What happened in our world? March 13th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… Maria Sharapova aced by Porsche but not by chocolate. Skiers killed in Italy and tourists killed in Ivory Coast. Japan remembers the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. The South Korean who is challenging the go in google. Two French teenagers arrested on terrorism charges and a Danish woman charged with people trafficking - for giving some Syrians a ride in her car. As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students to name the country in which some news events occurred. These are simple crosswords aiming to make our students talk about what's happening in their world, why it's happening, to whom - and where. Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (or even in a staff meeting if you dare). Keep the comments coming in - we love to hear how the crosswords are being used by you and your students.

What happened in our world? June 6th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It's a pdf document so it's simple and quick to download and print. And the answers are included in the same file. In this week's puzzle… Novak beat Murray and Garbine beat Serena in France. Japanese officials raided Suzuki. Mitsubishi apologised for using Chinese workers in wartime. The Tokyo Governor apologised for lavish spending. And the lost Japanese boy was found safe and well. A huge storm attacked Australia's east coast and sharks attacked the west coast. Where should Nikola Tesla's remains be held? (It's a 'current' and 'alternating' debate in Serbia.) A monkey robbed a jewellery store in India and a Delhi hospital was busted for a kidney transplant racket. A concert in Germany was cancelled because of bad weather and the Seine rose 6.5 metres above normal. (By the way, if you dip your feet in the Seine and then take them out, were you temporarily insane?) These are simple crosswords aiming to encourage our students to ask about what's happening in their world. Why did it happen and where? And most importantly, who are the people affected? Use the crossword in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (during a staff meeting if you dare). You can 'follow' us to receive an email when a new puzzle is uploaded. But you can also just check every Sunday night or Monday morning.

What happened in our world? April 24th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… Gazza, the New Zealand police dog was shot and killed. A 400 year old silk dress was found in a ship wreck. A 4500 year old mummy was found somewhere else (no, it probably wasn't her dress). There's a drought in India where the Kohinoor diamond was not stolen from (according to a court ruling). China has blocked iTunes and iBooks. The world's first Pastafarian wedding took place on a pirate ship (of course). Novak and Serena won awards for being the best. An Italian mafia boss was arrested by detectives who were pretending to be pizza delivery boys. Two boys are in trouble in Switzerland for not shaking hands with their teacher. And a solar powered plane flew across the Pacific Ocean in 50-something hours (imagine sitting in economy class for that long). As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students to match some people to their chosen sport. Don Bradman played…? Serena Williams plays…? And what's Arsene Wenger all about? These are simple crosswords aiming to make our students talk about what's happening in their world, why it's happening, to whom - and where? Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (or even in a staff meeting if you dare). Keep the comments coming in - we love to hear how the crosswords are being used by you and your students.

What happened in our world? May 15th, 2016 is a delicious and nutritious crossword based on last week's news events. It's low-calorie, high-fibre, high-interest, and nothing at all to do with SATs. In this week's puzzle… New Zealand's Mt Ruapehu is grumbling and may erupt soon. Japan now has more electric car recharging places than petrol stations. Shell set up a new division all about renewable power. Ukraine won Eurovision, much to Russia's annoyance. A prehistoric whale washed up on an Australian beach. The OED added 500 new words, and removed just one (gullible). Hong Kong glued pavement bricks down so they can't be thrown by protesters. Andy beat Novak, Barca beat Granada, and Man U's game was cancelled. (And still nothing about Donald Trump because I'm hoping that if I ignore him, he'll go away). These are simple crosswords aiming to encourage our students to ask about what's happening in their world - what happened in the world? Why did it happen and where? And most importantly, who are the people affected? As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students to squish fruit and vegetables into a crossword. I wrote squish there because squash would've seemed a bit punny. Who knows, one child somewhere in the world may be inspired to eat a carrot or an orange. Why weren't oranges called greens? And tomatoes are a funny thing, aren't they? Some people hate them. Some people just hate the skin. Their pronunciation is controversial. Their spelling is iffy. And are they a fruit or veg.? Meanwhile the potato just does its humble potatoey thing. And how's thins for a clue… Orange, but not an orange. Or this one… Straw. Rasp. Black and blue. See - healthy, nutritious, non-controversial and very very cherry berry educational. Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (or even in a staff meeting if you dare). This week you can even use them in the garden or orchard. Keep the comments coming in - we love to hear how the crosswords are being eaten by you and your students.

