Teaching With Songs: Gone Are the Days – Kygo ft. James Gillespie

WELCOME to the SONG ACTIVITY FACTORY!

Here is the place to be if you believe in the power of songs to teach English!

The place to find Creativity, Inspiration, Teaching Ideas and Resources to bring Musical Innovation to your English Language Teaching Practice!

Whether you teach English online or not, teaching with songs has a wider scope than you might think, and it does not only mean gap-fill!. Check my older posts and don’t be afraid to try something new!

This week, the Song Activity Factory features the song GONE ARE THE DAYS.

I hope YOU and your students have a BLAST with it!

Description:

This song-based STEP-BY-STEP LESSON PLAN for ENGLISH language TEACHING features the lyrics and the visualizer video for “Gone Are The Days” by Kygo feat. James Gillespie . Students MATCH quotes about growing up and growing old, TALK about their favorite quotes, COMPLETE lines from a lyrics extract, READ word definitions, FILL the gaps in the lyrics with the defined words, and LISTEN to the song to check (interactive worksheet)..

OBS: This lesson plan was made for ONLINE TEACHING, but it can be modified for face-to-face instruction, as well.

Language level: B1+
Learner type: All ages
Skills: speaking, reading, listening and writing
Topic: Growing up, growing old
Language/grammar: word formation
Materials: YouTube video, genia.ly presentation, interactive worksheet and mp3 file
Duration: 1 hour 
Download your free teaching resources:  instructions; song extract mp3

STEP-BY-STEP LESSON PLAN

Step 1 (5 min)

Screen-share the quotes about growing up. Use the Genial.ly presentation slide one:

Step 2 (10 min)

In pairs (breakout rooms), have students talk about the meaning of the 3 quotes and also say which one is their favorite and why.

Step 3 (10 min)

Back to the main room, have the pairs share their ideas. Have a mini discussion.

Step 4 (10 min)

Screen-share the lines of the lyrics extract and the pairs of words (slide 2)

Students have to complete the lines with the words in a logical order. Then, play the lyrics extract for them to check.

for cover    -    no one    -    here to    -    the days   
from yourself    -   of young   -    savе you

Lyrics extract:
“Gone are ____________________________
Better run ____________________________
There’s _______________________________”

Answer: 
Gone are the days of young
Better run for cover
There's no one here to savе you from yourself

Step 5 (5 min)

Tell students that this is a lyrics extract from a song they are going to work with.

Ask them if they recognize the lyrics (don’t expect them to) and do not tell them yet.

Ask them if they think the song is sad or happy and why.

Step 6 (15 – 20 min)

Interactive worksheet LINK

Students read the word definitions, and write the words in the gapped lyrics. Then, play the song for them to check.

When you’ve played the song twice, tell them to click FINISH!!! And then, CHECK MY ANSWERS to see their results.

Answers: 1 friend 2 strength 3 hand 4 kids 5 sleepless 6 warmth 7 everything 8 nights 9 different 10 honest

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!