On the menu

Environment: Cycles of Nature, Hurricanes1 and 2, Greenhouse effect, Global warming, Recycling waste, Water cycle1, 2 and 3, Robocow, Water shortage, Earthquakes, Food chain, Petroleum Renewables: Wind, Sun, "Greener" house equipment Science & Tech: San Andreas fault, Hybrid car, Calories, Key finder, Global flyer, GM food, Stephenson's rocket, Lift toilet, The Meatrix, The Internet, Fuel cell1, 2 and 3, Burying CO2, Fitness, Tuberculosis, Fowl food Space Exploration: Ariane launcher, Lunar eclipse, Discovery, ISS, A review, Voyager, Messenger Slideshows: Robots, Solar Cookers, Wright Bros Literature: Milosz, Dickens, Shakespeare Around the world: Slow Down Week, US-Mexican border, Death row, Ramadan, Miniature Earth, Katrina, Diamonds, Lady Liberty, London Access, Altria, English language, Child labour History: Martin Luther King, San Francisco's Earthquake 1906, Elgin Marbles, Elisabeth I, Victorian era, 9/11, Gunpowder plot, British Empire, Trafalgar, Turkey, Arab-Israeli conflict, Assassination of JFK, Billy Joel song, US Civil war Fun: Preterits, txt msgs, Paper planes, The Wand, Santa Clauses, What's the time, Maths quiz, English quiz, Bozzetto, Worst game, Calvin & Hobbes, Star Wars rap, Paper crane, Superman, Louis Armstrong

Environment

Leo DiCaprio's site, (yes, DiCaprio the actor!) contains two very interesting films: one is about global warming, the other deals with the global water issue. I am only linking to them because they're a bit too heavy to download, but you should check them out.

Natural Cycles
Here's not one but three embedded animations, that present and explain Global Warming, the Water Cycle and the Carbon Cycle to children. I found them very clear and pleasant, and fun too, since you can take quizzes to make sure you understand evrything.
Download 3 Flash files (284 Kb) : : Download 3 quizzes

(173 Kb)

Hurricanes 1 : : Hurricanes 2
The first animation with Tim and Moby is basic but clear and pleasant (I'd say Collège level) at 300Kb, while The Guardian Interactive offers 2 (successively) which give a more comprehensive approach. 130Kb
Download Flash file 1 (Tim & Moby) or file 2 (Guardian)

Greenhouse
Basic facts about the causes and consequences of the greenhouse effect. 48Kb
With comprehension worksheet.
Download Flash file

Global Warming
Plain facts, to explain how global warming is measured, its causes and possible consequences. Comprehensive but very understandable. 128Kb
Download Flash file 1 or file 2

Transformation
From turkey parts to crude oil... see how waste can be recycled. 61Kb
Download Flash file

Water Cycle
Where does water come from? Storage, precipitation, evaporation, runoff... 59Kb
With comprehension worksheet.
NB - This second animation (with sound, 307Kb) could complete the first: it shows what happens to used water. And this third animation has almost no text (just music): this could be perfect for the students to create the "off-camera" commentary. 168Kb
Download all 3 Flash files

Robocow
Water is getting more and more contaminated and polluted. Who can help? Why, Robocow of course!
A funny and quite comprehensive approach to water protection, a bit similar to "The Meatrix" which can also be found on this page. 1,3Mb, with transcript.
Download Flash file

Water Shortage
We should not take tap water for granted... many people around the world do not have that luxury. 70Kb
With comprehension questions.
Download Flash file

Earthquakes
Everything you need to understand, from tectonics to the Richter scale... 270Kb
Download 3 Flash files

Chain Reaction
A short and simple animation about the food chain : who eats what?... You can also try to create your own food chain. 149Kb
Download Flash file

Oil
Petroleum... where is it found? What makes it expensive? What about the reserves? etc. 74Kb
Download Flash file

Back to Top

Renewables

Wind Turbines
One of the most credible alternatives to polluting, non-renewable energy sources, is spreading in Britain. 56Kb
With comprehension questions and an interactive exercise.
Download Flash file

Solar cells
How they are made, how they work... a nice film that makes it much easier to understand. 143Kb
With interactive comprehension exercise, and full worksheet.
Download Flash file

