What happened in our world? December 6th, 2015 is TWO crosswords based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzles… Prince Charles and French cheese. Galleons of emeralds off Colombia's coast. NASA's holiday snaps from Pluto. No smart-alecs allowed in Chinese schools. Justins Bieber and Trudeau. A one and a half metre lizard on the side of an Australian man's house. (This week there is a bonus puzzle based on contemporary trivia. Perfect for filling in a few minutes at the end of a lesson, or when substituting for a colleague.) The document is a simple PDF so it is quick to download and print for your class (and the solution is included). This activity is suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage students to discuss and learn about their world's current events. These crosswords are ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. They can be completed individually or in small groups or as week-long homework activities, or even as a time-out activity. They are an excellent excuse for students to make good use of their smartphones. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime news and current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. Don't you HATE substituting for an absent colleague when the kids have nothing or not enough to do? Print these puzzles and have them in your classroom or in your bag ready for a vibrant class discussion. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzle - ready and waiting for Monday morning.

What happened in our world? January 10th, 2016 is THREE crosswords based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzles… North Korea detonated a hydrogen bomb (or did they?) A dog in South Africa was awarded a medal and dogs in New York had a concert performed just for them, and someone tried to kidnap one of Barack Obama's two dogs. Or would that have been a dognap? But a catnap is… Twitter shares crashed, Huawei's revenue almost doubled, Coca Cola angered Russians and Ukrainians, and did Volkswagen's sales go up or down? Some Russians were stuck in the snow and a Russian doctor is stuck in court. Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano erupted, an Indian boy scored 1009 runs in a cricket game, and Tim Winton had a whole fish species named after him. This week's puzzles include the answer key to last week's Mathematics crossword. The document is a simple PDF so it is quick to download and print for your class (and the solutions are included). This activity is suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage students to discuss and learn about their world's current events. These crosswords are ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. They can be completed individually or in small groups or as week-long homework activities, or even as a time-out activity. They are an excellent excuse for students to make good use of their smartphones. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime news and current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. Don't you HATE substituting for an absent colleague when the kids have nothing or not enough to do? Print these puzzles and have them in your classroom or in your bag ready for a vibrant class discussion. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzles.

What happened in our world? November 1st, 2015 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It is a simple PDF document so it is quick to download and print for your class. (The solution is included.) This activity sheet is suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage students to discuss and learn about their world's current events. In this week's puzzle… Who won the Rugby World Cup? What did Rome's city councillors do? What did six people in NIgeria tried to sell? Where was the earthquake last week? Australia's Labour Party promised to what to the voting age? And more. This crossword is ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. It can be completed individually or in small groups or as a week-long homework activity, or even as a time-out activity. Samsung and Apple spend a fortune convincing our students to use smartphones so we teachers don't stand a chance! Here though is something more educational than Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja for the students to use their smartphones for. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. 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. This week's BONUS puzzle reworks the same clues with a different grid and different answers. Have the students do the bonus puzzle later in the week as a 'what did you remember?' activity. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzle - ready and waiting for Monday morning.

What happened in our world? November 29th, 2015 is TWO crosswords based on last week's news events. The document is a simple PDF so it is quick to download and print for your class (and the solution is included). This activity is suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage students to discuss and learn about their world's current events. In this week's puzzles… Where was Pope Francis last week? What did Belgians do during their capital city's lockdown? Why did seven men sew their mouths shut? More than a year's worth of what fell in Qatar in just a few hours? Why did the Zagreb goal keeper not play against Arsenal? What was the story with the gigantic gingerbread house in San Francisco? And that red panda that escaped from the California zoo… eureka! It was found. This crossword is ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. It can be completed individually or in small groups or as a week-long homework activity, or even as a time-out activity. Samsung and Apple spend a fortune convincing our students to use smartphones so now we can make good use of that. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime news and current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. 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. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzle - ready and waiting for Monday morning.

What happened in our world? November 22nd, 2015 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It is a simple PDF so it is quick and easy to download and print. (The solutions are included, of course.) This week though, there are TWO crosswords with different clues. So where was the biggest diamond found - Botswana or Canada? What did the boy in Australia sing the national Anthem with and why did Youtube go silly about it? A volunteer firefighter from Mississippi got a new what? And the Swiss cherry orchardist picked up 4000 of what? (You just know it wasn't cherries, right?) New Zealanders began voting for a new what? And the United Nations issued a strongly worded condemnation about what? These crosswords are ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. Better than that, these crosswords will stimulate very interesting discussions. The puzzles can be completed individually or in small groups or as a week-long homework activity. Samsung and Apple spend a fortune convincing our students to use smartphones so let's have our students use their smartphones for a positive learning activity. Maybe you could start a lunchtime current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. Or maybe you can hand them out to colleagues and have a ready, get set, go! competition to see who's the smartest in the staffroom. This week there's a BONUS crossword called, 'Which Sport?' 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 (that's good-noisy) lesson. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's puzzle, ready and waiting for Monday morning. Please feel free to post feedback about the puzzles. How did you use them with your students? What discussions followed? Who was the smartest teacher in your staffroom?

