For the Birds_Short Film (Animated)

Living Together
(Convivencia)

Questions

What colour are the birds?

Are they small or big?

Where are the birds?

Are they friendly with the big bird?
Do you think the large bird is a stork or a crane?

Story

A small bird lands on a telephone wire and makes itself comfortable, only to have a second small bird land next to it. The two birds quickly start to squabble as others land on the wire and join in. They are interrupted when a large, gangly, awkward-looking bird sitting on top of the pole honks to them. Soon, the small birds start mocking the large one by puffing up their feathers to resemble its plumage and imitating its honk. They then slide farther out along the wire and chatter suspiciously among themselves, ignoring the large bird's attempts to befriend them until it settles in the middle of all of them out on the wire. However, its weight causes the wire to sag almost to the ground and all the small birds slide down toward it.

As the large bird keeps trying to make friends, the small ones get annoyed and try to push it off the wire, only for it to lose its balance and flop over to hang upside down by its feet. The two nearest the center start pecking at its toes, egged on by the rest of the crowd. One of the other birds suddenly panics, realizing how low the wire is and tries to stop the pecking. The others understand and stop too late; when the large bird's last toe slides off, the wire snaps upward and flings all the small birds out of sight. The large one is so close to the ground that it settles down easily, accompanied by a shower of feathers from the small birds.

One of them falls to the ground, having lost all its feathers and the large bird laughs and offers it a leaf to cover itself. The others soon tumble down as well and hide behind the large bird as it laughs even harder. 

(Plot from Wikipedia)

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge (Puente de la Torre) es uno de los símbolos más destacados de Londres. Este llamativo puente levadizo, construido en estilo victoriano,  se encuentra situado junto a la Torre de Londres. 

El primer puente que se construyó fue el Puente de Londres (London Bridge), al que siguieron otros muchos que se situaron al oeste del mismo para no entorpecer la zona del puerto.

Durante el siglo XIX se produjo un gran crecimiento en la zona este del London Bridge y se hizo necesaria la construcción de un nuevo paso. Para no afectar al creciente tráfico fluvial, se tomó la decisión de crear un puente levadizo accionado por máquinas de vapor, que se vería finalizado en 1894, después de 8 años de construcción.

En 1910, las pasarelas elevadas del puente fueron cerradas al público, ya que la mayoría de la gente optaba por esperar a que el puente bajara de nuevo.

En 1982, las pasarelas fueron cubiertas y desde entonces forman parte de la exposición que ofrece el interior de Tower Bridge.

La visita a la exposición del Tower Bridge muestra cómo funcionaba el sistema de elevación del puente desde su construcción hasta 1976, por medio de una máquina de vapor, y su posterior sustitución por un sistema eléctrico.

El resto de la exposición se ocupa de destacar la importancia del Tower Bridge en la historia de la ciudad. A lo largo de las pasarelas superiores también se pueden ver las fotos de los puentes más emblemáticos del mundo entre los que, sin lugar a dudas, se incluye Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge es uno de los símbolos más emblemáticos de Londres y suele convertirse en el blanco de las cámaras de fotos de todos los turistas. La visita al interior narra algunos aspectos interesantes sobre la construcción del puente.

Antigua maquinaria a vapor

Es muy común confundir Tower Bridge con London Bridge (Puente de Londres), un puente más austero, situado al este de Tower Bridge, que fue el primero en construirse para unir las dos orillas del Támesis.

(London Bridge)

Ha aparecido en películas tales como The Parent Trap (Tú a Londres y yo a California en España), La momia, Harry Potter y la Orden del Fénix, El hombre lobo, Sherlock Holmes , y tuvo dos apariciones durante la Ceremonia de Apertura de los Juegos Olímpicos de Londres 2012, pasando por ahí el helicóptero que llevaba a la reina Isabel II acompañada de James Bond y también mostrando el relevo de la antorcha olímpica en su llegada al parque olímpico a través del Río Támesis a cargo de una deportista y David Beckham. Y musicalmente ha salido en el videoclip Midnight Memories de la banda One Direction.

Nosotros hemos tenido nuestra particular visita gracias a la maqueta que trajo nuestra compañera Adela, alumna de 4º B. Muchas gracias :)

Thank you very much!

Shrove Tuesday_Olney Pancake Race

Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Pancake Day) is a day in February or March, preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. 

