Human Planet for Educators?

Human Planet is an awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping landmark series that marvels at mankind's incredible relationship with nature in the world today.

Uniquely in the animal kingdom, humans have managed to adapt and thrive in every environment on Earth. Each episode takes you to the extremes of our planet: the arctic, mountains, oceans, jungles, grasslands, deserts, rivers and even the urban jungle. Here you will meet people who survive by building complex, exciting and often mutually beneficial relationships with their animal neighbours and the hostile elements of the natural world.

Human Planet crews have filmed in around 80 locations, bringing you many stories that have never been told on television before. The team has trekked with HD cameras and state of the art gear to film from the air, from the ground and underwater. 

Education: Human Planet Explorer could be an interesting tool for History, Geography and Civic Education teachers using in the classroom to motivate their students to the study of natural history, the man's relationship with the natural environment. 


Target: Elementary and Secondary school




G-Souto
01.01.2011

Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Credits: BBC Human Planet Explorer

http://www.bbc.co.uk

Joanna Newsom, whimsically poetic!

Joanna Newsom/ Casa da Musica

Foto: Tribo da Luz (PT)

http://www.tribodaluz.com

On Monday night, January 24th 2011 at Casa da Musica, Joanna Newsom played all of her new album Have one on Me, surrounded by five good musicians who replicated those arrangements with a folkier sound: accordion guitar, banjo and bouzouki instead of violins, violas, cellos and woodwinds.

Joanna Newsom, singer, songwriter and harpist is one of indie music’s leading lights, at the moment.  She defies easy categorisation...

She started her performance with “The Book of Right-On,” in which she built a powerfully percussive, syncopated vamp all by herself. 

Joanna Newsom/ Casa da Musica

Foto Paulo Pimenta (PT)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com

There’s something to watching her play the harp! She is an amazing player on this beautiful instrument. Her voice often discribed as childlike. Her voice ranging from a silky smooth tone to a cry of anguish remember me the wonderful songwriter Kate Bush.

She brought the medieval sound of Europe and some folk legends that she sings and plays poetically.

The audience were convinced that this californian young harp virtuoso happens to be one of the world's greatest young singer-songwriters. We deeply applauded her talent! And her musicians!

She played 'On a Good Day' and 'Baby Birch' , as an encore. This was a show in which an encore was needed as relief of her talent and sympathy.

Here Joanna Newsom playing live at Jools Holland show

"Since Ms. Newsom released her debut album, “The Milk-Eyed Mender,” in 2004, her music has been labeled indie-rock, singer-songwriter ballads and freak-folk. None of those categories is an exact fit for songs that are simultaneously private whimsies and grand parables, delicate and steely, childlike and sage."

Jon Pareles

G-Souto

(in a pleasing sunday afternoon)

30.01.11

Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

OECD 50th Anniversary Video Competion

http://www.oecd.org

As part of OECD’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, a video competition for young people has been launched.

To celebrate the OECD's 50th Anniversary, young people worldwide are invited to create a short video describing their vision of Progress.

If you are, or you know someone, aged between 18 and 25 and like making short videos, tell OECD what you think “Progress is...”. 

Read all the the Competion terms & conditions here

About the video:

• No longer than three minutes;
• Made in English or French (OECD’s two official languages);
• Read more...

The competion is open since December 1st 2010 and closing date for submissions is midnight (Paris, France time) on 1 March 2011.

You can fill out the Registration form here

Upload your video on YouTube and register online before MIDNIGHT (Paris time) on 1 March 2011. Any videos and/or registration forms received after this time will not be considered.

A Special Jury (to be announced in February) will compile a shortlist of 20 videos, judged on a basis of creativity, substance, production value and overall impact. 

The 20 shortlisted videos will be announced and showcased on the OECD website and the OECD YouTube site from 21 March 2011.

The public will be invited to vote from 22 March to 14 April, 2011, via YouTube, the top three videos from the shortlist.

The winners will be announced on Friday 15 April 2001

Three lucky winners will be selected and invited to Paris in May, all-expenses-paid, for a special screening of the videos at the OECD Forum.

The video author (or nominated representative, if a team creation) of each winning video will be invited to Paris to attend the OECD 50th Anniversary Forum in May 2011. 

Travel costs to and from Paris, hotel accommodation and a living allowance will be provided for the duration of the Forum.

For more information, contact video@oecd.org.

You can join OECD on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Education:

High schools of Arts, students, free-lance movie makers, creative people.

Don't miss this opportunity to share your creativity and your ideas about progress.

Concours vidéo pour le Cinquantenaire de l’OCDE (Français). À lire ici

G-Souto

28.01.2011

Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Credits: OECD 

The importance of reading in school

Judith Kerr

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk

Author and illustrator of the much-loved English children's picture books "The Tiger Who Came to Tea"  Judith Kerr discusses her drawing life, the genesis of "The Tiger Who Came to Tea" and the Mog stories, the anniversary of her childhood memoir, "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" - and her new book, a "jolly" take on widowhood

 The Tiger Who Came to Tea/ Judith Kerr 

Photograph:Kerr-Kneale Productions

http://static.guim.co.uk

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit", Judith will be appearing for an interview at The New End Theatre in Hampstead, on 26 January 2011. The interview will begin at 6pm and will be followed by a book signing at 7pm. 

http://images.indiebound.com

Description:

Anna is not sure who Hitler is, but she sees his face on posters all over Berlin. Then one morning, Anna and her brother awake to find her father gone! Her mother explains that their father has had to leave and soon they will secretly join him. Anna just doesn't understand. Why do their parents keep insisting that Germany is no longer safe for Jews like them? Because of Hitler, Anna must leave everything behind. 

