Infonews n°194 du 28/09/2003 

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Sommaire
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A La Une this week, a lesson plan and some online resources to
make students draw comic strips and use them to learn English; then three
resources for primary school that could also interest ESL teachers of other
levels : mini-books, sponge activities to fill in some gaps, and 500 online
activities to download for young children. On October 12th, it is Columbus
Day in the US, you'll find here some addresses to present it to your class.
Then discover various resources for secondary school : dictionaries, vote
for presidential, short stories, drug, science, music and a site in French
about the Film "Elephant" (about the Columbine shootings, Palme d'Or à
Cannes). At the end, see two internet tools : a freeware to turn your
slides into a film, and several sites of free cliparts.
Have a nice week!
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Sommaire
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A la Une
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Making comic strips
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Resources for primary school
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*** Minibooks
Sponge Activities (from Riverdeep's Classroom Flyer,Sept 23rd)
500 activities from EUN
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Columbus Day : oct 12th
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Italian American Culture & History: Christopher Columbus ( from [LIIWEEK]
September 25 )
Kids Domain: Columbus Day ( from [LIIWEEK] September 25 )
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Resources for secondary school
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Online Dictionary and thesaurus (Riverdeep's Classroom Flyer,Sept 25th)
America Votes 2004: Presidential Primary Preview ( from [LIIWEEK] September
25 )
Dashiell Hammett ( from [LIIWEEK] September 25 )
NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse ( from [LIIWEEK] September 25 )
Science audio files and transcripts ( from The Scout Report -- September 26)
Ludwig Van Beethoven ( from The Scout Report -- September 26)
Le mini-site pédagogique "Elephant"
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Projects
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Lower secondary school internet correspondence with Poland
Seeking Language Teachers, Finland
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Internet Tool
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Slide Show Maker 3.53 ( from The Scout Report -- September 26)
Cliparts for busy teachers

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A la Une
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Making comic strips
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http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=195
This lesson is meant to encourage American students to report differently
on a book they have read.
In ESL lessons, this lesson plan can be used by students :
- to create a story ( written production)
- to illustrate a text ( written comprehension)
- as a basis to tell a story to the class (oral production)
- as a way to show what they have understood of a story they have hear,
from a tape or told by another student, the teacher, the assistant (oral
comprehension)
You may invite your students to use the online interactive comic creator,
but I find it rather limiting. the choice of settings, characters and so on
is too limited, and the final result is rather disappointing. I think it is
better to ask the students to draw what they can, telling them that the
quality of the drawing is not the goal, but the adequacy of the elements
they choose to place in each square.
To plan their comic strip, make them use this excellent planning sheet, but
remind them that the examples given at the bottom of the page are not limiting.
http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson195/comic-strip-planning.pdf
To evaluate their work, you can use the evaluation sheet offered in "comic
strip rubric", or use it as a basis to make your own.
http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson195/comic-strip-rubric.pdf

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Resources for primary school
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*** Minibooks
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http://www.dltk-teach.com/minibooks/index.htm
This site might be exactly what you need to add some English books to you
class library. Those books are designed for American pre-readers. They show
simple pictures, and just a few words under each. The only thing is that
you have to make them yourself : print, assemble, etc. The process is well
explained, and although it will take some of your time, I think it is worth it.
You can also use the drawings on transparencies to make your class tell the
story....
[ for kindergarten and primary school.]

Sponge Activities (from Riverdeep's Classroom Flyer,Sept 23rd)
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http://www.inspiringteachers.com/tips/packet/sponge.html
Keep this list handy for those extra five to ten minutes before the bell
rings, when your lesson plans have been completed early, for starters, or
simply for breaking up any monotony during your school day--they're great
for reenergizing students as well.
[ short and quick activities that could be done in English at any level,
depending on what the students know and and the activity you choose. But it
is an excellent gap-filler.]