What happened in our world? November 8th, 2015 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It is a simple PDF so it is quick and easy to download and print. (The solutions are included, of course.) These activities are suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage students to discuss and learn about their world's current events. In this week's puzzle… Russia condemned Charlie Hebdo. Planes crashed in South Sudan and Sinai. The US unemployment rate fell and Candy Crush's parent company sold for $US5.9 billion (which is crazy). This crossword is ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. It can be completed individually or in small groups or as a week-long homework activity, or even as a time-out activity. Samsung and Apple spend a fortune convincing our students to use smartphones so we teachers don't stand a chance! Here though is something more educational than Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja (and Candy Crush) for the students to use their smartphones for. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. 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 (that's good-noisy) class discussion. This week there are TWO bonus puzzles. The first simply reworks the same clues with a different grid and different answers. Have the students do this puzzle later in the week as a 'what did you remember?' activity. The second bonus puzzle asks questions about the news items, for example, Where is Burundi?, What is Charlie Hebdo?, and What competes for the Melbourne Cup? These can be given as a follow-up activity to either of the main news crosswords. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzle - ready and waiting for Monday morning. Please feel free to post feedback about the puzzles. How did you use them with your students? What discussions followed?

What happened in our world? February 14th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… An earthquake in New Zealand. Pakistan tried to ban St Valentine's Day. Cuba returned a missile - no crisis though. A Spanish civil servant didn't show up for work, for six years. The Europeans are investigating the 500 Euro note. And 150,000 penguins were killed by an ice berg. Nothing this week about Donald Trump though. 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. As a bonus, there's a crossword. Name the country in which these cities are. (Or perhaps teachers could think of it as summer holiday planning.) 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? October 11th, 2015 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It is a simple PDF so it is quick to download and print for your class. (The solution is included.) This activity sheet is suitable for middle and high school students. It will encourage students to learn about their world's current events. What did Naughty Nick Kyrgios (the tennis player) do in the Japan Open? What did the angry Air France workers do to their bosses? (No! Teachers should not do this, even if they're angry.) Who won the Nobel Prize for Physics? And what was John West accused of doing (again)? This crossword is ideal as a Monday morning writing and reading activity, individually or in small groups, as a week long homework research activity, even as a time-out activity. Samsung and Apple spend a fortune convincing our students to use smartphones so we teachers don't stand a chance! Here though is something more educational than Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja for the students to use their smartphones for. Ideal for Language and Social Studies classes, this week's resource includes a BONUS puzzle called 'In what country am I if I am standing on or in...?' Lake Van? The Seine? Madison Square Garden? Mt Ruapehu? The Atlas Mountains? It's quick and simple. By the way, crosswords are a good way for children to practise writing neatly. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzle - ready and waiting for Monday morning.

What happened in our world? February 28th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… Japan's population fell. The Cambodian's spent $40,000 building a toilet for a visiting princess. It wasn't used. Most rural Cambodian homes don't have any toilets. Croatia and Slovenia set limits on the number of refugees being admitted. While a drought scorched Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe ate cake. The Nigerian government found more than 20,000 people on it's payroll - oh wait, names only. The people don't exist. The Indian government's budget aimed to boost farm incomes and alleviate rural poverty. Members of the New Zealand public did a crowd-funding thing and bought a pristine beach for about 2 million dollars and then gifted it to the government so it can be added into a national park. A naughty little Australian boy had his hand stuck in a vending machine for about 5 hours. And finally, a ceasefire (perhaps better described as a reduction in fighting) was declared in Syria. 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. As a bonus, there's a crossword identifying some good books and their authors. 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). I'm sorry for not uploading a crossword on February 14th. No I wasn't 'otherwise engaged' on Valentine's Day. It was a small matter of malaria and hospital. Hopefully, we're back on schedule...

What happened in our world? June 19th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. Some will be very surprised to know that there was more happening in the world than Britain's chitty-chat about the EU, Le footy en France, and Donald Whatshisname. In this week's puzzle… A Colorado mother beat a mountain lion that was attacking her son. Led Zeppelin said they didn't copy a riff. Meatloaf collapsed, which is more serious than a soufflé collapsing. Radiohead fans were beaten, as was the Australian rugby team. Rory didn't make the cut (into the last rounds or into this week's crosswords). Dory did though. A 68 year old Nepali man returned to school. About 20 Russian footy fans returned to Russia, early. Tim Peake returned too. And Reuter News Agency did some research and found out what we teachers already know… more young people read the news on mobile devices than in other formats. This is a fairly simple crossword to encourage students to ask about what's happening in their world. Why did it happen and where? And most importantly, who are the people affected? What's so important about the UEFA tournament? Why ban the export of a valuable vase? And why would Prince William urge men to speak with their families about mental illness? As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students about famous people. Who's the head of the IMF and the UN and Germany? Who wrote A Handmaid's Tale and Oliver and Romeo and Juliet? Can they do these without 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 used and enjoyed by you and your students.

