Mount Rushmore

 

Mount Rushmore was created by the Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borglum. He died in the final year of its construction. His son, Lincoln, finished the monument. The sculptures are made of granite, a very hard rock. It took 14 years to complete the sculptures. Miners used dynamite to make the heads. They used drills and chisels to sculpt the faces.

  

Mount Rushmore National Memorial  is in the Black Hills in South Dakota, USA. It shows the heads of four former  US presidents.

 

 NUMBER 1

George Washington, the first president of the USA. He represents America’s  

Independence from Great Britain.  

(1732-1799)

   NUMBER 2

 Thomas Jefferson was the third American President. He wrote the Declaration of Independence.

(1743-1826)

 NUMBER 3

 

Theodore Roosevelt (“Teddy”) was the 26th president of USA.

(1858-1919)

 NUMBER 4

 

 Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery. He was the 16th  US president.
He ended the Civil War between the North and the South.
(1800-1865)

Introduction
Mount Rushmore is a famous mountain and memorial near Keystone, South Dakota in the United States. It has the heads of four of America's presidents carved on it: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The Mount Rushmore Memorial is a part of the United States Presidential Memorial, which covers 1,278.45 acres (5.17 km2) and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level (altitude).
 

History
Before the memorial was carved, the native Lakota Indian Tribes called the mountain "Six Grandfathers". The mountain looked like six human faces and they thought they were their ancestors. Later, the mountain was named after Charles E. Rushmore, a well-known lawyer, after an expedition in 1885. The memorial was carved to help increase tourism in the Black Hills, where the mountain was. Doane Robinson first formed the idea in 1923. Robinson convinced many influential people in the United States government to build the memorial. Congress soon allowed construction to begin.
After gaining Congress's approval, Gutzon Borglum, a famous American sculptor, was hired to begin the project. Mount Rushmore is largely composed of granite, and therefore, the famous sculptures are carved on that material.
 

Facts
Tourism is South Dakota's second-largest industry, and Mount Rushmore is the state's top tourist attraction. The memorial hosts nearly three million visitors a year.

  

Questions

a.    Name the four presidents carved on the memorial
b.    Where is the memorial?
c.    Height of the memorial (above sea level)
d.    How did the native Lakota Indian Tribes call the mountain? Why?
e.    Why the mountain was named Rushmore afterwards?
f.    How did Doane Robinson contribute to the project?
g.    What was the name of the sculptor?
h.    What is the material used?



Link to the official web page

Irregular verbs 01 - 100

Con las tarjetas puedes repasar todos los verbos irregulares, tanto de inglés a español, como de español a inglés . No te olvides, si quieres ir repasando, de marcar "Ambos lados" (en la cabecera de la ficha) para no ver las soluciones. Si quieres hacerlo de inglés a español, marca la opción "Inglés primero"

Recuerda que puedes estudiarlos de inglés a español o de español a inglés.




Con el siguiente ejercicio puedes ir intentando escribir los verbos. IMPORTANTE: Antes de responder marca "MAYÚSCULAS" y "PUNTUACIÓN" en el recuadro de configuración. Si no, te dará error en las respuestas.

Good luck with your test!

Happy New Year 2013

New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year. It is always an exciting time because people look forward to welcoming a new year. 

It is also a good time to think back and say goodbye to the old year. 

New Year’s Eve is a national holiday for many people around the world. In a lot of countries, people go back to their hometown for the New Year, so the roads, trains and buses are packed. 

In England, there is always a New Year’s Eve party you can go to. The party is usually in someone’s home and the host invites friends, families and neighbours. The living room becomes a mini disco as everyone dances to loud music. Everyone then waits until midnight to hear Big Ben chime twelve times. That’s the signal a new year has arrived.

People often make resolutions at the start of the new year. Resolutions are things that people have decided (or sometimes resolved) to do to make their lives better. 

So...Have you already made a wonderful resolution for 2013?.

In any case, Happy New Year 2013

Christmas holidays

Christmas holidays are coming, just around the corner. 

Your teacher wants to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyous, healthy, happy and wonderful 2013 with the best of the best for everyone!

Remember Christmas should not be all about presents and the decoration. All that matters is being with your loved ones, having a good time with them, and showing your solidarity with those who need our love. Remember the meaning of all this: Jesus is born, as he is born every year.

Remember that all the English tasks will be on the agenda. So, take it into account and be responsible. 

My best wishes.

Irregular verbs 01-80

Con las tarjetas puedes repasar los 80 verbos, de español a inglés y de inglés a español). No te olvides, si quieres ir repasando, de marcar "Ambos lados" (en la cabecera de la ficha) para no ver las soluciones. Si quieres hacerlo de inglés a español, marca la opción "Inglés primero"

Recuerda que puedes estudiarlos de inglés a español o de español a inglés.



Con el siguiente ejercicio puedes ir intentando escribir los verbos. 

IMPORTANTE: Antes de responder marca "MAYÚSCULAS" y "PUNTUACIÓN" en el recuadro de configuración. Si no, te dará error en las respuestas.