The Energy Equation
Here is a concrete look at an average household energy and water consumption, together with practical tips to balance things a bit better! 93Kb, with worksheet
Download Flash file with worksheet

A greener house
To fight the greenhouse effect, we might have to build greener houses... A few simple, technical ideas to change things around your house. Close to the previous animation, much simpler though. 28Kb
Download Flash file

Back to Top

Science / Tech

San Andreas
The most famous geological fault in the world, the one that just might bury San Francisco and/or a great part of California deep down into the ground sometime soon... Learn more about it. 133Kb
Download Flash file

Hybrid car
The Toyota Prius is getting well known all through the world. It's not a prototype anymore, but a car that more and more people actually buy and use. Learn more about it. 185Kb
With comprehension and vocabulary worksheets.
Download Flash file

Calories
How they are stored, how they are used... basic and clear information about calories, and of course about gaining or losing weight. 42Kb
Download Flash file

Where are my keys?
Quite a common question, which has led some great techie to find the universal answer. A funny, animated commercial that should make students talk and react. 560Kb With comprehension worksheet (pdf format).
Download Flash file

The Global Flyer
Meet this incredible flying machine. Will it take its pilot "around the world in 80 hours"? Well, a bit outdated already, perhaps. 76Kb
With comprehension worksheet.

GM Food Headlines
Once you've worked on GM food and the questions they arise, you should be able to play this game with newspaper headlines. 116Kb
With transcript (send me an e-mail)
Download Flash file

Stephenson's rocket
The Industrial Revolution and one of its greatest machines... See how it worked!
With worksheets (questioning & vocabulary).
Teacher's corner.

Lift Toilet
A funny but real machine. This might be a change from your standard tech-oriented texts... 23Kb
Download Flash file

The Meatrix
A jewel ! From Free Range Graphics studio, enter the Meatrix and learn more about evil industrial farms...1Mb but worth it!
Download Flash file

The Internet
Learn about the short but interesting and complete history of the Net. 657Kb
With sound.
Download Flash file

Back to Top

Fuel cell 1
A comparison between the "classic" internal combustion engine and the fuel cell engine of the future. Basic but clear. 50Kb
Download Flash file

Fuel cell 2
Another explanation, this time focused on a power generator. More technical perhaps, but more concrete too. Not a Flash animation, just some html and well-chosen images. 215Kb

Fuel cell 3
Great animation, very complete, showing how Peugeot carmakers equip their cars. Technology in action! 740Kb (in 3 parts)
Download 3 Flash files

Burying CO2
Could we get rid of polluting CO2 by just burying it under the North sea? 51Kb
With extra article to go further.
Download Flash file

Fitness
Why is it so important to exercise? Tim and Moby answer that key question... 380Kb
Download Flash file

Tuberculosis
Learn about TB, what it is, how it attacks the human body, and why it is a cause for global concern. 86Kb
Download Flash file

Food Most Fowl
Yuk! Professor F.Rankfurter will show just how junk food is made, and you'll be sorry you ever tried to taste it! Made in Britain for Channel 4's show for children with Jamie Oliver. Funny, but with a message. 1.74Mb
Download Flash file

Back to Top

Space Exploration

Lunar Eclipse
What really happens when the moon disappears in an eclipse?... 42Kb
Download Flash file

Launching a satellite
This animation shows stage by stage how the European launcher deals with a satellite launch. Just a few words are offered, which might make it interesting to use as a basis to work on the passive voice. 232Kb
Download Flash file

Discovery
This animation shows what is at stake when it comes to re-entering the Earth's atmosphere with the Space Shuttle. 87Kb
Download Flash file

ISS
What do you know about the International Space Station? It's right above our heads! 447Kb
With transcript
Download Flash file

Space Exploration
Great stuff : a comprehensive review of the exploration of our solar system... and beyond. 322Kb
Download Flash file

Voyager
The story of Voyager I and II, their travels and the message they carry with them on a gold record... Very nice animations (6 in all, embedded one into the other) with video-like pictures and music. Fast connection recommended! 1.5Mb
Download 6 Flash files

Messenger
Follow the NASA's Messenger on its way to Mercury, via Venus of course! And remember that this is happening right now, over our heads... 124Kb
Download Flash file

Back to Top

Slideshows

These are not Flash animations, but slideshows with sound. They aim at developing the students' oral comprehension. You can download them as .exe files, which will then launch automatically on your PC without any fancy programme or plugin. I don't think Mac users will manage though, I apologize for that.
I'm going to test these for a while, please let me know if you use them!

