Hi guys! not holidays yet. There's in fact a lot of interesting things you can do to put the icing on the cake. But, wasn't it all over??? you may ask... Nope! it will in two weeks or so. In the mean time, I'll give you some ideas to escape from nothingness. You're welcome!
A. ECOSYSTEMS OF THE US: Listen to Katie's nice presentation on the flora and fauna of the US. Then, answer the questionnaire below to check your understanding:
Which are the main ecosystems in the US?
Why is Katie especially familiar with the marine forests?
Write some tree species that are common in the marine forests. Which of them is the most remarkable? Why?
Katie mentions three animal species commonly seen in the forests. Write their names.
How many deserts are there in the US? Which is the largest? How large is it?
Which famous book/ TV series was inspired in the US prairie?
Which are the main features of the prairie?
What horrible natural disaster took place in this area during the 30s? How was it called? What did it provoke?
How many mountain ranges are there in the US?
Which animals are typical from this region? Which of them has become the national emblem of the US? Why do you think it was chosen the national emblem?
B. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE ALL STOPPED read by Jane Goodall
Listen to this animated poem read by Jane Goodall exploring how the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us of the importance of living in harmony with nature.
You can download the book for free here.
1. Analyse the RHYME. Use the link to refresh your memory. HOW TO ANALYSE THE RHYME SCHEME OF A POEM.
2. Analyse the MEANING, the heart of the poem. Analyse the power of individual words or phrases and the overall effect of the language in a poem. What words, phrases or lines do I remember? Why are they powerful? How does the language of the poem support the overall effect and meaning?
3. The first line says: "it starts as a whisper"...Who is whispering? What is its message?
4. How do day-to-day tasks, jobs or masks prevent us to listen to this whisper?
5. How are the senses present in the poem? How much important are they in life?
6. Find in the poem a synonym for PAIN.
7. How has self-isolation help us "see/listen" again? What have we sadly realised?
8. Can we change that situation? What does the poem suggest?
9. How has the expression "back home" acquired a broader meaning after quarantine?
10. Why do you think the recent situation has given us a chance for rebirth.
11. What do you think is the thunder that has made us realise the devastating situation of planet Earth?
12. Why does Jane Goodall's reading of the poem make it more effective?
C. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN by Robert Frost
Listen to this animated interpretation of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken", some of my students have already analysed it in class so they know many things about it. Use your knowledge to go deeper.
If this is the first time you listen to it, take your time to understand the main message.
1. This poem has a tangle of possible meanings. This video shows a possible interpretation of the poem. How does it differ from your own interpretation? Explain.
2. Robert Frost said this poem was tricky because it puts the reader in the same position as the speaker, facing a choice. In what sense is this poem "a fork in the road"?
3. It seems there are two main interpretations of the poem, a surface one, and one that dives deeper? Explain each. Which side will you pick?
4. What does the expression "ages and ages hence" mean?
5. How does the setting (place, moment of the day...) influence in your interpretation of the poem?
6. Why does the "less trodden path" seem more attractive? Explain.
D. ANNE FRANK'S DIARY ANIMATED FILM. Watch this film awarded the Children’s Jury Award at the Chicago International Children’s Festival.
1. How does this film make you understand these extracts?
2. Anne wrote this in her diary in 1942:
"The first thing I put in was this diary, then hair curlers, handkerchiefs, schoolbooks,
a comb, old letters; I put in the craziest things with the idea that we were going into hiding. But I'm not sorry, memories mean more to me than dresses."
What three things would you have taken in your suitcase? Say why.
3. She also said: "All college students are being asked to sign an official statement to the effect that they 'sympathize with the Germans and approve of the New Order." Eighty percent have decided to obey the dictates of their conscience, but the penalty will be severe. Any student refusing to sign will be sent to a German labor camp." - May 18, 1943.
What would you have done if you had been in this situation? Explain.
4. This is how Ann describes her despair and how she fought against negative feelings: "I've reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can't do anything to change events anyway. I'll just let matters take their course and concentrate on studying and hope that everything will be all right in the end." - February 3, 1944 "...but the minute I was alone I knew I was going to cry my eyes out. I slid to the floor in my nightgown and began by saying my prayers, very fervently. Then I drew my knees to my chest, lay my head on my arms and cried, all huddled up on the bare floor. A loud sob brought me back down to earth..." - April 5, 1944
How do you think a positive viewpoint helps you overcome difficult situations? What helped her to keep on going?
5. What have you learnt about WWII and its effects on innocent people from her extracts?
E. WHEN IS A PANDEMIC OVER ? Explore the three strategies governments and communities can use to contain and end a pandemic, and find out which method is best.
1. Which are the three strategies mentioned? What does each strategy propose?
2. Draw a mind map with key words related to Covid-19. Look up the words in a dictionary and include them in a sentence.
3. Write a 200-word essay explaining the pros and cons of each strategy and which would be the most accurate and realistic, given the situation.
F. DECIPHERING THE WORLD'S OLDEST RULE BOOK: Irving Finkel has a very cool job – he’s curator at the British Museum! He specialises in cuneiform inscriptions on tablets of clay from ancient Mesopotamia and has been trawling the Museum’s 130,000 clay tablets for clues about life in ancient Mesopotamia since 1979. He tells us about a particular tablet he found that contains the rules of a board game he’s been obsessed with since childhood!
How important are dreams for your future careers? How were they important for Mr.Finkel?
He's describing something that may be apparently boring for most people but listening to him, you end up wanting to know more. How can enthusiasm in a presentation improve your performance?
What does a curator do? Do some research and make a list of the main tasks of a curator.
How old is the game?
How many players can play the game?
Describe how it is played.
Is there any existing game you know that resembles this game?
This is it for the week!
Don't forget to send me your work before Friday 12th. You don't HAVE TO do it all. You can choose. The aim of these activities is to make you work your fingers to the bone and keep you busy. HAVE A NICE WEEK! :)
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