Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

EFL stands for English as a Foreign Language. Usually, this refers to English being taught in a Non-English speaking country but may also refer to any situation where English is introduced to a speaker of another language.

An example of EFL is a Chinese student being taught English in China.

EFL is also known as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). It is different from ESL.

What is ESL?

ESL stands for English as a Second Language. This refers to teaching someone who has non-native English as their primary language. Where it differs from EFL is an ESL classroom will often have students from different countries and native languages learning English instead of EFL.

Teachers teaching an ESL class will need to be able to interact with different languages and linguistic abilities at the same time. For example, students from China will have different pronunciations when learning English words than a student from Poland. As a result, they will make various linguistic and grammatical mistakes that must be considered in a teaching strategy.

How to teach EFL

Five helpful tips for teaching EFL to students:

1. Learning each student’s name will help to gain their respect.
2. Encourage your students to try only to use English in your lessons.
3. Have a lesson plan and set activities so you know what your students are doing for each task.
4. Find out what English grammar and vocabulary your students already know.
5. Be flexible with your studies and adapt them to suit your students’ needs and abilities.

World Science Day happens every year on November 10th. It started as a way of opening up the scientific research and discovery world to engage everybody in current scientific issues and developments — like artificial intelligence or renewable energy. World Science Day aims to show that — although you may not be a scientist or a researcher — science is all around you and is a part of everybody’s life. By making science more accessible, World Science Day is one way in which science can be used to inspire people to study and participate in it.

Its full name is World Science Day for Peace and Development, and this tells you more about its mission to help bring about cooperation between scientists living in places that are in conflict.

World Science Day was started in 2001 by UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It promoted a smaller conference, the World Conference on Science, which took place in Budapest, onto the world’s stage.

UNESCO also sees it as an opportunity to orientate the extended scientific community (including government actors) around shared goals and values, like world peace and the eradication of poverty. By aligning science more closely with social goals, it is hoped that scientists will be empowered to work together for the benefit of all. In their own words:

“As no country can achieve sustainable development alone, international scientific cooperation contributes to scientific knowledge and building peace.”

In summary, the aims and objectives of World Science Day are as follows:

• To raise awareness of how science can contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable global community.

• To advocate for a transnational scientific community.

• To renew interest in science and technology, particularly as a way to benefit societies.

• To draw attention to the challenges faced by the scientific community in all parts of the world.

Hemisphere is the name given to half a sphere, cut in half through its widest point.

It is most commonly used when describing different areas of the earth.

Any circle drawn around the earth divides it into two halves called hemispheres.

Northern and Southern Hemispheres

The equator (0° latitude) divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

It is equidistant from both the North and South Poles.

On the equator, day and night are each 12 hours long.

Climate differences exist in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres because of the Earth’s tilt toward and away from the sun.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer months are from June through September. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer starts in December and ends in March. When there is summer in one hemisphere, winter falls in the other.

Europe and America are in the Northern Hemisphere, whereas South Africa and Australia are in the Southern Hemisphere.

Eastern and Western Hemispheres

The prime meridian (0° longitude) and the International Date Line (180° longitude) divide the Earth into the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

However, many geographers consider the 20° west line of longitude and the 160° east line of longitude as the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

This calculation is created so that Africa and Europe are not split.

The line between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres

The Prime Meridian, also known as the Greenwich Meridian, is the line between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. This line passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. Greenwich’s Royal Observatory is home to a museum and planetarium. It is also the center of the Earth’s time system because Greenwich Mean Time is a base reference for every time zone in the world.

The line between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres passes through many countries as it divides the Earth. Starting from the North and ending in the South, the Prime Meridian passes through England, France, Spain, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana, and Antarctica. The location of the Prime Meridian is marked at various points on such things as stones and signs. For example, a rock in Sussex, England, was set up by Captain Malcolm Burwood, a yachtsman, and pilot, to mark the Meridian. It was unveiled in 2000 and contained a time capsule! The names and photos of 600 people who attended the nearby church are in the time capsule. There are also signs on the side of a motorway in Algeria to mark the location of the Meridian.

