2º British: Your own guided visit to Ávila

As promised, it is your turn to become professional touristical guides. In groups (maximun 4 people) you will several days to prepare a guided visit to ONE of the following historical monuments of Ávila:

• Medieval Wall
• Cathedral
• Basilica of San Vicente
• Convento La Encarnación
• San Pedro (El Grande)
• San Andrés

The guided visit will be ONLY about the exterior area but there are several parts you MUST talk about (historical context, architectural plan, author, main gate, decoration, etc.). It would be also interesting and positive if you can add a legend or historical anecdote linked to your chosen monument. In any case, be aware that you should be able to talk 8-12 minutes! 

You can use the official website of Avila Tourism to study the monuments and there are also some tips for speaking as professional guides (both webs in Spanish). Prepare your speech/draft (pdf format) and 3 high-resolution images and send them to acarriles@educa.jcyl.es. 

The oral explanation of your choosen monument will take place LIVE. Of course, all members of the team HAVE TO talk. Collaboration and team effort would be important.

As usual, this work is mandatory and will be part of your final score this term. If you fail to do it, you will receive a 0.

3º British: Experts committee about Global Warming

What is an “Experts committee”?

A work technique in which a group of students discuss as experts (Each one specialize in some aspect of the issue) an issue in dialogue or conversation with the group. The conversation can be casuak but it has to be rational, without discussions and exhibitions lead away from the topic

Who is involved? In groups (maximum, 6 people), you will have to share the following roles:

• Experts: 3 experts who deal with all aspects of the issue for the group is reported. Experts MUST prepared with anticipation at least 3 accurate and professional resources (graphics, short videos, scientifical articles, etc.) that can support their explanations. Resources have to be well identify (title, author, university, details of publication, etc.)
• 
  
• Moderator: Introduce the committee members, organizes time, directs the conversation, introduce clarifying questions. This person must prepare a detailed script and a complete list of potential questions.
• 
  
• Journalist. 1 journalist, writting a scientical report for National Geographic, asking the experts all the questions that should be known: what is Global Warming? Why is it dangerous? What can we do for stop it? etc. / on the other hand, 1 denialist blogger trying to create controversy. In both cases, they must prepared with anticipation at least 3 resources that can support their explanations.

All those sources and documents MUST be sent by email on the 11 May to blogeducativo08@gmail.com. The debate will take place on 18 May.

How to do it?

1. How to performance the debate? You are special guests in a university conference ;) The moderator presented to the committee’s members (besides name, some special item you want the public to know about their knowledge of the subject). Asks the first question on the subject.

2. One member of the committee initiates the conversation with his/her colleagues.

3. The moderator has to intervene to ask new questions, if you see that there are aspects that have not been touched or if someone deviates from the topic. The moderator will be encouraged if the dialogue lapses, but without giving his/her opinion. When possible, the moderator also invites the journalists to contribute with his/her questions, ideas or doubts (or stops the blogger if too much controversy or violence).

4. The debate must last 25-30 minutes. After that, the moderator will invite each panel member to briefly summarize their ideas (briefly means one minute only).

As students of 3ºBritish and already veterans on this particular issue, you are expected to performance much greater and elaborated roles, and you will be evaluated accordingly.

Tips and Helps

You can have a look in the following webpages: Worldwatch Institute and also BBC Newsround. And here there is a list of questions that can be done during the debate:

• What is Global Warming?
• What are the causes of Global Warming?
• Does everybody agree with the theory of Global Warming, or is there some kind of controversy? Why?
• In science, what is the difference between “Theory” and “Hypothesis”?
• What is “Carboon footprint”?
• What can WE do?
• What can the Governments do?
• What is the Kyoto Protocol?

Ready? Watch, read… go on!

2º British: working with primary sources

A first online work about the Spanish Armada (from a British point of view). Here you can read some documents of The National Archives.

Read carefully and do the task 1 to 6. You should see also the "Background" and "Armada Timeline", where you will read useful information... As usual, answers should me as complete and detailed as possible. 