500 activities from EUN
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European SchoolNet Offers a selection of 500 internet programs for primary
schools. Just try them:
http://www.eun.org/eun.org2/eun/en/vs-primary/content.cfm?lang=en&ov=7951
and also find useful lessons ideas
http://www.en.eun.org/eun.org2/eun/en/vs-primary/sub_area.cfm?sa=488&row=1

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Columbus Day oct 12th
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Italian American Culture & History: Christopher Columbus ( from [LIIWEEK]
September 25 )
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"This study presents a series of documented facts on the life of Columbus,
his explorations and their significance, as well as the history of Columbus
Day in the United States.
It also examines the controversial charges about the explorer that have
been levied in recent years. ..." Includes "Why We Should Celebrate
Columbus Day," what Columbus accomplished, and who is in Columbus' Tomb.
From the Order Sons of Italy in America.
[ including a Columbus biography:
http://www.osia.org/public/pdf/Columbus_Bio.pdf ]

Kids Domain: Columbus Day ( from [LIIWEEK] September 25 )
------------------------------
This site provides a collection of annotated links about Columbus Day.
Includes links to biographical information for Christopher Columbus,
alternative views of Columbus, sites on ship navigation, holiday
activities, electronic greeting cards, and clip art.
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/columbusday.html

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Resources for secondary school
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Online Dictionary and thesaurus (Riverdeep's Classroom Flyer,Sept 25th)
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http://dictionary.reference.com
This online dictionary is quick and easy to use. It also offers, up front,
a choice of whether to search for your word in either the dictionary or in
the thesaurus.
[ there are also foreign language dictionaries and an automatic translator! ]

America Votes 2004: Presidential Primary Preview ( from [LIIWEEK] September
25 )
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http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/
Follow the path of the 2004 presidential primary race with this site's
information on the current candidates; their positions on topics such as
civil rights, healthcare, international policy, and the environment; and
their battle for campaign contributions. It also provides a monthly poll
tracker, a description of the primary process by state, an election
calendar, and timeline. A special report from CNN.
[ the site you and/or your students need to keep up-to-date with the latest
news and buzz about the elections to come....]

Dashiell Hammett ( from [LIIWEEK] September 25 )
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http://www.geocities.com/mwh_1957/Hammett01.html
This site salutes the works of hard-boiled-mystery writer Samuel Dashiell
Hammett by presenting a chronology of his short stories and novels
including "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man." Also provides brief
biographical information, photos of the San Francisco apartment believed to
be the home of Hammett's detective Sam Spade, and related links.
[ and you can find some of his short stories online, some of them very
short, like "The Parthian Shot" !
http://www.ejmd.mcmail.com/secret.htm
http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/biblio/lazy-gink.html
and some other links to sites about the same subject at the end of page 5
of the site:
http://www.geocities.com/mwh_1957/Hammett05.html ]

NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse ( from [LIIWEEK] September 25 )
------------------------------
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) created this site in
consultation with teens to offer "science-based facts about how drugs
affect the brain and body so that kids will be armed with better
information to make healthy decisions." The site features facts about
selected drugs, FAQs, personal stories, games, and materials for teachers
and parents. Designed for children from 11-15 years of age.
http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/
[ Students smoke more and more, and many people say that marijuana is less
dangerous than tobacco....maybe this site can help them think, when it says:
"Under the influence of marijuana, you could forget your best friend's
phone number, watch your grade point average drop like a stone, or get into
a car accident. Even worse, high doses of marijuana use can cause anxiety
and panic attacks."
and
"A bunch of leaves seems harmless, right? But think again. Marijuana has a
chemical in it called tetrahydrocannabinol. Better known as THC. A lot of
other chemicals are found in marijuana too - about 400 of them, some of
which may cause lung cancer. But THC is the main active ingredient."
and read the Real Story:
http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/stories/story_mj1.asp ]

Science audio files and transcripts ( from The Scout Report -- September 26)
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NASA Future Computing and Communications Technologies [Windows Media
Player, RealOne Player, Microsoft PowerPoint]
http://cictedu.arc.nasa.gov/courses/spring2003/broadcast.html
A series of NASA Webcasts on Future Computing and Communications
Technologies. You can see the speaker, read the transcript, and the chat
that he had with students online after his talk. Some of the subjects are:
nanotechnology, high speed networks, interplanetary networking, evolvable
systems and automated reasoning.
Quite fit for all upper intermediate or advanced students in sciences or
technology.

