21st March

Down Syndrome Day

Do you know that on 21st March we celebrate this date?

"People with Down syndrome can live a happy life. Together we can make it possible.
Everyone has the right to be happy."
(#DearFutureMom)

http://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/wdsd-2014

Watch this "(...)heartwarming message from 15 people with Down syndrome to a future mom."
(published on March 13, 2014)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju-q4OnBtNU

29th March 2014

EARTH HOUR "(...) is a worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wide Fun for Nature (WWF). 
Earth Hour engages a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental issues.
It was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. (...) Earth Hour 2014 is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. during participants' local time." (in Wikipedia)

"(...) millions to switch off lights around the world!
Lights in homes, buildings and famous landmarks will be turned off for an hour
on Saturday to mark WWF's annual event."
(in http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/28/earth-hour-lights-out-wwf)

Watch this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZhbIyrx4AQ

27th March

Do you know that today is 

the World Theatre Day?

World Theatre Day was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). It is celebrated annually on the 27th March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. 

Each year, a message is written by a theatre luminary. 

Past messages have been given by people like Laurence Oliver, John Malkovich, Pablo Neruda, Richard Burton, and Judi Dench. (World Theatre Day Message Authors: 1962 - 2013)

The author of the Message of World Theatre Day 2014 is the South African playwright, designer, director and installation maker Brett Bailey. (http://writerswrite.co.za/world-theatre-day-27-march)

Take a few minutes and watch these videos:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGB5KMLMPII (Brett Bailey's message, 2014)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgGUQlHlEJU (John Malkovich's message, 2012)

And here is a list of some plays all over our country. 
http://lazer.publico.pt/noticias/332382_uma-volta-ao-pais-no-dia-mundial-do-teatro 

22nd March - World Water Day

World Water Day has been observed on 22 March since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly declared 22 March as "World Day for Water". (...) Observance began in 1993 and has grown significantly ever since; for the general public to show support, it is encouraged for the public to not use their taps throughout the whole day.(...)"
 in Wikipedia

Read this article, please. It is ...

"Unacceptable!
When the World Water Development Report comes out (...) it shows that it is often the same people who lack access to improved water sources and improved sanitation who also lack access to electricity. Today those numbers are unacceptable and need urgent attention (...)"
(in http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/media/newsletter/newsletter2/en/)

21st March

Dates to pay attention:

- International Day of Forests
http://www.un.org/en/events/forestsday/

"Forests and trees sustain and protect 
us, providing clean air and water (...)". 
Let's preserve our environment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnMgNt3122I


- International Day for the Elimination 
of Racial Discrimination
"The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. 
On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws. 
Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.(...)"
in Wikipedia
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47397&Cr=discrimination&Cr1=



-World Poetry Day

"(...) The purpose of the day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world (...)."
(in Wikipedia)




Here is a poem by William Shakespeare. I hope you like it!

Tree

Under the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet bird's throat,
Come hither, come hither, come hither:
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.

Who doth ambition shun,
                                           And loves to live i' the sun,
                                           Seeking the food he eats,
                                           And pleased with what he gets,
                                           Come hither, come hither, come hither :
                                           Here shall he see
                                           No enemy
                                           But winter and rough weather.
Do you know that  ...

"William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is a great playwright and poet. He has written a number of plays and poems. He has also written 154 sonnets. Here, in this poem, he invites us to be friendly with Nature where there is always joy and harmony and no enmity. This is taken from the play As You Like It." 

The international day 

of 

HAPPINESS

20th March 2014

Every day is a reason for being happy. 
Life is a blessing and even when something goes wrong we shouldn't stop smiling. 


Pay special attention to this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product."

Well, don´t forget to feel happy, 
to smile, 
to laugh. 

It's healthy!                                                          http://www.un.org/en/events/happinessday/

8th graders

Here is the correction of some exercises you've been asked to do.

Workbook

page 30, ex. 4-

2. The north of England is cooler than the south.
3. Winter rainfall is higher than summer rainfall.
4. Village life is not so stressful as city life.
5. Lisbon is not so expensive as London.
6. Small towns are more people-friendly than big cities.

page 31, ex. 5-

2. friendliest
3. best
4. most expensive
5. funniest 
6. longest

page 31, ex. 6.a-

2. noisiest
3. most dangerous
4. bad
5. smaller
6. most boring

Sochi Winter Paralympics 2014

Do you know

that the Winter Paralympics Games 

are taking place?

Have a look at these spectacular athletes at the opening in Sochi.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/disability-sport/26447291

Photograph: Vladimir Smirnov/Press Association Im

8th March, 

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women's Day, is marked on March 8 every year.

In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political, and social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily in Europe, including Russia. In some regions, the day lost its political flavor, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner. This is a day which some people celebrate by wearing purple ribbons.

(in Wikipedia)

This year, 2014, the International Women's Day Official United Nations theme is 
Equality for Women is Progress for All.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okFKnjfA_uE
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

“In Pakistan, when we were stopped from going to school, at that time I realized that education … Is the power for women, and that’s why the terrorists are afraid of education”  Malala Yousafzai 

Did you know that ...

Shrove Tuesday, 4th March, is the last day before the long fast for the Lent period in many Christian churches. 
The day is the day before Ash Wednesday and usually falls between February 3 and March 9. It has many names, including Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, the Tuesday of Carnival, and Pancake Day.

Pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. The liturgical fasting emphasized eating plainer food and refraining from food that would give pleasure: in many cultures, this means no meat, dairy products, or eggs.

In Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand the day is also known as "Pancake Day" as it is a common custom to eat pancakes as a meal.

(in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday)

I leave you a pancake recipe. Try it and have fun!

ONE-CUP PANCAKES

Makes 10 pancakes (serves 4)

1 large free-range egg

1 cup self-raising flour

1tsp baking powder (optional)

1 cup semi-skimmed milk

20g (¾oz) butter

Have the kids get a mixing bowl, crack the egg on the side of it, and put the egg in the bowl. If  any shell gets in, they can use  the empty eggshell to fish it out.

Next, let them fill a cup or mug of your choice with flour, then add that to the bowl. Toss in the baking powder, if you have some (it just makes the pancakes extra fluffy). 

Fill the same cup with milk and add that too, with a tiny pinch of sea salt. Now show them how to use a whisk to mix everything till smooth. 

Cover your bowl in clingfilm and put to one side. Now get your toppings ready from the ideas on the right.

Put a large frying pan on a medium heat. Get the kids to fry half the butter. Once it’s melted and starting to bubble, have them spoon the pancake batter into the pan so it’s roughly the diameter of an orange. They should be able to make 2-3 pancakes in the pan.

Cook the pancakes for 1-2 minutes, until little bubbles rise up to the surface. Show older kids how to use a fish-slice or heatproof spatula to carefully turn them, but you might need  to do this for little children. Cook the pancakes for another minute or so, till golden on both sides.

When they’re done, transfer them to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Carefully  wipe the pan clean with kitchen paper, then add the remaining butter and keep going until all the batter is used up. 

Serve the pancakes according to the ideas on the right, or with a sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon.

(by Jamie Oliver)