Really Ticked

Now that the warmer weather is here, we’re a lot more active outside. We are not the only animals enjoying the outdoors. Meet the tick:


Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• prime time - a good time for doing something or being somewhere
• undergrowth - plants, bushes, and small trees growing under larger trees in a forest
• nasty diseases - bad sicknesses
• insect repellent - something like a lotion or spray that is used to keep insects away
• DEET - a chemical that is used to keep insects away from people and animals
• flu-like symptoms - symptoms that are similar to when you have the flu (like fever, weakness, body aches, and breathing problems)
• rash - a group of red spots on the skin that is caused by an illness or a reaction to something
• GP - family docter (GP is short for general practitioner)

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

1. Where in nature are most ticks found?


2. What do ticks eat?


3. Name three things you can do to fight ticks.


4. What should you do when a tick bites you?

Up in the Air

Summer vacation is coming up. Good times for airline companies.
Travelling by plane has never been more popular. But flying contributes to climate change.
Now what?

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• a significant number - very many; so many that it really makes a difference
• carbon footprint - a measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide that your activities produce
• fuel - a material (such as coal, oil, or gas) that is burned to produce heat or power
• via another airport - by departing from another airport
• to offset - to cancel or reduce the effect of something
• online calculators - websites that do the math for you
• to tackle a problem - to deal with a problem
• to reduce the impact of flying - to make the (negative) effect of flying smaller

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

1. When you think of flying, what is the best thing you can do to help our climate?


2. Laura Foster explains what you can do to reduce the carbon footprint of your flight.
   How many things does she name?


3. Name three or more of these things you could do yourself.


4. How does “Offset your flight” work?


5. Do all these things really reduce the impact of flying on climate change?

Something to Chew On

22 April is International Earth Day. This year, the focus is on ending plastic pollution. British designer Anna Bullus has the same focus. She is on a mission to recycle chewing gum.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• to obtain - to get
• petrochemicals - chemicals that are made from petroleum or natural gas
• bins - a can for trash or garbage
• dedicated - used only for one particular purpose
• to persuade - to make someone do or believe something by giving good reasons
• scheme - an official plan or programme
• to process - to prepare something and change it from one form into another
• to mould - to form or press something that is soft into a particular shape

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

1. What is the most common litter in the UK?


2. Name the main ingredient of chewing gum.


3. Anna created bins specially for disposing of gum. What are these bins made of?


4. What happens with the recycled gum?


5. What effect can right design have according to Anna?

Achoo!

What to do about this nasty flu? Kat will tell you.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• perky - lively
• to cough - to force air through your throat with a short, loud noise because you are sick
• like wildfire - very quickly
• cesspool - a place or situation that is very dirty or evil
• germs - very small living things that cause diseases
• to cuss - to say angry and offensive words

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

1. How can you get the flu?


2. Name 3 things you should do to beat the flu.


3. Why should you sneeze in your sleeve?

Invisible Box Challenge

Ariel Olivar is a high school cheerleader in Texas. This month, her video went viral and started a new challenge.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• invisible - impossible to see, not visible
• to pull something off - to do something that is difficult and succeed
• to doctor something - to change something especially in order to trick people
• to fail in a spectacular fashion - to not succeed in a very big, impressive way
• to flex - to bend a body part or move a muscle
• core - central part
• lack of athleticism - no or little ability to play sports or do physical activities well

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

1. Explain in your own words how the challenge works.


2. Did Ariel expect her video to go viral?


3. Some people say Ariel is cheating. What do they think she did?


4. Is the challenge as easy as it looks?


5. What special skills or strengths can help you do the challenge?

Extra fun assignment
Well, what are you waiting for? Go on and do the challenge! Don’t forget to film it.

The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

Gitanjali Rao won the 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• contaminated - dangerously dirty
• lead - a heavy and soft metal that has a gray color; chemical element: Pb
• to detect - to discover or notice something that is hidden
• detection - when you discover or identify something that is hidden
• to dip - to put something into water (or another liquid) and pull it out again quickly
• the whole manual part - the part that you do with your hands
• elevated levels of lead in his blood - more lead in his blood than is normal and healthy

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

1. How old is Gitanjali Rao?


2. Gitanjali’s invention is called Tethys. What does Tethys do?


3. What gave Gitanjali the idea to make Tethys?


4. How long did it take Gitanjali to make Tethys?


5. What good advice does Gitanjali give at the end of the video (1:58)?

Extra speaking assignment
Watch the video once more.
1. Listen carefully to Gitanjali’s explanation of Tethys. (0:19 to 0:35)
2. Take notes of the main steps.
3. Explain in your own words how to use Tethys.

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.

All's Well That Ends Well

Will Olsen had quite a week. Luckily, his friend Ian Brown was there to help him.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• choke - become unable to breathe because something gets stuck in your throat
• his buddy - his good friend
• Heimlich maneuver - a series of steps to help somebody who is choking
• abdomen - belly; the part of your body below the chest with you stomach and other organs
• thrust - a strong push
• abdominal thrust - a strong push in the belly
• dislodge - remove with great force

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

1. What happened? Tell the main points in your own words.


2. “Ian sprang into action.” What does “spring into action” mean?