Ludwig Van Beethoven ( from The Scout Report -- September 26)
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http://www.raptusassociation.org/
"Developed by Ingrid Schwaegermann, this Web site is offered as a homage to
one of the most beloved classical composers, Ludwig Van Beethoven. Far from
just offering a smattering of platitudes on Beethoven, the site is divided
into a biographical section, a picture gallery, an area dedicated to
offering musician's comments on Beethoven's legacy, and a most splendid
section that details the stories behind many of his works." (comment from
the Scout)
[ A site for classical music lovers and fans of Beethoven. And the English
teachers teaching to music students will make them enjoy the stories behind
the works! ]

Le mini-site pédagogique "Elephant"
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Le film Elephantde Gus Van Sant a reçu la Palme d'Or, le prix de la mise en
scène, le prix de l'Education au festival de Cannes 2003. Sa sortie est
prévue le 22 octobre 2003
Avant-première à Paris le 21 octobre à 20h30 et 22h (au MK2 Bibliothèque)
"Le film primé donne lieu, au moment de sa sortie, à une large campagne
d’information et est accompagné d’outils pédagogiques variés (Dossiers,
Cédérom, Site spécifique ) qui permettent aux enseignants, aux parents et
aux jeunes de préparer, d’approfondir et de prolonger le visionnage du film. "
Christine Juppé-Leblond (IG audio-visuel)
Le mini-site en ligne :
http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/cinemav/elephant

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Projects
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Here are two projects from European SchoolNet (EUN). Feel free to contact
them directly if you are interested.

Lower secondary school internet correspondence with Poland
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Hallo!
I’m a 23-year-old English teacher from Starachowice, city in south Poland.
I teach children from 7-13. I have more or less 27 students in one class.
I’m looking for a contact with English teachers from other countries to
share ideas and perhaps projects. I also hope to find pen-friends from
children from my classes.
I would like to offer you some cooperation.
My first idea is to send some projects:
1. Personal profile- children would draw the pictures of themselves or
put a picture, than introduce themselves and their families in few words (
hobbies, dreams,etc.)
2. My town- again pictures or drawings of the town children live in
3. My animal (picture, few words about the animal)
4. My interests (drawings and a short description)
5. My holidays, etc
Of course I’m open to your ideas, too.Children could do the projects every
month, then we would put it to the „Parcel of English” and send it to your
country, meantime you would do the same with your classes. I also thought
that it could be nice to find every child a foreign partner, so that every
child would get every project from the same person. In the end(or
optionally at the beginning) they would exchange the addresses. Do you like
the idea? Or maybe we could just display your projects in our classroom.
Let me know what do you think about it. I think I would have about 80
students(age 11-13) interested with the projects.
I’m waiting for your reply
Best wishes, Magdalena
My e-mails: magdula999@poczta.onet.pl
And a copy to: magdalena.mocko@teacher.pl
My school address: Magdalena Mocko
Szkola Podstawowa nr11
ul.Lesna 2
27-200 Starachowice
Poland
My mobile: 0048604356879

Seeking Language Teachers, Finland
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Ilpo Halonen is looking for partners for Finnish teachers of languages
(English, German, French, Russian, Swedish) who would like to make partner
projects in the school year 2003-04. They will start their projects
immediately, and they participate in his course "Learn Internet Projects by
Doing (LIP)" in Savonlinna Finland on 6-7th October and 13-14th November 2003.
You'll find more information about the course at:
http://www.ilpohalonen.com/opekokielet/intprojen.html
The course is paid by the Finnish Educational Board. It is free for course
participants and for their project partners.
Email: Ilpo Halonen
ilpo.halonen@kolumbus.fi

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Internet Tool
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Slide Show Maker 3.53 ( from The Scout Report -- September 26)
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http://www.joern-thiemann.de/tools/index.html
"Slide Show Maker 3.53 is a small application that allows users to create an
.avi file from a number of .bmp or .jpg images. After creating these files,
users have the ability to add professional looking effects, such as text
overlays and fade-in or fade-out effects. The interface used to implement
these effects is well laid out, and users can begin to use the program after
a few minutes of trying out the various commands and tools. Additionally,
the homepage contains a FAQ section and several screen shots of the program
in use. Slide Show Maker 3.53 is compatible with all systems running Windows
95 and higher. [KMG]" (from the Scout)
[ And it is a freeware!!!! ]

Cliparts for busy teachers
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Annie Gwynn found for you several sites of cliparts you can easily use in
your pages:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/annie.gwynn/tice_in_classl.htm#cliparts
I can also add this clipart gallery from DiscoverySchool
http://school.discovery.com/clipart/

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Une compilation réalisée par :
Christine Reymond
lycée Blaise Pascal, Rouen, France
E-Mail: Christine.Reymond@ac-rouen.fr
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