Sarah's Summer Plan

 Sarah is twelve years old. She lives in Valencia, Spain. She speaks Spanish, Valenciano, and English.

Summer is here, and Sarah does not have school for three months. She is happy because she can relax and have fun. However, she also wants to continue learning.

“I want to be the best in my class in every subject,” she tells her parents.

One day, Sarah makes a plan for the summer. First, she decides to read books in all the languages she knows. She will read stories in Spanish, Valenciano, and English. This will help her practice her reading and learn new words.

She reads difficult books in Spanish and Valenciano. In English, she begins reading easy books. As she improves (As her English gets better), she reads more difficult stories.

Sarah also wants to improve her writing. She buys a beautiful notebook and starts a diary. Every evening, she writes about what she did during the day. She writes about trips to the beach, time with her friends, and family activities. Sometimes she even writes short stories. She writes letters to her friends and puts them in the post.

“I like getting letters,” Sarah says. “I think my friends will enjoy receiving letters from me.”

She writes a story about a girl who lives in Valencia who can stop time. The girl is a superhero because she can do good things when she stops time. She shares all of the interesting things she does over the summer with her family and friends in letters an stories.

Another goal is to improve her cooking. Sarah loves Mexican food, so she decides to learn how to make quesadillas. She watches cooking videos, reads recipes, and practices in the kitchen with her family. She gets all the ingredients: flour tortillas, cheese, and a little oil for the pan. The first time, the quesadillas are not perfect, but she does not give up. After a few tries, they are delicious.

At the end of the summer, Sarah is very proud. She has read many books, written many diary entries, and learned to make tasty quesadillas with guacamole. She had fun, but she also learned many new things.

"It was a great summer," Sarah says with a smile.

Vocabulary

• plan: something you decide to do
• practice: to do something again to improve
• diary: a book where you write about your life
• goal: something you want to achieve
• receive (to get): recibir
• recipe: instructions for cooking food
• proud: happy because you did something well

 

The Great Siege of Malta (1565)

The Great Siege of Malta was an important battle between the Ottoman Empire and the Knights of St. John, also called the Knights Hospitaller. It took place on the island of Malta in 1565.

   The siege began on 18 May 1565 when a large Ottoman fleet arrived near Malta. The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the world at that time. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent wanted to capture Malta because the island was an important base in the Mediterranean Sea. The Knights of St. John often attacked Ottoman ships.

   The Knights were led by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette. They had only a few thousand soldiers, while the Ottoman army had tens of thousands of men. Despite being outnumbered, the defenders were determined to protect the island.

   One of the first battles was for Fort St. Elmo. The fort resisted for several weeks. The defenders fought bravely, but the Ottomans finally captured it on 23 June 1565. Both sides suffered heavy losses.

   After the fall of Fort St. Elmo, the Ottomans attacked Fort St. Angelo and Fort St. Michael. The fighting was fierce during July and August. The people of Malta helped the Knights defend the island. Food became scarce, and many people were injured or killed.

   In early September 1565, a relief force from Sicily arrived to help the defenders. When the Ottomans learned that fresh troops had arrived, they decided to retreat.

   The soldiers who helped Malta came from Sicily. They were mostly Spanish and Italian soldiers. Their leader was Don García de Toledo, the Viceroy of Sicily. The soldiers arrived on 7 September 1565. They brought new weapons, supplies, and fresh troops. The Ottoman army was tired after many months of fighting. When the relief force arrived, the Ottomans decided to retreat.

   The siege ended on 8 September 1565. The defenders had won. The victory was celebrated across Europe because it stopped the Ottoman advance in the western Mediterranean.

   After the siege, stronger fortifications were built. A new city, Valletta, was founded in 1566 and named after Jean de Valette. Today, the Great Siege of Malta is remembered as one of the most famous sieges in European history.

Timeline

• 18 May 1565 – The Ottoman fleet arrives in Malta.

• 23 June 1565 – Fort St. Elmo falls to the Ottomans.

• July–August 1565 – Heavy fighting around Fort St. Angelo and Fort St. Michael.

• Early September 1565 – Reinforcements arrive from Sicily.

• 8 September 1565 – The Ottomans retreat and the siege ends.

• 1566 – Construction of the city of Valletta begins.

Vocabulary

• Siege – A military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fort.

• Fort – A strong defensive building.

• Fleet – A group of ships.

• Reinforcements – Extra soldiers sent to help an army.

• Retreat – To move back from a battle.

The siege lasted from 18 May to 8 September 1565, almost four months.

 A Brief History of the Knights Hospitaller

The Knights Hospitaller, also called the Knights of St. John, were a religious and military order. They began around 1070 in the city of Jerusalem. At first, their job was to care for sick and injured Christian pilgrims who traveled to the Holy Land.

In 1113, the Pope officially recognized the order. During the time of the Crusades, the Knights became both monks and soldiers. They protected pilgrims and fought in battles.

When Muslim armies captured more territory in the Middle East, the Knights had to leave the Holy Land. In 1291, the city of Acre fell, and the Knights moved to the island of Cyprus.

In 1309, they conquered the island of Rhodes. From Rhodes, they built a strong navy and defended Christian trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea. For more than 200 years, Rhodes was their home.

In 1522, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent attacked Rhodes. After a long siege, the Knights surrendered and left the island.

In 1530, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V gave the islands of Malta and Gozo to the Knights. They made Malta their new base and became known as the Knights of Malta.

The Knights ruled Malta for more than 250 years. Their greatest victory was during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, when they successfully defended the island against the Ottoman Empire.

