William Shakespeare - year 9

Be ready for your presentations on Shakespeare on Tuesday May 17th! Instructions as follows: 

Link to quizlet and easily confused words

Quizlet

Easily confused words:
https://quizlet.com/_26zzb2

Year 9 - write an essay (A Letter to Connect)

source: http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_ak9_exempeluppg

During week 15 you will get the chance to work on your writing by composing an essay on the topic above. You will then get formative feedback to improve your writing for the national test part C.

Prepare for the national tests in English

Link to reading and listening comprehensions from old national tests. 

No Hate - a theme day around media and information literacy

Miley Cyrus as photographed by Adam Bouska

Director Lee Daniels - photo credit: Adam Bouska

For many weeks I have been working on and planning a theme day at our school around media and information literacy (MIK in Swedish). Tomorrow's the day and I am very excited! Focus is put on No Hate and how to behave on the net and social media and the whole school is taking part! I will document some of the happenings here as they happen....on Instagram and Twitter we will use the hash tag #erikslundskolannohate. Why not join the cause!!??

No Hate

Jag <3 Internet

Vad är näthat?

Ses Offline?

Statens Medieråd - MIK för mig

Foxfire - confessions of a girl gang - year 9

Plan for Foxfire

Questions about characters/actions/the movie:

1. The girls in Foxfire are very different, but despite that they are drawn to the gang community.Why, do you think? What is it that they find in Foxfire that they are missing in their lives?

2. Which of the actions and protests of Foxfire are reasonable and good? Do they ever cross the line of what is acceptable? When is the line crossed?

3. In Foxfire there are several guy gangs, but Foxfire is the only girl gang. How is Foxfire different from the guy gangs?

4. Describe the main characters (Maddy, Legs, Rita, Goldie, Lana, Snow White). What are their stories?

5. In Foxfire there is hardly one sympathetic man. Is that a problem? Why/why not?

Society/Looking at the world - questions for discussion:

6.The men that the girls hook up with and mug; are they innocent? Or are they automatically guilty from the fact that they are men and therefore part of the oppressive, patriarchal system?

7. Give examples of how oppression of women, racism, and anti-communism is illustrated in Foxfire. Do all women and black people have the same low status or are there differences between various groups? What are the differences?

8. What similarities and differences are there between the USA at that time and Sweden of today? Choose one similarity and one difference that you think are very obvious and describe these in detail. What could possibly happen in Sweden today and what would be unthinkable? Why, do you think?

9. Is it ever acceptable to break the law in order to achieve something that you think is very important?( that is, is it the end that justifies the means?)

10. Imagine that the gender roles were the reversed in Foxfire -- that the main characters were guys who protested against how they were being treated. How would that turn out? How would the world react to such a gang? Would they treat each other differently than the girls in Foxfire?

11. How do the boys in our class feel after watching this film, do you think? Do they feel wrongly accused? Is it still possible to feel for the girls in Foxfire?

Source: http://www.sfi.se/PageFiles/25108/FoxfireBpD4.pdf, translation by me

Skyping with Briarhill Middle School, Highland Village, Texas

Linnea and Matilda are telling the students about school lunches. A lunch at Briarhill costs 3 dollars and you could choose between e.g. chicken burgers, pizza, nachos, tater tots....In Sweden the lunch is free of charge.

Viktor, Oskar, Linnea and Matilda skyping with the students from Briarhill

The students at Briarhill Middle School

Viktor and Oskar

We had a great time skyping with Briarhill Middle School today - they have a 24-hour Skype-athon and on their blog you can read all about it. Briarhill is a school with around 900 students and the ones we talked to were between 11-13/14 years old. We found out that you can get your driver's licence when you are 16 years old, you need to be 21 to drink alcohol, the school has a team called the Bulldogs and they also have a fabulous gym and cafeteria. Thanks for skyping with us and making us part of your world tour!!!!! 

Year 9 - prepping for work on digital literacy

Starting tomorrow we will start working with digital literacy in year 9. Here is a snapshot of what we will do. 1. Evaluate websites using a checklist 2. Self-assessment of digital skills 3. Searching for facts and information from the Internet about an American state. 

Snapshots from today - Valentine's Day posters - year 8 and 9

Today we had an exhibition in year 8 and 9 for students who have English and Swedish instead of modern languages like German, French or Spanish. We have focused on Valentine and how to write an ode to someone or something. The students have tried to express themselves in English or Swedish. Some of the students have only been in Sweden a short time, so I was extremely impressed by their work. Add chocolate snowballs, chocolate cookies, cider and some yummie candy hearts and you have students that enjoy mingling and putting their works on display. Each visitor at the exhibition was also asked to give positive feedback on post-its. 