Interesting facts about the Western and Eastern Hemisphere

• The Western Hemisphere is home to the continents of North and South America.
• North and South America contain about 29% of the world’s land.
• The Eastern Hemisphere has more land than the Western Hemisphere.
• About half of Antarctica is in the Western Hemisphere.
• Most of Europe and Africa lie in the Eastern Hemisphere, but part of these continents also lie in the Western Hemisphere.
• Since European nations began to colonize the Americas, the terms Eastern and Western Hemispheres have become significant historically and politically. This is because the Eastern Hemisphere is also known as the Old World, and the Western Hemisphere is known as the New World.
• The Western Hemisphere is a geographical term separate from the ‘western world,’ which describes parts of the world that share the same cultural, economic, and social values, including Europe, North America, and Australia.
• Another name for the line between the Eastern and Western Hemisphere is the Greenwich Meridian (as well as the Prime Meridian).
• Geographers typically divide the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, divided by the Equator.

What is a rainforest?

• Rainforests are a type of habitat. Heavy – often daily – rainfall and dense, evergreen tree cover characterize rainforests.
• Rainforests are sometimes known as the ‘lungs of the planet.’ That’s because plants ‘draw in’ carbon dioxide and ‘breathe out’ oxygen.
• There are different types of rainforests, as they are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are warm, wet tropical rainforests close to the equator, like the Amazon, and more incredible, temperate rainforests farther north.

Layers of the tropical rainforest

Tropical rainforests are made up of four different layers. Different plants live in separate layers. That’s because they experience other conditions: varying amounts of sunlight, different animals may live in the plants (and eat them); it might be rainier and windier, too.

• The emergent layer

This is the top layer of the rainforest. Only a few animals live in this layer. It’s hot, wet, and windy.

• The canopy layer

This is located below the emergent layer. The canopy is home to most of the plants and animals of the rainforest. There’s lots of food and shelter available.

• The understory layer

Beneath the canopy is the understory. It’s very dark and humid – not much light can get through the dense canopy leaves.

• The forest floor layer

The forest floor is dark, hot, and humid. As a result, only about 5% of the sunlight makes it to the forest floor!

These layers create lots of diversity and a beautiful array of plants. So many things we use daily come from plants in the rainforest, especially tropical rainforests of the southern hemisphere. From the food, we eat to the furniture and buildings around us and medicine. We have a lot to thank for plants of rainforests, both tropical and temperate! Here are some examples.

Plants of the tropical rainforest

Many tropical rainforest plants provide a home, food, and tools for those living there and the resources we use daily!

1. Banana plants and pineapples.
2. Rubber trees – yes, that’s where the rubber is from!
3. Vibrant plants with fantastic shapes include Heliconia – or ‘lobster claws.’ The ‘claws’ protect their delicate flowers from birds like hummingbirds.
4. Amazing, varied flowers like orchids
5. The cacao plant – this is where we get chocolate from.

Plants of temperate rainforests

Temperate rainforests in the northern hemisphere include some of the biggest, oldest plants on Earth. They are called mild as they are neither very hot nor freezing. There are fewer temperate rainforests than tropical rainforests. Nevertheless, they support a wide variety of life.

1. Sitka spruce trees, doulgas fir trees, and giant sequoia trees. Coastal redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth. One such tree alive today is over 115m tall!
2. Evergreen huckleberry and western hemlock.
3. Many kinds of ferns, mosses, lichens, and liverworts grow in the understory, where it’s dark and shaded. Lichen is found hanging from tree trunks and branches, while mosses are small plants that do not flower. Instead, you can spot them on rocks and tree trunks.
4. Oak trees, beech trees, elm trees, and birch trees are common in temperate forests of the U.K. Oak trees produce acorns.
5. Bamboo grows in the temperate forests of Asia.

1. ‘Australia’ was coined from the Latin word ‘Australis.’ 