In 1798, the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte captured Malta while traveling to Egypt. The Knights left the island and lost their territory.

Timeline

• 1070 – A hospital is founded in Jerusalem.
• 1113 – The Pope recognizes the Knights Hospitaller.
• 1291 – The Knights leave the Holy Land and move to Cyprus.
• 1309 – The Knights take control of Rhodes.
• 1522 – The Ottomans capture Rhodes.
• 1530 – The Knights receive Malta from Charles V.
• 1565 – The Knights defend Malta during the Great Siege.
• 1798 – Napoleon captures Malta.

Review (repaso)

 

To Be – Ser / Estar

English	Español
1. I am happy.	1. Estoy feliz.
2. You are my friend.	2. Tú eres mi amigo/a.
3. He is tall.	3. Él es alto.
4. She is kind.	4. Ella es amable.
5. It is a cat.	5. Es un gato.
6. We are students.	6. Somos estudiantes.
7. They are at school.	7. Ellos están en la escuela.
8. I am eight years old.	8. Tengo ocho años.
9. You are very smart.	9. Tú eres muy inteligente.
10. He is in the classroom.	10. Él está en el aula.
11. She is my teacher.	11. Ella es mi profesora.
12. It is a sunny day.	12. Es un día soleado.
13. We are ready.	13. Estamos listos.
14. They are brothers.	14. Ellos son hermanos.
15. The book is on the desk.	15. El libro está sobre el escritorio.
16. Laia is Spanish. John is American.	16. Laia es española. John es americano.

 

There Is / There Are – Hay

English	Español
1. There is a dog in the yard.	1. Hay un perro en el patio.
2. There is a pencil on the table.	2. Hay un lápiz sobre la mesa.
3. There is a bird in the tree.	3. Hay un pájaro en el árbol.
4. There is an apple in my bag.	4. Hay una manzana en mi mochila.
5. There is a teacher in the classroom.	5. Hay un profesor en el aula.
6. There is a ball under the chair.	6. Hay una pelota debajo de la silla.
7. There is a picture on the wall.	7. Hay una imagen en la pared.
8. There are three books on the desk.	8. Hay tres libros sobre el escritorio.
9. There are two cats in the garden.	9. Hay dos gatos en el jardín.
10. There are many students at school.	10. Hay muchos estudiantes en la escuela.
11. There are five crayons in the box.	11. Hay cinco crayones en la caja.
12. There are four windows in the room.	12. Hay cuatro ventanas en la habitación.
13. There are some flowers in the park.	13. Hay algunas flores en el parque.
14. There are two bikes outside.	14. Hay dos bicicletas afuera.
15. There are many stars in the sky.	15. Hay muchas estrellas en el cielo.

 

Can – Poder

English	Español
1. I can swim.	1. Puedo nadar.
2. You can run fast.	2. Puedes correr rápido.
3. He can ride a bike.	3. Él puede montar en bicicleta.
4. She can sing well.	4. Ella puede cantar bien.
5. It can jump high.	5. Puede saltar alto.
6. We can play soccer.	6. Podemos jugar al fútbol.
7. They can dance.	7. Ellos pueden bailar.
8. I can read English.	8. Puedo leer en inglés.
9. You can help me.	9. Puedes ayudarme.
10. He can draw pictures.	10. Él puede dibujar dibujos.
11. She can count to ten.	11. Ella puede contar hasta diez.
12. The bird can fly.	12. El pájaro puede volar.
13. We can work together.	13. Podemos trabajar juntos.
14. They can speak Spanish.	14. Ellos pueden hablar español.
15. My dog can catch a ball.	15. Mi perro puede atrapar una pelota.
16. Can you speak Chinese?	16. ¿Puedes hablar chino?
17. Can elephants swim?	17. ¿Pueden nadar los elefantes?
18. Can John speak Valenciano?	18. ¿Puede John hablar valenciano?

 

María's Life in Valencia

María is a young girl. She was born (nació) in Valencia, and she lives there with her family. Her home is near Central Park in Valencia. Her house is far from her school. 

   Every morning, María gets up early and gets ready for school. She takes the bus to school. Her school is in El Saler. She likes her school because she has many friends and good teachers. 

   After school, María likes to spend time outside. She loves the beach. She enjoys swimming and playing in the sand. She also likes the pool. In the summer, she often goes swimming with her friends. 

   María loves theater. She likes acting and learning new roles. Every Tuesday, she goes to drama class. In drama class, she practices speaking, moving, and performing on stage. She has a lot of fun there. She is a good actor. 

   María is happy in Valencia. She enjoys her school, her hobbies, and her life near Central Park. She loves hot dogs. 

   María likes to read. She reads many books and has lots of books in her house. She also watches movies and TV programs. She likes the Harry Potter movies. 

   Maria doesn’t like football. It isn’t her cup of tea. Her brother is 12 (twelve). He loves football. He plays football on Tuesdays before English class. 

   Maria can speak Spanish, Valenciano, and English. She can’t speak Chinese. Chinese is very difficult. English is easy.

1.   One

2.   Two

3.   Three

4.   Four

5.   Five

6.   Six

7.   Seven

8.   Eight

9.   Nine

10.   Ten

11.   Eleven

12.   Twelve

13.   Thirteen

14.   Fourteen

15.   Fifteen

16.   Sixteen

17.   Seventeen

18.   Eighteen

19.   Nineteen

20.   Twenty

I have five books. 

María has one brother.

Turia Park has eighteen bathrooms.

John has three bikes. 

 

 

 

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