What happened in our world? March 6th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… The ceasefire in Syria is holding. Russia might be up to something with regards to the refugee situation in Germany. British people are applying for Irish passports. FIFA's gone hi-tech. The tsunami warning buoys didn't shout out anything when the earthquake struck. An Australian won one of the world boxing titles. South African gold miners won compensation for lung diseases. And police cracked down on protestors in Istanbul. As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students to name the country in which a city is located. 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 in your school.

What happened in our world? November 15th, 2015 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It is a simple PDF so it is quick and easy to download and print. (The solutions are included, of course.) These activities are suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage students to discuss and learn about their world's current events. So many things happened last week that there are THREE different puzzles in this week's download. The Russian athletics drug problem. The New Zealand schoolboy's end of year speech. Pakistan's 'ghost' schools. And the Paris tragedy. These crosswords are ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. They can be completed individually or in small groups or as a week-long homework activity, or even as a time-out activity. Samsung and Apple spend a fortune convincing our students to use smartphones so let's have our students use their smartphones for a positive learning activity. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. 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 (that's good-noisy) class discussion. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzle, ready and waiting for Monday morning. Please feel free to post feedback about the puzzles. How did you use them with your students? What discussions followed?

What happened in our world? January 17th, 2016 is two crosswords based on last week's news events. Why would anyone want to kiss a python? In this week's puzzles… Because North Korea detonated a hydrogen bomb (maybe) three famous snowboarders canceled their trip to North Korea. A Chinese tourist who tried to kiss a python was bitten on the nose. Phuket (that's where she was, not what she said.) Azerbaijan's government cancelled the tax increase on bread. Let them eat cake, history said. Venezuela's government declared a state of economic emergency. VW reported an in increase in sales, but then again, they said things about their cars' emissions too. Iranians can export oil to the EU now and send money by SWIFT. The Ballon d'Or got messy, or vice versa. A rapper was expelled from South Africa, not because they don't like rap, but because of immigration issues. Norway's government told those refugees who cycled across the Arctic border from Russia to backpedal. And the rock icon David Bowie died. Crosswords aren't just for word nerds. This week there's a BONUS puzzle for Maths teachers (or for teachers who have to substitute for a Maths colleague who's taking a sickie). To coerce you to come back again next week, the answers to the Maths crossword will be attached to next week's document. The whole document is a simple PDF so it is quick to download and print for your class (and the solutions are included). This activity is suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage discussion about the world's events, whether they are economic, social, political, geographical, or just plain silly (why would anyone want to kiss a python?) These crosswords are ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. They can be completed individually or in small groups or as week-long homework activities, or even as a time-out activity. They are an excellent excuse for students to make good use of their smartphones. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime news and current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. If you have students whose handwriting is messy… make them do crosswords because they force kids to write clearly, carefully and therefore neatly. Or (but it could also be And…) use them in the staffroom to keep the smarties quiet for a while. Peace at last! Don't you HATE substituting for an absent colleague when the kids have nothing or not enough to do? Print these puzzles and have them in your classroom or in your bag ready for a vibrant class discussion. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzles.

What happened in our world? June 26th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. Some will be very surprised to know that there was more happening in the world than Britain's chitty-chat about the EU, Le footy en France, and Donald Whatshisname. In this week's puzzle… Wildfires in California. Floods in West Virginia. In Australia, a 5.2 metre python in a bedroom and a senator in a tank crushed a car. Rugby. Football. Rory pulled out of the Olympics. An anti-doping lab. in Rio was banned because it doesn't meet international standards. Thai protestors jailed. The end of civil war in Colombia. A mammoth uncovered in Mexico. A new president in Iceland. (Do you think Iceland is a nice land?) And something about the UK in the EU not being OK. This is a fairly simple crossword to encourage students to ask about what's happening in their world. Why did it happen and where? Why did that civil war go on for 50 years? Why is it important that a mammoth was in Mexico? And a very important thing to know, why would a python come into a bedroom? As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students about the countries and capitals of the … European Union (of course). 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 used and enjoyed by you and your students.