Natalia writes a positive comment....

Felicia and Amanda prepare the drinks

Amanda, Linnéa and Felicia are prepping to greet the visitors

Malak makes chocolate snowballs

Gabbe opens the cocoa box....

Results from test year 9 - code words

(Era mentorer samt Lollo har lista på kodorden)

Bedömning av skriftlig förmåga på prov

9A

Elev:

January = lägre A-nivå

February = E-nivå

March= F-nivå

April = A-nivå

May = lägre A-nivå

June = lägre A-nivå

July = C-nivå

August = E-nivå

September = övre E-nivå

October = övre C-nivå

November = C-nivå

December = övre E-nivå

Spaghetti = C-nivå

Meatballs = komplettera en uppgift innan bedömning

Pizza = E-nivå

Tacos = lägre C-nivå

Chicken wings = övre E-nivå

Pasta = C-nivå

9B

Elev:

Rose = F-nivå - komplettera

Dandelion = F-nivå - komplettera

Daffodil = E-nivå                                            

Lily = E-nivå

Daisy = lägre C-nivå

Bluebell = lägre A-nivå

Dahlia = C-nivå

Carnation = övre E-nivå

Birch = lägre C-nivå

Spruce = komplettera innan bedömning görs - missförstått en uppgift

Fir = lägre A-nivå

Oak = E-nivå

Willow = A-nivå

Elm = lägre C-nivå

Beech = E-nivå

Aspen tree = övre E-nivå

Mountain ash = A-nivå

Maple tree = övre C-nivå

Juniper = lägre C-nivå

Palm tree = F-nivå - komplettera

OBSERVERA! BEGREPPEN "LÄGRE" OCH "ÖVRE" ANVÄNDS FÖR ATT VISA ATT MAN ANTINGEN LIGGER I RISKZONEN NEDÅT ELLER ÄR NÄRA ATT AVANCERA MOT NÄSTA NIVÅ.

The English Grove - year 9

Students in year 9 will document their theme project "The USA and Canada" on their blog The English Grove  in a couple of weeks' time....check it out! 

year 9 - This week we will take a trip west to the USA and Canada

Password: The USA

Created with Padlet

Password: The USA

Created with Padlet

Plan for the USA and Canada - follow the instructions 

 -Best of luck!!

Irregular verbs - grammar rap song

Irregular verbs - either you love them or hate them, I guess. Since I'm on the more affectionate side of the verbs -- I think I knew the most common ones at the tender age of 14 -- I wanted to learn them all and I did. I worked hard for it though and posted notes all around my bedroom with different tenses... Whenever I saw a note I repeated what it said: "teach taught taught" or "go went gone" until they were stuck solid in my brain. However it is not easy to learn them all so if YOU find it hard to learn the tenses of some of the most common verbs here's a wonderful video, in the shape of a verb rap song, to help you along. :)

Preliminary plan for year 9

Evaluation of English - year 8 and 9

Year 9 - deadline for handing in your essays and answers

Thursday December 3rd is the absolutely last day for handing in your essays and answers (Holes - the Whale Rider). My e-mail address is: pernilla.malmqvist@edu.boras.se   - I do prefer e-mails. Best of luck! :)

Holidays are coming...holidays are coming - assorted material

Documentary about Bruce Mertz, a.k.a. Mr. Christmas.

Questions: 
1. How many lights are put up every year?
2. How long does it take to put everything up?
3. What is the total of the electricity bill?
4. What happened to Mr. Christmas' wife?
5. What happened to his cat - Trixie?

"A Social Network Christmas" - the story of the nativity in the context of social media!

Anglophenia tells us how a British Christmas is celebrated..as compared to the American counterpart.

Questions:
1. Why are letters thrown into the fire?
2. Instead of putting out milk and cookies for Father Christmas, they put out what?
3. What is a Christmas cracker? 
4. What is the main dish on the Christmas table? 
5. What is bread sauce? 
6. What is Boxing Day? 

"A brief history of Christmas traditions from around the world" 

"How to make Christmas crackers" - a step by step guide

"Who is Santa Claus?"

"December" - a short short film from the perspective of ...?

