Geography of the UK The official title of the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . Great Britain (the formerly separate realms of England and Scotland, and the principality of Wales. ) Northern Ireland (also known as Ulster) Numerous smaller islands including the Isle of Wight, Anglesey, and the Scilly, Orkney, Shetland, and Hebridean archipelagos. The UK is an island nation in Western Europe just off the coast of France. The UK lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, and comes within 35 km (22 miles) of the northwest coast of France, from which it is separated by the English Channel. The UK has a total area of approximately 245,000 km², almost a quarter-of-a-million square kilometres. The UK is made up of several islands. The UK is bordered by four seas: to the south by the English Channel, which separates it from continental Europe to the east by the North Sea to the west by the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean Lakes Find out more about the landscape of England
Takes: Rosa Parks In October, 2005, two months after Hurricane Katrina, Rosa Parks died, at the age of ninety-two, in Detroit. Her signal act of defiance on the evening of December 1, 1955, her refusal to vacate her seat near the front of the Cleveland Avenue bus in Montgomery, Alabama—what Martin Luther King, Jr., called the ultimate gesture of “I can take it no longer”—was the precipitating act of the city’s bus boycott and the civil-rights movement. For two days, her body lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda, in Washington—an honor accorded only twenty-nine times before. “That funeral was so long that I can hardly remember it!” Obama, the sole African-American member in the United States Senate, had also been invited to speak. And yet when Obama got to the lectern at Parks’s funeral he betrayed no emotion, raised no words of protest.
EDUCATION in ENGLAND British children are required by law to have an education until they are 16 years old. Education is compulsory, but school is not,children are not required to attend school. They could be educated at home. Full-time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 16 (inclusive) across England. This can be provided by state schools, independent schools, or homeschooling. About 94 per cent of pupils in England, and the rest of the UK, receive free education from public funds, while 6 per cent attend independent fee paying schools or homeschooling. (Homeschooling numbers uncertain - BBC report) All government-run schools, state schools, follow the same National Curriculum. The school year runs from September to July and is 39 weeks long. For many areas the year is divided into six terms: September to October October to December January to February February to March April to May June to July (Some counties in England still follow the traditional three terms a year.)
Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe: Six reasons why we should celebrate Halloween - Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe Reverend J John argues today that far from being a harmless celebration, Halloween celebrates evil and trivialises death and deformity. He says it subverts messages we would usually wish to promote - such as warning children not to take sweets from strangers - and glorifies everything that is evil and unpleasant. But I am here to step in and defend Halloween as something frivolously fun that deserved to be celebrated. Here's why... 1. Halloween's origins lie in ancient customs regarding death or the praying for souls. 2. Despite Halloween seemingly being obsessed with ghosts, goblins and ghouls, it reflects modern society's fascination with all things spooky. 3. When a ghost suddenly jumps out at an unwilling victim in the latest scary movie we may scream or jump, knocking our neighbour's popcorn out of their hands. 4. Kids love spooky stuff. 5. Whilst there is some abuse of this traditional aspect of Halloween by a minority it has become a wonderful neighbourhood activity in some areas.
Bonfire Night All around the world, festive days like New Year’s Eve are celebrated with fireworks. But here in Britain, there is one night that is very special. It’s November the fifth, Bonfire Night, and I’m wrapped up warm for some autumn fun. Tonight’s the night for lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks. Bonfire Night parties take place in towns and cities across Britain. Joe: Steve, what’s the plan for tonight’s celebrations? Steve: OK, tonight actually kicks off at 6pm in the city centre by our Guild Hall. Joe: It sounds like a hectic night. Steve: On the night itself, we have a hundred and eighty volunteers and many, many other people to help us out. Joe: And be honest, is this about history or is it just an excuse to have fun? Steve: Bonfire Night is about history. So how did this all start? Leon’s probably got the best job in the world. Joe: Leon, talk me through the sort of display you’re going to put on. Leon: There’s about four thousand fireworks which all create different effects.
Let's talk about the UK (still with Scotland) At the beginning of the new school year teachers usually explain to their students what they are going to study. Sometimes efl teachers not only teach grammar but also British culture, so one of the first cultural topics they discuss with their students are the geography of the UK and its form of government. Here you can find an interactive mindmap, a digital poster and a collection of useful websites, just to simplify the work. Click on the Glogster digital poster below, you will find general information about the United Kingdom and some videos. Now take a look at my Cacoo mindmap below about the UK form of government. I have edited it with Thinglink to make it interactive. You can also click on the following link to enlarge the above image: Last September, 18th Scottish people voted for Scotland independence. Scottish referendum explained for non-Brits If you want more general information about the Uk government, the Queen and the Royal Family, open my Blendspace lesson.
Anne Frank Who Was Anne Frank? During the two years and one month Anne Frank spent hiding in a Secret Annex in Amsterdam during World War II, she kept a diary. Anne Frank's diary, which was published by her father after the war and has been read by millions of people around the world, chronicles both the tensions and difficulties of living in such a confined space for that long a duration as well as Anne's struggles with becoming a teenager. Since the publication of her diary, Anne Frank has become a symbol of the children that were murdered in the Holocaust. Dates: June 12, 1929 -- March 1945 Also Known As: Annelies Marie Frank The Move to Amsterdam Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany as the second child of Otto and Edith Frank. The Franks were a middle-class, liberal Jewish family whose ancestors had lived in Germany for centuries. The Franks quickly settled into life in Amsterdam. The Nazis Arrive in Amsterdam On May 10, 1940, Germany attacked the Netherlands. Going Into Hiding
Tell Me about Christmas - Part 2 Advent Calendar Hi, I’m gonna tell you about our advent calendar. This has got all the days until Christmas Day on. And when I was a child we’d have these, and in the family, each child would take it in turns, different day, to open the window and would be very excited about it. Mistletoe People often put mistletoe in their homes at Christmas. Christmas Cracker Christmas crackers are something that most people have at Christmas but I think they… It’s a bit of a silly tradition really because nobody, nobody takes Christmas crackers very seriously. And then inside the cracker, you find usually three things I think. So I think what happens is people kind of think, “oh, we’re not gonna bother having Christmas crackers because they are rubbish anyway” but then you just feel like, “oh well, but it wouldn’t be Christmas without Christmas crackers”.
Christmas quiz Window on Britain - Holidays Fill the gap: When the British people go on ________________________ How much time do they take? Where do they go? Fill the gap: Lots of people take ________________________ weeks holiday break. Fill the gap: British people make 40 millions ________________________ every year . Fill the gap: ________________________ is number one for a holiday choice. Fill the gap: Why do so many British people go abroad for their holidays? Fill the gap: In the 19th century, there weren't any cars or planes. Fill the gap: People con here to swim, wind surf or just sit in the deck ________________________ Fill the gap: They all have a ________________________ time, and it doesn't matter how old you are. Fill the gap: Some people cam in ________________________ or stay in caravan. Fill the gap: Everyone hopes for a lot of sunshine and not too much ________________________ . Fill the gap: Not everyone wants to spend two weeks lying on a beach.
Liverpool History Animation Biographies for kids: Inventors, Athletes, World Leaders, Women Pick the person or subject below to view biography or list of biographies: Biographies Historical Biographies OtherFamous PianistsFamous GuitaristsFamous ViolinistsMuhammad AliLouis ArmstrongMichael JacksonHarry HoudiniElvis PresleyBabe RuthMark TwainFor more Biographies Sports Biographies Entertainment Biographies Back to Ducksters Home Page