Dare to Shine

The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup is being held in France between 7 June and 7 July 2019. Alex Scott. is an English former footballer and has played for the English national team 140 times. She has a message for the World Cup players.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• national team - team that represents a country
• football cage - a space surrounded by wire on all sides where you can play football
• escape - something that helps you to forget about your usual life or problems
• to doubt someone - to have a feeling that someone cannot do something well or succeed at something
• to prove someone wrong - to show by your actions that someone's judgment of you was not correct
• determination - the ability to continue trying to do something that is very difficult
• on the cusp of something - at the point when something is about to change to something else
• to shine - to be very good or successful at an activity
• to take the spotlight - to do things that make people pay more attention to you

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Where did Alex start playing football?


2. Did everyone always believe that Alex could be great at football?


3. What was Alex’ determination to keep going and not give up?


4. According to Alex, what is happening with women’s football now?


5. What is Alex’ advice to the girls playing in the World Cup?

Buzz Buzz Buzz!

It is an early, warm spring. You may have already spotted some bees. Bees can be found in many different countries.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• massive - very large in number or size
• (bee) combs - a group of wax cells with six sides that are built by bees; the bees keep young bees or honey in these cells
• hornet - a very large wasp
• to be under attack - to be attacked
• predator - an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals
• to intercept - to stop and take something that is going from one place to another place before that thing gets there
• foraging - searching for food
• to strike - to attack suddenly

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Fill in the missing number:
   Each of these massive combs can contain ........... wild bees.


2. Can hornets catch the bees easily?


3. How many bees are on the cliff in the video clip?

Watch an extra video about these bees here.

The Blue Bandit

Wiebe Wakker went for a ride in his car. His car is called the Blue Bandit. It is a special car and it was a special ride.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• epic journey - very impressive trip
• a bandit - a gangster
• online donations - money people give through a website
• to plot your course - to plan your route or journey in detail
• to prove someone wrong - to do something in order to show that someone had an incorrect idea or opinion
• prejudices - unfair or unreasonable opinion about something or someone
• reliable - good, to be trusted
• insane - very foolish, sort of crazy
• inspire - to make someone want to do something

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.



(B1) Answer the questions.

1. Where did Wiebe’s journey begin and end? 
2. Is Wiebe's Blue Bandit a regular car? Explain your answer. 
3. Where did Wiebe get the money to make his trip?
4. What was Wiebe’s goal with his trip?

(A2) Fill in the numbers:

1. Wiebe Wakker and his Blue Bandit drove ................. days.
2. Wiebe Wakker drove through ................. countries.
3. Wiebe Wakker drove nearly ................. kilometers.
4. Wiebe Wakker’s journey started in March .................
5. The Blue Bandit is one of only ................. of such electric cars ever made.

Out in the Cold

Yup, it’s still winter and really cold in some parts of the world. Northern USA and Canada are in the grip of the polar vortex. How did it all happen?

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• in a freeze frenzy - influenced and controlled by the effects of the freezing weather
• to undergo changes - to go through changes
• weather officials - people who work at organisations where the weather is studied
• frostbite - injury to someone caused by severe cold, usually to their toes, fingers, ears, or nose
• windchills - temperatures that shows how cold the air feels because of the wind

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Where is the polar vortex actually?


2. How high up is the polar vortex?


3. Name two or more effects of the extreme cold.


4. Which two warnings have weather officials given?


5. How cold can the windchills get?

An Icy Sight

Did aliens create this beauty?

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• frigid - very cold
• disc - a flat, thin, round object
• the far side of the moon - the side of the moon away from the earth
• to spin - to turn around in circles
• rotation - the act or process of moving or turning around a central point
• unheard-of - very unusual, not heard of before

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. When was the ice disc first spotted?


