FYI

Bragança, Portugal region

Here in Europe Halloween isn't really a big deal but as the world becomes more of a global village cultures and festivals are crossing.

Three years ago my English B students were doing a bit of research on Halloween and we established that there were festivals held at the this time of the year by the Celts (from the 5th century BC) and they believed that "spirits of all those who had died the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess. The Celts thought that by dressing up in ghoulish costumes they could frighten the spirits away."

Portugal has Celtic origins and funnily enough way in the north in a region sparsely populated (Bragança) near the border with Spain there is a tradition of donning costumes and masks on October 31.

Mask Museum - http://museudamascara.cm-braganca.pt/PageGen.aspx

So beware the 31st of October wherever you are. . .

October 25

http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/files/halloween-dogs-as-ghosts.jpg

Year 9, we have 2 tasks today.

1) Past simple worksheet
2) Halloween worksheet

Enjoy the break. See you in November!

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October 24- Boo!

shared for educational purposes from National Geographic Kids, October, 2013, p. 28

Homework assignment

Happy Halloween!

October 17, 18, 21, 22, 24

http://denta-vista.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Oral-reports-today.gif

Oral Reports

TASK:  Student will  present an historical era/topic that interests him/her.

Year 9 English B   -  Unit 1: Is time on my side?

Below please find the rubrics for your
Phase 2 Rubric:  https://app.box.com/s/frco94ngvv0pdv9cporm
Phase 3 Rubric:  https://app.box.com/s/4runahu7q5g1k9hk4aiq
Phase 4 Rubric:  https://app.box.com/s/z1tir7bo5tm9tbmobvmv

October 15

http://www.grammar-monster.com/images/past_perfect_tense.png

1). The Past Perfect

• We use the past perfect to talk about an action in the past, which happened before another action in the past.

          Example:  When he'd finished his homework, he went out.
          OR
                          He went out when he'd finished his homework.

First action: he finished his homework. Second action: he went out.


Homework - Prepare for Orals (Thursday, October 17, 18)

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October 14

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/30773859/Expressing-Opinion

1. Expressing opinions -  But first let's look at  "what is a fact?"  "what is an opinion?"  Let's see what the BBC has to say about this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic/fact-or-opinion. (20 minutes)

2. Adventures, p 11
Expressing opinions: I think/don't think that, in my opinion, for me.

For additional vocabulary used in expressing opinions, please click on the image above:)

Homework: Exercise 6 (Past Continuous - I was doing) or Unit 14  (I was doing and I did)

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October 11 - Journal Writing

http://ladygeekgirl.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/1360572554_45118_reincarnation.gif?w=584

 Writing Prompt:

Do You Think You Once Had A Different Life?

Your best friend believes fervently in reincarnation, or the passage of the soul at death into another body, whether that’s another human body or the body of another living creature, such as a bird or bee. What are some of the different lives your friend’s soul has filled over the centuries? What have they been like?

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Welcome

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Welcome to the Year 9 English B blog.