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?

In Deep Water

It’s still September, but the first autumn storms of the season have already rattled our windows. High winds can bring high water. The Weather Channel has made a neat graphic to show what an extreme storm surge looks like.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• destructive - causing a large amount of damage
• worst-case scenario - a description of what could happen in the worst possible situation
• storm surge - an unusual rise in sea level on a coast because of high winds
• impacts - effects
• high tide - the tide when the water is at its highest level
• shins - the front part of your legs below the knee
• waist - the middle part of your body between the hips and chest
• power lines - electrical wires or cables
• to heed someone’s advice - to listen to and follow up suggestions about what you should do

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

1. How high could the storm surge go in the worst case?


2. The weather reporter says: “It's not just going to be a coastal event.” What does this mean?


3. How many high-level scenarios does the weather reporter describe?


4. Name 2 or more things that could happen in each high-level scenario.


5. What final advice does the weather reporter give?

Kilauea

Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island has been very active lately.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• causing chaos - making chaos happen
• a slow-moving flow - a large area of lava or mud that is moving slowly
• molten rock - rock that is melted by heat and moves like water
• magma - hot liquid rock below the surface of the earth
• to solidify - to become solid, compact, or hard
• continuously - all the time without a stop
• to drain out - to flow or move out of something
• Hawaii locals - people who live on Hawaii
• footage - scenes or action recorded on film or video

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

1. How hot is the lava?


2. The lava is moving slowly. What is the positive side of that?


3. What type of volcano is Kilauea?


4. Since which year has Kilauea almost continuously been erupting?


5. Why could the situation get more dangerous when all the lava flows out of the volcano?

The Air We Breathe

The World Health Organization just released a new study on the quality of air worldwide.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• polluted - dirty and not safe or suitable to use
• the vast majority of the global population - by far the most people on earth
• pollutants - substance that make land, water, air, etc., dirty and not safe or suitable to use
• charcoal - a hard black material that is made by burning wood with a small amount of air
• wood and charcoal power stoves - devices that burn wood or charcoal for heating or cooking
• the upside - the positive part
• comprehensive - including most or all things
• toxic - containing poisonous substances [giftig]
• condition - a sickness or disease that a person has for a long time

First read the assignment. Click on the image to watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. Name the two continents with the worst air pollution.


2. Name sources of indoor air pollution.


3. Name the upside of the study.


4. How many people die each year from air pollution?


5. Which conditions can be caused by air pollution? Name three.

Who Owns Your Data?

Some people are saying it’s time we logged-off Facebook for good. Maybe even to quit all social media. Is it?

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• hopelessly addicted to social media - having an unusually great need to be active on social media
• to target ads at someone - to show specific ads only that will interest the intended viewer
• inappropriately - in a wrong or unsuitable way
• to influence the outcome - to make little, indirect changes that will have an effect on the result
• bigwigs - powerful or important people
• to brag - to talk about yourself and what you’re doing in a way that shows too much pride
• to sway - to persuade others to agree with you or share your opinion
• to take a tumble - to fall suddenly to a lower level
• to get something out of something - to enjoy something or think something is really useful

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

1. What type of personal information do social media sites collect about us?
   Name two or more examples.


2. Explain why it matter that social media companies have all this information about you.


3. How did Cambridge Analytica collect so much personal information about users?


4. According to the video, should you delete your social media accounts?


5. Explain what the final sentence means in your own words:
   “So whatever you get out of using social media, just remember, chances are it’s getting just as much out of you.”

Shop of the Future

A supermarket in London is the first to use a new way of paying.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• veins - the tubes that carry blood from parts of the body back to the heart
• spree - a short period of time when you do a lot of something
• unique - unlike anything or anyone else; being the only one of its kind
• hassle - something that is annoying or that causes trouble
• retail - the sale of goods to private customers
• speedy - fast, quick
• impulse buying - seeing something and buying it immediately, without thinking about it first

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

1. How does the new payment method work?


2. Explain the meaning of the underlined phrases:
   the “unique layout of your veins which is virtually impossible to fake”.


3. What is the first rule of retail?


4. For which sorts of people could this payment method be dangerous?
   Explain why it could be dangerous for them.

Extra writing assignment
1. Watch the video once more.
2. Make a timeline or other historical overview of payment methods.

Snapchat

The makers of Snapchat are about to become very rich. Their company will be going public (gaat naar de beurs) later this year.
Rory doesn’t Snapchat, but he wants to find out what’s so great about the app. In the video, Priscilla shows him.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• I’m determined to understand this. - I really want to understand this.
• spiral staircase - stairs that go round and round and round
• make money out of something - earn money with something
• appeal - the thing or things that make people like something

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

1. According to Priscilla, what is the best thing to do in Snapchat?


2. According to Priscilla, what’s the point of Snapchat?


3. Roger asks if their lunch is snappable.
   Explain the underlined word.
   What does Priscilla answer?


4. How does Snapchat make money out of people using their app? Name two ways.


5. According to Priscilla, what is it about Snapchat that makes people like it so much?

Extra speaking assignment
1. Watch the video once more.
2. Listen to Priscilla explaining how Snapchat works.
3. Now it’s your turn to explain how Snapchat works. Do it in three to five steps.

