lunes, 24 de noviembre de 2014

4º British: the Middle East, a legacy of WWI


Here are a couple chapters about the origins of the Great War in the Middle East that you might want to read when we study it at class.

In “The Middle East that France and Britain Drew”, John B. Judis traces the roots of the problems today to the way Britain and France drew the borders in the Middle East after the first World War.

In “The Last Crusade: The WWI and the Birth of Modern Islam”, Philip Jenkins traces the rise of modern Islam, including Islamic extremism, to the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the World War I.

Enjoy the reading! J

miércoles, 19 de noviembre de 2014

3º British: Local Food (fixed links for the weekly work)



As it seems that the links included in the weekly work were broken, here you have the new ones for solving the activity about “local food”:

Food routes network: It is a nonprofit organization providing communications tools, technical support, networking, and information resources to organizations working to rebuild local, community-based food systems.
Community Farm Alliance: It is a nonprofit organization providing nutritious food in a manner that is socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable.


Both are USA examples, but you can find similar organizations in other continents (eg. the already studied C.A.P. in Europe!)

lunes, 17 de noviembre de 2014

4º British: We remember (Why poppy flower is the symbol of WW1?)



The poppy has a long association with Remembrance Day. But how did the distinctive red flower become such a potent symbol?


Scarlet corn poppies grow naturally in conditions of disturbed earth throughout Western Europe. The destruction brought by the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th Century transformed bare land into fields of blood red poppies, growing around the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

In late 1914, the fields of Northern France and Flanders were once again ripped open as World War One raged through Europe's heart. Once the conflict was over the poppy was one of the only plants to grow on the otherwise barren battlefields.

The significance of the poppy as a lasting memorial symbol to the fallen was realised by the Canadian surgeon John McCrae in his poem “In Flanders Fields”, written in the remembrance of a soldier friend.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
.


The poppy was adopted by The Royal British Legion as the symbol for their Poppy Appeal, in aid of those serving in the British Armed Forces, after its formation in 1921.



jueves, 13 de noviembre de 2014

Would you pass an Oxford University exam?


Oxford and Cambridge are some of the most famous (and demanding) universities in the world. Their difficult access exams are also well-known and now, thanks to the following link, you can read some examples of the Oxford exam questions. As you can see, there is not only one correct answer; even more, the important point here is not the answer in itself but your thoughtful thinking. That is: your ability for finding the deep cause of a problem, for selecting and linking ideas,  for giving and explaining reasons and consequences, and for expressing in a rational way your reflections.

Causes, consequences, reasoning ability... does they sound familiar to you? Yes! In class, you are being trained in all of them! So don't worry, at the end of the academic year, you will be able to pass your IGCSE - Cambridge exam!

Let's work! J

Source: Diario Vasco via DDR

lunes, 10 de noviembre de 2014

3º British: political performance



As we said in class, here you have the photos of your amazing performances of the political activity... You can download this zip file with all the photos (a password will be required, do you remember it?). A photo from the election day has been also included...

Congratulations again for your work! 

Would you like to do another activity from this kind? Which one?

lunes, 3 de noviembre de 2014

4º British: World War I interactive episode


Thanks to BBC, now you can relive firsthand the Great War. Do you think you would be a good platoon leader? Are you able to take the right decisions during an ambush? Find it out with this interactive episode.

Enjoy and good luck!