Greetings, fellow educators and language enthusiasts!
Are you ready to infuse your English lessons with a dose of contemporary pop culture, critical thinking, and interactive learning? Today, I’m thrilled to share a song-based lesson plan centered around “Popular” by The Weeknd, Madonna, and Playboi Carti. This plan is designed to spark engaging discussions, expand vocabulary, and offer a critical lens through which students can view the themes of fame and popularity, especially in the digital age.
It also includes a homework task: WRITING AN ESSAY in the molds of Cambridge English: First (B2)
Objective: To explore themes of fame, popularity, and social media influence through a detailed examination of the song “Popular,” enhancing English language skills in the process.
Quick Lesson Overview:
Language level: B1+B2
Learner type: Teens & Adults
Skills: speaking, reading, listening and writing
Topic: Fame, Popularity, and the Influence of Social Media
Materials: Genially presentation, worksheet.pdf; vocabulary video; clean version of Music Video
Duration: about an hour
Download your free teaching resources: instructions.pdf; worksheet with exercises
STEP-BY-STEP LESSON PLAN
Warm up (2 min)
Genially presentation link Slide 1. Warm up question
Ask your students: What does the word “POPULAR” mean to you? Share with the class who you think is popular in today’s world and explain why.
Step 1 (5 min)
Slide 2 quote.
Present the quote: “Being popular on social media is like being rich in Monopoly: it might look impressive, but at the end of the day, what really matters is who you are when the game is over.”
in pairs, students discuss the quote and say if they agree or disagree with it.
After about 2 min, have the pairs share their ideas.have other pairs agree or disagree in a mini discussion.
Step 2 (6 min)
Vocabulary Video (slide 3)
Tell them they are going to work with a song called “popular” but first they are going to watch a video with vocabulary words to help them understand it better.
Vocabulary includes: Paparazzi, Limelight, Fiend, Mainstream, Flashy, Soul, Pray, Devil, Veins, Beg, Own It.
After the video, use slide 4 with a list of these words and encourage focus on pronunciation and context.
Step 3 (7 min)
Creative Writing with Photographs (slide 4).
In pairs, students choose two photographs and write a paragraph using the newly learned vocabulary. They can write a paragraph about two photos, or a mix of the 4 if they are feeling particularly inspired!
After about 5 min,invite pairs to share their paragraphs with the class, emphasizing vocabulary application and thematic relevance.
Step 4 (3 min)
Pre-Listening Lyrics Review
Lyrics Worksheet with highlighted words and expressions + vocabulary exercise.
Hand out the worksheet with the lyrics of “Popular” with highlighted words and expressions. Students read the lyrics individually, ensuring understanding of the highlighted parts. Ask them to predict the song’s tempo, mood, genre, and overall feel based on the lyrics. Help them with vocabulary if needed.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/E5vhRoIvQtckkT?startSlide=1
The Weeknd, Madonna, Playboi Carti – Popular (clean version) Worksheet from Marcia Bonfim
Step 5 (3 min)
Listening to the Song (slide 5)
Play “Popular” clean version. for the class. After listening, have students say how the song compared to their predictions
Step 6 (7 min)
Vocabulary Exercise worksheet
Have students work individually to fill the blanks in the sentences, considering the meaning and context. Give them about 5 min, before you play the correction audio (slide 6.) for them to check the exercise
Step 7 (5 min)
Music Video Guess and Check
Tell them they are going to watch the official Music video for the song. However, before playing it, have students guess its content based on the song’s themes.
Here Is The Official Music Video With The Clean Version (No Cursing):
Step 8 (15 min)
Discussion and Reflection. Use the questions below to spark conversation around the topic of the song “Popular”.
Authenticity and Public Persona: 1. “Do you think people should change how they act or look to be more liked or fit in? Why or why not? Is it possible to do this without being untrue to yourself?”
2. “The song talks about someone who shows a different side of themselves to the world than what they keep private. Do you see this happening around you, especially on social media? What do you think this does to a person’s mental health?”
Consequences of Fame: 3.”In the song, the character is willing to do anything to be popular. What do you think are the bad sides of being famous?”
4. “How might wanting to stay popular affect what choices a person makes? Can wanting to be liked make someone do things they wouldn’t normally do?”
Impact of Social Media: 5. “The lyrics mention doing things just for followers on social media. How do you think social media has changed what we think is popular or successful?”
6. “Social media often shows only the good parts of people’s lives. How do you think this makes people feel about their own lives, especially younger people?”
Step 9 (5 – 7 min)
Wrap up the lesson by asking students what they thought of the song, music video and the discussion they’ve had as well as the new vocabulary they’ve learned.
Homework – Essay Task (140 – 190 words):
In your English class, you have been discussing the concept of fame and popularity, especially in the context of social media. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework.
‘Social media has changed the way we perceive fame and popularity, not always for the better.’ Do you agree?
Write about:
Social media’s role in defining popularity.
Effects on mental health.
… (your own idea).
Suggestion:
Have your students submit their essays in digital format! Use the digital tool called telegra.ph. More information on it here.
If you decide to use this tool with your students, here are instructions that you can copy and paste to google classroom tasks.
Submission Instructions:
1- Write Your Essay: Craft your essay within the 140 - 190 words limit. Ensure your essay is thoughtful, reflective, and aligns with the discussion points from class.
2- Publish on Telegra.ph:
3- Visit Telegra.ph.
Click on 'Start writing' to create a new post.
Title your post with a relevant title, such as "The Impact of Social Media on Fame and Popularity."
Paste your essay into the body of the post.
You can choose to add an image or leave it as text-only, depending on your preference.
Once satisfied, click on 'Publish' at the bottom. You do not need to create an account.
4- Share Your Essay:
5- After publishing, Telegra.ph will provide you with a unique URL for your post.
Submit this URL to your teacher by the assigned deadline. If you're using an LMS, email, or another method, ensure the link is easily accessible.
Privacy Reminder: Remember not to include any personal information in your essay or post title that you wouldn't want to be publicly available. Your privacy and safety online are important.
6- Reflection and Sharing:
Be prepared to discuss your essay in the next class. Think about the points you made and how they relate to what we've learned.
7- You may have the opportunity to read your classmates' essays and provide feedback. This is a chance to see different perspectives and deepen your understanding of the topic.
By using Telegra.ph, you're not only engaging in a modern form of communication but also practicing digital literacy skills that are valuable in today's world. This assignment will help you reflect on the impact of social media on society and yourself, an essential skill for navigating the digital age.
Song Activity Factory 
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