Extra speaking or writing assignment
Do you Snapchat?
Tell people why you think Snapchat is really fun. Do this in 30 to 40 words.
Write them down or just tell your classmates.

Thundersnow

In the UK, winter has arrived, with frosty nights and chilly days. And now they are even expecting thundersnow. Ever heard of that? It’s really rare. Someone filmed it near Chicago some winters ago.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• phenomenon - an interesting fact that is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully
• visibility - the distance people can can see as determined by light and weather conditions
• plows - vehicles used for clearing snow from a road, driveway, etc.
• bolt - a bright line of light that appears in the sky during a storm; a flash of lightning
• springtime - the season that follows winter
• tricky - difficult
• unstable - changing all the time, not fixed
• muffled - of sounds: not loud because of a wrapping or some other sort of blocking; muted

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

1. What is “thundersnow”?


2. What is the tricky part for making thundersnow happen?


3. Can you hear the thunder clearly during thundersnow? Explain your answer.

Extra reading assignment

1. Read this article about all sorts of winter storms.
2. List all the weather phenomena described in the article.
3. Find a picture and/or video of each weather phenomenon.

Fun fact: While this post is being written, actual thundersnow is happening outside.

Ewww

Daniel Idzkowski lives in San Francisco. He was sick of the many bike thefts in his city. He and his friend decided to do something about it. Now they’ve come up with something.
Watch the video to find out more.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• deterrent - something that makes someone decide not to do something
• U lock - a bicycle lock shaped like the letter U
• compromised - harmed or damaged
• extensively test - do a lot of different tests (to find out if something functions as it should)
• noxious - very unpleasant; disgusting

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

1. Explain what happens when somebody tries to break open a Skunk Lock.


2. How fast can a thief open a regular bike lock?


3. How many bikes are stolen each year?


4. Daniel says: “Skunk Lock comes with easy key replacement.”
   Choose the correct meaning:
   a) It is really easy to receive a new key for your Skunk Lock.
   b) It is really easy to switch keys for your Skunk Lock.
   c) You can use any key to open your Skunk Lock.


5. Listen to the last sentence Daniel says. Explain what it means.

Extra words assignment
1. Explain the name “Skunk Lock”.
   If you don’t understand the name, look up “skunk” in the dictionary.
2. Name a word you can use to replace the underlined word:
   “We all know that gut-wrenching feeling of coming back and your bike’s gone.”

Don't Try This at Home

TechRax in their own words: “Smashing technology since 2011.”
Last week TechRax conducted a new experiment. Check it out in the video.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• fully working - functioning without any problems
• dual - double
• impact - force of one thing hitting another
• impact zone - the area in which the impact occurs
• recognizable - of something: be seen and known for what it is
• squash - press into a flat or flatter shape
• right off the bat - immediately; without any delay
• insane - crazy
• alteration - change

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

1. The experiment starts with a question: “Can this case ...”
   Complete the question.


2. What is tested in the experiment? Say it in your own words.


3. Repeat the words used in the video to describe the special phone case.


4. How does the phone land on the ground?


5. What words does the TechRax guy use to describe the state of the Lego pieces after the fall?


6. What is “pretty insane” according to the TechRax guy?


7. Explain the title of this blog post.

Extra writing assignment

The video was also posted on Facebook. Many users left a comment.

1. Write your own comment to the video.

April Fools

It’s almost April 1st. In English, this day is called April Fools’s Day. Watch the video to find out more.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• prank - play tricks or jokes on someone
• origins - the time and place where something begins
• Julian calendar - the calendar established by Julius Caesar in 46 Before Christ
• get the memo - to receive a specific piece of information; to know what’s up
• fool - a stupid or silly person
• butt of the joke - a person who is made fun of, a person who is the target of jokers

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

1. What was the first day of the year on the Julian calendar?


2. What happened in 1582?


3. Who became known as the so-called April fools?


4. What pranks will you play this April Fools’ Day? Swap tips with your classmates. In English of course!

Daylight Saving Time

In many European countries, Easter Sunday marks the start of Daylight Saving Time.
Jesse asks if it's pointless or not.

pointless = having no meaning, purpose or effect

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

1. According to Jesse, who invented the custom of Daylight Saving Time?


2. Why did the inventor of Daylight Saving Time want an extra hour in the summer?


3. Who were against Daylight Saving Time for a long time?


4. Does Daylight Saving Time save energy?


5. Is Daylight Saving Time pointless? What does Jesse think? What do you think?

Here's another video assignment about Daylight Saving Time.