What happened in our world? July 3rd, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. A lot happened this week; so much that not all of it could be squeezed into the crossword. In this week's puzzle… Mosques were attacked in Florida, Britain and Myanmar and cafés were attacked in Serbia and Dhaka. Turkey apologised for shooting a Russian warplane and Russia lifts the ban on tourism to Turkey. Cocaine seized in New Zealand. Australia's uncertain election result and Austria's recent election result overturned. Hillary Clinton was questioned by the FBI. Nicolas Sarkozy will contest the nest presidential election. Djokovic, England, Belgium, Italy… all out of their tournaments (football and tennis). A Taiwanese warship accidentally fired a missile towards China. A newly discovered helium gas field found has Tanzanians floating on air, but will the bubble last? Or burst? India's police arrested a teenage girl for cheating in school exams. A South African teenager was attacked by a hyena and an American cyclist was attacked by a grizzly bear. These are simple crosswords aiming to encourage our students to ask about what's happening in their world - Why did it happen and where? And most importantly, who are the people affected? Why was Austria's presidential election result overturned? Why was Australia's election result uncertain? Why were mosques and cafés attacked? Where is Machu Picchu? Where are the Maldives? And why are the Chagos Islanders still not allowed to return to their homes (and why was this news released during the week when Britain was obsessed with their EU in-out result? So no one would notice the Chagos Islands news? As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students to identify countries' capitals. There was a time when we all knew these. That time was called 'the old days'. [Sigh.] Perhaps the students will know the capitas of the UK, Switzerland and Austria. But Azerbaijan? Greenland? East Timor? Where is East Timor? This is a job for… the smartphone. This crossword might just kick off some 'discussion' in the staffroom. Or, even better, at a pub after work. Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (during a staff meeting if you dare). Keep the comments coming in - we love to hear how the crosswords are being enjoyed by you and your students. You can 'click-click' and 'follow' us, so you'll receive a notification email when new puzzles are uploaded.

What happened in our world? January 31st, 2016 is THREE crosswords based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzles… A vulture from an Israeli nature reserve was captured and detained in Lebanon on suspicion of spying, but was later found not guilty and released. According to the World Health Organisation, there are now 41 million obese children aged under five. McDonald’s announced that it will add french fries smothered in chocolate sauce to its menu in Japan. UNICEF warned that about 25,000 North Korean children need immediate treatment for malnutrition. And at long last… negotiations aiming to find a solution to the Syrian civil war began in Geneva. These are simple crosswords aiming to make our students talk about what's happening in their world, why it's happening, where, and to whom. Use them in in your home room class, in for subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom.

What happened in our world? December 20th, 2015 is TWO crosswords based on last week's news events. Better for improving spelling than a dictionary. Better for improving handwriting than any app and way better for managing attention-span issues than gummy bears (and let's be honest, there aren't many things better than gummy bears).. These crosswords are good for starting interesting discussions and debates. They can be used for homework activities. Or, in class, allocate students into groups of three, let them use their smartphones, and say very loudly, 'ready, set, go'. Strongly encourage discussion about the clues and the stories behind each one. In this week's puzzles… Ukraine's not paying its gas bill and a Ukraine minister threw water into another Minister's face (what bad role models for Ukraine's children!) Some Russians want a cat as their mayor. Some Brazilians want their football officials sacked. Chelsea sacked Jose. A speed skater cycled around the world in 123 days. (I can only wonder how he cycled across the Pacific and Atlantic.) There was an avalanche in Norway. And finally, FINALLY, at long last... the UN wants peace in Syria. Don't you HATE substituting for an absent colleague when the kids have nothing or not enough to do? Print some of these puzzles and have them in your classroom or in your bag ready for a vibrant class discussion. (Someone, and I'm not saying who, told me she prints the crosswords and does them during staff meetings.) This week's BONUS puzzle is called Authors and asks 'Who wrote this book?' The answers will be with next week's puzzle, so don't forget to come back next Sunday. Thank you for the positive feedback with the previous puzzles. If you have suggestions for the way other teachers can use the puzzles, please post a comment.

What happened in our world? May 8th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… a devastating forest fire in Canada, a new free-diving record, Helen Clark for the next UN boss, 50 Australian plant and animal species added to the threatened list, the Russian mafia in Spain, a failed plot to kill a king, Zimbabwe prints its own US dollars, an early summer school holiday in Delhi because of the heatwave, a plane was delayed because a passenger thought an economics professor's differential equations meant he was a terrorist, and North Korea's Supreme Leader said his country won't use nuclear weapons… unless… (but nothing about Donald Trump though). As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students to match things, teams, and cities with countries. These are simple crosswords aiming to encourage our students ask about what's happening in their world - what happened in the world? Why did it happen and where? And most importantly, who are the people affected? Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (or even in a staff meeting if you dare). Keep the comments coming in - we love to hear how the crosswords are being used by you and your students.