Australia’s name was derived from the Latin word ‘Australis,’ meaning ‘southern land.’ Long before Europeans discovered Australia, this was the name given to the fictional continent that scientists and explorers believed would exist in the southern hemisphere.

Once discovered by the Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon in 1606, Australia became known as ‘New Holland.’ However, it wasn’t until 1824 that Australia was given the title that the continent is known as today, although some people choose to call Australia by its nicknames such as ‘Oz’ or ‘the land down under.’

2. Canberra is the Capital City of Australia 

Some people may find it surprising that Canberra, located in the South East of Australia, is the country’s capital city. Quite often, people get this confused with Sydney, which is Australia’s largest city.

3. The cities Victoria and Queensland were both named after Queen Victoria 

While a Dutch sailor was the first European to discover Australia,  Captain James Cook, a British explorer, claimed the land in the name of Great Britain in 1770. From here onwards, Britain decided to send over fleets of people to colonize Australia, with the First Fleet landing on the 13th of May 1787. This meant that Britain ruled Australia.

In 1851, a colony in Victoria was established, and the city was formally given its title. By this time, Queen Victoria had been on the throne for 14 years, so the name of this new settlement was given in her honor, and it remains to this day.

4. The world’s largest reef can be found in Australia 

Australia is the home of the Great Barrier Reef. Located off the coast of Queensland and millions of years old, the Great Barrier Reef hosts the world’s most extensive coral reef system and a wide variety of marine life. Its large scale of over 344,400 square kilometers can be seen from outer space!

Inside the Great Barrier Reef, you can expect to find some of the world’s most amazing sea creatures. This includes dolphins, six species of turtles, over 17 different types of sea snakes, and over 1,500 different fish species.

However, despite the Great Barrier Reef being one of the most important aquatic ecosystems on our planet, it faces the threat of mass destruction due to climate change. This means that thousands of species could die as a result.

5. Tasmania and other smaller islands are also a part of Australia 

Tasmania, also known as Apple Island, is the same size as the Republic of Ireland. Located off the south coast below Melbourne, the island of Tasmania is home to over 500,000 people and a unique tropical landscape. Over half of Tasmania’s land belongs to national parks, World Heritage sites, or marine forest reserves.

6. Australia hosts some of the world’s most unique animals 

Australia is a country that is home to some of the most exotic animals on the planet. Australia and its unique climate make this country a special place to find the most amazing animals, from kangaroos to koalas to dingos. Over 80% of our planet’s mammals, plants, reptiles, and frogs are native to Australia, meaning they’re not naturally found anywhere else on the earth.

7. Australia was ‘discovered’ by European explorers in the early 17th Century

The notion of Australia being ‘discovered’ in 1606 means that Australia wasn’t on any form of map or atlas before this date!

So, why was Australia ‘discovered’ so late compared to other countries? This is simply because explorers had not ventured out far enough to reach Australia before this time.

8. Indigenous Australians have lived on the continent for over 65,000 years 

At the time of colonization, it’s believed that between 300,000 to 1 million indigenous Australians were living on the continent. These people are called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. They lived according to their traditional laws, customs, and environmental needs, such as in tribes, and moved from place to place for resources such as food and water.

The British colonization had a devastating effect on these native communities. Between 1788 and 1900, these populations were reduced by 90% due to conflict, new diseases (such as chickenpox, smallpox, influenza, and measles), and the British possession of the land and its resources.

In modern times, around 3% of all Australians have indigenous ancestry, meaning their family relations have descended from aboriginal Australians.

9. Australia has six states 

Much like other countries, Australia is divided into smaller states. These six states are:

• New South Wales
• Queensland
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Western Australia

10. Australia is the second driest continent in the world after Antarctica 

Did you know that Australia is the second driest continent in the world? This means that only 600mm of annual rainfall drops each year throughout the whole continent. This is because Australia has a subtropical high-pressure belt that presses air down rather than lifting it to produce rain.

Performance-based learning and assessment are methods of teaching and appraising children based on how they carry out specific tasks or activities, as opposed to more traditional test formats. This approach allows children to demonstrate their knowledge and how they would apply it to real-world scenarios.