Reading: Thanksgiving celebration in 1621

A legendary Thanksgiving celebration was held in 1621. The terrible winter of the previous year had been difficult for the Pilgrims. Many of the Pilgrims had died because of illness and lack of shelter.

The Thanksgiving celebration was held after the Pilgrims had their first harvest—after they had gathered their first crops.  The writings of the Pilgrims tell us that about 140 people attended the three-day celebration.

Ninety of the people were Wampanoag men. About 50 people were Pilgrims. Only four of the Pilgrims at the party were women. The feast was held outside because the Pilgrims did not have a building large enough to hold so many people. 

The Pilgrims were thankful for the harvest and for the help of the Wampanoag in teaching them to grow crops in America. Without their help, the Pilgrims would have had little to eat.

The menu for the first Thanksgiving included venison, or deer meat, and fowl, which included ducks, geese, and turkeys. Sea bass, cod fish, cornmeal, fruits and vegetables were also served. 

Games were played, and singing and dancing were also part of the celebration. Praises were given to God for the harvest and for the Pilgrims that survived the harsh winter. 

Thanksgiving in America is now celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Families prepare a meal similar to the meal prepared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag 400 years ago. It is a time for counting the blessings we have received during the year and for spending time with family and friends.  

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FIRST  THANKSGIVING

1. The Pilgrims and Wampanoag celebrated their Thanksgiving _____. 

a. in Texas  

b. after the harvest 

c. in the spring  

d. on December 25th 

2. Which of the following is NOT fowl?

a. deer  

b. turkey 

c. geese  

d. ducks 

3. Which of the following was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving?

a. vegetables  

b. cornmeal 

c. fruit  

d. all of these 

4. How many people attended the Thanksgiving celebration in 1621? 

a. forty  

b. ninety 

c. one hundred ten 

d. one hundred forty 

5. What is venison? 

a. geese  

b. deer meat 

c. ducks  

d. turkey 

6. Why was the Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 held outside? 

a. The weather was nice.    

b. The buildings were too small.  

c. They liked outside. 

d. none of these 

7. Which of the following is NOT true? 

a. Many Pilgrims died during the harsh winter. 

b. The Wampanoag taught the Pilgrims to grow crops. 

c. Seventeen women attended the first Thanksgiving. 

d. The Pilgrims were thankful for their harvest. 

8. Why was the Thanksgiving celebration held in 1621? 

a. to give thanks for their many blessings 

b. because everybody was hungry 

c. to have a cooking contest 

d. so the Pilgrims could invite their friends to their new homes

9. Why did so many Pilgrims die during their first year in America? 

a. illness  

b. they were killed 

c. lack of shelter 

d. both a and c

10. When do we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States? 

a. second Tuesday in August 

b. first Monday in April 

c. third Wednesday in March 

d. fourth Thursday in November.  

11. Would you have liked to attend the 1621 Thanksgiving? Why

or why not?. 100 words. To be handed in class.

Thanksgiving Day

El Día de Acción de Gracias ("Thanksgiving Day" en inglés) es una fiesta tradicional de los Estados Unidos y Canadá. En los Estados Unidos se celebra el cuarto jueves del mes de noviembre. En Canadá se celebra el segundo lunes de octubre. Toda la familia se reúne en torno a una celebración en la que se comparte la comida. Es tradicional degustar un gran pavo asado u horneado, acompañado de maíz, y salsa de arándanos. A ella suelen asistir familiares y amigos. Muchas familias la comienzan con una pequeña oración de “acción de gracias”. 

Aunque religiosa en origen, hoy está considerada como una festividad secular.

En 1620 los peregrinos (los primeros inmigrantes de Norteamérica) viajaron desde Inglaterra en el barco “Mayflower”, y desembarcaron en Plymouth (en el actual estado de Massachusetts). Iban huyendo tanto de las prohibiciones de la iglesia de Inglaterra como de la pobreza. Los indios nativos de Massachusetts los recibieron amistosamente y compartieron con los peregrinos sus conocimientos sobre la agricultura autóctona. Les enseñaron, también, a cazar y a curar la carne de los animales. Para celebrar que habían logrado subsistir un invierno muy duro y que tenían una abundante cosecha que les ayudaría a seguir hacia delante en su asentamiento en el nuevo mundo, los peregrinos organizaron una gran comida. Invitaron a los indios nativos para agradecerles su ayuda. La primera celebración de “acción de gracias” duró varios días. Tanto los indios como los peregrinos compartieron alimentos, bebidas y diversión.

Hoy día es una jornada de agradecimiento más que por las cosechas, por todo lo que uno tiene en la vida.

La mayoría de los trabajadores tienen vacaciones. Algunos almacenes, centros comerciales, restaurantes y bares permanecen abiertos. El día siguiente, viernes, es tradicional la apertura de la temporada de compras navideñas, con gran afluencia de compradores. Este día se conoce como “Viernes Negro” (“Black Friday” en inglés).