What happened in our world? May 29th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It's a pdf document so it's simple and quick to download and print. And the answers are included in the same file. In this week's puzzle… Real Madrid won the Champions League and the World Cup for non-recognised states kicked off in Abkhazia. A Chinese firm apologised for their racist laundry detergent TV advertisement and Pakistan banned all TV advertising for contraceptives. The Dutch government considered banning mobile phone use while riding bicycles while the Zimbabwe government pardoned and released 2000 prisoners. President Obama visited Hiroshima and a German politician copped a chocolate cake in the face (which may have been delicious - er, the cake not the face). The headmaster and teachers were evacuated from a remote town in Australia because of naughty kids and a big earthquake shook up Western Australia. Donkeys have to wear nappies in a town in north-east Kenya and a crow flew off with a knife - taken from a crime scene in Vancouver. Yes, I know, a lot happened around the world last week! Oh, and the ultimate DIY project was finally finished... they added a spare room onto the space station for when visitors call in. These are simple crosswords aiming to encourage our students to ask about what's happening in their world. Why did it happen and where? And most importantly, who are the people affected? As a bonus this week, there's a crossword asking students to name some capital cities because it's not enough know to what's happening in the world… we should also know where it's happening. Teachers can stash this crossword away for a rainy day. It's a sneaky little activity that lets them use their smartphones. Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (during a staff meeting if you dare). Keep the comments coming in - we love to hear how the crosswords are being enjoyed by you and your students.

What happened in our world? July 10th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… A beer pipeline was opened and the Dutch released a beer made only from rainwater. Greyhound racing was banned, a lynx escaped, and a giant spider invaded a camper van. Lewis won the Grand Prix, Andy won the tennis, and Serena won the tennis - twice. Over a thousand words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary and one word, gullible, was removed. And three thousand people in Hull took their clothes off and painted themselves blue. This crossword is fairly simple. Students could use their smartphones to look at the news and so they'll learn that iPhones are more than just social media things. They'll hopefully ask about he news too, like how could a lynx escape from a zoo, did the police help the French tourists with the big spider problem, and why did 3000 people take their clothes off and paint themselves blue - why? As a BIG bonus - there's another crossword that asks students about well known couples, and pairs, and twins, and dynamic duos such as Romulus & Remus, Batman & Robin, Bread & Butter, Bacon & Eggs, and Romeo and...

This is a simple crossword aiming to encourage students to ask about what's happened in their world during the last week or so. The puzzles are excellent for a lively and informative home room period or even a substitution lesson when the absent colleague hasn't left enough work. You save your precious time and the students get to learn about last week's news events... India launched a communications satellite that may be able to find some rats that drank the banned alcohol. Mark Selby won the world snooker championships and Always Dreaming won the Kentucky Derby and Eliud Kipchoge didn't quite break the 2 hours for the marathon. An Argentinean was rescued from Canadian mountain and an 85 year old Nepali man died on Mount Everest. Wolves returned to Denmark and rhinos returned to Rwanda. The Pope doesn't approve of a bomb being called the mother of all bombs. Bombs were defused in Hannover. France held presidential elections and also passed a law requiring fashion models to produce a medical certificate to prove they're healthy. Schoolgirls were hospitalised after a gas leak in India and some of the more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls were returned by Boko Haram in Nigeria. Of course, this puzzle activity is not about getting the crossword completed correctly. The real goal os to get the students asking about the stories in the news. Why did Nike sponsor the sub 2 hour mile attempt? Why were there bombs in Hannover?Why did Venice ban new fast food outlets? Download and then print the simple and easy to use PDF and save time preparing for the next Economics, Geography, Business, or PSHE lesson. This week, there are 2 BONUS crossword puzzles: one is about Asia's countries and capitals and the other is about Africa. These are handy to print and have ready for emergencies.

A pdf booklet containing 10 crosswords based on microeconomics topics. Suitable for GCSE, IGCSE, A Level, IB Diploma, or AP Economics. One puzzle per page so they are simple and quick to print and have ready for an emergency review / revision activity or for when a colleague is absent. Solutions are included. Topics: Introduction Demand Supply Equilibrium 1 Equilibrium 2 Equilibrium 3 Elasticities Government intervention Summary 1 Summary 2

Suitable for Key Stage 3 Geography, GCSE/IGCSE, or A Levels/IB Diploma. Bonus puzzles: European capitals, African capitals, Asian capitals. Each crossword makes an excellent group or individual activity and can be used as a revision/reinforcement activity. In-class or for homework. These puzzles are great for stashing away to be used when colleagues are absent. Answers included.