3. What did Will’s parents tell him?


4. When did Ian know things were serious?


5. What is the most important thing when you do the Heimlich maneuver?

Extra writing or speaking assignment
1. Watch the video once more.
2. Listen carefully to the explanation of the Heimlich maneuver.
3. Take notes of the main steps.
4. Write an instruction sheet for the Heimlich maneuver.
5. Explain to your classmates how the Heimlich maneuver works.

Easter

Easter is coming up. What do you do for Easter? Get inspired by the video.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• string - a thin piece of twisted thread that you use to attach things, tie things together, or hang things
• cardboard roll - a long piece of stiff and thick kind of paper that is rolled to form the shape of a tube or ring
• individually wrapped - each item covered in a seperate piece of paper
• inflate - to become larger by being filled with air
• glue - a substance used to stick things tightly together
• squirt - to push a liquid out through a small opening by force
• lattice - a frame or structure made of crossed wood, metal strips or any other material

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

1. Make a list of all the material you need to make a string Easter egg.


2. What can you do to make sure all the sweets fall into the balloon?


3. What can you do if the glue is too thick?


4. Why should you leave the end of the string hanging out of the bowl?


5. What do you do if the string becomes knotted?


6. How long does it take for the glue to dry?


7. How do you remove the balloon from inside the string Easter egg?


8. How do you get the chocolate out of your string Easter egg?

Extra speaking assignment
Watch the video once more.
- Listen carefully to the instructions.
- Write down the main points.
- Organize the information into 8 steps.
- Explain how to make the string Easter egg in your own words.
- Use your notes to make sure you don’t forget any of the 8 steps.

Water Ping-Pong

A couple of weeks ago, British astronaut Tim Peake explained how to go to the loo in space. Now he’s back with another video about how things work in space.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• float - move or drift slowly and lightly in the air or water
• resist - to remain strong against the force or effect of something
• sticky - easily becoming attached to something else
• fizzy tablet - little pills that create lots of bubbles when you put them in water
• to be released - to become free

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

1. Tim says: “These bats are hydrophobic.” What is the meaning of the underlined word? Listen carefully to Tim, he explains it clearly.


2. Tim is playing space Ping-Pong. What other word does he use that means the same as Ping-Pong?


3. When in space, what happens when you put a fizzy tablet in water?

You can find the previous space video with assignments here.

The Space Bathroom

Tim Peake is the first British astronaut in space for more than 20 years. He is currently part of the team at the International Space Station.
This week, a video was released in which Tim Peake answers one of the most frequently asked question about space exploration.

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

1. Tim speaks about “going to the loo”.
   Do you know any other words or expressions that mean the same thing?
   Tip: If you listen carefully, you can hear several in the video.


2. Tim says: “It really is quite simple.”
   Listen carefully to the two instructions he gives next.
   Write them down.
   Optionally, make a sign for proper use to hang up at the ISS loo.


3. How does the machine make sure that going to the loo in space doesn’t create a big mess?

Extra listening assignment

1. Find the video in which Tim Peake shows how to brew a cup of coffee in space.
2. Watch the video.
3. Explain the coffee brewing procedure in your own words.

A Very Special Trip

To brush up your vocabulary, read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• witness - to see something happen with your own eyes
• frostbite - a condition in which part of your body (such as your fingers or toes) freezes or almost freezes
• cater to someone - to provide what is wanted by someone or several people
• gamble - risk

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

1. What is the main goal of this tour?


2. Who is the target group for these tours?


3. How cold is it according to the group’s guide?


4. What warning does the guide always give his clients? And why should they stick to his advice?


5. The guide describes two sorts of tour nights: “the tough nights” and “the nights that make up for them”. Explain the difference between the two in your own words.


6. What is “the different kind of magic” that filled the air around 2 AM?


7. What do you think: was this one of “the tough nights” or one of “the nights that make up for them”? Explain your answer.

Tech News

Watch the video for a breakdown of the latest tech news.

Read the following expressions and their definitions.

• go beyond national disasters: include more than national disasters
• A is the social media equivalent of B: doing A on social media is similar to doing B in another context
• to be out of touch with other countries: not aware of what is going on in other countries

Read the assignment before watching the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Name the main news items brought to you in this update.


2. Make separate notes for each item.


3. Write a fitting headline for each item.


4. What is Lunapic?


5. Why is Facebook criticized? Name two issues.


6. Do you agree with the critical voices against Facebook? Explain your answer.


7. Explain the pros and cons of Google’s latest free offer.

Extra speaking assignment

1. Watch the video once more.
2. Focus on the explanation of how “Safety Check” and how “Lunapic” works.
3. Work with a classmate. Repeat the explanation of one of these apps in your own words.

Halloween Fun

It's almost Halloween. Everybody will be dressing up. These wiggly edible worms are the perfect Halloween food. They look almost too real to eat.