2. How cold is it in Westbrook, Maine?


3. How wide is the ice disc?


4. Is this the first time people have seen such an ice disc?


5. Is the ice disc still spinning?

School Strike

It’s in the news more and more: Kids all over the world going on strike from school.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• to go on strike - to stop work or anything else you should do in order to force a change
• carbon footprint - the amount of greenhouse gases (broeikasgas) someone or something leaves behind
• to head (somewhere) - to go in a specific direction
• obvious - easy to see or understand
• to make a difference - to help change a situation
• to recognize - to accept or be aware that something is true
• to take action - to do something
• bush fire - a fire burning in the bush (= a wild area of land) that is difficult to control and sometimes spreads quickly
• drought - a long period of time when there is very little or no rain
• to have a say - to have the power to help decide something

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. How old are the girls?


2. Why are the girls planning to go on strike?


3. On what date are the girls planning to go on strike?


4. Where will they be going on strike?

Watch the video once more. Answer these more advanced questions:

1. What do the girls want to happen with the carbon footprint?


2. Harriet says that ‘that everyone can make a difference but particularly our politicians’.
   Why particularly the politicians?


3. Milou says that she’s ‘concerned about climate change because ...’.
   Name the reasons she gives.

Monkey Business

Iceland is a British supermarket chain. Many supermarkets make special Christmas TV ads. This year, Iceland wanted to show a special animation for Christmas. But they are not allowed to show their animation on TV. The reason given: it is “too political”.
Now the animation is becoming a big hit anyway, thanks to social media. Watch it and judge for yourself.
The animation is about a girl and a young orangutan. The orangutan is called Rang-tan.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• to ban - to forbid something
• orangutan - a large ape that has very long arms and reddish-brown hair
• teddy - short for: teddy bear; a soft toy bear
• to borrow - to take and use something that belongs to someone else
• to howl - to make a long, loud cry that sounds sad
• naughty - behaving badly
• forest - a large area of land covered with trees and plants
• palmoil - an oil from the nuts of some types of palm tree, used in some foods and to make soap
• to feel blue - to feel sad or unhappy

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. The orangutan is doing all sorts of things in the girl’s house. Name at least two things.


2. Is the girl happy with her uninvited guest?


3. Why is the orangutan in the girl’s house?


4. What is the girl going to do with the orangutan’s story?


5. Finish the last sentence the girl says: “The future’s not yet written but .....”
   Explain in your own words what this means.

A Share of the Pie

North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world.
But now Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, has met both the South Korea president and the president of the United States.
These talks could lead to many changes for the people living in North Korea. Michelle Ye Hee Lee explains.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• summit - a meeting or series of meetings between the leaders of two or more governments
• as a treat - as a special snack
• stash - to collect or keep for later use
• barter - to exchange things for other things instead of for money
• reportedly - according to what many people say
• black market - a system through which things are bought and sold illegally
• black market commodity - something that is bought and sold on the black market
• fluffy - light and soft and airy

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What are Choco Pies made of?


2. In 2002 North Korean workers were given Choco Pies as a treat. What did they do with them?


3. Relations between North and South Korea seem to be getting better.
   How could this change things for Choco Pie lovers in North Korea?

Say Cheese!

FIFA World Cup kicked off in Russia on 15 July 2018. Footballers weren’t the only ones who followed special trainings.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• foreigners - people who are from another country
• attitude - the way you think of and behave towards other people
• Beware! - Be careful!
• it can land you in trouble - it can cause you problems
• alien - strange and not familiar
• suspicious - making you feel that something is wrong
• bucking the trend - going against the trend; resisting the common way of behaving
• infectious - making you want to join in

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What do visitors to Russia often think of Russians?


2. What does Elnara Mustafina want to teach Russian people?


3. Why was Yulia Melamed stopped by a policeman?


4. How does laughter yoga make Zemfira feel?

Chewing the Fat

The World Health Organisation has published a report on trans-fats. That’s an ingredient found in many foods that we eat.
What do you know about trans-fats?