What happened in our world? October 31st, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, or even in the staffroom (during a staff meeting if you dare). See which department's teachers are the smartest. In this week's puzzle… Another severe earthquake in Italy. Three astronauts touched down in Kazakhstan. Police fired tear gas in Islamabad. An American Airlines plane caught fire in Chicago. Two London-bound trains were delayed because of a souvenir. And a Russian blogger may go to jail for five years for playing 'that game' in a church. These are simple crosswords aiming to encourage our students to ask about what's happening in their world. Why did Prince Charles talk about soil? Why did the Saudis bomb a Yemeni prison? Why did the Croats and Slovenes feel an earthquake and why were a famous Italian poet's manuscripts moved to Bologna? What's wrong with WhatsApp giving users' information to Facebook? As a bonus, there are TWO more crosswords. One asks students to identify the countries in which well-known landmarks are located. Where are Ben Nevis, K2, The Eiffel Tower, the Brandenburg Gate, The Great Barrier Reef, and Machu Picchu? The other bonus puzzle is for the scientists and asks students simple questions about physics, biology, chemistry, a little about the history of science.

What happened in our world? October 17th, 2016 is a crossword puzzle that explores and plays with news events that happened last week. The resource is a six-page PDF so it's quick to download and print. (Note that the resource will be discounted to £1.50 from Tuesday onwards.) What was in the news last week? Thousands of kilometres of New Zealand's coastline was swamped with jelly babies. Some Cardinals were upset about a McDonalds 'restaurant' opening in their building. The price of Californian oranges increased. And the World Health Organisation told governments of all countries to tax sugary drinks to combat child obesity. Of course it's less about what happened, and more about why. Hopefully the students will ask about the news as they solve the puzzle. Why might Russia be charged with war crimes in Aleppo? Why are people protesting about China reducing the size of its military? Why is Samsung's Galaxy7 phone banned from planes? Why is Norway now not giving Finland the birthday present it had planned to? Aren't they friends anymore? And jelly babies, oranges, McDonalds, and child obesity - is there a link? Wait, it wasn't jelly babies; it was jelly fish. This week there are FOUR more crosswords attached to this news crossword, all of which can be used in substitute lessons, time-out rooms, homeroom classes. Print these and have them ready for emergencies. I find these puzzles work best when solved in small groups or pairs. They're good for homework too. They work very well when I have to substitute for an absent colleague. (And a few of my colleagues say they enjoy doing the puzzles during our staff meetings.)

What happened in our world? October 9th, 2016 is a crossword puzzle that explores and plays with news events that happened last week. The resource is a six-page PDF so it's quick to download and print. (Note that the resource will be discounted to £1.50 from Tuesday onwards.) What was in the news last week? Nobel prizes. Kim K West was robbed in Paris. An Italian journalist revealed the identity of an author. A referendum in Hungary failed and so did another one in Colombia. A woman was burned for 'being a witch' and in Pakistan, finally, no one can avoid prosecution for so-called honour-killings? Of course it's less about what happened, and more about why. Hopefully, as the students complete this crossword, they'll ask 'why?' Why did Russia's ambassador to the UN veto the call for a ceasefire in Syria? Doesn't he care about all those children being killed? Why is the Zimbabwe government allowing young elephants to be sold to China? Don't they care about elephants becoming extinct? Why is a statue of Gandhi being pulled down? Wasn't he a great person? There are three more crosswords attached to this news crossword, all of which can be used in substitute lessons, time-out rooms, homeroom classes… One is about Europe, another is about Africa, and another is about good books worth reading. Print these and have them ready for emergencies. I find these puzzles work best when solved in small groups or pairs. They're good for homework too. They work very well when I have to substitute for an absent colleague. (And a few of my colleagues say they enjoy doing the puzzles during staff meetings.)

