Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a special holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada to give thanks for the blessings of the past year. It’s a time for families and friends to come together, enjoy a big meal, and share what they are grateful for.

Key things about Thanksgiving:

History:

In the United States, Thanksgiving started hundreds of years ago, in 1621, when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They came together to celebrate the harvest and the help the Native Americans gave to the Pilgrims during their first difficult year in the New World.

When It Happens:

In the U.S., Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, it’s celebrated earlier, on the second Monday of October.

Traditions:

Food: Thanksgiving meals often include turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

Giving Thanks: Families share what they’re thankful for, such as good health, loved ones, or fun memories.

Parades and Sports: There are big parades, like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and football games that people watch on TV or in person.

Helping Others: Many people volunteer or donate food to those in need. 

Thanksgiving is about kindness, gratitude, and spending time with loved ones. It’s a moment to pause and appreciate the good things in life.

AI activities and resources for English language teachers

AI Activities and resources for English language teachers by Nik Peachey and Ross Crichton, available on the British Council's TeachingEnglish platform, is a practical guide designed to help teachers integrate AI technologies into their classrooms effectively. It offers activities and resources tailored for English language teaching, with a focus on enhancing learning outcomes and engagement through the use of generative AI.

Key features of the guide include: practical applications of AI, supporting teachers, developing critical skills, and addressing challenges (discussions on ethical considerations, such as academic honesty and plagiarism and tips for incorporating AI in a way that complements traditional teaching methods without overshadowing fundamental skills like writing and critical analysis).

For more detailed insights and to access the document, visit:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2024-11/Peachey_2024_%20AI_activities_resources_English_language_teachers.pdf

School calendars in Europe #Eurydice

This resource offers a comprehensive look at key aspects of the school year across European countries. It highlights the start dates, duration, and scheduling of school holidays, as well as detailing who is responsible for making these decisions.

The tool serves two primary purposes:

To enhance understanding of the structure and timing of students' school schedules across Europe.

To assist in planning transnational activities and school-level exchanges within the region.

The information spans 37 European countries that are part of the Eurydice network and focuses on primary and general secondary education, following the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011).

Details are accessible through two main sections:

Calendar View: A visual representation of school schedules.

Comparative Data: An analysis of differences and similarities across countries

Find it on:

https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/data-and-visuals/european-school-calendars

25N: interactive activities

In this quizz you will find 3 different interactive activities in relation to the 25th November commemoration.

https://view.genially.com/63749ca398541400179c90ad/interactive-content-25n-interactive-activities-ccm

Codexterous. Thoughts about teaching, literature, and teaching literature

Codexterous is a blog dedicated to providing teaching resources primarily for English Literature and Language at GCSE and A-Level levels. It offers a variety of booklets and educational tools aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning experience in literature.

This blog is particularly useful for educators seeking adaptable, student-friendly materials that can be modified according to classroom needs. It emphasizes practical teaching methodologies and aims to make literature more accessible and engaging for students.

To explore Codexterous and its resources, visit:

https://codexterous.home.blog/resources/

Learn English with #Kahoot

Diverse resources for English class created by Inma and Pedro Civera on Kahoot.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12oogNr2IUEcj3IfTaZ__kaN51gtt9hH-/view?usp=sharing

Green and Blue Projects

The Green and Blue Projects initiative, hosted by the Scientix platform, promotes sustainability and environmental education across schools in Europe. 

It encourages collaboration on projects focused on "green" (environmental) and "blue" (marine) sustainability topics, aiming to integrate these themes into STEM education. Through activities, resources, and support, the project assists educators in developing awareness and skills for sustainable development among students.

For detailed information, visit:

https://www.scientix.eu/projects/green-blue-projects

Proyecto EDIA. REA «School reforms»

School reforms is an open educational resource that is part of a project comprising a set of six learning scenarios called Teens Crafting Communities, designed for 10th-grade (4th ESO) students. 

This project follows the service-learning methodology with the goal of fostering social commitment and active participation to develop a shared project. 

This resource can be used independently or as part of the full set, thereby covering the entire English curriculum for 10th grade (4th ESO). The primary purpose of this learning scenario is for students to identify their school's needs for change by conducting a survey and subsequently submitting a request to the administration. 

To achieve this, students will undertake three missions culminating in a final challenge: drafting a formal proposal for change addressed to the school administration, based on the survey results they will organize. Through these challenges, students will not only learn how to create a survey but will also develop a sense of purpose and social responsibility, focusing on diverse aspects such as SDG 4 on quality education. 

https://cedec.intef.es/proyecto-edia-rea-school-reforms-para-ingles-de-4o-eso/

BBC Learning English Conversations

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio is a resource provided by BBC Learning English that focuses on helping English learners improve their conversational skills. Through structured dialogues, role plays, and situational conversations, learners can practice listening comprehension, pronunciation, and everyday English language use.

The program covers a wide range of topics, from common social interactions to professional communication, aimed at building confidence in spoken English. It's designed for learners at different proficiency levels, offering accessible and engaging content that often includes transcripts, exercises, and downloadable resources. It’s popular among English learners globally for its practical approach to language acquisition.

Find it on:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pc9zn/episodes/downloads

Halloween Pumpkin Contest

Once again, our school welcomes back a contest that’s becoming a true classic at IES Azorín! Organized by the English department, the competing pumpkins were displayed in the entrance hallway throughout last week. Congratulations to all participants for their terrifying creativity!