Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Happy and Healthy Year 2021 ! Hope, solidarity, serenity !

 





So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change.
[...]

John Mayer,Waiting on the world to change, lyrics

Mudar o mundo é mudar os ponteiros onde se marca o bem e o mal. Não quer dizer pô-los ao contrário, mas dar-lhes andamento certo.


A vontade de transformar o mundo. Desgraçado do povo que não compreende isso: ele não tem génio. E triste do poeta que não sente assim, porque ele não tem simpatia pela vida. 
 
Agustina Bessa-Luís*Mudar o Mundo
Opera Omnia, Dicionário Imperfeito, 
Guimarães Editores, Lisboa, Junho 2008


To my friends and colleagues
May we take the time to let be happy and healthy
How much it means to us family and friends
To have them in our lives.



Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2021!


G-Souto
30.12.2021
Copyright © 2021G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Happy and Healthy Year 2021 ! Hope, solidarity, serenity ! by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

October in Review & 1st International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

 



1st International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

As exemplified by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic major infectious diseases and epidemics have devastating impacts on human lives, wreaking havoc on long-term social and economic development. 

For the first time since 1945, the entire world is confronted by a common threat, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or faith.




credits: UN Women/Louie Pacardo

Global health crises threaten to overwhelm already overstretched health systems, disrupt global supply chains and cause disproportionate devastation for people in the poorest and most vulnerable countries. 

There is an urgent need for resilient and robust health systems that reach everyone. So United Nations invite the world to observe the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on 27 December.





The UN General Assembly invite all to observe the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness annually in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national contexts and priorities, through education and awareness-raising activities, in order to highlight the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for and partnership against epidemics.

There is great need of raising awareness, the exchange of information, scientific knowledge and best practices, quality education, and advocacy programmes on epidemics at the local, national, regional and global levels as effective measures to prevent and respond to epidemics.

Must not forget at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers have demonstrated an exceptional display of solidarity across the world. Responding to calls for help from their local communities, they are everyday heroes.

And now, time to the review of the most popular posts of the forgotten October. Let's remember it!

Here are the most popular posts of the forgotten October:


Hoping you had a lovely Christmas although the physical distance with some of the loved ones.

Soon you're returning to school first days in January 2021. Such a great Hope with the vaccine for our eldest ones, parents, grandparents, doctors and nurses.

It's important to alert students to continue the social distance, inside and outside school! And waring masks.

Education, hope and resilience! The three most important words to share in this final year 2020.
G-Souto

27.12.2020
Copyright © 2020G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®
Creative Commons License
Schools : October in Review & 1st International Day of of Epidemic PreparednessbG-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Home for Christmas : A bit different. But love will be there ! Kids need the magic !






Christmas
credits: Ali. Express

The world has never seen a Christmas like this. With COVID-19 infections rampant everywhere, far fewer families traveling, millions of us will look to our own households, backyards, neighborhoods and parks to connect, renew, mourn and be grateful.

Maybe this is the year you play a game over or watch a movie on television instead of tearing into gifts under the tree.





credits: Tgordievskaya/ Stock. Adobe
via La Croix

Or you can running on the a park, or stay at home preparing Christmas meal to you and your kids (no guests), provided you stay with their household members, wear masks and socially distance from others.

Grandparents not living with you, kids must be in touch with them by smartphones, video-calling, or Skype. They need you. They feel alone, and sad because they can't be sit at the family table to share the Christmas dinner, hug their grandchildren, sons, the all family.

Here a lovely short about grandparents and grandchildren: From our family to yours:





Touching, isn't it. There are traditions that turn into unforgettable memories. Grandchildren must not forget to cheer their dear grandparents.  


  • Christmas films:




The Christmas Chronicles
Clay Kaytis, 2018
https://www.imdb.com/

The Christmas Chronicles 2018 directed by Clay Kaytis. Kaytis' first live-action film released on theaters (2018) and on Netflix 





The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.


Christmas Chronicles 2020 (part 2)







Kate Pierce, now a cynical teen, is unexpectedly reunited with Santa Claus when a mysterious troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas - forever.

The Christmas Chronicles 2 is an action-packed adventure for the whole family that’s full of heart, humor, and holiday spirit.

  • Short stories: Cuentos Navidad Spanish











  • Christmas children's books: English




5 more sleeps 'til Christmas
Jimmy Fallon, 2020
illustrations: Rich Deas 

Just 5 more sleeps 'til Christmas!
Can you believe it's here?
I know that Santa's coming soon
'cause I've been good all year.

Everyone who grew up celebrating Christmas remembers the excitement that built up to the most magical day of the year. But why not make the last week until Christmas more fun by counting how many sleeps until the arrival of Santa and his reindeer?