A vital feature of a performance-based assessment requires children to produce a result – a report, a performance, or an experiment. This is then scored against a set of criteria.

The overall idea of performance-based learning is that it closely mirrors real-life scenarios and how a professional in that area would tackle the problem. For example, this could mean encouraging children to design and carry out an experiment or choreograph and perform a dance routine – just like a real scientist or dancer.

What are the benefits of performance-based assessment?

While it may require a little bit more outside-the-box thinking than traditional assessments – from both teachers and children – performance-based assessments have countless benefits. They can bring out the best in your class when used well. Here are a couple of our favorite reasons to use performance-based assessments and learning:

• They’re more engaging. It’s no secret that children don’t like tests. But with performance-based tests, the whole assessment process can still be a fun and exciting experience – and this is a great way to encourage your children to give their all to a task.
• They encourage children to take ownership of their work. Kids will get the chance to work on a project or performance from its conception until the very end over many weeks. This will help to keep them enthusiastic and give them a fantastic sense of pride at the end.
• It stops things from being just a memory test. Some traditional exams and assessments have become a test of children’s ability to remember facts, figures, and terms. While these can be important, testing children’s memory in this way might not be the fairest method.
• It uses real-world examples. In science, children can be encouraged to think like a scientist, while in art, children can feel like an artist who has been asked to put on an exhibition. This might even help children to think about future careers.
• It develops problem-solving skills. In performance-based learning, there is often no right or wrong answer. Instead, children are encouraged to think of how to tackle a problem and determine which one will work best for them.

In what lessons would you use performance-based assessment?

The most obvious examples of performance-based learning and assessment come in naturally more practical lessons, requiring less formal, theoretical review. These include physical education (PE), music, and drama.

However, performance-based assessments can be applied to almost any lesson and objective. For example, children could be asked to design and carry out an experiment in science, write and perform a poem in English, or create a series of themed paintings in art.

In general, these assessments can take many forms. Here are some common examples of performance-based tests that you can use with your children:

• Presentations;
• Group or solo projects;
• Portfolios;
• Debates;
• Performances;
• Exhibits or fairs.

Features of performance-based assessments:

You might be left thinking this all sounds confusing – what’s wrong with traditional assessments, anyway? But don’t worry – performance-based assessments don’t have to be complicated for teachers or children. Remember that these assessments should be:

• Time-bound;
• Open-ended;
• Authentic;
• Process/product-orientated;
• Complex.

Often, there is no right or wrong answer with performance-based assessments. There are lots of different ways in which children could succeed. This is just another reason that they’re so great.

How to help children understand performance-based assessments:

If you plan on using performance-based learning and check with your class, you’re all in for a great time. Children will be engaged and excited about their projects and have an opportunity to show off many skills.

Here are a couple of our top tips for helping your class adjust to performance-based assessments:

• Begin with the end in mind – let them know from the first lesson what the end goal is, maybe giving examples of what previous classes have come up with.
• Be open and honest about how the class will be graded – keep talking about the end project to keep it fresh in your children’s minds. This will help them begin thinking about their possible ideas and ensure they’re not in for a surprise by the end of it.
• Give children a copy of the rubric – this will help them see how they can perform well and maintain that open communication channel.

The Ant and the Grasshopper is one of Aesop’s Fables. Aesop was a famous storyteller living in Ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BC. There aren’t many definite facts about Aesop’s life, but he is renowned for writing an extensive collection of short stories passed down from generation to generation. While they may be over 2,000 years old, Aesop’s Fables remain relevant and famous today. You’ll recognize titles like The Tortoise and the Hare, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and The Lion and the Mouse.

The Ant and the Grasshopper is one of Aesop’s best-loved stories and has been adapted numerous times into different literary works, musical pieces, and ballet. After we learn more about fables, we’ll provide a short The Ant and the Grasshopper summary with a moral lesson, taking a closer look at what this classic fable is all about.

