Change Of Plans

Right now, I'm upset because we're not going to Europe for the holidays anymore. We're going after the holidays because of dad's work. Bummer!

 However, I'm glad December is coming because it's my favorite time of the year. I'm going to start prepping the house for the festivities. There is a lot to do.

December is around the corner

School term is almost over and I'm super duper excited because this year my parents and I are going to Europe for the holidays. I just can't wait!!! 

November in Brazil

On November 2nd, we honor our late family members by visiting cemeteries all over the country. We take flowers to decorate the graves of beloved ones and candles to be lit. We also pray and reflect about life and its shortness. On November 15th, we celebrate the Proclamation of the Republic. Schools don´t open and we don´t work either. We don't do anything special on this day. It´s a day to rest and have fun with family and friends.

To Infinity & Beyond With Images

The IMAGE CONFERENCE was held in Brasilia. My presentation was supposed to last 45 minutes, so I had to be brief, which made me nervous. Besides, there was a little glitch which held me back. Nevertheless, I was able to deliver it.

Story Telling: Simple Past X Present Perfect

Dani Lyra, my dear colleague, asked me to draw a story to teach the Simple Past and the Present Perfect. A story in which these two tenses would be the main characters. Here is the thing: At first I thought I could record my voice telling the story, which I did, but afterwards I realized it would be more interesting to write the story, so you could memorize it and tell it yourself. Believe me, it's a lot more fun!  

Simple Past and Present Perfect were friends when they were little. They played, laughed and had a lot of fun together.

Eventually, Simple Past became a cowboy.

Present Perfect became a surfer.

Simple Past is very likable, straightforward, easy to understand.

Present Perfect is not easy to understand.

 Sometimes some people prefer to think he doesn't exist.

 Some frown at and look down on him.

And many people have misconceptions about him...

 ...which makes him upset.

 Simple Past is super attached to the past.

Every time he tells you about something he did, he will tell you "when". 

 And if you tell him that you traveled on your vacation, he will ask you when. And he will always use DID in questions.

Present Perfect has an eye in the present. 

Simple Past is obsessed about time...

...whereas Present Perfect doesn't even have a watch. He doesn't care when something happened. Sometimes it's because he doesn't remember.

Present Perfect always uses HAVE and the participle of a verb.

In questions, too.

 He uses HAS for the third person.

All these differences made them go separate ways, but it doesn't mean they are alone.

Simple Past has friends that hang out with and enjoy his company. They are always together.

Although some people don't understand Present Perfect, he has friends, too. Loyal friends who relate to him and are always there for him.

Images - Downloadable

My Super Duper Costume

I went shopping today and tried on some cool costumes but it took me a while to finally find the right one. I hope you like it as much as I did. It fits me like a glove!

Photocopiable Material

The Fridge Song

This activity has been designed for a group of children. The grammar focus here was the verb THERE TOBE. 

STEP 1: First, students draw what they have in their fridges. (Teachers can use a data show equipment so they can share their drawings with peers)

STEP 2: Students guess what the teacher has in his/her fridge. The teacher projects a photo of his/her fridge, so students check whether they were right.

STEP 3: Students listen to "THE FRIDGE SONG".


STEP 4: The powerpoint presentation provided for the activity allows students to write their own version of the song, so they are arranged in small groups and work on what food items they will use in it. When they finish, they write their version of the song on the board.

STEP 5: Finally, they share their song with all their peers.

   

Activity - Downloadable


P.S. Steps 1 and 2 are interchangeable.

COOL TIP:

A nice activity to be done in the following day is:

1) Arrange students in two teams.
2) Project the images of the students' fridges' drawings and give them 1 minute to memorize them.
3) Ask them questions using IS THERE ANY...? and ARE THERE ANY...?