Robots
The Americans seem ready to wage war using robot soldiers. Is this good news?... Learn about it here. American speech, standard speed. EXE file to download (1.98Mb)

Solar cookers
Now that is the kind of small things that can help change the world ! Find out about the different types of solar cookers, why they're needed and how well they work. American speech, low speed. EXE file to download (2.57Mb), with transcript (.TXT, 3Kb)

The Wright Brothers
100 years after the Brothers' famous first flight at Kitty Hawk, VOA celebrates. American speech, standard speed. EXE file to download (2.11Mb), with gapfill exercise and worksheet. (.doc, 70 & 28Kb)

Back to Top

Literature

Czeslaw Milosz is not a very famous name, is it, at least not for a good many of us. But did you know this man won the Nobel prize for Literature in 1980? This poem about "the end of the world" is both very simple and very moving. Hopefully, it will make you want to know a little more about Milosz...
Download Flash file (almost 1Mb)

Sonnet XVIII is perhaps William Shakespeare's most famous piece of poetry. Will you analyse it, comment it, imitate it...? Or just enjoy it? 199Kb
Download Flash file

Charles Dickens' life was often as interesting to follow as that of his characters. A very nice animation, fun but with loads of information. Be careful, it' a bit heavy to download though: 2,68Mb
Download Flash file

Around the world

Slow Down Week: why don't we slow down a little, from time to time? This might not be a very popular or common message in an era of speed and efficiency, but it jsut might make some students react! 388Kb
Download file

La Linea is the Spanish word for the Border, the US-Mexican border that separates two worlds as well as two countries. This is more a slideshow than an animation, but it presents very clearly some of the key aspects of the problem.
Download file (2.8Mb)

The last request refers to the last meal of the prisoners who are condemned to death. This terrible custom still exists on the American death rows. 806Kb
Download Flash file

The Ramadan is presented in this short animation which explains its role and importance for the Muslim world. 100Kb
Download Flash file

The Miniature Earth helps you understand the acute and sometimes terrible realities of our world. A classic of Internet and e-mail exchanges, here is a subtle and well-designed version. 355Kb
Download Flash file or only the text (txt format)

Katrina destroyed most of New Orleans, but also struck in other places along the coast. See what happened and where. Also get the map of the whole country, that shows how the nation is trying to help.
Download both Flash files

Diamonds
...may not be a girl's best friend when they come from Sierra Leone. An unsettling film. 122Kb
With comprehension questions, and discussion tools.
Download Flash file

Lady Liberty
The Statue is getting nervous: after the 9/11 attacks, she is now confronted with threats to US civil liberties. 184Kb
Download Flash file

London Access
Everything about the London "Congestion Charge" that was supposed to reduce traffic and pollution in the capital. 67Kb
With interactive exercises, and comprehension questions and activities.
Download Flash file

Altria
Anti-tobacco campaign focusing on Philip Morris' change of name. 812Kb
With comprehension questions and worksheet on modals.
Download Flash file

The World of English
Everything you needed to know about the roots of English, starting in 400AD! 72Kb
Download Flash file

Child Labour
Do you know who is behind that football you're playing with? A small and silent cartoon which should lead to some useful thinking. Created for the UNICEF. 975Kb
Download Flash file

Back to Top

History

Martin Luther King
A simple timeline that covers the whole life of Doctor King, with external links to pictures, videos, explanations, etc. Very nice for autonomous research.
Download Flash file

San Francisco 1906
1906 was the year of the terrible eartquake that destroyed most of the Californian city of San Francisco. This animation will show you what happened, and how it happened. You may also refer to this other animation for a more technical explanation on tectonics.
Download Flash file

The Elgin Marbles
Not just a historical event, also a cultural masterpiece and a complex international and political problem that is not over yet. Here's a short summary of the story behind the stone...
With timelines to complete (blank or just with dates)
Download Flash file