What happened in our world? October 25th, 2015 is a crossword based on last week's news events. It is a simple and quick to download and print and the solution is included. This puzzle is suitable for middle and high school students and depending on the way it's used could take 30-60 minutes to complete. It will encourage students to learn about their world's current events. In this week's puzzle… the huge storm off Mexico, Joe Biden's decision about running for presidency, Robert Mugabe's prize, heated tents in Calais, and the United Nations announcement that all teachers must receive free morning tea including chocolate cake (wait, I may have made that one up). This crossword is ideal as a Monday morning writing and reading activity. The crossword can be completed individually or in small groups, as a week-long homework research activity, or even as a time-out activity. Samsung and Apple are spending millions convincing our students to use smartphones so we teachers don't stand a chance. Here though is something more educational than Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja for the students to use their smartphones for. Don't you HATE substituting for an absent colleague and 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. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. This week's BONUS puzzle is another news-based crossword, but it's made up of news stories that did NOT happen. So it's a little bit of fun, perhaps for Friday afternoon. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' crossword - ready and waiting for Monday morning.

What happened in our world? February 7th, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… An earthquake in Taiwan. A photo bombing horse. Lassa and Zika virus. Why did Liverpool F.C. fans walk out at the 77th minute mark? Romania cancelled a law that allowed a lower sentence for prisoners who wrote a book. France banned supermarkets from throwing away excess food. Apple responded to criticism about Error 53. 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. As a bonus, there's a crossword on geographical features… In which country is Lake Baikal? Where is Mont Blanc? Mt Etna? Lake Taupo? Prince Edward Island? K2? (If these are so easy to find, can someone please tell me where my stapler is?) 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? January 3rd, 2016 is TWO crosswords based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzles… Guinea was declared Ebola-free. Belgium cancelled New Year's Eve celebrations. An LA man shot his wife and two others in a dispute about a washing machine and Barack Obama announced plans to increase gun controls. The UK government created a huge marine reserve around Ascension Island. UK primary school are to be tested on their times tables up to 12 x 12. An Air India plane returned to Mumbai - rats! Star Wars won the money. A huge squid swam into a Japanese harbour and there was wild weather in the US, UK, South America, Tonga, and it rained in Abu Dhabi - twice! And just like on the infomercials, there's MORE. There's a bonus crossword puzzle that asks 'Can we do Maths with a crossword?' The document is a simple PDF so it is quick to download and print for your class (and the solution is included). This activity is suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage students to discuss and learn about their world's current events. These crosswords are ideal as a research, writing and reading activity. They can be completed individually or in small groups or as week-long homework activities, or even as a time-out activity. They are an excellent excuse for students to make good use of their smartphones. Maybe you could start up a lunchtime news and current events club and use these puzzles as starters for conversation topics. Don't you HATE substituting for an absent colleague when the kids have nothing or not enough to do? Print these puzzles and have them in your classroom or in your bag ready for a vibrant class discussion. Don't forget to come back next Sunday evening for next week's 'What happened in our world?' puzzle.

What happened in our world? January 24th, 2016 is THREE crosswords based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzles… A LOT of snow fell in the US. Google did not pay a LOT of tax. A hermit in Siberia came in from the cold for some medical treatment and a hermit in Serbia gave away half a million pounds. Russia showed off its naval fleet and gave away some military hardware to Fiji. A Miami family found a crocodile in their swimming pool. Spain's prime minister declined the King's offer to form a government and France's prime minister said Europe can't take all the Syrian refugees. Russia will have its own Golden Globes but Ricky Gervais won't be the host (probably). Norway decided to send the cycling refugees back to Russia, but then decided not to. And one of Interpol's most wanted fugitives was found working in a sandwich shop near a police station. The puzzles aren't difficult and they don't require the students to have read last week's news. Indeed, they're easy to complete and hopefully they drive students to the news websites for answers to some obvious questions such as, Why are so many people fleeing Syria? Why would Russia give military hardware to Fiji? Goldman Sachs' CEO was paid how much last year? Why has so much snow fallen in the US? This week's BONUS puzzle is for GEOGRAPHY teachers (or for teachers who have to substitute for absent Geography colleagues). To coerce you to come back again next week, the answers to the Geography crossword will be attached to next week's news puzzles. The whole document is a simple PDF so it is quick to download and print for your class (and the solutions are included). This activity is suitable for middle and high school students and will encourage discussion about the world's events, whether they are economic, social, political, geographical, or just plain silly (such as the flock of sheep that assisted the New Zealand police to some criminals behind… baaaas. No joke!)

What happened in our world? May 1st, 2016 is a crossword based on last week's news events. In this week's puzzle… a 12 year old girl is released from jail in Israel and a Louisiana man is released from jail after 41 years. A magazine editor was murdered in Bangladesh. 21 Pakistanis died when they ate sweets that were tainted with poison. India's drought has result in a ban on daytime cooking. The Duchess of Cambridge will appear on the cover of the UK edition of Vogue. And Pope Francis told teenagers that they won't find happiness by downloading an app or behaving like a movie star. As a bonus, there's a crossword asking students to match cities with their 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? 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.