HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Here's to the bright New Year
And a fond farewell to the old;
Here's to the things that are yet to come
And to the memories that we hold."

HAPPY 2014!

Here's to 2013!

It may have seemed like a very short year to some but not to others.
Nevertheless, we can all agree a lot has happened in the past 12 months.

Have a look:

Boxing Day - 26th December

Boxing Day is traditionally the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers. 
Today, Boxing Day is the bank holiday that generally takes place on 26 December.
 It is observed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth nations.

Today is the first day of Winter!

Winter officially begins on Dec. 21, marking the slow return of the sun making the days become longer for those north of the equator. The day itself is the darkest and shortest day of the year, when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Christmas Vocabulary Game

Find the items on the list:

Christmas Vocabulary Game

18th December 2013, will be... Bake Cookies Day!

Bake Cookies Day occurs in the middle of the holiday season, and is a great excuse to bake some delicious cookies to help you get through the cold, winter days!

 Why not try some Cinnamon flavoured cookies to get your kitchen smelling of Winter Festivities?

Cookies arrived in America in the 17th Centuary, although the word arrived much later with the Dutch, in its original form of koekje which means little cake. 

This was soon shortened to “Cooky” 

or “Cookie”.

Why don't you try to bake these cute ones this season?

OR THESE ONES IF YOU'RE NOT IN "THE CHRISTMAS MOOD"...

A bit of humour:

Feeling hungry?  Bake your own cookies now:

COOKIE-MAKER GAME

PLAY SOME CHRISTMAS GAMES!

CLICK BELOW AND HAVE SOME FUN...

DON'T FORGET TO TURN ON THE VOLUME...

                                             
                                CHRISTMAS VOCABULARY GAME

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS GAME

A CHRISTMAS STORY AND A FUNNY POEM JUST FOR YOU..

CLICK BELOW AND LISTEN TO A BEAUTIFUL STORY FULL OF  CHRISTMAS SPIRIT...

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Dear Santa, Here's My Christmas List

A Funny Christmas Poem for Kids

From the book Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney

Dear Santa, here's my Christmas list. I hope you'll bring it all. I've only asked for gifts my parents can't find at the mall. I'd like to have a UFO, with aliens inside, and maybe a Tyrannosaurus Rex that I could ride. A ninety-nine foot robot is a present I could use. I'll also need a time machine, and rocket-powered shoes. Please bring a gentle genie who will grant my every wish, and don't forget a wizard's wand, and, yes, a talking fish. Of course, I'll need a unicorn, and won't you please provide a dragon, and a castle in the English countryside. Of course, the weight of all these things might cause your sleigh to crash. If that's the case, dear Santa, please feel free to just bring cash. --Kenn Nesbitt

Nelson Mandela - 1918-2013

A MAN WHO INSPIRED THE WORLD

A little bit of humour...

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY - 10th December

The United Nations’ (UN) Human Rights Day, on December 10, marks the anniversary of the presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

What do people do?

Events focused on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are held worldwide on and around December 10. 

Many events aim to educate people, especially children and teenagers, on their human rights and the importance of upholding these in their own communities and further afield.

The day may also include protests to alert people of circumstances in parts of the world where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not recognised or respected, or where these rights are not considered to be important. 

Cultural events are also organised to celebrate the importance of human rights through music, dance, drama or fine art.

Idea

This is an opportunity to engage students in their learning in a very real way through the use of English. We set the students the task, and expect great things of them.

If you think it’s not possible, watch this video of how a 4th grade teacher uses his World Peace Game to develop learning and completely engage his students: www.tinyurl.com/peacegame.

See how John Hunter uses 4 “i”s to interact, interest, involve and inspire kids.

You can watch his TED.com talk here: www.tinyurl.com/ted-worldpeace.

Eat A Red Apple Day - 1st December

Apples are delicious and nutritious, as well as being incredibly varied – we only tend to eat a few varieties, however. 
Start small, and expand your apple horizon by eating a red apple on Eat A Red Apple Day.


Don't forget : 

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."




PLAY THIS GAME : Try to eat only good apples!

Click on an apple to bite into it! If you eat a good one, it will reveal the number of adjacent bad apples. 

BAD APPLE GAME

ALWAYS HAVE A PIECE OF FRUIT WITH YOUR MEAL! JUST CHOOSE:

Thanksgiving Day - learn some words!

THESE ARE THE "YUMMY" WORDS:

SOME THANKSGIVING RELATED VOCABULARY :

THANKSGIVING DAY - 28th November 2013

What is Thanksgiving?

This “day of thanks” is the first celebration of the “Holiday Season,” which includes Christmas and New Year. It is a day to count blessings and reflect on the good, and it is traditionally spent in large family gatherings at the home of a relative.

NOW LEARN ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY:

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

REMEMBER:

Why do we use them?

                  

Now that you know the difference, click below and test yourself:

Simple Present or Present Continuous? Think about it!

John F. Kennedy assassination - 50th anniversary - 22nd November (1963-2013)

In 1961 JFK stepped into the american Presidency. 
He accepted the challenge of leadership. 
   He asked his country to do the same.
   Today, his legacy still inspires the Americans.

The limousine, with President John F. Kennedy, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Texas Gov. John Connally and wife Nellie, moves through the streets of downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Just moments later, a city and a nation would change forever- he was shot dead!

Watch this video to celebrate him

Happy birthday, Mickey Mouse!

WHO DOESN'T LIKE HIM?

Mickey Mouse is a funny animal cartoon character and the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company. 

He was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at the Walt Disney Studios in 1928. 

An anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves, Mickey has become one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in the world.

Mickey officially debuted in the short film Steamboat Willie, one of the first sound cartoons. It was on 18th November 1928.

He's 85 years old!!!!!

Mickey generally appears alongside his girlfriend Minnie Mouse, his pet dog Pluto, his friends Donald Duck, and Goofy.

DRAWING MICKEY MOUSE IS THE FIRST THING DISNEY ANIMATORS LEARN TO DO.
CHECK OUT THIS LESSON, AND GET A JUMP ON YOUR FUTURE CAREER AS A DISNEY ARTIST:

REMEMBRANCE DAY - 11th November

REMEMBRANCE IN LONDON 2013



Each year in November, the United Kingdom remembers the men and women who gave their lives in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts. 

11 November is known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day or Poppy Day.

During the First World War, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. In many parts of the world, people observe a two-minute of silence at 11am on 11 November. 

Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday in November, the Sunday nearest to 11 November. Remembrance Sunday sees special events and services relating to remembrance. Remembrance Sunday is on 10 November in 2013.

On Remembrance Sunday, there'll be a Cenotaph Parade in Whitehall. The Cenotaph ceremony is organised annually by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with The Royal British Legion coordinating the March Past.

There'll also be various concerts, church services and events in London on and around this date to mark Remembrance Day.