Elisabeth I
The story of Queen Elisabeth I and of Mary Queen of Scots, told through a fun quiz. If your answers are wrong, you just might get beheaded!
Download Flash file

The "Victorian train" in this animation stops in 9 stations, and each station tells the story of one of these achievements.
A worksheet helps the students take notes.
Download Flash file

9/11 will probably remain for a long time a terrible date to remember. But do the students know what happened exactly on that day? These embedded animations deal with the attack on the Twin Towers, but also with the other airplanes and the different routes. Includes maps of the region.
Download 4 Flash files

The Gunpowder Plot
Here is a short but vivid narration of Guy Fawkes' attempt to blow up the Parliament in 1605. It only deals with the historical side of things, not with today's festivals and fireworks. 157Kb
Download Flash file

Back to Top

The Empire
A timeline that gives all the key facts and dates about the history of the British Empire, from the XIIth century to 1947! 170Kb
Download Flash file

Trafalgar
Everything you need to know about the different steps of this historical battle. 139Kb
Download Flash file

Turkey
As there is a much debate about Turkey's future position in Europe, the time is right to know more about this country's history! 155Kb
Download Flash file

The Arab-Israeli conflict
See its brief history to understand what is at stake. 104Kb
Download Flash file

Radio report in Dallas
Slideshow about the assassination of President Kennedy, with actual radio sound report. 674Kb
Download Flash file

The assassination of JFK
A series of 3 Flash animations on the Dallas story, the Warren Commission and the Conspiracy theory. 222Kb in all
Download 3 Flash files

We didn't start the fire
A fast glance at half a century thanks to this song by Billy Joel. A simple and sometimes funny animation to go along. Lots of possibilities. With lyrics and notes. 3,7Mb
Download Flash file

The US Civil War
Courtesy of French teacher Y.Gauthier, this is a selection of 2 "Tim and Moby" animations that study both the War itself and its causes.
With worksheet.
Download Flash files and worksheet

Back to Top

Just for fun

Simple Past... how boring it can get to learn all those irregular verbs... but here's an end to your sufferings: go and have fun with the Preterit age! And the great thing is that teachers can also adapt the game to the verbs they want (it just takes a bit of work within the code).
Download Flash file (with customizable html file!) 108Kb

TXT MSGS: perhaps a better understanding of today's English (?) with this little game that asks you to understand text messages!
See also number 2 and number 3

Paper planes are fun to make and fun to launch. Why not use them in class? You will find here a presentation of the best way to build the perfect paper plane: very nice to improve your basic technical English. 130Kb
Download Flash file

The Wand is a nice story, a nice animation too, that should make students speak and react and use "If..." structures a lot! Careful, it weighs almost 5Mb, a fast connection is needed.
Download Flash file

Santa Claus is the same all over the world... or is he? Watch what this Russian animation has to say about it!
With worksheet.
Download Flash file

This clock is very simple and very well-designed to help younger students understand how time passes... to be used with a video-projector for instance.
Download Flash file

Back to Top

Two quizzes that you can take to decide how good you are at Maths or English. Hope you won't be too disappointed!

5 Bozzetto animations are waiting for you!
There's more than "Just Fun" to Bruno Bozzetto's animations... they are actually small gems that will give you and your students tons of ideas! About 1Mb each.
Download all 5 files (3.7Mb)

Many games use the Flash technology. How about trying this one?
I am proud to present...
The Worst Game In The World ;-)
(and with music, too...) 15Kb

Calvin and Hobbes
Now you can easily create your own comic strip! Will you be as good as
the original?... 360Kb, with instructions.
Download Flash file

Star Wars Rap
If you're a Skywalker fan, if you'd like to see and hear a gangsta rap version of star Wars... enjoy! Quite heavy (6Mb) but very pleasant. With lyrics.
Download Flash file

Origami
Create a crane, the "bird of peace", just by folding paper. A relaxing activity that also requires a good understanding of written instructions. 41Kb
Download Flash file

Superman and Seinfeld
American hero meets other American hero... These very funny ads were created for American Express, and I think they're just great...

Satchmo
A bit of music ! You all know Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World", and this animation shows its lyrics, karaoke-style. It is very basic technically speaking, but certainly useful for use with younger learners. 386Kb
Download Flash file

Back to Top