Deadlines for third term

Hello! Here you have all the tasks and activities for this last term. Keep calm and carry on! :)

1º British

Make your own volcano! _ Thursday, 15 April

Monthly work Nº5_ Thursday, 22 April

MAPS_ Thursday, 4 May

EXAM (Maps)_ Thursday, 13 May

Population in extreme weather conditions_ Thursday, 27 May

Monthly work Nº6_ Thursday, 3 June

EXAM (Climates)_ Thursday, 10 June

2º British

Gamification (GOST)_ If exam of Unit 7 is required, Tuesday, 4 May

Gamification (Museum)_ If exam of Unit 8 is required, Tuesday, 25 May

Create your own historical comic!_ Friday, 16 April

Guided visit to Ávila_ Friday, 14 May

Monthly work Nº6_ Friday, 4 June

3º British

Monthly work Nº4_ Tuesday, 20 April

EXAM_ 26 and 27 April

Monthly work Nº5_ Tuesday, 4 May

Global Warming experts committee_ Tuesday, 18 May

Globalization_ Tuesday, 25 May

EXTRA! Monthly work Nº6 (volunteer)_ Tuesday, 1 June

4º British

Monthly work Nº6_ Tuesday, 20 April

BBC History reporters_ Tuesday, 27 April

Monthly work Nº7_ Tuesday, 11 May

EXAM_ 19 and 21 May

EXTRA! Monthly work Nº8 (volunteer)_ Wednesday, 26 May

4ºBritish: History updated - Spanish flu & Covid19 comparison

 

This is a quite interesting activity that will help you to understand how History is always repeating itself (as shown in this special review of Crash Course World History: Disease! - 11:40 minutes)

As it is also quite demanding 3-task activity, it can be done individually or in pairs.

 

Task 1. Spanish flu historical research. Read carefully the provided sources and underline the most relevant data/information. Them fill in the  first column of the provided chart with the summarise information in each category.

Tip: You should watch this overview from CBS Sunday Morning that summarizes the current COVID-19 outbreak in Washington State as of March 8, 2020 and introduces the Spanish Flu of 1918 (The story of the 1918 flu pandemic - length 6:37) or check this terrific historical dossier from CDC (Center for disease control & prevention). 

 

Task 2. Search on Covid-19 sources. Now you must select 6 sources of information (in English) about the current COVID pandemia and categorized them following the previous example (scientific, cultural, etc.). Please, include those sources (text, images or links) in your document with a brief explanation of why you find them so relevant and representative for stiying this current pandemia.

When finish, fill in the  second column of the previous chart with the summarise information in each category.

Tip: main sources that you can use for starting your research in this specifical task (do not copy that general links as sources; you MUST choose the articles or graphics that can be more representative in each category of the chart):

Washington Post - New York Times - BBC – IG @covidartmuseum

 

Task 3. SETTING UP THE COMPARISON. Now that you have read, research and categorise sources of information from both pandemias, you have to set up the comparaison by answering the following question:

To what extent is the Coronavirus outbreak of 2020 similar to the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918?

The student thesis should qualify an argument that sets-up a 2 to 1 comparison (2 differences/1 similarity OR 2 similarities/1 difference).  The sources and their analysis previously done should guide their argument structure decisions. 

Here is an example of this type of thesis/argument structure model (that you have to complete and develop properly in a fully argumented answer!): Although the outbreaks have similar global reach, they differ in their mortality rates and government responses...

This third part can be done in a pdf file (about 25-30 lines) or by filming a short video / Teams conference (about 3-4 minutes).

When finish, send an email with ALL files (chart, covid selected sources and comparaison) in PDF format (or .AVI if choosing video in the last task) as attached files to acarriles@educa.jcyl.es. Last day: Friday,  18 February.

Of course, this activity is mandatory and will be part of the score at the end of the term. If you fail to finish it, do it out of date, or just copy&paste from a webpage, the mark will be a 0 for this work.

Ready? Steady?... go!

2ºBritish: Magellan & Elcano. First circumnavigation of the Globe

As required, here you have our second gamification experience of the academic year. We will conmemorate the 5th anniversary of the First circumnavigation of the Globe (1519-1522). 

In the first term we studied the most famous travellers of Medieval Age (Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta and Zheng He). Modern Age was the time of the Great Explorations: the discovering of America (Juan de la Cosa made the first map of the new continent in 1500) and the circumnavigation of the Globe. Let’s study it by playing!

This learning-game can be done individually or in pairs but it is mandatory. All missions and activities has to be done on the specifical date. If you fail to do it, do it out of time or just copy&paste from internet, you will be penalised and will loose marks (with the repercussion that it will have for reaching the highest rank in the navy and its benefits...). In case someone does not reach the minimun score required (50 marks), he/she will have to do a conventional, written exam.

But I am sure that you will do your best to have fun... and to learn!

How does it work? 

First of all, you will need a player card. You can use this free-online-creator: https://www.mtgcardmaker.com/. This part is mandatory and will give you your first 2 marks for the game. Send your player card, in PDF format, before Monday, 25 January to acarriles@educa.jcyl.es. 

