WANTED

I just read the following activity in Nik's Peachey's blog and thougt it might be interesting to work with it.

You'll have to create a "Wanted" poster with a photo of yours. You can improve your digital pictures and drawings with this collection of easy to use photo effects at this site.

It's really easy to use, you just upload a photograph and then write in your own caption. You can then download and print the images or add them to blogs or web pages.

Here's mine:


Just choose "wanted posters", create yours and download it into your computer.

After that, publish it in your blog and write a fictional story saying why you're being wanted (at least three paragraphs).

ADDING YOUR CLASSMATES' BLOGS IN THE SIDEBAR

Follow these steps:

• Click on "customise"
• Choose "Add a Gadget"
• A new window will open. From there, click on "Link list"

• Another window will open. Write the title, copy one of your classmates' url, paste it where it says "New Site URL".
  
• Now, where it says "New Site Name", write the name of the blog.
• Click on "Add link" and repeat the previous point until you finish with all the blogs.
• Last, click on SAVE.

• The previous window will appear, click on SAVE once more and it's ready!

In case you haven't been able to do it, post a comment and I'll try to give you further details.

3rd activity of the first free week: Creating your own comic

Today you'll learn to use a new tool, a comic maker at ToonDoo.

Follow these steps:

• Go to http://www.toondoo.com/Home.toon
• Once there, choose TOOLS, and then TooDoo Make

• You will have to register and open a free account.
  
• Wait just a few seconds. A new window will open in which you will see the comic creator. Try to imagine a dialogue. Use your creativity. The comic can have as many pictures as you need (layout).

• Your are ready to create a comic strip.
• On the top, you can choose: characters, backgrounds, text bubbles, etc.

• At the bottom there are some tools that'll let you move the characters to the front or to the back, shrink or enlarge.
• Once you have finished, click on ToonDoo in the top left corner. After that, press on the folder and choose "save".
  

• You can now publish it, see it at the moment and not only print it, send it to others, but also embed it in your blog. Choose the one(s) you like best.

Place the cursor on the following comic strip in order to read it:

by maral954 | Create your own Cartoon at www.toondoo.com

Leave your comment and let us know when you've embedded the comic in your blog!

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• HERE'S ANOTHER SITE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A MOVIE, BY CHOOSING CHARACTERS, SETTINGS AND BACKGROUND MUSIC.

• ONCE IT'S FINISHED, EMBED IT IN YOUR BLOG BY COPYING THE EMBEDDING CODE.

THE SITE: http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html

Write or die. 2nd Activity of this free week

Developing your writing skill is a very important part of learning a language. When you write something it's very important to ensure that there are no mistakes before you let anyone read it. In the planning and drafting stages though it can be much more important to get your ideas down on paper first and not to worry about accuracy.


Today's activity focuses on this drafting stage of the writing process and uses a website from Dr Wicked called 'Write or Die'.

The idea of the website is that you must keep writing. If you stop and pause too long your screen will go red and the words you have written will start to disappear until you start writing again.

This should force you to write more quickly and become a fluent writer. You will be able to correct you errors afterwards once you have your basic text. This is that way that most successful writers work in their own language.

Task:

* First choose a subject that you would like to write about. Here are a few suggestions.

You last holiday
A sport that you enjoy
A band or singer that you like
A good film you have seen
Your family
The best day of your life
Your job or the job you would like to have

* Before you start you might like to think of some key points that you would like to include about your topic.

* When you are ready to start writing go to: http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html

* Set you 'Word Goal' to 300. Set the 'Grace Period' to 'Evil' and set the mode to 'Kamikaze'. There's no need to enter a time.

* Then when you are ready click on 'Write!' You will see a field for your text. Click on it and start to write about your topic as quickly as you can. Your word count will start to appear in the bottom right hand corner.

* As long as you keep writing the screen will stay white, but if you stop it will go red. If you stop for too long, your words will start to disappear and you will have to write them again.
* Do your best and try to write 300 words. If this is too difficult you can lower the word goal to 200 or 150.
* Once you have to to your word goal, click on the button that says 'Done'. You can then copy your text and start looking at and correcting the errors.


This activity has been developed by Nik Peache, you can visit his blog for more activities at: http://daily-english-activities.blogspot.com

Catch the wind (First activity for this week)

I've just received this video and would like to share it with you.

PLEASE, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:


FIRST:
Watch it until the boy is on the train (0:36 sec):

• Where do you think he's going?

SECOND:
Now, until the motorcycle gets near a small house (0:51 sec):

• Is that man a relavite of his?
• Is that house the place of destination?

THIRD:
Stop the video when the old man receives the jar (1:05 sec):

• What do you think is going to happen when the jar is opened?
• What's this commercial about? Can you guess?

FOURTH: Watch along.

• What's the commercial about?
• What feelings did you experience while watching it?
• Any further comments?

AND NOW, LET'S WORK WITH THE LYRICS!
Try to complete the following cloze:

Catch the wind - Glen Compbell

In the ________ hours and minutes of ___________

I want to be,
In the warm hold of your _________ mind
To feel you all __________ me

and to take your hand along the sand.

Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind
When ___________ pales the sky

I want to __________ a while behind your smile
And ____________ I'd look your eyes I'd find
For me to love you now

t'would be the ___________ thing t'would make me sing
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind

When rain has hung the leaves with _________

I want you near to ________ my fears
To help me leave all my blues __________
Standing in your heart

is where I _________ to be and long to be
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind
[ strings ]
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

Post your comments, I'm looking forward to reading them!