Hi there,
Here's an inspiring lesson plan which celebrates John Lennon's song "Imagine".
1. Ask your students if they have heard of John Lennon. Based on my own teaching experience most students have heard of the Beatles but they are unfamiliar with their songs. You can elicit some information about the rock group and their lead singer.
You can find more information here:
2. Write the word “IMAGINE” on the board and ask the students to work in groups and make up a sentence referring to our planet. When they are ready, put down their ideas on the board and discuss them.
3. Inform the students that they are going to hear a very popular song, called “Imagine” by John Lennon. Say that the following words come from the lyrics of the song. Ask them to work in groups again and come up with ideas how John Lennon imagined the world when he was alive. Then discuss their ideas.
Heaven, hell, kill, one, possessions, hunger, sharing
4. Play the song and when it is finished ask the pupils to compare their ideas with those of John Lennon. Afterwards, discuss what the singer wanted to portray in the lyrics. What were his ideas about the world?
You could show them the lyrics.
Imagine- john Lennon
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there're no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
5. Preparation for a class debate.
The teacher has to play the video with John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
The students watch the video and find the answers to the following questions:
1.Why does John Lennon mention the words: fame, money and joy?
2.What is the connection between “ Peace” and “Love”?
3.What would be his Christmas wish?
After discussing the answers to the questions, the teacher divides the class into two teams. The topic for the debate is:
Can humanity live in a utopian society?
The teacher should allow each group to prepare their ideas for 5 min. Then the debate can start. Don´t forget to remind the students to be polite during the debate and use appropriate language.
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If you are looking for more inspiring teaching resources, check out my special collection of "10 Empowering Lesson Plans".
The book includes the following lesson plans:
1. It is Achievable
2. Shine your Light
3. Stop Chasing Happiness
4. Acts of Random Kindness
5. The Black Dot
6. The Power of Words
7. The Wonders of Water
8. Who am I?
9. Try Everything
10. Being Authentic