What is a fable?

A fable is a short story that features animal characters and nature settings. In these stories, animals and plants are anthropomorphized, meaning that they are given human qualities, such as being able to talk. This helps us to look at things from a different perspective and consider how the animal and plant characters reflect us.

The other main characteristic of fables is that they always have a moral lesson or message, teaching us something important about life. This is why fables are such popular stories to tell children; they provide a relatable way to talk about good values.

Aesop’s Fables are the most famous in the world. His comprehensive collection remains the gold standard that other moral stories of this type try to follow. Let’s look closely at his timeless fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, and its moral lesson.

The Ant and the Grasshopper summary with a moral lesson

The story opens on a warm, sunny day in the middle of summer. A grasshopper is lying in a field, enjoying the sunshine, singing, and playing his fiddle. Suddenly, he notices an ant scurrying through the area, carrying an ear of corn. The grasshopper, wanting to chat for a while, calls out to the ant.

‘What are you doing? Come and talk to me for a while.’

The ant shakes his head.

‘I’m sorry, I can’t stop; I’m too busy. I have to gather food for the winter.’

The grasshopper laughs at the ant.

‘The winter is ages away! It’s the middle of summer, and there’s plenty of food,’ he says. ‘Come and talk to me.’

But the ant refuses to stop working. He spends all day scurrying backward and forwards across the field, carrying his supplies. The grasshopper watches on, thinking the ant is missing an excellent opportunity to enjoy himself. The ant is not having a good time, while the grasshopper is entirely content.

All too soon, the winter comes. The weather is cold, and no food can be found anywhere. The grasshopper is hungry and has nothing to eat. He knocks at the ant’s door, hoping the ant will take pity on him. The ant opens the door, and the grasshopper can see plentiful food supplies inside the house.

‘I’m so hungry,’ says the grasshopper. ‘You have plenty of food. Is there any chance you might share some with me?’

‘No,’ says the ant. ‘You laughed at me for gathering food in summer. You’ll have to see yourself through the winter.’

So the grasshopper has to survive the winter on whatever meager rations he can find elsewhere.

What is the moral lesson of The Ant and the Grasshopper?

‘Work hard today to get ready for tomorrow.’

The moral lesson of this story is all about being prepared. If we work hard and plan for the future, we won’t find ourselves in the grasshopper’s position, relying on others.

However, the ant can also learn something from the grasshopper. During the summer, the ant is unhappy, as he doesn’t give himself a break. It’s important to remember there’s a time for work and play, and we need to get the balance right.

In some fable versions, the ant doesn’t turn the grasshopper away. Instead, he invites him in. The grasshopper plays his fiddle for the ant and his family all winter, keeping them entertained in return for food and shelter. This shows us that we all have skills we can use to make our way in the world.

Here’s our list of fun winter writing prompts:

• My favorite thing about winter is

Use this fun prompt to encourage your students to write a short paragraph about their favorite thing about winter. This simple prompt is perfect for beginning or ending your lessons.

• If I could live anywhere in the world during wintertime, I would live in

This great prompt will encourage your students to think outside the box. They can use this prompt to help them describe the place they would like to live.

• My favorite winter memory is

This prompt can be a simple sentence starter or part of a more considerable writing activity about winter.

• Imagine you’re a snowman and write about your life.

This fun prompt will encourage your students to think about the perspective of inanimate objects. For example, they could start their paragraph with: “If I were a snowman….”

• During winter, I like to

This prompt is a nice and simple one. Your students could write about a tradition they like to do during wintertime or something they do with their family in winter.

• The best/worst things about winter

This prompt can be used to help your students write lists. They could also explain and describe their reasoning behind winter’s best and worst things.

• Write about a snowy day.

Encourage your students to think back to the last day they saw snow. Then, they could write about their actions, such as playing in the snow. If your students haven’t experienced snow, they can write about what they imagine it like.

• Write instructions about how to make a snowman for someone who has never made a snowman before.

This fun writing prompt will test your students’ ability to write clear instructions in chronological order.

• If you participated in the Winter Olympics, which sport would you participate in and why?

This fun prompt is great for your sports lovers.

• Write about what it would be like to live in an Igloo.

Your students could describe the setting, the igloo, the weather, and more.

• What activities do you like to do during winter?

This simple prompt is excellent as your students can draw on personal experiences to inspire them.

• When I look out the window during winter, I see

This fun prompt will improve your students’ descriptive writing. You could use this prompt as a homework assignment or classroom activity.

• This winter, my family will

This prompt encourages students to write about their plans with their families.

• Write a short story: “It was a dark and stormy night.”

This prompt is perfect for encouraging your students to write a short story.

• Imagine you are going on a trip to the North Pole and writing a short story.

This prompt is perfect for lessons before winter break.

A mechanism within a machine or machinery can be defined as any tool used to convert or control motion or transmit control or power. A mechanism modifies input forces and movement into a set of output forces and training that the user desires.

What is an example of a Mechanism?

An excellent example of a mechanism is a seesaw. In a seesaw, motion is transferred evenly across a, providing equal force at each end.

Another example of a mechanism is a lever. Direction, strength, and amount of movement to an object are all controlled by a lever.

More Examples Of Mechanisms

Here are some examples of items that are considered to be mechanisms.

• Gears and gear trains
• Belt and chain drives
• Camandfollowers
• Linkage
• Friction devices, including brakes and clutches
• Structural components, including a frame, fasteners, bearings, springs, lubricants
• Various elements of a machine, including splines, pins, and keys

A carnivore is an animal that mostly eats other animals. This is as opposed to herbivores, which only eat plants, and omnivores, which consume a bit of everything.

The word “carnivore” comes from the Latin words “carnis,” meaning flesh, and “vorare,” telling devoured. As you’d expect from a name like that, some of the fiercest animals in the world are carnivores, including tigers, snakes, sharks, and eagles. But not all carnivores are pretty so ferocious. Even your typical garden sparrow is a type of carnivore and so are ladybirds (technically, they’re known asinsectivorous). You can even get carnivorous plants, such as the Venus fly trap.

Where do carnivores fit in on the food chain?

Carnivores tend to be at the top of the food chain of an ecosystem. This is because plant life is at the bottom of a food chain, which is then eaten by herbivores, which are, in turn, eaten by carnivores. This means there always have to be more herbivores than carnivores in an ecosystem. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough food for the carnivores to eat.

How can you identify a carnivore?

Because there are so many types of carnivores, it can be challenging to pick out one quality they all have in common. That said, because they all need to be able to kill prey and eat flesh, they nearly always have a fierce set of teeth.

When you think about the mouth of an apex predator like a tiger, the first thing that comes to mind is the two long, sharp teeth towards the front. These are called canine teeth, used to fight and puncture prey’s flesh. They sit alongside the incisors, used to rip out and cut out the meat.

Are pet dogs carnivores?

There is some disagreement among experts about whether domestic dogs are carnivores or omnivores.

They possess many qualities associated with carnivores – such as large canine teeth and a digestive system best suited to breaking down the flesh. However, they can also consume a wide variety of plant-based foods, with an ability to digest carbohydrates unusual in obligate carnivores. This has led many to conclude that dogs are, in fact, carnivores, a type of omnivore that can eat and digest plant-based food to survive but is best suited to eating meat.

This is a debate that isn’t likely to end anytime soon, but in the meantime, a consensus is that dogs are omnivores with a natural carnivore bias. Therefore, their ideal diet would be meat-based but could be complemented with plant-based foods.

Are pet cats carnivores?

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat to survive.

In evolutionary terms, domestic cats are directly related to big cats such as lions, tigers, and cheetahs. That’s why if you have a pet cat, you may be used to catching and killing other animals, such as mice and small birds. This is behavior cats have evolved over many years to see the food they need to survive. However, evolution is slow and hasn’t yet entirely caught up with the fact that domesticated cats have their meals provided by their owners.