Postcrossing

We have begun a new experience in 3° C and D: postcrossing.

We'll show the postcards when they arrive.

Today we have sent two in 3º C and a couple more from 3º D.

English postcards

This collection of postcards has been on sale for years in The U.K. What do you think of them? What is your favourite?

ESIO TROT

Esio Trot was published in 1990 and was one of the last stories Roald Dahl wrote that was released in his lifetime. It tells the story of Mr Hoppy, his great love, Mrs Silver, and a little tortoise called Alfie.

Here are some activities for you to do after reading the book.

You'll find the link to the book at the end of this entry.
Here's another one to Roald Dahl's biography:
Roald Dahl's bio

Resources:

• 'Esio Trot' is 'Tortoise' spelt backwards. Try spelling other words backwards. Do they make a funny word? Do they make a real word?
• Find out about Palindromes... words that can be read the same way in either direction (e.g. dad, level, noon). Can you think of any more?
• Find out about Semordnilap... words that make a different word when you read them backwards (e.g. star = rats, stop = pots, stressed = desserts). Can you find other examples?
• Write a letter from Mr. Hoppy to Mrs. Silver (at the beginning of the book) inviting her to a cup of tea and a biscuit.
• Write a story about a 'great feat' that Mr. Hoppy might perform to make him a hero in Mrs. Silver's eyes.
• Create a report to teach others how to look after a tortoise, or another pet of your choice.
• Write a new story about an adventure that a tortoise might have.
• Write your own rhyme that might make Alfie grow (using forwards or backwards words).
• Find some examples of speech between Mr. Hoppy and Mrs. Silver. Can you use these to write a play script of part of the story?
• Look at the 'Introducing...' page at the start of the book. Can you write a sentence / paragraph to describe each character in the story?
• Write a letter to an animal charity asking them about their work.
• Listen to the audiobook version of the story. Could you record your own retelling?
• Retell the story from Alfie's point of view.

• Mr. Hoppy weighs the tortoises in ounces. Can you convert the measurements into metric measurements?
• Tortoises can live for a hundred years. Can you find out the life expectancy of other animals? Could you put these into a chart / graph?
• Create a graph that shows how the changes in the weights of each tortoise.
• Imagine that each tortoise needs to eat 30% of its own body weight in lettuce each day. How much would this be for Alfie? How much would it be for the heavier tortoises?
• Draw a selection of tortoises of different weights. Can you put them in order from lightest to heaviest?
• Mr. Hoppy imagines that the distance between his balcony and Mrs. Silver's is a million miles. How far is this? If you would travel a million miles, where might you end up?

• Find out about hibernation. Why do tortoises do this? What other animals hibernate in the winter?
• Create a report about tortoises. Where do they live? What do they eat?
• The 'Author's Note' at the start of the book explains why it became illegal to bring tortoises into the country. Can you find out about animal welfare and charities who help to look after animals?

• Use painting software to paint a tortoise shell pattern.
• Use desktop publishing software to design an invitation to Mr. Hoppy and Mrs. Silver's wedding.

• Design a new house for the largest tortoise to fit into.
• Can you design and make a 'grabber' to pick up something that is far away?

• Paint a picture which shows all of the beautiful flowers on Mr. Hoppy's balcony.
• Make your own tortoise mask.
• Colour the tortoise colouring pages (see Resources below).

• Compose a tune that Mrs Silver can sing when she is reciting the 'Esio Trot' magic words.

• Mr. Hoppy is jealous of Alfie the tortoise. What does it mean to feel jealous? Have you ever felt jealous of somebody?
• Mr. Hoppy tricks Mrs. Silver to make her feel a little happier. How do you think she would feel if she found out about the trick?

Link to the book:

Esio Trot. The book.

One video I liked

The boy who could do it

El niño que pudo hacerlo

Dos niños llevaban toda la mañana patinando sobre un lago helado cuando, de pronto, el hielo se rompió y uno de ellos cayó al agua. La corriente interna lo desplazó unos metros por debajo de la parte helada, por lo que para salvarlo la única opción que había era romper la capa que lo cubría.

Su amigo comenzó a gritar pidiendo ayuda, pero al ver que nadie acudía buscó rápidamente una piedra y comenzó a golpear el hielo con todas sus fuerzas.
Golpeó, golpeó y golpeó hasta que con-siguió abrir una grieta por la que metió el brazo para agarrar a su compañero y salvarlo.

A los pocos minutos, avisados por los vecinos que habían oído los gritos de socorro, llegaron los bomberos.

Cuando les contaron lo ocurrido, no paraban de preguntarse cómo aquel niño tan pequeño había sido capaz de romper una capa de hielo tan gruesa.
-Es imposible que con esas manos lo haya logrado, es imposible, no tiene la fuerza suficiente ¿cómo ha podido conseguirlo? -comentaban entre ellos.

Un anciano que estaba por los alrededores, al escuchar la conversación, se acercó a los bomberos.
-Yo sí sé cómo lo hizo -dijo.
-¿Cómo? -respondieron sorprendidos.
-No había nadie a su alrededor para decirle que no podía hacerlo.

Eloy Moreno. Adaptación de un cuento popular.
Incluído en “Cuentos para entender el mundo”
Puedes conseguirlo firmado y dedicado aquí:
Ver libro

International Women's Day

On March 8th we remember that inequality still exists for us women in many aspects, in many countries. Here is a song about women. Enjoy.

ONE WOMAN

In Kigali, she wakes up, She makes a choice, In Hanoi, Natal, Ramallah. In Tangier, she takes a breath, Lifts up her voice, In Lahore, La Paz, Kampala. Through she’s half a world away, Something in me wants to say - We are One Woman You cry and I hear you. We are one Woman You hurt, and I hurt, too. We are One Woman Your hopes are mine We shall shine. In Juarez she speaks the truth, She reaches out, Then teaches other how to. In Jaipur, she gives her name, She lives without shame, In Manila, Salta, Embu. Though we’re different as can be, We’re connected, she with me - We are One Woman Your courage keeps me strong. We are One Woman You sing, I sing along. We are One Woman Your dreams are mine We shall shine We shall shine - And one man, he hears her voice. And one man, he fights her fight. Day by day, he lets go the old ways, One woman at a time. We are One Woman Your victories lift us all. We are One Woman You rise and I stand tall. We are One Woman Our dreams are mine We shall shine Shine, shine, shine - Official song of UN Women, “One Woman”, lyrics by Beth Blatt, music by Graham Lyle and Clay which was composed for UN Women and performed by Graham Lyle, Clay, Beth Blatt, Gemma Bulos, Tituss Burgess, Tracy McDowell, Country Reed and United Nations International School Choir. And here's another interesting video in which Malala, the girl who survived the talibans, speaks out. http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/video-zone/malala-yousafzai-winning-nobel-peace-prize

Exams

Here are a few images I found out about exams and studying. Do you agree with them?

And this is us, the teachers!