Basic things you HAVE TO include in your Player-card:

Your nick-name and your photo (real one!)

Your city and kingdom (real ones from Medieval Iberian Peninsula)

Languages you speak 

Two strong point (This is really important, as it can gives you extra marks in certain missions... Think carefully about that!).

One weak point (Again, think carefully as you can loose a couple of marks in a mission... This is a game and sometimes you have to take risks!)

Both strong and weak points have to be chosen from the following list:

- Learning new languages
- Map reading
- Diplomacy
- Militar strategy
- Negociation and sale skills
- Astronomy and sailing skills
- Calligraphy
- Music and fine arts
- Drawing
- Medicine
- Mathematics
- Biology and Botany

Secondly, each player (or team) will need a small notebook. Why? Because the missions of this game will have the form of a ON BOARD DIARY, that is, as mariners, you will have to write a full chronicle of everything than happen during the expedition. That was exactly what Antonio Pigafetta did during the real circumnavigation.

For some of your missions you will need to read some extracts from the orginal Pigafetta’s on board diary. It is a word document of a hundred pages but do not panic! You will NOT have to read it complete, just some lines... The index (page nº3) works with hyperlinks so you can click on the one you need (the most relevants are marked in bold) and go directly to it.

The teacher will release the pertinent worksheet of each mission/stage and you will have to solve the activities in your ON BOARD DIARY and give it to the teacher for the correction. Sometimes you will need to draw something or stick a photo in it, please have colour pencils and glue prepared in advance: this is what is called “scrap-notebook”, as it would be a mixture of hand-writting and collage items.

Besides, as sailors you must be prepared to take quick decissions and fix problems with limited material resources. It means that this is a very problem-solving oriented activity: can you find out on internet the information or imagens required fast enough? 

As you can imagine, an adventure like this is not easy: getting marks to upgrade your condition will be slightly more difficult. Your laboral progress will be the following:

Start. You are a cabin boy 

20 marks. Mariner

40 marks. Naval oficer. As now member of the high rank staff, in the next mission you will receive 2 extra points as bonus!

50 marks. Captain. Congratulations! You have triumphed: your exam is convalidated by 9. Hooray!

60 marks. Almirant. This is the highest ranks possible in the navy so... you have a 10. Congrats! :)

Ready for the adventure? Let’s watch carefully the following TED-ed video about Magellan’s adventure (about 6 minutes, in English) and a good revision from Diálogos-AcademiaPlay (17 minutes).

These are the stages and obstacles you will find on your way:

1. Preparation for the adventure (Sevilla)
2. The travels throught America
3. Patagonia and the Land of Fire
4. Molucas: the land of Spices
5. Back home
6. New Zealand: a Spanish discovery?

Ready? Steady? ... go! :)

Deadlines for second term

Hello! Happy snowy new year! How are you? Did you enjoy a happy and healthy Christmas time?

These will be the deadlines for this second term; do not panic, I will explain everything in detail tomorrow at class. 

1º British

Monthly work nº3 (Classic world) _ Thursday, 21 January

Exam I (Greece)_ Thursday, 28 January

Video: 7 wonders of ancient time_ Thursday, 4 February

Book review ON PAPER (Roman misteries 1: Thieves of Ostia, by Caroline Lawrence)_ Thursday, 18 February

Exam II (Rome)_ Thursday, 25 February

Monthly work nº4 (Britain)_ Thursday, 11 March

2º British

Book review (see options here) ON PAPER _ Friday, 22 January

Exam I_ Friday, 29 January

Monthly work nº4 (Modern era I)_ Friday, 5 February

Video: Spanish America TV News _ Friday, 19 February

Monthly work nº5 (Modern era II)_ Friday, 26 February

Exam II_ Friday, 5 March

3º British

Monthly work nº2 (Primary sector)_ Tuesday, 26 January

Videoscribe_ Tuesday, 2 February

Monthly work nº3 (Secondary sector)_ Tuesday, 23 February

Exam (Primary & Secondary sectors)_ Monday 1 & Tuesday 2, March

Searching a job in Europe_ Tuesday, 9 March

4º British

Book review (see options here) ON PAPER_ Tuesday, 26 January

Monthly work nº4 (UK and Industrial Rev.)_ Tuesday, 2 February

Special dossier: Spanish flu vs Covid_ Tuesday, 23 February

Monthly work nº5 (First World War) _ Tuesday, 2 March

Exam (Industrial Rev. & First World War)_ Tuesday 9 & Wednesday 10, March

Have a nice day and take care.