A Really Special Present

(Based on the websites www.whsmith.co.uk and www.xperiencedays.com, students were asked to create an 'Experience Gift' which is going to be the flagship of their own companies. Then, they were supposed to swap the presents!)

WILD LIFE EXPERIENCE

Do you like watching NetGeo programmes?
Would you like to be face to face with a lion?
Mariana Menezes has the perfect present for you!
For just $490.00 you can give this unique present for your grandmother!
(Experience: Going on a safari)

CELEB EXPERIENCE

Do you like old movies?
Would you like to meet your favourite actor?
Ludmilla has the perfect present for you!
For just $350.00 you can give this unique present for your best friend!
(Experience: Traveling to Hollywood)

FANGS EXPERIENCE

Do you like traveling?
Would you like to know vampires?
Hugo has the perfect present for you!
For just 2L of blood you can give this unique present for your sister!
(Experience: Meeting Nosferatu)

An interview with Robin Hood

('An interview with your favorite book character' is what students were asked to do. They had it written and recorded as well.)

Hello everybody, and welcome to the first edition of OurTime News. Today we have a very famous character here to answer a few questions, he is the man who says "stealing from the rich to give to the poor is the rule" ... Sir Robin Hood of Locksley.

Robin: Oh, thank you, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Interviewer: We thank you for accepting our invitation.

Robin: * Smile *

I: Robin, your father asked you not to risk too much in the forest because of the The Sheriff of Nottingham, why didn’t you listen?
R: I wanted to live my life instead of being stuck in a farm. Locksley is a great place, but I would never be famous if I didn’t leave the countryside.

I: How did you meet Maid Marian?
R: It was during one of my training courses, she attended a free class and we started chatting, then one thing led to the other, you know.

I: You have a great relationship with Little John, don’t you? And why did he change his name?
R: Yes, yes we are very good friends, he is like a big brother to me, he always protects me and helps me in many ways. Little John is just a funny nickname for a man his size.

I: How do you feel being an outlaw?
R: It is not easy I must admit, I had to leave my father and Marian, but it is also an exciting lifestyle, you see, I meet a bunch of mates and live incredible adventures.

I: How did you feel after discovering what had happened to your father?
R: * sad smile * I was very sad when I learned he had died. Marian was there by my side all the time and she was very supportive.

I: Are you planning to get married any soon? How many children would you like to have?
R: * laughter * Yes, I want to get married soon. We’re organizing everything right now. I would like a boy and a girl... they’ll be good archers as their father and they’ll have their mother’s beauty and education.

I: Well Robin, I am immensely honored with your presence here, and I really hope you and Marian have a long and happy life. Thank you. Thank you all for watching OurTime News. Have a nice night.

(written by Luiza Santana)

Fairly Unfairy Tales #1

(Students were asked to put two classic fairy tales together and turn them into modern tales. It seems there's no place for fairies in my students' heads!)

How Jack met Pinocchio

Once upon a time, there were two siblings: Hansel and Gretel. They were spending time at home when their mother told them to go and buy Japanese food for lunch in the restaurant on the other side of the forest. As they didn't know the way there very well, they took a handful of beans to mark the way back.

After a long walk, Gretel noticed her brother was hungry and then she took him to the local Burger King outlet for a hamburger, but she had always been forgetful and she 'accidentally' forgot him there.

She was going back home because she couldn't remember what she had to buy when she discovered an enormous beanstalk growing even more and faster. She noticed it looked like a stairway leading to heaven and went up to check what it was like up there.

Above the clouds, there was a big house made of candies and sweets. Gretel, as any other child would do, walked toward the house to eat some candies when she was surprised by a horrible giant that captured her and locked her in a dark room.

Gretel was crying a lot and didn't notice there was a boy there, too. He approached her and hugged her, and when she looked at him they fell in love immediately.

Because the room was really dark, they didn't notice the passing of days. While there, they had been planning a way to escape the house and kill the giant.

It was lunchtime one day, they had had their lunch and when the giant returned to collect the dishware, they threw their plates in his eyes and ran down the beanstalk. Gretel remembered her brother and started to look for him. They met him halfway home. He was very bad-looking. His clothes were all torn and his face was a mix of anger and tiredness.

"Who is he?" - Hansel asked pointing to the boy.

"This is Jack. He is my love... the man I'll live together with for the rest of my life!" - Gretel answered.

"Was it because of him you abandoned me in the forest? Look at me!" - Hansel asked angrily.

He looked really angry. He ran toward Jack and pulled him into the lake where a whale ate him. Gretel was so sad that she killed herself by ingesting poison. But what she didn't know is that the boy met Pinocchio in the whale's stomach and they ended up becoming good friends.

The End

*Written by: Laura Drumond, Maria Eduarda Hilarino, Mariana Coelho and Verônica Busato

**Check wall display here

Poetry Experiment #1

(Three random words were given to the students (bold). They were supposed to write a poem with them. After writing their poems, students were asked to write a review of his/her partner's work. Take a look at one of the results:)

Scardrunk

by Antonio Rocha

There's no ugly scar

that can't be fixed with a couple of drinks in a bar

So I went to Billy's

and took a few Martinis

Some time later

I waved to the waiter

When he brought me the bill

I almos fell down the hill

Back home

I was still feeling alone

Then I looked beyond the sky

and asked myself why...

why that scar

couldn't be fixed at a table of that bar?

Review

by Luana Prado

When you read the poem "Scardrunk"you feel the same way that the main character does. The text is so well written that you feel as lonely as the character. The author was very smart because the poem seems to express the thoughts of a guy who has an ugly scar - and the scar is the reason of his loneliness.The character drinks a lot to try to forget his problems but in the end he realizes that drinks didn't help him as he thought they would. In a nutshell, it is possible to say the poem is very good. And it is also very sad.

Charles and Alice

(The pictures of the man and the little girl below were shown to a group of students. After talking about their appearance and feelings, students were asked to come up with ideas for the relationship between the two of them. Look what they've said:)

"My name is John Servusburgh III, I’m 38. I’m a famous writer and I’m from England. I have many books published and my favorite one is about a little girl called Jane. She is 10 and she is a lonely girl, because she was separated from her parents. She then travels all around the world searching for them. The title of this book is ‘where am I?'"

"Hello, my name is Larson. I’m 27 years old. I’m a teacher and I have a special student, her name is Annie. She’s so cute but she is young. She’s only eleven. I see her everyday. I’m falling for her but I can’t do anything. Last night I couldn’t sleep again thinking about her. One day, when she gets older, I will marry her."

"I’m Miranda. I live in Italy with my brother. I’m ten and he is fifteen. I don’t know my real story. The only thing I know is that my parents died when I was only one. We were very rich but my brother was too young and a man stole all we had. Now we live on the streets. We don’t have anything. But we are happy because we have each other. My brother Michael is trying to get a job but no one wants to give him an opportunity. I dream of getting older soon so I can help my brother who does everything for me."

"Hi, my name is Anne. I’m 12. I’m from Germany. I came to England in 1940 because of the second world war. My father is Mr. Halffall. He was a clerk. We were scared and we decided to come to my uncle’s house in England."

(They later discovered they were Lewis Carroll and his young muse, Alice Liddell! Follow-up activities included reading an adapted version of Alice in Wonderland, and listening to Painting Flowers, performed by All Time Low. Check wall display photo here!)

Quiz: What kind of teenager are you?

1. What kind of clothes do you usually wear to a party?
a. Anything Versace, Gucci, or Valentino
b. Basic black clothes
c. Jeans and a Tee
d. I don’t often go to parties

2. If your house were on fire, which of the following objects would you save?
a. My collection of My Chemical Romance’s CDs
b. My Nintendo Wii
c. My handbag, because I have all I need inside it
d. My books and laptop

3. What is playing in your IPod?
a. Indie music
b. Green Day
c. Britney Spears
d. Simple Plan

4. What do you never miss on TV?
a. I don’t watch much TV
b. Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The OC
c. Vampire diaries, Supernatural, True Blood
d. The Big Bang Theory and Friends

5. What is your ideal partner like?
a. Athletic, blond, fair eyed, preferably rich
b. Sensitive, romantic, attentive
c. Smart and sarcastic
d. Dating is not on my mind right now.

6. What would the best occupation for you be?
a. Musician
b. Scientist
c. Writer
d. Anything famous

7. What animal would be good company for you?
a. A hamster
b. A big dog
c. A small dog
d. A black cat

8. Which of the following adjectives best describes you?
a. Calm
b. Glamorous
c. Romantic
d. Smart

9. What do you usually do in your free time?
a. Go shopping
b. Listen to music
c. Study
d. Read

10. Which of the following would be the perfect vacation destination for you?
a. London, England
b. Tokyo, Japan
c. Home is my favorite place on Earth
d. Paris, France

Mostly £: Preppies - You’re a preppy! The world hates you but you don’t care because you’re fancy. Watch out for vanity!

Mostly ♥: Emos - You’re an emo! Society doesn’t see you with good eyes but you have a good essence. Stay away from sharp objects.

Mostly Ø: Loners - You’re a loner. You wish you didn’t ever have to leave the world inside your head. Come out and play!

Mostly ∞: Nerds - You’re a nerd! Everybody wants to seat near you on test days. You should be careful with people trying to take advantage of you.

*Created by: Laura Drumond, Maria Eduarda Hilarino, Mariana Coelho and Verônica Busato