Aris Mangowal: John Lennon - Biography and Lessons

John Winston Ono Lennon is one of the most famous musical artists ever. He shot to fame as one of The Beatles. He co-wrote most of the band’s songs, the majority of which are now rock classics. He also helped shape the social revolution of the 1960s. His solo career further elevated him as a music legend. Lennon also achieved fame as a peace activist.

Lennon was born in Liverpool in 1940. He was brought up by an aunt, who bought him a harmonica and taught him how to play the banjo. Lennon’s mother played him Elvis Presley records and he fell in love with Rock and Roll. He told his mother and aunt he would be a famous singer one day.

Lennon met Paul McCartney in 1957 at a church hall concert. They became friends and began writing songs together. They formed a band called The Beatles. They became popular playing live at local clubs in Liverpool and Germany. Then they became the most successful and influential act in music history. Lennon famously said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

Lennon left The Beatles in 1970. That same year he released the ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ album, which he recorded with his Japanese wife Yoko Ono. His album ‘Imagine’ followed in 1971. The title song became an anthem for anti-war movements. More classic albums followed. On 8th December 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment by a deranged fan.

247 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.

DOWNLOADS: Word Doc | PDF | MP3 Listening | Online Exercise

SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	shot	a.	form
2	shape	b.	instructed
3.	activist	c.	raised
4.	brought up	d.	rose
5.	taught	e.	well known
6.	famous	f.	campaigner
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	friends	g.	groups
8.	formed	h.	important
9.	influential	i.	came after
10.	movements	j.	buddies
11	followed	k	mad
12	deranged	l	started

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.	the majority of which	a.	to play the banjo
2	the social	b.	anti-war movements
3.	Lennon also achieved	c.	act in music history
4.	taught him how	d.	revolution of the 1960s
5.	he fell in love	e.	fan
6.	They formed a	f.	fame as a peace activist
7.	the most successful and influential	g.	Japanese wife Yoko Ono
8.	he recorded with his	h.	with Rock and Roll
9.	an anthem for	i.	are now rock classics
10.	a deranged	j.	band called The Beatles

LISTENING GAP FILL

John Winston Ono Lennon is __________________ famous musical artists ever. He __________________ one of The Beatles. He co-wrote most of the band’s songs, __________________ are now rock classics. He also helped shape the social revolution of the 1960s. His solo career further __________________ a music legend. Lennon also achieved fame as a peace activist.

Lennon was born in Liverpool in 1940. He was __________________ aunt, who bought him a harmonica and taught __________________ the banjo. Lennon’s mother played him Elvis Presley records and __________________ Rock and Roll. He told his mother and aunt he __________________ singer one day.

Lennon met Paul McCartney in __________________ concert. They became friends and began writing songs together. __________________ called The Beatles. They became popular playing live at local clubs in Liverpool and Germany. Then they became the most successful __________________ in music history. Lennon famously said The Beatles __________________ than Jesus.

Lennon left The Beatles in 1970. __________________ released the ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ album, __________________ with his Japanese wife Yoko Ono. His album ‘Imagine’ followed in 1971. The title song __________________ for anti-war movements. More classic albums followed. On 8th December 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment __________________.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

John Winston Ono Lennon is one of the most fame / famous musical artists ever. He shot to fame / famous as one of The Beatles. He co-wrote most of the band’s songs, the majority of which are now rock classical / classics. He also helped shape the social revolution of the 1960s. His solo career furtherelevated / elevator him as a music legend. Lennon also achieved fame as a peace activist.

Lennon was born in Liverpool in 1940. He was brought / bring up by an aunt, who bought him a harmonica and taught him how to play / playing the banjo. Lennon’s mother played him Elvis Presley records and he fell / fallen in love with Rock and Roll. He told his mother and aunt he would / will be a famous singer one day.

Lennon met Paul McCartney in / at 1957 at a church hall concert. They became friends and began writing / written songs together. They formed a band called The Beatles. They became popular playing live at local clubs in Liverpool and Germany. Then they became the most successful and influence / influential act in music history. Lennon famously said The Beatles were more popular / popularity than Jesus.