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

1. Listen carefully to the instructions.


2. Write down all the main points.


3. Organize the information into 5 steps.


4. Use the 5 steps to create a written recipe.

Extra question

Would you dare to eat one of those scary little guys?

Vanuatu

Half maart trok de verwoestende orkaan Pam over Vanuatu. Vanuatu is een eilandengroep in de Grote Oceaan. Zeventig procent van de bevolking heeft geen huis meer. Verslaggeefster Emma ging kijken hoe het land weer opkrabbelt.

Lees eerst de opdrachten. Bekijk dan het filmpje.



Beantwoord de vragen schriftelijk of bespreek de antwoorden in de groep.

1. Wat is het Engelse woord voor orkaan?


2. Hoe heet de Grote Oceaan in het Engels?


3. Uit hoeveel eilanden bestaat de eilandengroep Vanuatu?


4. Wat voor weer is typisch voor Vanuatu?


5. Hoe ontstaan orkanen? Noteer zoveel mogelijk details.


6. Hoe heet het midden van een orkaan?


7. Wat wordt er gemeten om orkanen in categorieën in te delen?


8. Tot welke categorie behoort orkaan Pam?


9. Noem ten minste drie hulpgoederen die in de eerste tijd worden uitgedeeld.


10. Wat wordt er verteld over de scholen van Vanuatu? Noteer zoveel mogelijk details.

Extra lees- en schrijfopdracht

Print Cyclone in a bottle (Worddocument, 421 KB) en Cyclone in a bottle – recording sheet (Worddocument, 421 KB).

1. Lees in Cyclone in a bottle de instructies hoe je een cycloon kunt nabootsen.
2. Lees in de recording sheet waar je op moet letten tijdens de proef.
3. Werk in groepjes. Elk groepje volgt de instructies op om een cycloon na te bootsen in een fles.
4. Houd je recording sheet bij de hand en maak aantekeningen (in het Engels) van wat er gebeurt tijdens de proef.

Doet jouw telefoon meer dan je weet?

Een greep uit het nieuws van de afgelopen week:
- Gebruikers kunnen weinig doen tegen onveilige apps;
- Twitter houdt bij welke apps je installeer;
- Facebook vergaart vanaf 1 januari méér data;
- Om u advertenties op maat te kunnen bieden, verzamelt Google data over u.

Kun je daar iets aan doen? Deels wel.

Lees eerst de opdrachten. Bekijk dan het filmpje.

1. Welke technische snufjes werden vroeger ingezet om mensen ongemerkt te volgen?


2. Waarom zou je kunnen schrikken als je op je iPhone je veelbezochte locaties bekijkt?


3. Over Snapchat wordt gezegd: It sucked up people's locations data without their consent. Wat betekent dat?


4. Waarom dachten mensen dat de app Brightest Flashlight toegang wilde hebben tot hun locatiegegevens? En waarvoor werden die gegevens daadwerkelijk gebruikt?


5. Wat doen bedrijven allemaal met de gegevens die apps verzamelen?


6. Heb jij naar aanleiding van dit filmpje de instellingen op je telefoon gewijzigd?

Extra luister- en spreekopdracht

In dit filmpje wordt verteld wat je telefoon nog meer kan bijhouden zonder dat je het weet.

1. Bekijk het filmpje.


2. Bespreek in een groepje of met de hele klas waar het over gaat. Geef ook aan wat jouw mening hierover is.

Back to the future?

Back to the Future is een serie van drie sciencefictionfilms uit de jaren tachtig waarin het om tijdreizen draait. In deel II, dat deels in het jaar 2015 speelt, zitten allerlei futuristische gadgets. Een daarvan is de hoverboard, een skateboard zonder wielen dat een stuk boven de grond zweeft. In de afgelopen 25 jaar hebben veel mensen geprobeerd zo’n hoverboard in het echt te maken. Greg en Jill Henderson lijkt dat nu te zijn gelukt.

Lees eerst de opdrachten. Bekijk dan het filmpje.

1. Waarom hebben de Hendersons de ‘Hendo Hoverboard’ ontwikkeld?
2. Hoeveel andere voorbeelden van pogingen om de hoverboard na te maken worden er genoemd? Beschrijf ook hoe de verschillende hoverboardexperimenten werken.
3. Waarom is de HUVr anders dan de andere pogingen om een hoverboard te maken?
4. Conor Dougherty, een technologiejournalist, heeft op de Hendo Hoverboard gestaan. Hoe was dat volgens hem?

Lessen van een getergde vader

Op YouTube wemelt het van de fimpjes waarin dingen worden uitgelegd. Will Reid heeft nu ook zo'n filmpje opgenomen.

Lees eerst de vragen. Bekijk dan het filmpje.

 

1. Voor wie is deze instructievideo bedoeld?
2. Uit hoeveel stappen bestaat de instructie?
3. Welke aanvullende stap beschrijft Will voor gevorderden?

Extra spreekopdracht
Werk samen met een klasgenoot. Herhaal om de beurt de instructies die Will Reid in het filmpje geeft.