Accompanied by the beautiful and energetic artwork of Rich Deas, enjoy the humor of Jimmy Fallon as he prepares readers for the most exciting week of the year in this new holiday tradition for your family.

Ages 3-6 



Christmas at Hogwarts

Jody Revenson, 2020

https://www.amazon.com/

Learn all about the most magical time of the year at Hogwarts Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry—Christmas!


Livres: French



L'aéropostal
Le courrier doit passer

Textes d’Ève Pourcel

ill. Jeanne Detallante, Lucie Durbiano, Donatien Mary et Frédéric Rébéna

Album, Bayard Jeunesse

Casablanca, Dakar, Buenos Aires, Santiago… Autant d’escales conquises au péril de vies humaines. Autant d’étapes dans l’histoire mythique de l’Aéropostale, née à Toulouse au sortir de la Grande Guerre, avec un mot d’ordre, bientôt partagé par Mermoz et Saint-Exupéry : « Le courrier doit passer ! 

Age: À partir de 8 ans


 

La lettre de mon grand-père

Michael Morpugo

illustration: Jim Field

https://www.gallimard-jeunesse.fr/

 

"Ma chère petite Mia,
Je t'écris cette lettre pour te parler de notre belle planète.
Sais-tu à quel point il est important d'en prendre soin?"

Dans une lettre qu'il offre un Noël à Mia, sa petite-fille, ce grand-père l'invite à s'émerveiller devant la beauté et la diversité de la nature. Devenue grande, c'est au tour de Mia de lire cette lettre à ses enfants.


livre-lettre-grand-pere.jpg

 

La lettre de mon grand-père

Michael Morpugo

illustration: Jim Field

https://www.gallimard-jeunesse.fr/

Comme chaque année à Noël, il y a la bûche, les chants, les cadeaux et la lettre de grand-père.

«Toute la famille en connaît des passages par cœur.» Car cette histoire parle d’une vie: celle du monde entier.

Le vieux monsieur se souvient de ses jours heureux passés dans son jardin, à contempler un ver de terre, une grive ou un merle. À travers ses mots, c’est le bonheur d’une existence au milieu de la nature qui se dessine. Une ode à la nature

Âge: 4 à 9 ans

"L’écriture est à l’image des merles qui volent, des graines qui poussent dans le potager: fragile, douce, enlevée. On pourrait croire que l’ouvrage donne une leçon de morale, mais ce serait méconnaître la plume de Michael Morpurgo."

L’auteur est un conteur. Son livre est un message d’espoir, une invitation à grandir en harmonie et respectueusement au milieu de la faune et de la flore.


Livros : Português/ Portuguese





As Visitas do Pai Natal

José Vale Moutinho

ilustrações: Abigail Ascenso

https://www.fnac.pt/

 Pai Natal está muito baralhado e precisa de ajuda. O que terá acontecido?

Já nada é como antigamente, e o Pai Natal está mesmo confuso com os pedidos que recebeu da criançada. Como é que ele vai conseguir entregar os presentes, se nem sequer sabe o que é uma BTT ou uma Playstation?

Por sorte, os primos Álvaro e Francisco estão dispostos a dar-lhe uma ajuda preciosa. Ao mesmo tempo, por entre histórias curiosas e divertidas, os meninos aprendem a origem de algumas das tradições de Natal, como a do cartão de boas-festas ou a da fava do bolo-rei. 

Uma história divertida que vai fazer sonhar os mais pequenos. Junta-te ao Pai Natal, ao Álvaro e ao Francisco nesta grande aventura pela magia do Natal!





A Menina com os Olhos Ocupados
André Carrilho, 2020

André Carrilho estreia-se como autor de um livro para a infância, A Menina com os Olhos Ocupados, em que convida os mais miúdos a desligarem os ecrãs para "ver mais longe, pra todos os lados". 

Com sentido de humor, rimas divertidas e ilustrações vibrantes, o autor consegue desmistificar o cerne de muitas discussões familiares.



O Avô tem uma Borracha na Cabeça

Rui Zink

illustrações: Paula Delecave

https://www.fnac.pt/

O que fazer quando alguém de quem gostamos nos começa a esquecer? É a questão colocada por Rui Zink nesta história ilustrada por Paula Delecave, sobre a amizade entre um avô, que lentamente vai perdendo as memórias, e o neto inventor, que se dedica a descobrir uma cura para a doença com um nome estrambólico. 

Inspirado num caso real, o autor ensina o que é o Alzheimer e sugere, com bom humor e esperança, como lidar com ele.



credits: Viorel Poparcea/Alamy Stock Photo


Have yourself a Very Merry Christmas Season, safe and brightly colored with love, health, peace.

A special hug to all of you who sufferered the lost of a dear member of family or friend.

Be safe! Kids need you!

G-Souto

22.12.2020

Copyright © 2020G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Home for Christmas : a bit different ! But love will be there ! Kids need the magic ! by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Monday, December 21, 2020

Science & Education : The Great Conjunction Jupiter/Saturn : reources





credits: Zoonar GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo
via The Guardian


It seems Jupiter and Saturn have decided to put on quite an unusual show for the world to see on the first day of Winter, Northern Hemisphere. The fact that this event is happening during the winter solstice is pure coincidence, according to NASA.

The two largest planets in our solar system are coming closer together than they have been since the Middle Ages, and it's happening just in time for Christmas, the nickname of the "Christmas Star." 

Astronomers are gearing up for a heavenly spectacle when Jupiter and Saturn huddle closer together in the evening sky than they have for nearly 400 years.

Jupiter and Saturn will align in this night sky December 21  an event astronomers call the "great conjunction" - also referred to as the "Christmas Star", marking the planets' closest encounter in nearly 400 years.

The celestial event will play out tody when the solar system’s two largest planets appear side by side in a “great conjunction” above the horizon soon after sunset.



Celebrating Winter 2020 and The Great Conjunction! (Northern Hemisphere) 

https://www.google.com/doodles/


  • Google Doodle:

Today’s animated Doodle celebrates the Northern Hemisphere’s first day of winter as well as this rare double planet sighting or “Great Conjunction” which can be viewed from anywhere around the globe!   

As Earth’s Northern Hemisphere hunkers down for winter and its longest night of the year, it seems Jupiter and Saturn have decided to put on quite an unusual show for the world to see! 

So what exactly is creating this celestial phenomenon? Based on their orbits, from our vantage point on Earth, Jupiter and Saturn will cross within .1 degrees of each other (a fraction of the width of the full moon), a once-in-a-lifetime rendezvous recreated in the Doodle artwork. But looks can be deceiving, as the two gas giants will actually remain a vast distance of approximately 450 million miles apart! 




Christmas Star 2020

What has become known popularly as the “Christmas Star” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21.

In the distant past, such alignments of the planets were seen as portents of things to come, from great fires and floods to the birth of Christ and the ultimate collapse of civilisation.

  • Religious side of Christmas star:  

The phenomenon has, consequently, been likened to the Biblical Christmas Star as described in the Gospel of Matthew.



Christmas Star 2020: The Three Wise Men followed the Star of Bethlehem

credits: Getty Images

Some astronomers also speculate the fabled Star of Bethlehem that led the Three Wise Men to the newly-born Jesus Christ may have been a Great Conjunction of the two gas giants.


When Saturn and Jupiter converge on December 21, the two planets may appear as a bright point of light that will be easily visible in the night sky. The two planets have slowly been moving closer to each other over the past few weeks.




credits: Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

“It’s really special to have Jupiter and Saturn visible so close together,” said Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. “It’s something that’s nice to go out and spot.”

A conjunction occurs when planets appear incredibly close to one another in the sky because they line up with Earth in their respective orbits.

But let's come back some centuries...





Galileo Galilei
portrait by Justus Sustermans, 1636


  • Some information:

In 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei pointed his telescope to the night sky, discovering the four moons of Jupiter Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

In that same year, Galileo also discovered a strange oval surrounding Saturn, which later observations determined to be its rings. These discoveries changed how people understood the far reaches of our solar system.

“The cool thing is that Galileo first observed Jupiter and Saturn in 1610, which is 13 years before the last really close conjunction. But there is no record of anyone observing the 1623 conjunction through a telescope,” 

Thirteen years later, in 1623, the solar system’s two giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn, traveled together across the sky. Jupiter caught up to and passed Saturn, in an astronomical event known as a Great Conjunction




Great Conjunction 2020

https://apod.nasa.gov/

From our vantage point on Earth the huge gas giants will appear very close together, but they will remain hundreds of millions of miles apart in space. And while the conjunction is happening on the same day as the winter solstice, the timing is merely a coincidence, based on the orbits of the planets and the tilt of the Earth.

“You can imagine the solar system to be a racetrack, with each of the planets as a runner in their own lane and the Earth toward the center of the stadium,” (...) “From our vantage point, we’ll be able to be to see Jupiter on the inside lane, approaching Saturn all month and finally overtaking it on December 21.”

Henry Throop, astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The planets regularly appear to pass each other in the solar system, with the positions of Jupiter and Saturn being aligned in the sky about once every 20 years.




This year, the planets will appear in the sky one-fifth of the width of a full moon apart. The event coincides with the winter solstice, when the tilt of the northern hemisphere away from the sun produces the shortest day and the longest night.

Conjunctions like this could happen on any day of the year, depending on where the planets are in their orbits"

Henry Throop 

“The date of the conjunction is determined by the positions of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth in their paths around the Sun, while the date of the solstice is determined by the tilt of Earth’s axis. The solstice is the longest night of the year, so this rare coincidence will give people a great chance to go outside and see the solar system.”





The great solstice conjunction

December 2021

credits: Colleen Quinnell

https://www.almanac.com/

Skywatchers are in for an end-of-year treat. What has become known popularly as the “Christmas Star” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21.




It’s Jupiter and Saturn doing a planetary dance that will result in the Great Conjunction on Dec. 21. On that day, Jupiter and Saturn will be right next to each other in the sky -- the closest they have appeared in nearly 400 years! Want to learn when and where to look up? Join our expert astronomer Dr. Henry Throop on #NASAScience Live.




NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
/Southwest Research Institute
via Space.com

  • How & where to watch?

Jupiter and Saturn are bright, so they can be seen in areas with clear skies and no cloud cover, and even from most cities. This also means that the event can be seen with the naked eye. However, binoculars or a small telescope may allow viewers to see Jupiter's four large moons, according to the statement. 


Education: 

Impossible kids with their families, the oldest in a skywatchers group will go to admire such a awesome event.

We are all excited about the Geminids shower. Science teachers, and families.

Do you remember the Geminids shower first days of December? What a sky show full of stars. 

But this is quite exceptional! Christmas Star or the Great Conjunction!

Now teachers and students are on Christmas holiday. I'm sure science teachers told their students to register the moment

So, once again, science curriculum will be enhanced with the help of thia amazing event in the sky.

Do you want a better science lesson ? A beautiful 
live science class. Wow! An event for life.

Don't forget to follow: NASA on Facebook or Twitter. I preferer Twitter!




Galileo per gioco
Testi: Valentina Orlando
Illustrazioni: Celina Elmi


Resources for kids: book (Italian)


La storia dell’umanità è ricca di uomini e donne che hanno realizzato qualcosa di eccezionale. C’è chi ha contribuito con le proprie scoperte a conoscere meglio il mondo, chi ha regalato ai posteri grandi opere d’arte e chi ha compiuto gesti memorabili facendo avanzare la nostra società. Attraverso le avventure di Mattia, un ragazzino a volte pasticcione ma sempre curioso di nuove esperienze, conosceremo da vicino le vite e le molteplici imprese di questi grandi personaggi.





Galileo per gioco
Testi: Valentina Orlando
Illustrazioni: Celina Elmi



In questo volume incontreremo il padre della scienza moderna, Galileo Galilei (1564-1642).


Matematico, fisico e astronomo, Galileo ha saputo guardare la realtà con occhi nuovi, con coraggio e tenacia, consegnando al genere umano una nuova visione dell’universo. 





Galileo per gioco
Testi: Valentina Orlando
Illustrazioni: Celina Elmi


Attraverso un divertente dialogo fra passato e presente, Galileo stesso racconterà gli eventi principali della sua vita e delle sue invenzioni al vivace Mattia. Fra le pagine del libro, i giovani lettori potranno trovare gli appunti della bacheca di Mattia, con approfondimenti e curiosità.



Le Rêve de Galileo: animation (French)





Le Rêve de Galileo
Animation
Fabienne ColletGil Alkabetz, 2011


Le Rêve de Galileo fut un programme pan-européen de cinq courts métrages d'animation (40 min.) sur le thème le ciel et les étoiles qui s'adresse aux plus petits.

"Le Soleil est-il la «star» de l’univers ? Que deviennent les étoiles lorsqu’elles meurent ? Où se trouve la plus belle étoile ? La curiosité des enfants pour les mystères de l’univers trouvera des réponses oniriques et poétiques dans ces comptines enchanteresses."


Il a gagné le Prix du Meilleur Film d'Animation au Festival de Douarnenez.




Le Rêve de Galileo
Animation
Fabienne ColletGil Alkabetz, 2011


Le Rêve de Galileo de Ghislain Avrillon (France, 4 min.) raconte l'histoire d'un petit garçon qui veut voler toujours plus haut.

"Dans Le Rêve de Galileo, le soleil se lève pour une journée rayonnante pleine d’humour et de douceur. Galileo vole vers Cassiopée et tous deux papillonnent dans les nuages. Plus au Nord, la P’tite Ourse s’interroge sur les étoiles polaires, et une grand mère s’habille pour l’hiver... couvrant tout ce qu’elle peut de ses jolis tricots bleus. Enfin, la petite Margarita plonge dans l’histoire qui lui est contée, celle d’une quête pour décrocher l’étoile duciel tant convoitée." 


G-Souto

21.12.2020

Copyright © 2020G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Science & Education : The Great Conjunction : ressources by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.


Sources:

NASA
Space.com
Earth&Sky