Lennon left The Beatles in 1970. That / Then same year he released the ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ album, which he recorded with / by his Japanese wife Yoko Ono. His album ‘Imagine’ followed in 1971. The title song became an anthem / army for anti-war movements. More classic albums followed. On 8th December 1980, Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment by a deranged / ranged fan.

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	fmoaus musical artists
2.	rock aisslcsc
3.	His solo ceearr
4.	peace tciatvsi
Paragraph 2
5.	He was hgbtoru up by an aunt
6.	hutagt him how to play the banjo
7.	Lennon’s mother edypal him Elvis Presley records
8.	a oafmus singer
Paragraph 3
9.	writing songs hogetert
10.	most csusscluef
11.	music oshtriy
12.	more rlpuapo than Jesus
Paragraph 4
13.	he cedoerdr with his Japanese wife
14.	The tleit song
15.	anti-war mnmvoetse
16.	Lennon was shot and edkill

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	together. They formed a band called The Beatles. They became popular playing live at local clubs in Liverpool and
( )	a music legend. Lennon also achieved fame as a peace activist.
( )	Lennon was born in Liverpool in 1940. He was brought up by an aunt, who bought him a harmonica and taught
( )	revolution of the 1960s. His solo career further elevated him as
( )	Rock and Roll. He told his mother and aunt he would be a famous singer one day.
( )	Germany. Then they became the most successful and influential act in music history. Lennon famously
( )	him how to play the banjo. Lennon’s mother played him Elvis Presley records and he fell in love with
( )	Lennon left The Beatles in 1970. That same year he released the ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ album,
( )	Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment by a deranged fan.
( )	an anthem for anti-war movements. More classic albums followed. On 8th December 1980,
( )	wrote most of the band’s songs, the majority of which are now rock classics. He also helped shape the social
( )	which he recorded with his Japanese wife Yoko Ono. His album ‘Imagine’ followed in 1971. The title song became
( 1 )	John Winston Ono Lennon is one of the most famous musical artists ever. He shot to fame as one of The Beatles. He co-
( )	Lennon met Paul McCartney at in 1957 at a church hall concert. They became friends and began writing songs
( )	said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	artists musical famous most the of one ever
2.	- band’s wrote songs most He of co the
3.	fame achieved also Lennon activist peace a as
4.	in fell he Roll and Rock with love
5.	singer famous a be would he aunt and mother his told He
6.	popular became They clubs local at live playing
7.	successful music and history influential the act most in
8.	Ono Yoko wife Japanese his with recorded he
9.	for - movements anthem anti war an
10.	outside killed and shot apartment York New his

JOHN LENNON DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	What do you know about John Lennon?
2.	Would you like to have met John Lennon?
3.	What would you like to know about John Lennon and why?
4.	___________________________________________________
5.	___________________________________________________
6.	___________________________________________________
7.	___________________________________________________
8.	___________________________________________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	What did you learn from this text about John Lennon?
2.	What questions would you like to have asked John Lennon?
3.	What would his answers have been to those questions?
4.	___________________________________________________
5.	___________________________________________________
6.	___________________________________________________
7.	___________________________________________________
8.	___________________________________________________

JOHN LENNON SURVEY

Write five questions about John Lennon in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about John Lennon for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about John Lennon. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. JOHN LENNON POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of John Lennon. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about John Lennon. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he did every day and what he thought about.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to John Lennon. Ask him three questions about his life. Tell him how important he is in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “John Lennon expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	shot	a.	rose
2	shape	b.	form
3.	activist	c.	campaigner
4.	brought up	d.	raised
5.	taught	e.	instructed
6.	famous	f.	well known
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	friends	g.	buddies
8.	formed	h.	started
9.	influential	i.	important
10.	movements	j.	groups
11	followed	k	came after
12	deranged	l	mad

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	the majority of which	a.	are now rock classics
2	the social	b.	revolution of the 1960s
3.	Lennon also achieved	c.	fame as a peace activist
4.	taught him how	d.	to play the banjo
5.	he fell in love	e.	with Rock and Roll
6.	They formed a	f.	band called The Beatles
7.	the most successful and influential	g.	act in music history
8.	he recorded with his	h.	Japanese wife Yoko Ono
9.	an anthem for	i.	anti-war movements
10.	a deranged	j.	fan

~ Source : famouspeoplelessons.com

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

John Lennon - Biography and Lessons