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.

Google Science Fair

The 2016 Google Science Fair is now open for entries. Google Science Fair is a global online competition. The competition is open to 13- to 18-year-old students around the globe, who formulate a hypothesis, perform an experiment, and present their results. You can submit projects as an invidual or as a team.
Last year’s Grand Prize winner was Olivia Hallisey. In the video, she introduces her project.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• encourage - to stimulate someone to do something, make it more likely that he/she will do something
• outbreak - a sudden start or increase of a disease
• silk - a smooth, soft, and shiny fiber that is produced by silkworms (zijderupsen)
• reagent - a substance that is used to test for the presence of another substance by causing a chemical reaction with it
• cocoon - a covering usually made of silk which some insects make around themselves to protect them while they grow
• assay - to test something to find out what it contains
• refrigeration - the process of keeping something in cold place to make sure it will not become bad
• imagination - the ability to think of new things
• optimism - a feeling or belief that good things can happen in the future
• innovation - the process of introducing new ideas, devices, or methods

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

1. How did Olivia become intrigued by the Ebola crisis?


2. Which goal did Olivia set herself and why?


3. Why did Olivia experiment with silk?


4. What is the Ebola Assay Card?


5. Name the two main USPs of the Ebola Assay Card.


6. According to Olvia, which specific qualities do teenagers have that can help in this kind of research?


7. Which project would you like to submit to the Science Fair?

Extra speaking assignment

You will give a short speech to introduce your own project.

1. First, listen to Olivia once more to hear how to build up your speech. Olivia begins by telling some personal things about herself, next she explains how her research project started and how she proceeded and finally she lets us know her plans for the future.
2. Determine the subject of your speech: Think of something special you can do, have discovered or are working at.
3. Use Olivia’s structure for your own speech.
4. Write down the main points.
5. Include some key words to help you talk freely.
6. Practice your speech.
7. Now for the real thing, hold your speech for your classmates and/or record it.

Extra extra assignment
Would you like to find out more about the Science Fair?
You can:
- Check out the hashtag #howcanwe.
- Visit the Google Science Fair website here.
- Watch more finalists’ videos, for example some of last year’s competition here.

Zika

For the past few weeks, the world has worried about the threat of the Zika virus. The World Health Organisation has declared it a global health emergency.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• itch = an uncomfortable or unpleasant feeling on your skin or anywhere on your body that makes you want to scratch
• hence = therefore, for this reason
• rash = a group of red spots on the skin that is caused by an illness or a reaction to something
• sore = painful
• joint = point where two bones meet in the body
• pop up = to appear suddenly or unexpectedly

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

1. When was the Zika virus first discovered?


2. Where was the Zika virus first discovered?


3. Which symptoms do people have when they are infected with the Zika virus?
   Name at least 3 examples.


4. Why has the virus suddenly become a big deal?

Exit Polls

Exit polls are used all over the world. Are their any downsides? Watch the video to find out.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• democratic process = a practice that allows democracy to exist; the right to vote is one of these practices
• poll = an activity in which several or many people are asked one or more similar questions in order to learn about how people think about something
• voting booth = a small, enclosed area in which a person stands while casting a vote
• pollster = someone who asks questions in a poll
• ethnicity = ethnic character or background (ethnic = relating to races or large groups of people who have the same customs, religion, origin, etc.)
• marital status = the state of being married or not married
• rely heavily on = to depend a lot on something
• deter = to cause people to decide not to do something
• turn out = to happen, end, or develop in a particular way

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

1. What happens at exit polls? Name the three steps.


2. Which additional information can be asked at an exit poll? Name at least three examples.


3. What does “jumping the gun” mean?


4. How do exit polls in US elections jump the gun?

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.

Rubik's Cube

Software engineers Jay Flatland and Paul Rose built a special robot. Watch the video to find out more.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• rapid - very fast
• stepper motor - stappenmotor
• scramble - to put parts of something in the wrong order
• predetermined - decided in advance

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

1. How are the stepper motors connected to the Rubik’s cube?


2. Do they use a completely regular Rubik’s cube?


3. How many webcams are part of the setup?


4. How many stepper motor drivers do Jay and Paul use?


5. How fast does the robot solve the cube the first time in the video? And the second time?


6. Why does Jay block one of the camera’s at a certain point?

Extra video assignments

Jay and Paul want to set an official record for the quickest time for a robot to solve the cube. But people can solve them amazingly fast as well without using robots.

1. Watch this video to see 14-year-old Lucas Etter solve the cube in the quickest time for a human to do so.
   What is the secret to becoming the fastest Rubik’s cube solver according to Lucas?
2. Next, check out this video plus assignments about the previous record holder Collin Burns.

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.