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Espresso Weekly Newsletter 10/12/08
As you prepare your Christmas and seasonal celebrations, there's a good deal of new content in Espresso this week to stimulate lively classroom discussion. The video of the Swedish School's Santa Lucia celebrations is particularly interesting.
Once the holidays arrive, your thoughts are bound to turn to the subject of planning for next term! Did you know that teachers now have free access from their homes to the full Espresso service in over 100 LAs in England? They include the whole of London, Manchester, Warwickshire, Somerset, Cheshire, Cornwall and Norfolk and Birmingham (through your Netmedia learning platform) and many others. Your ICT Co-ordinator will know if access is available to your school. Logging on is a simple process, and planning exciting lessons full of video and multimedia has never been easier!
Key Stage 1
Sustainability - One Planet Future video - NEW!
The video tells the story of how WWF has evolved from an organisation focused on wildlife conservation to a wider sustainability agenda. It explains some difficult concepts like the relationship between climate change and C02 emissions and suggests how the actions of individuals can help.
The video uses children's voices and animations created from children’s art.
Find it: Geography 1 > Sustainability > One Planet Future
Santa Lucia Day
Santa Lucia Day is a holiday celebrated in Sweden and other Nordic countries on December 13th. It commemorates the saint, Santa Lucia who is associated with kindness and love. She was an Italian Christian who lived in Sicily in the 4th century. Special celebrations take place in schools. The video looks at the celebrations taking place at the Swedish school in London.
Find this week's story: News 1
News Bites
A news round-up of events in the form of three short video clips. The video clips are reporter-led pieces using language aimed at Key Stage 1 pupils.
Bears in space
Dragon park
Floating Christmas tree
Find this week's story: English 1 > News Bites
Key Stage 2
Sustainability - One Planet Future video - NEW!
The video tells the story of how WWF has evolved from an organisation focused on wildlife conservation to a wider sustainability agenda. It explains some difficult concepts like the relationship between climate change and C02 emissions and suggests how the actions of individuals can help.
The video uses children's voices and animations created from children’s art.
Find it: Geography 2 > Sustainability > One Planet Future
New book from J.K. Rowling (+What do you think?)
J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard has been published and fans across the world have participated in midnight release parties to celebrate. The book is a collection of five tales of wizardry, one of which helped Harry Potter defeat Lord Voldemort in the final instalment of the Harry Potter series.
Find this week's story: News 2
Santa Lucia Day
Santa Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden and other Nordic countries on December 13th. It commemorates the saint, Santa Lucia, associated with kindness and love, lived in Sicily in the 4th century. The video looks at the celebrations taking place at the Swedish school in London.
Find this week's story: News 2
News Bites
A news round-up of events in the form of four short video clips. The video clips are reporter-led pieces using language aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils.
Bears in space
Lessons in being happy
Floating Christmas tree
Self-portrait exhibition
Find this week's story: English 2 > News Bites
Rowling's first book since Harry Potter (+What do you think?)
Thousands of Harry Potter fans queued until midnight to buy the first copies of J.K. Rowling's latest book.
Four hundred readers from across the globe travelled to Waterstone's booksellers in London to become the first to lay their hands on the new book. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of short stories mentioned in the final book of the Harry Potter series.
Find this week's story: News 2
Christmas holly shortage
Britain's cold snap has been blamed for a shortage of holly this Christmas. Following news of a bumper crop of mistletoe this year thanks to the weather, the opposite has happened to holly berries.
Find this week's story: News 2
Exploring Christmas traditions (+What do you think?)
Read about popular Christmas traditions including dressing pine trees, and the Victorian customs of exchanging cards and pulling crackers. Differentiated text is presented in an accessible question and answer format.
Find this week's story: News 2
WWF One Planet Future campaign
If everyone in the world lived like we do in the UK, we’d need three planets – not just one – to support us. Learn about the WWF's work in their latest campaign.
Find this week's story: News 2
Teachers
If you have any questions regarding the content in this week's update please contact us at primary@espresso.co.uk. We always love to hear any suggestions or ideas you have for the Espresso service.
