SONG PIECES 90’s Edition! Teaching English with Multiple Songs For Online Teaching

WELCOME to the SONG ACTIVITY FACTORY!

The place to be if you believe in the power of songs to teach ENGLISH!

This week, SONG PIECES is back!

This time, let’s remember some hits everybody loves and cherishes! Let’s give our students a little taste of GOOD MUSIC!

THE 90’S EDITION!!!

SONG PIECES is fast-paced, and it provides extra energy and fun at any moment you need: Review, warm-up, consolidation, or as a simple reward activity.

Description:

In this ELT song-based activity, students WORK in teams (or individually), LISTEN to 7 different short song extracts, and IDENTIFY different grammar structures and vocabulary in each one. OBS: This lesson plan was made for ONLINE TEACHING, but it can be modified for face-to-face instruction, as well.

Language level: all levels
Learner type: All ages
Skills: listening and writing
Topic: varied
Language and grammar: Present continuous, simple past, imperative, clothes,
 places, adverbs of frequency, CAN, comparatives, and days of the week
Materials: edited mp3 files for the songs used , Vimeo Video Version (complete),
 YouTube Video Version (NEW) 
OBS: Song 01 had to be removed from the YouTube version due to copyright restrictions.
Duration: 20 - 30 minutes
Downloadable materials:  instructions; Song Extracts (mp3 files)

STEP-BY-STEP LESSON PLAN

Step 1.

Divide students into pairs or trios (it can also be done individually, depending on the number of students), and tell them they are going to listen to various extracts of songs and in each one they have to listen to different things and write them down on a blank sheet of paper.

Step 2.

Before playing each extract, say what you want the students to listen to and make sure they know it. In order to do that, ask them if they can give you examples of the words they must listen to. Example: Students, in this first extract, you have to listen to a frequency adverb! Do you remember what this is? Give me some examples.

Step 3.

Tell them they have 3 chances to try to get the right word. Then, play the first extract 3 times and they write down the answer for number 1.

Step 4.

Check what the teams wrote down (you can use the chat feature of the application you’re using with your online students. ex: in-meeting chat in zoom , and ask them to use it to send you the answers. Assign points. (1 for each right word, if there is more than 1 word in the recording)

Step 5.

Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 for the next song extracts. The team with more points, in the end, is the winner!

CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO VERSION OF SONG PIECES!

(Vimeo: Complete)

(YouTube: song 01 cut out)

SONG PIECES 90'S EDITION: LYRICS, QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Song 1 (1990): Nothing compares 2 U - Sinead O’Connor 
CAN + VERB: (can eat,  can take)
A PLACE (restaurant)
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues

Song 2 (1991):Smells like teen spirit - Nirvana
VERBS (forget, taste, guess, makes, smile, is, found, find)
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, never mind

Song 3 (1992):I will always love you - Whitney Houston
PRESENT CONTINUOUS (I’m taking)
IMPERATIVE (don’t cry)
Bittersweet memories –
That is all I'm taking with me
So good-bye
Please don't cry:
We both know I'm not what you, you need
And I... will always love you
I... will always love you
You, ooh

Song 4 (1993): All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow
PRESENT CONTINUOUS (We are drinking, are washing)
DAY OF THE WEEK (Tuesday)
We are drinking beer at noon on Tuesday
In a bar that faces a giant car wash
The good people of the world are washing their cars
On their lunch break, hosing and scrubbing
As best they can in skirts in suits
They drive their shiny Datsuns and Buicks

Song 5 (1996): Wannabe - Spice Girls
COMPARATIVE - better
ADJECTIVES- fast - precious
If you want my future forget my past.
If you wanna get with me better make it fast.
Now don't go wasting my precious time.
Get your act together, we could be just fine.

Song 6 (1995):I don’t wanna miss a thing - Aerosmith
PARTS OF THE BODY (heart ,eyes)
PRESENT CONTINUOUS (I’m wondering, you’re dreaming, you’re seeing)
Lying close to you feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever

Song 7 (1999):Livin’ La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
VERBS IN THE PAST (woke up, took)
ADVERB OF FREQUENCY (never)
Woke up in New York City in a funky cheap hotel
She took my heart and she took my money
She must've slipped me a sleeping pill
She never drinks the water
Makes you order French Champagne
Once you've had a taste of her
You'll never be the same
Yeah, she'll make you go insane
Alright

This song-based lesson plan is sure to spice up your classes! However, would you like to think, feel and act more creatively on your own to be able to turn ANY song you want into an engaging lesson plan?
HERE are TIME-SAVING ideas that do the heavy work so you can focus on the most important: INSPIRING and MOTIVATING YOUR STUDENTS to learn CREATIVELY!

KNOW MORE IDEAS FOR ENGLISH ACTIVITIES WITH SONGS HERE

That’s it for this week! I hope this activity is helpful and enjoyable!

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