Shrove Tuesday 2015 (Pancake Day)
In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day (or Pancake Tuesday to some people) because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake. In 2015 Pancake Day is on Tuesday 17th February Lent | Easter | Palm Sunday | Maundy Thursday | Good Friday | Easter Day Mothers Day in the UK (Mothering Sunday) What is Pancake Day? Pancake Day ( also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the last day before the period which Christians call Lent. It is traditional on this day to eat pancakes. copyright of projectbritain.com Why are Pancakes eaten on Shrove Tuesday? Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent. When is Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)? Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday and is therefore the final day before the commencement ofLent, a Christian festival leading up to Easter Sunday (Easter Day). Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between 3 February and 9 March. (See our Lent page for a visual explanation why Shrove Tuesday is 47 days and not 41 days before Easter) 2013 — 12 February 2014 — 4 March 2015 — 17 February 2016 — 9 February 2017 — 28 February Why do Christians call the day 'Shrove Tuesday'? The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to confess. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began. copyright of projectbritain.com What is Shrove Tuesday? Shrove Tuesday is a day of celebration as well as penitence, because it's the last day before Lent. Throughout the United Kingdom, and in other countries too, people indulge themselves on foods that traditionally aren't allowed during Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent. copyright of projectbritain.com What is an English Pancake? A pancake is a thin, flat cake, made of batter and fried in a pan. The photograph shows a pancake being cooked in a frying pan. Caster sugar (superfine sugar) is sprinkled over the top and a dash of fresh lemon juice added. The pancake is then rolled. Some people add golden syrup or jam. copyright of projectbritain.com (Click here for a pancake recipe) Pancake Day in England Other names for Shrove Tuesday United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia - Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday Brazil - Terça-feira gorda - Fat Tuesday - the final day of Brazilian Carnival. Greece - Apocreas, which means "from the meat" since they don't eat meat during Lent, either. Sweden - Fettisdagen (Fat Tuesday). USA In Catholic and French-speaking parts of the United States this day is called Mardi Gras. Germany - "Fastnacht" (Also spelt "Fasnacht", "Fasenacht", "Fasteloven" (in the Rhine area) or "Fasching" in Bavaria.) In France they call it Mardi Gras, which means Grease or Fat Tuesday. In Iceland the day is known as "Sprengidagur" (Bursting day). Click here to find out how Pancake day is celebrated in other countries around the world. Pancake Day in England  A few of our comments from our visitors "I was searching for a simple explanation of Shrovetide and Lent for my 6 year old daughter. I was very lucky to find your website first." Sue Keenan, Leics "I found your site while looking up Shrove Tuesday. In the U.S.A., most Protestants don't celebrate Lent, so I knew nothing about it. I homeschool my children and after reading about it, we will have Pancakes today and discuss the history and meaning of Lent. Great site!" "I must compliment you on the clear and informative style of your presentation. As a Christian believer of many years, and also a retired secondary school teacher I am pleased to note that a school is prepared to present information about the Christian festivals which is so desperately needed in our country today. Many people do not know about these festivals let alone having any experience of faith,regular worship, or attending church on a Sunday. " Bryan

Shrove Tuesday 2015 (Pancake Day)_Woodlands Junior_Kent

Olney, Buckinghamshire
 Pancake Race

 

Olney Pancake Race Day

The Kissing Hand_Story Book

                                The Kissing Hand

Chester Raccoon stood at the end of the forest and cried. 

"I don't want to go to school" he told his mother. "I want to stay home with you. I want to play with my friends. And play with my toys. And read my books. And swing on my swing. Please may I stay home with you?" 

Mrs. Raccoon took Chester by the hand and nuzzled him on the ear. 

"Sometimes we all have to do things we don't want to do," she told him gently. "Even if they seem strange and scary at first. But you will love school once you start."

"You'll make new friends. And play with new toys. Read new books. And swing on new swings. Besides" she added. "I know a wonderful secret that will make your nights at school seem as warm and cozy as your days at home." 

Chester wiped away his tears and looked interested. "A secret? What kind of secret?"

"A very old secret." said Mrs. Raccoon. "I learned it from my mother and she learned it from hers. It's called the kissing hand." 

"The Kissing Hand?" asked Chester. "What's that?" 

"I'll show you." Mrs. Raccoon took Chester's left hand and spread open his tiny fingers into a fan. Leaning forward, she kissed Chester right in the middle of his palm.

Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart. Even his silky black mask tingled with a special warmth. 

Mrs Raccoon smiled. "Now" she told Chester "whenever you feel lonely, and need a little loving from home, just press your hand to your cheek and think, "Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you." and that very kiss will jump to your face and fill you with toasty warm thoughts." 

She took Chester's hand and carefully wrapped his fingers around the kiss. "Now do be careful not to lose it," she teased him. "But don't worry. When you open your hand and wash your hand I promise the kiss will stick." 

Chester loved his kissing hand. Now he knew his mother's love would go with him wherever he went, even to school. 

That night Chester stood in front of the school and looked thoughtful. Suddenly he looked at his mother and grinned "Give me your hand" he told her.

Chester took his mother's hand in his own and unfolded her large familiar fingers into a fan. Next he leaned forward and kissed the center of her hand. "Now you have a kissing hand too" he told her. And with a gentle goodbye and "I love you" Chester turned and danced away. 

Mrs. Raccoon watched Chester scamper across a tree limb and enter school. And as the hoot owl rang in the new school year, she pressed her left hand to her cheek and smiled. 

The warmth of Chester's kiss filled her heart with special words.

"Chester loves you." it sang. "Chester loves you."

Then it ends with the sign for "I love you."

Puedes activar los subtítulos en inglés haciendo clic en el icono en forma de rectángulo (junto al reloj de la derecha).

The King and the Ring

Read how the king got back his lost ring from a bird. 

(Para escuchar el texto en inglés haz clic en las notas musicales)

Fíjate en la "Word List" que hay debajo del libro y escucha las palabras para aprender su pronunciación. 

Puedes usar este diccionario online para buscar el significado de las palabras que no conozcas.

The Wheels On The Bus

Let's sing together!