What happened in our world? October 1st, 2016 is a crossword puzzle that explores and plays with news events that happened last week. The resource is a six-page PDF so it's quick to download and print. (Note that the resource will be discounted to £1.50 from Tuesday onwards.) What was in the news last week? Prince William refused to greet Justin Trudeau.The Ryder Cup teed off. Turkey shut down 20 radio and television stations. The Rosetta probe was deliberately crashed into a comet. Hurricane Matthew stormed into the Caribbean. Shimon Peres died. Two Van Gogh paintings were recovered 14 years after they were stolen. And Boris Johnson said he has a beautiful washing machine. Of course it's not so much about what happened, but why. Hopefully as the students complete this crossword, they'll ask 'why?' Why was electricity cut in an entire Australian state? Why has the African elephant population fallen so quickly? Why will lorries be banned from inner London? Why is the Swedish government reinstating compulsory military training? And why has the UN still not done anything substantial to end the war in Syria? There are three more crosswords attached to this news crossword, all of which can be used in substitute lessons, time-out rooms, homeroom classes… One is simply about pairs… mothers and father, brothers and sisters, left and right, chocolate and teachers. Another bonus puzzle asks students to identify countries' capitals. What's the capital of Samoa, Australia, Croatia, Japan, Eritrea, Morocco… (and where would be good for an adventure?) The last of this week's bonus puzzles is all about Africa. I find these puzzles work best when solved in small groups or pairs. They're good for homework too. They work very well when I have to substitute for an absent colleague. (And a few of my colleagues say they enjoy doing the puzzles during staff meetings.)

What happened in our world? October 24th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It's low-calorie, high-fibre, high-interest, and nothing at all to do Donald Trump even though he was in the news a little bit. In this week's puzzle… Wonder Woman? What? Taliban members went from Qatar to Pakistan to chat about peace in Afghanistan. And finally some children were allowed to leave The Jungle in Calais to be reunited with their families in Britain. Mumbai police promised to protect the movie theatres. Nestlé suggested the price of Kit Kats in the UK may have to increase. And bull fighting in Spain was in the news again. These are simple crosswords aiming to encourage our students to ask about what's happening in their world - Why did it happen and where? Why did a landing craft explode on Mars? Why did Canada's trade minister walk out of a very important negotiation meeting? Why did Thailand's football season end early? As a bonus, there are two more crosswords asking students about the world around them. Where is Tirana? What are the residents of Italy's capital called. Where is Dubrovnik? And Brasilia? And Fort William. If there's an avalanche on Mt Erebus, how many people would run for their lives? Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, in the time-out room, or even in the staffroom (during a staff meeting if you dare).

What happened in our world? November 7th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. Use the crosswords in your home-room class, in subject lessons, in substitution lessons, in lunchtime or after school clubs, or even in the staffroom (during a staff meeting). See which department's teachers are the smartest. In this week's puzzle… The Peruvians released baby turtles into the Amazon region and two Australians stood on a turtle and posted their selfie on the internet. Elsewhere in Australia a Danish tourist slipped, few, and landed on the back of a crocodile. And it bit him. Vladimir Putin unveiled a statue of... St Vladimir. The government closed schools in Delhi because of air pollution, cigarettes were declared the number one cause of non-contagious disease deaths and drug-resistant tuberculosis is far more widespread in Nigeria than previously thought. Egypt floated its currency and increased the price of energy. Canada's spy agency kept data on non-threatening citizens, their military investigated a mysterious pinging sound in the Arctic, and a diver found an old bomb. See, there was more in the news than Donald You-Know-Who. This is a simple crossword aiming to encourage students to ask about what's happening in their world. How did tuberculosis become drug-resistant? Why aren't cigarettes illegal if they're so bad? Why did Britain's pound lose value and then regain it at the end of the week? As a bonus, there are TWO more crosswords. One asks students to identify the country of origin of some unique things - such as the rouble, the Urdu language, the RCMP, and kangaroos. The other puzzle is for the Economics teacher (or for when you have to supervise an Economics class).

This resource contains three crosswords... 1. World Economics News A crossword based on Economics events in the news over the last 2-3 weeks. Egypt floated its currency in preparation for an IMF loan. The UK Pound fell, but then rose again. Venezuela's economic chaos is causing a mini-boom for Brazil's border towns. Economists have warned of stagflation for Britain. Google made a huge profit in Ireland but didn't pay much tax. Vietnam's government is aiming to stimulate consumer spending... and more. This crossword is not intended to be difficult. It will hopefully stimulate discussion about the Economics that's happening in the world right now. 2. Supply, demand, equilibrium, and elasticities Just as it says on the label... a crossword to reinforce the students' learning of supply, demand, equilibrium, and elasticities. Suitable for GCSE, A Level, IB Diploma, and AP Economics. 3. What happened in the world last week? November 7th, 2016 This puzzle is published every week and is pasted into this resource as a "freebie" sample. A simple crossword based last week's news... politics, elections, sports, business, weather, geography... it's all in there and it's all good discussion material. Excellent for when you have to substitute for an absent colleague. Yes, all the answers are included.