【推荐1】5 books I loved in 2018

By Bill Gates

A great read is the perfect gift and I think everyone could use a few more books in their lives. My book list covers various topics, including an autobiography on learning throughout a life, a deep search on autonomous weapons (武器), a thriller about the fall of a once-promising company and a guide about meditation (冥想)—there’s something for everyone.

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness, by Andy Puddicombe. The book starts with Puddicombe’s personal journey from a university student to a Buddhist monk and then becomes an entertaining explainer on how to meditate. If you’re thinking about trying mindfulness, this is the perfect introduction.

Army of None, by Paul Scharre. It’s an extremely complicated topic, but Scharre offers clear explanations and presents both the advantages and disadvantages of machine-driven warfare. His fluency with the subject should come as no surprise: he’s an ex-soldier who helped draw up the U.S. government’s policy on autonomous weapons.

Bad Blood, by John Carreyrou.Carreyrou gives you the definitive insider’s look at the rise and fall of a company. I found myself unable to put it down once I started. This book has everything: magazine cover stories, ruined family relationships, and the failure of a company once valued at nearly $10 billion.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari. I’m a big fan of everything Harari has written, and his latest is no exception. If 2018 has left you stressed out by the state of the world, 21 Lessons offers a helpful framework for processing the news and thinking about the challenges we face.

Educated, by Tara Westover. Tara never went to school or visited a doctor until she left home at 17. I loved this life story of a young woman whose thirst for learning was so strong that she ended up getting a Ph.D. from Cambridge University.

【推荐3】Digging into a book together with your child is always a great way to spend time, but did you know reading to your child from day one has a whole range of benefits that will give them a flying start in life?

There are a whole host of brilliant effects of hearing stories which boost children’s minds. This is just as important as learning to spell. While children are stuck indoors, reading is the best way to spark their imagination. They can travel to the moon, meet the Gruffalo and pop in to a chocolate factory. This means children will have a solid creative base and develop their story telling skills as well as enjoying adventurous days at home.

There’s no better way to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes than reading their stories.   That is a great way to build empathy(共情) needed now more than ever. There are some fantastic children’s books worth seeking out which show characters from all races and backgrounds doing brilliant things, acting as strong role models for the next generation. These stories can encourage future leaders and thinkers, so every child can feel they can achieve their dreams, from the Little Leaders series to Bedtime Stories for Rebel Girls. It’s inspiring to see everyone following their own path despite the barriers they come across.

There’s a large number of remarkable books out right now which help little ones process emotions. From The Colour Monster to Ruby’s Worry, these books will help them to name and understand different emotions, which is essential for social development, making friends and growing relationships. It can also help them deal with difficult feelings, like loss or grief, with amazing books like Paper Dolls which explores memory and loss in a beautiful and positive way.

Reading time is a brilliant connection with parents or carers, which strengthens confidence and a sense of safety for the little ones.

【推荐2】For tourists holding the Barcelona Card, the information below will be useful if you plan to admire some artworks or architectures there.

Opening hours: 09:00-18:00(October-March); 09:00-20:00(April-September)

Admission: 11, or 11, or 10 with the Barcelona Card

The project's vast sale and its special design have made it one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions for many years.

Opening hours: November-February: 09:00-18:30; March-October: 09:00-20:00

Admission：$ 9.50. Save 20% with the Barcelona Card.

It is a unique modernist building made of bricks and colorful tiles（瓦）. Visitors can see the amazing 800 square meters attic（阁楼）with 270 brick arches that give you a feeling that you are walking inside the skeleton of a whale.

Opening hours: 6th April-4th October:10:00-20:00;the rest of the year. 10:00-18:30

Admission：$8.50 for entry to the museum and $17 for a guided tour.

When you buy your ticket you have two options: a ticket for the museum to see the football stadium or a special one for $15 where you get to see the stadium and the scenes at the club.

Opening hours: Check the website for details as they vary depending on the time of the year.

Admission：$9 for main exhibition-extra for special showings. Save 50% with Barcelona Card.

The museum has arranged Picasso’s paintings from his early days to his final works. Arranging the paintings in this way gives you a fascinating insight into the development of Picasso.

【推荐3】Welcome to our free resources for first aid (急救)

First-aid education has been included in the health curriculum for schools in England. Now, more children and young people will acquire the skills they need to save a life.

To celebrate the change, we’re launching a brand-new teaching website. It’s aimed at all schools in the UK.

We understand that, for some people, teaching first aid can be quite frightening — especially if you’ve never done it before. So, we’ve designed these free resources to help you confidently deliver lessons in line with the new curriculum.

Here’s how:

●Each first-aid skill focuses on one key action.

●The teaching resources provide you with all the guidance you need.

●The resources have easy-to-follow lesson plans that save you time in preparing for your classes.

This new interactive (互动的) learning website will include:

●a multimedia library with supporting materials you need for each lesson

●different learning activities for those aged 5-18

●a full curriculum mapping for the new requirements in England

How will it benefit learners?

Through all kinds of practical activities, learners will:

●have skills, confidence and willingness to act when someone needs first aid

●learn first aid for common injuries and what to do in a first-aid emergency

●develop basic life skills, including how to deal with challenging situations

●get other ideas such as kindness, safety and sharing learning with others

If you have any questions, please contact reducation@redcross.org.uk.