Hallowe'en Suggestions

With Hallowe'en just a few days away, I prepared these exercises for all to practice vocabulary associated with this festivity - not with the most common words though...

But if you are more into cooking and baking, have a look at this fantastic video on Hallowe'en party snacks by the British Council: Also by the BC, enjoy some exercises here.
For a gallery of Hallowe'en pictures around the world, please click here.

Happy Hallowe'en, y'all!

Hallowe'en... but not only!

GOOGLE HALLOWEEN DOODLE 2011 - A fun time-lapse video of the Google doodle team & friends carving giant pumpkins in the Halloween spirit. Shot on location at Google's Headquarters

For many, Oct 31st only means Hallowe'en but this has become a very important date for many and different reasons.
Surely you are all aware through the media that the United Nations Population Fund has designated today - 31st Oct 2011 - the Day of Seven Billion, a milestone to mark the planet's population growth based on data interpolated from 5-year-period estimates. However, did you also know that...

Source: moneybox clipart

- since 1924 this day has also been celebrated as World Savings Day ? Never in recent times has this thought become so relevant...at least a day devoted to the promotion of savings all over the World!!! But cheer up anyway if you're Portuguese and desperate with so many cuts: check an online platform  for donations and reuse of what has become useless to their owners presented today at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation: dou.pt !
- on this day in 1892, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Connan Doyle was published? That's right: the first collection of the beloved British detective whose adventures the author had been publishing loose in magazines since 1887 ;)
- some centuries ago, back in 1517, Martin Luther posted the famous 95 theses? According to traditional accounts, this priest and scholar first nailed a piece of paper onto a church door containing the 95 revolutionary theses that marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

Source: Halloween clipart

As you can see, these are only some of the most important events on this day throughout history but relegated to the background (not to say to a state of oblivion) because of Hallowe'en euphoria.
As I've already posted here, here and here about Halloween for now check this: a gallery of gorgeous jack-o’-lanterns that honor literary greats like Edgar Alan Poe, William Shakespeare, and the Brothers Grimm!!!
It's getting late for those willing to face the cold and darkness for a trick or treat; as for myself, I will stay home with the family having a nice dinner. What about you?
Whatever the case...  HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

UPDATE - Halloween Google logo

Doodle - Happy Halloween from Google featuring Scooby Doo!!!

BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's HALLOWEEN!

In a few days, Halloween is there again.

Every year on October 31st, Halloween is celebrated in many different countries around the world.

As usual, wikipedia has loads of information but have a look at History.com for a change! Here you'll find pictures, videos, games, infos on This Day in History (obviously updated daily!) and topics - exactly where you can read about the ancient origins of this celebration, evolution, today's traditions and trivia. Have a look at some of the short videos available (for example, Pumpkin facts), read about History of the Jack O'Lantern, and explore the interactive pumpkin carving patterns.

The NYTimes also has resources for teachers - many and good ones! Under the heading Education, we find lessons, crosswords, multimedia / slideshows, quizzes, recipes and more such as movie overviews.

Some more practical and easy stuff for us to use are the traditional word searches, crosswords or coloring pages you can find here and here and choose according to your age / level group.
With young learners, even 12 / 13 year-olds (7th graders) there is this link I find fantastic with Background Information and Activities + Halloween Teacher Activities + Halloween Family Activities. Then, if you click on the pumpkin (top right hand corner), you can play a short movie (with or without captions), play games, quizzes, write, read,... all with sound. In the end, learners / teachers / parents can also print whatever they want.

My Halloween greetings :)))

Halloween 2008 (with adults!)