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• nasty - unpleasant, bad
• to lurk - to wait in a secret or hidden place, often in order to do something wrong or bad
• occasional - happening or done sometimes, but not often
• in really small quantities - in very small amounts
• fast food joints - fast-food restaurants
• shortening - a fat (such as butter) that is used in cooking or baking
• to banish something - to get rid of something
• a really big ask - something asked or hoped for, but is very difficult to do or achieve

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Where are trans-fats found naturally?


2. In which food are trans-fats often used?


3. Why did trans-fats become a popular ingredient? Name at least 2 reasons.


4. Are trans-fats bad for people? Explain your answer.


5. What does the WHO want to do with trans-fats?

Extra words assignment
1. Name as many words for fats used for cooking and eating as possible.

Extra speaking assignment
1. The World Health Organisation is also called the WHO.
2. How do you pronounce the short name? Say it out loud.
3. Now work with one or more classmates. Take turns saying all the letters of the English alphabet.

The Beast from the East

It’s cold all over Europe. The cold weather is coming from Siberia. It is called: "The Beast from the East". Gavin in Scotland doesn’t mind.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• to remember - to know something from earlier, to have earlier information in your mind
• to pretend - to act as if something is true when it is not true
• bit - part or piece of something
• to stick to what you know - to only do what you already know and not try something new

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. When was the last time that Gavin built snowman?


2. Does Gavin know how to build a snowman?


3. Gavin decides to stick to what he knows. What does he already know how to do?

Extra listening and writing assignment

1. Watch the video once more.
2. Listen carefully at 1:16. What does Gavin say?
3. Write the comment Gavin is asking for.

453 x 356

Mohammad al-Mir is a Lebanese teenager. The 13-year-old has won three world titles for his super fast maths skills.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• to calculate - rekenen
• calculator - rekenmachine
• to memorize - to learn something so well that you can remember it perfectly
• abacus - telraam
• to recommend - to tell someone that something is a good idea, to advise something

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. How do people call Mohammed?


2. What did Mohammed do when he was a young boy?


3. What is Mohammed’s advice to all people?

Extra speaking assignment
1. Read the names of the mathematical symbols:
   +  plus
   -  minus
   x   times
   :   divided by
   =   equals
2. Now say Mohammed’s sum out loud in English: 453 x 356 = 161,268
3. Watch the video once more to check if you said it right.
4. Try saying other sums as well.

New Food

It’s almost summer vacation. If you’re going away, you might get a chance to try some new food. Maybe like in the video?

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• mealworm - a baby insect that looks like a short fat worm
• researcher - a person who studies something carefully and tries to discover new facts about it
• leftovers - food that has not been eaten at a meal
• meatballs - small balls of chopped or ground meat
• ground up meat - meat that is cut into small pieces with the help of a special machine

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What kind of food are the researchers looking at?


2. "It's a chocolate cake that might make you feel queasy."
   Can you guess what the underlined word means? Write your guess down.
   Next, look up the word in a dictionary.


3. Listen to words that describe taste. Write down 3 or more of them.


4. Why are the researchers experimenting with this kind of food?


5. What does Vitalii Lynets think of this food.
   Do you think he's right? Explain your answer.

Special Delivery

Check out this month’s trending comics cartoon.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• drive-thru - a business (such as a bank or restaurant) where customers can be served while remaining in their cars
• large fry - big bag of fries
• pull to the front - drive on and stop at the front

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. How many things does guy in the car order?


2. What does he say when he cannot understand the person answering through the speaker?
   Give at least two examples.


3. The robber’s last words are: “Careful, it’s hot!”
   What does he mean: what is hot?

Extra speaking or writing assignment
Watch the video once more.
Now retell the whole story in your own words.

WannaCry

On 12 May 2017 WannaCry began affecting computers worldwide. WannaCry is so-called ransomware.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• ransom - money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped
• dodgy - false; looking like it cannot be trusted
• flu - a common disease that is caused by a virus and that causes fever, weakness, body aches, and breathing problems
• think twice - think seriously about whether you really should do something before you do it

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. How does ransomware work?


