney, which you can watch here:

Have you ever cooked a pancake? This is a wonderful recipe you can try at home ;)

Yummy!!!!

HAPPY PANCAKE DAY!!

Happy Chinese New Year 2016!!

Today starts the Chinese New Year 2016!!!! It begins on Frebruary 8th and lasts until January 27th, 2017. The new year is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, thus, the date changes from year to year.

Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals that are in the Chinese zodiac. This year it's the Year of the Monkey, the 9th animal in the cycle.

Chinese New Year: Which animal are you?

           

虎

The Tiger

The tiger is an expressive, courageous and unpredictable animal with a stubborn streak, perform tasks in a 'high-handedmanner.' Like a predator chasing its prey the tiger makes quick decisions does not waver.

Click here: Chinese Zodiac

Your sign is derived from the year you were born in the Chinese lunar calendar.

The years below are a rough guide, but if you were born in January or February it may be slightly different as the new year moves between 21 January and February 20.

• Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960
• Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961
• Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962
• Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963
• Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964
• Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965
• Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966
• Sheep: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967
• Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968
• Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969
• Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970
• Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971

Celebrations have already started around the world; this picture has been taken in London:

And this is how Singapore's Chinatown has been decorated to celebrate this festivity!

If you want to know more on this, go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/12144891/chinese-new-year-2016-year-of-the-monkey.html

And if you want to practice some activities in class or at home, try these:

http://www.esolcourses.com/topics/chinese-new-year.html

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/chinese-new-year

http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/01/chinese_new_years_day.html

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!

CARNIVAL TIME!!

Are you ready for Carnival?? Do you have your costume and mask prepared? Let's enjoy this festivity together! ;)


Michelle Henry's website is one of my favourites to work on festivals because it's full of wonderful resources that can be used both in class and at home. If you click on here, you will be able to learn about Carnivals around the world, from Notting Hill in London to Mardi Gras in New Orleans (USA). As you can see, there are plenty of updated activities that include videos, listenings, pictures, texts, etc.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! ;)