All profits from tickets sales will go to the Holocaust Educational Trust to help mark "Holocaust Memorial Day" on 27th January 2011


Education:

If you teach near Hampstead, don't miss the opportunity to go there with your  students. Let them speak with an author that they certainly know well from the books they have read. 


Students are very curious about autobiographical books and they love to hear by the author the real story about his life and his books.

To motivate your students, listen here Judith Kerr reading some pages of "When Hitler stole the Pink Rabbitt" and talking about her childhood, the favourite toy she left in Germany and her work as author and illustrator.

Ilse Losa (1903-2006)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com

If you want to go further in children's literature, after the conversation with Judith Kerr,  or the preview of the video, (if you don't teach near Hampstead), ask your students, after the preview in classroom, to compare Judith Kerr and the Portuguese children's book novelist Ilse Losa, in an interesting study of European children's literature about the Holocaust.

Ilse Lieblich Losa was born in Bauer, near Hanover, Germany March 20th 1913. She left her country with her parents in 1934. They were refugees and they came to Portugal. Later, she became a Portuguese citizen.

Editors: Afrontamento

http://www.edicoesafrontamento.pt

She is well known by Portuguese students for her children's books, She wrote "O Mundo em que Vivi", an autobiographical  book similar to Judith Kerr's book "When Hitler stole Pink Rabitt". 
You can access here a few excerpts from the book by Ilse Losa (Portuguese language).


Two books based on the gripping real-life stories of two authors, those poignant backlists staple gets a brandnew look for a new generation of readers just in time for Holocaust Remembrance Month.


Recommended Reading Level:  sudents aged 9-15 


The students can do a research about History on the website of The United States "Holocaust Memorial Museum" here. There are some resources for educators too.


Educators and students can complete this research visiting the "Rembrance and Beyond" UN website here.

For younger students (primary school) they can preview the video below, telling the story "The Tiger who came to tea", and educators will introduce in a soft way Judith Kerr story and the "International Holocaust Rembrance Day" on 27th January 2011.

"Denying historical facts, especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust, is just not acceptable.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Press Conference SG/2120, 14 December 2006

 

 G-Souto
26.01.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®


References:

Pauli, Michelle; Fernando, Shehani, Judith Kerr 'I was enchanted by the strangeness of cats', The Guardian, 20 January 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk

Holocaust Rembrance Day UN
http://www.un.org

Sir Ken Robinson: private schools & public schools

Sir Ken Robinson talks about private schools and public schools after his last book Element. 


In a year of big changes, the debate goes on!  It's interesting to hear his opinion about the theme.




"People who think differently make the world a more interesting place. We need to nurture and help develop creative people, instead of labeling them as damaged."

Temple Grandin, Author of 
Thinking in Pictures


G-Souto
25.01.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com® 




Credits: video - PalomaTV (Santiago, Chile)


The Element book
http://www.elementbook.com/

Some apps for iPad helping education

Some apps for iPad helping your learning skills in school! Interesting apps and well demonstrated.

G-Souto

21.01.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com® 


Credits: (included in video presentation)

Herbie Hancock

http://www.herbiehancock.com/

"The Imagine Project is a 21st century Love-In, complete with psychedelia (Dave Matthews singing The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows") and some groovy, good-time peace and love (singer Susan Tedeschi and slide guitarist Derek Trucks, stretching out on "Space Captain," made famous by Joe Cocker). Peter Gabriel's gentle "Don't Give Up" retains its writer's world interests in a duet partnering pop megastar Pink and R&B singer John Legend, but with some tasty contributions from guitarist Jeff Beck"

John Kelman

Photo: Tribo de Luz, Portugal

http://i890.photobucket.com

December, 9th I have been at Casa da Musica to listen Herbie Hancock. The composer and keyboardist presented his musical project of peace, inspired by John Lennon's song "Imagine".

"It's a peace proposal"

     Herbie Hancock

Collaborating with legendary trumpeter Miles Davis on the early nexus of jazz and rock, Hancock is considered one of the pioneers in the integration of funk, soul, hip-hop and synthesizer (electronic music) in jazz.

His musicians James Genus (bass), Trevor Laurence Jr (percussion), Greg Phillinganes (keyboards), Lionel Loueke (guitar), and Kristina Train (voice and violin). Excelllent musicians!

"The Imagine Project shall remain at its core, entertainment content that is creatively and emotionally deeply fulfulling."

Photo: Tribo de Luz, Portugal

http://i890.photobucket.com

The beautiful Guilhermina Suggia room was complete! 


Famous songs like 'Imagine', 'Don't give up', 'Times are a changing' and others have been reinvented with talent by the amazing musicians.


It was impossible to have all the international musicians that night on stage. 

But the impressive jazz musicians there, in front of us, did a wonderful performance in the art of improvisation and contact to the audience!

After two hours of splendid jazz music, Herbie Hancock and his musicians played an encore: "Rockit", one of his great hip-hop and electronic classics.

Wonderful breakdance sound! Big aplause! And when Herbie Hancock (70 years old) and his musicians begin to dance, the entire room has followed them!

Here the beautiful theme of Kate Bush featured by Pink and John Legend of the album "The Imagine Project".

Há poucas personalidades com um impacto na história do jazz comparável ao de Herbie Hancock. O seu 70º aniversário deu origem ao álbum comemorativo intitulado The Imagine Project, preenchido por canções tão célebres como "The Times They Are A Changing" (Dylan), "Imagine" (Lennon), "Tomorrow Never Knows" e outras. Gravado em múltiplos locais com convidados de todo o mundo, dá agora lugar a uma tournée com o mesmo título e com uma banda de músicos soberbos, onde a voz terá um papel destacado.

http://www.casadamusica.com

G-Souto

22.01.2011

Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

(musical break, in a sunny but freezing weekend)

Credits: Photos - 'Tribo da Luz'

http://www.tribodaluz.com