2. What can happen if a computer in a network is infected by ransomware?


3. Name the three things you can do to protect your computer.

Slime!

Are you crazy about slime yet? Kids all over the world can’t get enough of it.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• food colouring - thick liquid that is added to food and drinks to give it a new colour
• laundry detergent - liquid soap that is used to wash clothes
• glue - sticky liquid that is used to stick things tightly together
• gross - very unpleasant to see or smell
• disgusting - very unpleasant to see or smell
• chunky - not smooth, but full of lumps and chunks
• in time - after a while
• mess up - make a mistake, do it wrong
• gradually - slowly
• fluffy - ight and soft

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. How many ingredients do you need to make the slime? Write them all down.


2. What happens if you use too much laundry detergent?


3. Note the four to five steps you need to take to make the slime.

Extra writing assignment
You will write a short instruction card: How to make slime.
1. Watch the video once more.
2. On your card, first name all the ingredients.
3. Now write short and easy instructions. Write each step on a new line.
Tip: Use your answers to the questions above.

Extra task
Make the slime.
Tell your class how it went.

Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22. All over the world events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• thrive - grow to be strong and healthy
• falter - stop being strong or successful
• for eons - for a very long period of time
• soil - the top layer of earth in which plants grow
• regard - think of something in a special way
• disregard - ignore something or treat them as unimportant
• be prepared to do something - be ready to do something

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. According to Nature, what's the big difference between her and the people living on earth?


2. Nature says: "Your future depends on me." Whose future is she talking about?


3. Nature says: "Your actions will determine your fate." Explain what this means.

Extra listening assignments

Watch the video about Hannah Testa:

1. What is Hannah's goal?
2. According to Hannah, what simple steps can you take?
3. Hannah says: "The earth is what we all have in common." Explain what this means.

Or check out an earlier Earth Day video assignment here!

Good Sports

Saskatoon is a large city in Canada. At a school in Saskatoon they are trying out a new gym program. Check it out in the video.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• kindergarten - a school or class for very young children
• burn off energy - use energy
• buffet - a meal for which different foods are placed on a table so that people can serve themselves
• phys ed - short for physical educuation: sports and exercise taught in schools

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Before the gym program, how did Zade use to try to calm down?


2. Which students can burn off some energy at the gym?


3. When can the students go to the gym?


4. Jeff Marshall calls the program “sort of a buffet approach”. Explain in your own words what this means.


5. What is the effect of the new gym program?

A Black-And-White Issue

This week, the giant pandas Wu Weng en Xing Ja arrived at Schiphol airport. The two black-and-white bears will live at Ouwehands Dierenpark in Rhenen.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• a question that has eluded scientists for decades - a question that scientist couldn’t find the answer to for many years
• crack a code - find the meaning of a special code
• deconstruct - divide into different parts
• forested areas - areas with lots of trees; forests
• ward off threats - avoid dangerous situations
• adorable - very lovable, cute, sweet

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What makes pandas so different form other sorts of bears?


2. What are the different functions of a panda’s white fur and its black fur?


3. What do pandas eat? Does this food really fill their bellies?

Vigilante

A man in Bristol goes out late at night to correct mistakes on street signs and shop fronts. He’s been doing it for many years.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• vigilante - a person who is not a police officer but who tries to catch and punish criminals
• thump - beat with a lot of force, beat loudly
• rogue - different in a wrong, dangerous or harmful way

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. How does the Bristol man call himself?
   Explain this name.


2. What happens when he gets extremely nervous?


3. He says it’s not a crime what he does.
   What is a crime according to him?

Extra grammar fun

1. Apostrophes are his specialty.
   Find out the correct pronounciation of apostrophes.
2. Explain the difference between “Nail’s” and “Nails”.
3. Explain the difference between “Motor’s” and “Motors”.
4. Watch the video once more.
   Copy the mistakes on the signs. Write the correct form next to it.