Link to Christmas traditions - history

Link to Strange Christmas traditions

Link to Lesson plans for Christmas

Link to Lesson plans for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah

Link to Christmas resources - Teaching English/British Council

Link to Hanukkah - the history (video)

Link to Kwanzaa- the history (video)

Link to Christmas - the most wonderful day of the year? 

Link to information about national tests in English

http://nafs.gu.se/prov_engelska/exempel_provuppgifter/engelska_ak9_exempeluppg

Holes - questions for 9A

NOTE: I will omit a few questions, due to popular demand. :) This is an updated version:

Questions to Holes - year 9 Holes by Louis Sachar

Write the answers to the questions in your notebook:

PART ONE - Chapters 1 & 2:

1. Explain the irony in the name Camp Green Lake.
2. Why will campers sometimes permit themselves to be bitten by a rattlesnake or a scorpion?
3. Why did Camp Green Lake always manage to find campers despite the appalling conditions?
4. What choices did the judge give Stanley?

Chapters 3 & 4:

1. Why did Stanley have a box of stationery?
2. How do we know that Stanley was very unhappy at home?
3. Briefly explain the curse of the gypsy.
4. Why did Stanley’s apartment smell of burning rubber and foot odour?
5. What did everyone in the family like about Stanley Yelnat’s name?

Chapters 5 & 6:

1. Why was Mr. Sir in such a bad mood?
2. According to Counselor Pendanski, what one rule should Stanley always remember?
3. What nickname did the boys in Stanley’s tent use for Mr. Pendanski?
4. For what crime was Stanley sent to Camp Green Lake?

Chapters 7 & 8:

1. How did Stanley’s weight help him for once in his life?
2. Who was Elya Yelnats?
3. Describe Madame Zeroni.
4. How was Sarah Miller different from Myra Menke?

Chapters 9 & 10:

1. Explain why the sign on the rec. room said “Wreck Room”.
2. Why is Stanley’s letter home so comical?

Chapters 11 & 12:

1. How did X-ray get his nickname?
2. Why was Stanley glad to be called “Caveman”?

Chapters 13 & 14:

1. Describe the object that Stanley had found
2. What occurs when the water truck arrives that indicates Stanley’s status in the group of boys is improving?
3. Describe the Warden.

Chapters 15 & 16:

1. Why was the Warden treating the campers so well?
2. According to ZigZag, how did the Warden know all their names?

Chapters 17 & 18:

1. Why was Stanley relieved when the boys returned to their regular spot to dig?

Chapters 19 & 20:

1. How did Magnet get his nickname?
2. What is the secret ingredient of the Warden’s nail polish?

Chapters 21 - 24:

1. Describe Green Lake as it was one hundred years ago.
2. How did Mr. Sir punish Stanley?

Chapters 25 & 26:

1. According to Sam, what could onions cure?
2. Describe what happened to Sam.

Chapters 27 & 28:

1. What is Zero’s real name and why is it significant?
2. Explain how Kate died.

PART TWO - Chapters 29 & 30:

1. Why did Mr. Pendanski fire his pistol into the air?

Chapters 31 & 32:

1. Where did Stanley think that Zero might have taken refuge?
2. Why did Stanley steal Mr. Sir’s truck?

Chapters 33 & 34:

1. Why did Stanley think he might have to return to the camp?
2. Why did Stanley’s heart stop when he peered into the bottom of one of the holes?
3. Describe what Stanley found while walking across the dry and barren wasteland.

Chapters 35 & 36:

1. Who was under the boat?
2. What did the boys see when they finally reached the western edge of the lake?

Chapters 37 - 40:

1. Why was Stanley reluctant to stop and rest? 

Chapters 41 - 44:

1. Why did Zero steal when he was young?
2. What did Stanley uncover in the hole?

Chapters 45 & 46:

1. Why did Stanley start to think about his mother?

Chapters 47 & 48:

1. What did Ms. Morengo advise Stanley to do when the Warden ordered him to open up the suitcase?
2. Do you think she gave him good advice? Explain your answer.

Chapter 49 & PART THREE - Chapter 50:

1. Describe the new product that Stanley’s father has just invented.
2. What happens at Green Lake for the first time in over one hundred years?
3. Describe the woman who is singing the lullaby to Zero at the end of the story.

Essay topics (choose two to write about)

1. Compare and contrast the characters Stanley and Zero. Use physical and personality traits in your descriptions.
2. Discuss the significance of the nicknames of the boys at Camp Green Lake.
3. Why is the book called Holes?

source: