Halloween I and II. Full topics.

Halloween I worksheet

Halloween II worksheet

Alphabetic wheel I

Alphabetic wheel II

Halloween test I

Halloween test II

Halloween mosters worksheet

Too much candy (video)

Halloween in America (listening)

The scarecrow (video)

Halloween online game

Halloween board game

Prisons and Crime. Full topic.

Online worksheet.

Escape from Alcatraz (Text)

Definitions of concepts.

Escape from Rulton (Text)

Video about Alcatraz

Typology of Crimes

Typology of crimes II

Types of crime online worksheet

Drag and drop activity (filling gaps)

Prison and Crime word roulette

Listening about prisons and crime

Moracantana IV.

Under the stone there was a dry well full of skeletons. Animals, people, even children, have been thrown there. The workers also found gold and silver items: rings, chains, small statues, coins... That well was an offering spot, where ancient celts had worshipped Damona!!! The bones were removed, and the treasures distributed among the people. After that, the digging continued. 

During the process of excavation, accidents were very common: the walls of the well used to collapse frequently; big buried stones slowered the progress of digging; ropes and scaffolds broke easily... Fabián González, an expert builder who was in charge of the prospection, couldn't belive it. "This is the most difficult well I have ever worked in. It is like if something or someone were against it". Some neighbours had even seen like a black shadow at night, sneaking around the well. And although nobody talked about it openly, all them knew about the stone, about Damona and about the bones.

Finally, after 10 days of digging, and 10 meters deep, they finally found water. A very strong vein of cool, fresh and clear water. The workers went out of the hole and celebrated the end of the prospecting. The inauguration of the well took place the day after. It was a very solemn ceremony, with the mayor, the priest, the teachers of the school, the police... As part of the ceremony, some glasses of water from the well were poured to the VIPs. The first who drank was the Mayor. "Hummm. This water is delicious", he said. "Fresh and clear like a mountain creek. Santa Amalia finally has water!!! Long life Santa Amalia!!!" People burst with happiness. They dance, they ate, they sang, they drank from the well... They drank from the well. They drank from the well. And they should not have drank... from that well. 

Moracantana III.

The year: 1837. Santa Amalia is a new village, a 10 year old one. The houses, church, town hall, jail... are under construction. Pedro Díaz, the mayor, wants to dig a big and monumental well in the middle of the town square. He hires a dowser (a man capable of finding underground water veins by means of certain techniques, like a pendulum or copper rods). The dowser walks all the square and just in the middle he feels a big vein of water. The workers start digging there; but just one meter deep, they find a round carved stone, about 6 feet (180cm) wide, with an inscription:

HAEC TERRA AD DAMONAM PERTINET, DEAM AQVARUM ET FONTIVM. QVICVMQVE ALIQVID DESIDERAT, ALIQVID VICISSIM OFFERE DEBET.

It was Latin, the ancient language of Romans. The workers stopped digging and looked for the priest of the town, who was able to read and understand it. The translation was something like that:

"This land belongs to Damona, godess of water and fountains. The one who wants something must offer something in return"

"This is a votive stone" the priest said. "Someone buried it a long time ago. It talks about Damona, a pagan godess. The text is like a threat: it says that if you want to dig a well, you must offer something in return. Old Celts used to offer gold, silver coins, animals... Even human sacrifices!! But we are not pagans. As Christians and Catholics, we do not believe in such nonsenses".

After that, the priest took a pickaxe and stroke the rock. "Carry on, my sons" he said. "Dig the well deep and wide, and do not be afraid of old inscriptions. God is with us!!!" The workers followed him and started to beat the rock. The rock resisted. They tried with iron levers, lifting the stone about 5 centimeters. "Pull!!! Pull!!! Pull!! Nothing. Finally someone brought a yoke of oxen, and they finally could move the rock. What they saw underneath froze them.

Jack - O' - lantern contest.

This year we are going to organize a Jack O'lantern contest. If you want to participate, you have to carve a pumpkin and bring it to school on October the 28th or 29th. There are going to be 3 categories, each one with specific prizes:

1st category: Pre - school (3, 4 and 5 years old)

2nd category: 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades.

3rd category: 4th, 5th and 6th grades.

You will hand over your Jack O'lantern to your master teacher. Do not forget to write a nickname and the grade you belong to at the bottom of the pumpkin with a permanent marker. On Friday, the 30th, we will announce the winners, presenting the prizes to them.

Top ranked competitor
reward in 3rd category.

The criteria for evaluating the pumpkins are the following ones:

1.- Originality and Creativity: 3 points.

2.- Carving quality: 3 points.

3.- Lighting of the pumpkin: 2 points.

4.- Wow* effect: 2 points.

(*) Note: Wow effect is about visual impact and about how the artwork awakes emotions.

Moracantana II.

Celtic well, still in use today.

Since ancient times, even before Romans, the land that today makes up Extremadura has been inhabited by many different cultures. Celts, Tartessians, Lusitanii... All these civilizations had many traditions and beliefs. And today one of these beliefs in particular draws our attention: the presence of magical beings in wells and deep fountains. 

Ancient magical beings related to water had many names: Conventina, Sulis, Airon, Damona...  Old legends and stories point out that those creatures were particularly interested in human sacrifices. And more specifically, in children. Thus, our ancestors (mainly Celts) would have offer the life of people and kids to the spirits of the wells during drought periods, begging for rain and water.

Celtic human sacrifice.

When Christianity arrived to Extremadura (1700 years ago, more or less) all those beliefs were forgotten. However the echoes of that sacrifices and magical beings remained in our oral tradition, passing down from parents to children. 

And one of this beliefs in particular has survived until today. The Moracantana.

But... What is the Moracantana?

In accordance with our Extremadurian tradition, the Moracantana is a female magical being with supernatural powers. Sometines it can take the shape of a thing half woman, half snake; other times it's an old and ugly witch; and there are also references about a very beautiful girl who bewitches men and children, causing them to drown. 

And what this have to do with Santa Amalia?

Well, in the next post you will discover it. You'll find out why the 3 wells of Santa Amalia were primarily aligned, and then sealed. And you'll know why a 4th one, which was in the middle of  the square, was directly destroyed.

Moracantana I. Halloween story. 2026.

Santa Amalia is a place in where wells are very important. When the town was created, wells were the only source of fresh water. Life depended on them. Still today many houses have one in the backyard. All these wells are very old, dating back from the time when our town was founded. So important they were that in the coat of arms of Sta. Amalia a well appears (the box at the top left, over a green background).

Apart of private wells, there were public wells in Santa Amalia. These ones were bigger, and even older. Today we still have three of them. One in Valdehornillos avenue (1); other one in Magdalena street (2). And finally one more in La Bomba path (3). All them are sealed: one with concrete; and the other 2 ones with metal grids. And this is because, although wells are good things that provide water, they are also dark and deep. Because in a well people can drown. And because, and particularly in these three wells, there was something that attracted children, inviting them to jump down into the black waters.

Now I want you to look at the following map of Santa Amalia. On it I have marked the 3 historic wells. Probably you will have notice that they are placed on a straight line. And this is not a coincidence. Underground there is a vein of water that follows this path. The 3 wells are connected. And the Moracantana kew it...

Halloween 2026. A couple of stories about dolls.

The blinking doll (student from 6th grade)

This story is completely real. One day, many time ago, me and my sister were in the living room. My parents weren’t at home. My sister was watching TV and I went to her bedroom to pick a book. Next to the book there was a doll. And her 2 eyes opened. The next night I went to get the book again and the doll had closed one of her eyes. And I ran to get the phone and I called my parents.

Two dolls in Mª Luisa park.

Another real story. Last weekend, at 9 pm, many people saw two dolls in Mª Luisa park. One of them was sitting on a swing; and the other was climbing the olive tree. Next day the dolls weren't there anymore. 

5 WONDERS OF EUROPE. TEACHER'S RANKING.

Today I want to talk you about what are, in my opinion, the 5 wonders of Europe, in terms of architecture. It is a selction of the most beautiful and emblematic buildings in our continent. Let's go.

Number 5. Stonehenge.

Stonehenge is a mysterious circle of enormous stones built 5000 years ago. The stones were brought from far away (more than 100 kms). Archeologists think that Stonehenge was a solar calendar, like an astronomical observatory.

Number 4. Parthenon.

Ancient Greek people built this amazing temple 2500 years ago. It was dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. It is completely made of white pure marble, and originally it was decorated with beautiful statues. Today those statues are in the British Museum (London).

Number 3. Alhambra.

In Granada (south Spain) we can find one of the most beautiful palaces ever built. It is a great complex where you can find gardens, amazing halls, towers, water reservoirs... It was developed by muslim kings of Granada. There is a great variety of decorations which make this palace one of the finest ones in the world.

Number 2. Colosseum.

Ancient Romans love fighting spectacles; and with that purpose they built this great construction 2000 years ago. It could keep 70.000 people inside. There were gladiator fighting, animal fighting... Even they used to celebrate ship fighting (they flooded the inner space with water, and then two or more ships battled between them)

Number 1. Hagia Sophia.

In Istambul, city of Turkey, we can find the most amazing construction of all Europe. 1400 years ago emperor Constantine decided to raise the greatest church ever built. He tried and fail many times; but finally he succeded, giving us Hagia Sophia. A great an original church with one of the greatest domes ever done. 

Materials. 5th grade. Vocabulary.

Metals:

• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze
• Copper
• Tin
• Iron
• Steel
• Brass
• Aluminium
• Lead (Carefull with the pronunciation of this word. We talk about it tomorrow)
• Zinc

Fabric:

• Wool
• Cotton
• Silk
• Velvet
• Linen

Construction:

• Cement
• Concrete
• Tile (Floor tile, Wall tile, Roof tile)
• Clay
• Rock
• Granite
• Slate
• Limestone
• Marble
• Wood
• Plaster

Others:

• Feather
• Leather
• Rubber
• Plastic
• Coal
• Glass
• Ivory
• Crystal
• Wax
• Reeds

My graduation day podcast. 6th grade.

 

Materials: 5th grade A.

 

1. PAPER SHAPPIRE SILVER

2. WOOD TITANIUM BRONZE

3. RUBBER MERCURY COPPER

4. IRON OBSIDIAN STEEL

5. DIAMOND QUARTZ MAGNET

6. GOLD CRYSTAL PUMICE

7. EMERALD GLASS GRANITE

8. PLASTIC COAL SLATE

9. RUBI CARBON FIBER LIMESTONE

10. METAL ALUMINIUM MARBLE

11. WIRE   LEAD      THREAD     WAX       CEMENT   CLAY     

12. COTTON, POLYESTER, WOOL, SILK, LEATHER

13. BRASS

Traffic Word Roulette.

Traffic Word Roulette

Dangerous roads in Santa Amalia.

Road to Valdehornillos.

Road from Santa Amalia - Valdehornillos - Vivares. Passing Valdehornillos there is a long straight in which 3 people have died in these last years. This road is narrow, without shouders; and although there aren't many potholes, the pavement is uneven. There is also a couple of very bad curves just after Tomalia. So... when going over there, you have to go quiet and watchful.

Don Benito's road.

Road from Medellín to Don Benito. A very dangerous one. The road is not too bad: the pavement is OK; there are shoulders; and not bad curves. Here the problem is traffic: Thousands of cars pass over there every day. This traffic density produces many accidents. A particularly problematic point is when the road pass over the railway, reaching Don Benito. There, some unconscious people decide to overtake, creating hazarduous situations.

N 430

N 430. Without any doubt, one of the most dangerous roads not only in Extremadura, but in all Spain. Once more, at least in our region, the problem is not the road itself: good pavement, wide shoulders, not bad curves... Here the problem is again the high traffic density. Thousands of cars and trucks (4 thousand every day, with peaks of 8000, in accordance with General Direction of Traffic) pass over it. Every year between 40 and 50 victims die on this road. For many years people have demanded the transformation of this way into a highway. Currently there is an approved project for building a new highway section from Torrefresneda to Santa Amalia. However...

Hairdressing and makeup.

 Crossword hairdressing and makeup

Universe crossword. 4th grade.

Crossword

Unpolite language. 6th grade crossword.

 Unpolite language crossword

Funfair. Crossword.

Funfair crossword

Hunting and Fishing. Crossword.

 Hunting and Fishing Crossword

Clothing throughout History + videos + online activity.

Clothing is important. It warms us, it protects us from injuries, it can even cool us when hot weather... And last, but not less: it is a social tool, showing our status and even traces of our personality.

On this report I am going to show you the evolution of clothing throughout History. Let's go.

Prehistoric times.

It is believed that humans started to wear clothing 170.000 years ago, during a very severe ice age. Thus, the first purpose of clothing was merely pragmatic: to warm our bodies. There aren't archeological remains of these garments; but archeologists know it thanks to lice DNA, which changed when humans started to wear clothing. Bone needles have also been found, which means that our ancestors knew how to stitch clothing.

First clothing was animal fur. The picture on the right is a real outfit of a 19 years old girl, founded in a tomb, dated about 3500 years ago.

Ancient Egypt.

The first serious attempt of fashion was in Ancient Egypt, about 5.000 years ago. Egyptians were very skilled at dressmaking. Some typical clothing: linen and cotton skirts, sandals, beautiful dresses, bead dresses... People also wore wigs. In the land of pharaos clothing was not only for dressing, but also an indication of social status and wealth. More info clicking on the next link:

Clothing and fashion in Acient Egypt.

Ancient Greece and Rome.

Greeks and Romans didn't care much about design: they used long tunics for special occasions (female peplum in ancient Greece, tunica in ancient Rome) and short tunics for working. If the weather was cold, over these tunics they wore like a blanket, which could be very elaborated, depending on the social status of the person. 

Other thing was colour: Greeks and Romans loved to dye their clothing in a great variety of colours. Red, blue, green and yellow were very popular. Purple was the most prestigious one, only reserved to very important kings or emperors. Poor people didn't dye their clothing, because it was expensive.

Romans adopted an "institutional suit" called toga. The toga was a very large piece of clothing wrapped to body in a very complicated way. It would be the equivalent of actual formal suit, used at important or special occasions.

Curious fact: Romans invented the Bikini. (See photo on the right)

More information in both links:

Ancient greek fashion.

Ancient Rome Fashion

Middle Ages and Renaissance.

During Medieval Times and Renaissance clothing evolved to more sofisticated standards, specially women clothing. The appearance of silk, comming from China, permited new designs:  However, only rich people wore ellaborated clothing. Poor people kept using tunics for daily work. 

Some examples of new clothing appeared during Middle ages: long dresses, slashed sleeves, skirts, a great variety of hats, bodices, etc. Also armor became a fashion complement, speciall for men.

Baroque.

During Baroque period (XVII and XVIII centuries) fashion and dressmaking became very complex and elaborated, as usually, for rich people. Female dress evolved to unbelievable desings, composed by many layers of different clothing. Hairstyle also became very sofisticated: enormous wigs, parfums, impossible hats... Men clothing got also complex: silk coats, linen shirts, embroided vests... During baroque, pants were invented; first for poor people; and later for everybody, no matter social position. 

As for poor people, the thing didn't change very much. Clothing kept being simple, designed for daily working. 

From XIX century to today.

After French Revolution (1789) many things changed, including clothing. During that revolution many nobles, and even the king and queen, were killed. Sofisticated clothing became a symbol of opression; so people stopped dressing like that. Less elaborated desings appeared, and fashion tended to simplicity.

If you look at pictures from that time, you could see that clothing was quite simmilar to what today is considered "formal clothing": jackets, skirts, vests, long coats, ties, dresses...

In the XX century we find a revolution in fashion, led by the best and most innovative figure in dressmaking: Coco Channel. This woman changed women clothing forever. She trully believed that clothing must be comfortable overall. She was the first one dressing a woman with pants. A revolution. She also introduced very comfortable suits for girls. 

And what about today? Well, today fashion has become so wide that it would be impossible to name all the options we have when dressing. Great variety of dresses, skirts, pants, tops, vests... Every year fashion changes in designs and patterns, making very difficult to say what is the actual trend.

But fashion is still about what we said at the begining of this post: Clothing for protecting, warming, cooling and... talking about our personality and social status.

Here you have also the link to the online activity:

Dressmaking vocabulary

Also an alphabetic wheel:

Dressmaking and clothing

And the videos we'll watch at the exam: