I’ve just attended a webinar run by the British Council to launch a brilliant resource that links to the Women’s Football European Championships that begin next week in my beloved Switzerland.
As the British Council site says:
Developed by the British Council, in collaboration with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and funded by the Welsh Government’s Euro 2025 Partner Support Fund, this resource supports key curriculum areas while promoting languages, gender equality and international collaboration.
Designed for learners aged 9-13 (but it was decided by those at the webinar that parts would be perfectly accessible for younger learners) the resources explore the languages of the participating teams as well as linking to PSHE, sport, geography and wider issues such as gender equality and inclusion.
I particularly liked the language part where learners are encouraged to match the language with the country and also these two activities that I thought sounded great fun and also give children choice and control over the language they want to explore.
The resources are freely downloadable from the British Council website here, and if you teach in a Welsh medium school, they are available in Welsh too.
I’m going to explore further and use some of the activities with Y6 as it’s that time of year and I feel they’d enjoy it. I also think it’s good to have a debate about equality in sport and discuss why women’s football was banned for so long (do the children think it’s unfair?)
If you use the resources, please share on social media or email the British Council as they and the Football Association of Wales (FAW) who worked with them and and the Welsh Government’s Euro 2025 Partner Support Fund that funded the resource would love to know how it’s gone.
So – congratulations Y Dreigiau on qualifying. I’ll be supporting you just as long as you’re not playing the Lionesses (13th July)
In case you didn’t know, the Champion League Final this evening is being held in Madrid. And that set me thinking about the series Mi Madrid that I wrote for BBC Schools Radio last year. One of the 10 episodes ¡Hala Madrid! is all about football, albeit ‘el derbi madrileño’ between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. I love football and it was a joy to write. I particularly enjoyed writing the story in which the Madrid football stadiums argue about who is the best. You can hear it told here and read the (bilingual) transcript here El Estadio Metropolitano will be the stage for tonight’s game and hopefully will see an amazing game, won by the best team! #YNWA
Wish I could claim credit for writing the songs for Mi Madrid as they’re amazing! I’m really glad that the BBC has now made videos for each of them as it makes them even more useful. I sometimes choose one to play whilst kids complete an activity as a timer, or as a way of gaining attention.
Yesterday as part of Health Week I shared this video with Y5 who were focusing on ‘exercise for health.’ Although Sergio Ramos’ singing caused great amusement, they loved it and all enthusiastically joined in with the chorus.
There’s been a lot of ‘kerfuffle’ in the Press about the Stella McCartney designed team GB kit (below)
However, as Spanish men’s football team are about to kick off at Hampden Park in the Olympic Games, I’ll be interested to see if they look comfortable and happy in what can only be described as the most hideous kit I have ever see. I know it was free but …
The bloke on the right Alex Fàbregas described it on Twitter “Olympic equipment, there are no adjectives…” And frankly I’m pretty sure he’s right!
They did it! Having watched the quarter finals against France in France, the semis against Portugal in a restaurant in France and the final against Italy in an Italian restaurant in Switzerland, I am very very pleased to had survived all the excitement!!
The Adidas advertisement featuring the Spanish ‘selección’ have the message El pasado no cuenta – Todo vuelve a empezar. The past doesn’t count. It’s all starting again.
Which it is!
httpv://youtu.be/JE3z0vVJDRk
And then they made another, with a similar message, but pointing out that La Furia Roja actually won in their away kit at the World Cup!
Here’s the Eurocopa song by David Bisbal featuring Cali and El Dandee. Called No hay dos sino tres, it refers to the fact that Spain could win their 3rd Eurocopa (they are the holders from 2008 and also won in 1964) The first clip features lots of clips from the World Cup / Copa Mundial and ‘de motivación’ – to encourage the Selección in Polonia y Croacia.
Abidal, after starting treatment for a liver tumour only 10 weeks ago, raised the Champions League cup following goals by Pedro, Messi and Villa (and Rooney I guess!)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3u2WPJDpns
And Gerard Pique went home with a rather original souvenir, apparently following a tradition set by the Barcelona basketball team!
