English Lesson on David Bowie

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THE LESSON ON DAVID BOWIE

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on David Bowie. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

David Bowie is a music legend. He was one of the most original, innovative and influential rock stars in music history. He was also an actor, fashion icon, record producer, artist and art critic. He was born in London on the 8th of January, 1947 and died at the age of 69 on the 10th of January, 2016. His real name was David Robert Jones but he changed it because there was another David Jones singing in the 1960s.

David Bowie first became famous following his 1969 hit "Space Oddity". This song was released just ten days before the first Moon landing. In 1972, Bowie became a leader of the glam rock movement. He wowed and shocked people with his make-up, dresses and flamboyant costumes. His Ziggy Stardust persona was the first of many different characters Bowie would use every time he changed musical direction.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bowie continued to break new ground with his music. In 1975, he experimented with soul music and had a number one hit in the USA with the song 'Fame'. He also helped to pioneer the electronic and new romantic movements in the mid-1970s. In the early-80s, he was one of the first artists to use videos to promote his songs.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. His fans thought he had given up making music after a ten-year break starting in 2003. He surprised the world by suddenly announcing a new album, 'The Next Day' in 2013. He released his final album days before his death. Many believe the album was Bowie's goodbye to his fans.

Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie

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SYNONYM MATCH

1.

legend

a.

amazed

2

original

b.

develop

3.

released

c.

creative

4.

wowed

d.

publicize

5.

persona

e.

genres

6.

experimented

f.

icon

7.

pioneer

g.

character

8.

promote

h.

followers

9.

styles

i.

made available

10.

fans

j.

explored

PHRASE MATCH

1.

He was a

a.

costumes

2

original, innovative and

b.

direction

3.

art

c.

influential

4.

He wowed and

d.

music legend

5.

flamboyant

e.

shocked people

6.

every time he changed musical

f.

critic

 

7.

Throughout the

g.

new ground

8.

Bowie continued to break

h.

promote his songs

9.

use videos to

i.

with musical styles

10.

Bowie continued to experiment

j.

to his fans

11.

He released his final album

k.

1970s and 1980s

12.

Bowie's goodbye

l.

days before his death

LISTENING GAP FILL

David Bowie is (1) ___________________. He was one of the most original, innovative and influential rock stars in music history. He was also an actor, fashion icon, record producer, (2) ___________________. He was born in London on the 8th of January, 1947 and died at the age of 69 on the 10th of January, 2016. His real name was David Robert Jones but he changed (3) ___________________ was another David Jones singing in the 1960s.

David Bowie first became (4) ___________________ 1969 hit "Space Oddity". This song was released just ten days before the first Moon landing. In 1972, Bowie became a (5) ___________________ glam rock movement. He wowed and shocked people with his make-up, dresses and flamboyant costumes. His Ziggy Stardust persona was the first of many different characters Bowie (6) ___________________ time he changed musical direction.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bowie continued to break new (7) ___________________ music. In 1975, he experimented with soul music and had a number one hit in the USA with the song 'Fame'. He (8) ___________________ the electronic and new romantic movements in the mid-1970s. In the early-80s, he was one of the first artists (9) ___________________ promote his songs.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with (10) ___________________, including industrial and jungle. His fans thought he had given up making music (11) ___________________ break starting in 2003. He surprised the world by suddenly announcing a new album, 'The Next Day' in 2013. He released his final album days before his death. Many (12) ___________________ was Bowie's goodbye to his fans.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

David Bowie is a music legendary / legend. He was one of the most original, innovative and influential rock stars in music history. He was also an actor, fashion icon / iconic, record producer, artist and art critical / critic. He was born in London on the 8th of January, 1947 and died at the age of 69 on the 10th of January, 2016. His real / really name was David Robert Jones but he changed it because there was another David Jones singing in the 1960s.

David Bowie first became famous following / followed his 1969 hit "Space Oddity". This song was released just ten days before the first Moon landed / landing. In 1972, Bowie became a leader of the glam rock movement. He wowed / bowed and shocked people with his make-up, dresses and flamboyant costumes. His Ziggy Stardust personal / persona was the first of many different characters Bowie would use every time he changed musical direction.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bowie continued to break new earth / ground with his music. In 1975, he experimented with soul / sole music and had a number one hit in the USA with the song 'Fame'. He also helped to pioneer / pioneering the electronic and new romantic movements in the mid-1970s. In the early-80s, he he was one of the first artists to use videos to demote / promote his songs.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continues / continued to experiment with musical styles, including / inclusion industrial and jungle. His fans thought he had given up making music after a ten-year break starting in 2003. He surprised the world by suddenly announced / announcing a new album, 'The Next Day' in 2013. He released his finally / final album days before his death. Many believe the album was Bowie's goodbye to his fans.

SPELLING

These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

David Bowie is a music ngeedl

2.

original, oienvtaivn and influential

3.

record epcdrrou

4.

art itcirc

Paragraph 2

5.

David Bowie first became msuoaf

6.

He ewodw and shocked people

7.

dresses and flamboyant oectssum

8.

every time he changed musical oetrdciin

Paragraph 3

9.

Bowie nteodniuc to break new ground

10.

he reendeeipmtx with soul music

11.

penroie the electronic and new romantic movements

12.

use videos to mreoopt his songs

Paragraph 4

13.

musical ytssle

14.

He surprised the world by suddenly gncnniunao a new album

15.

He lasedeer his final album days before his death

16.

Bowie's eooygbd to his fans

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

died at the age of 69 on the 10th of January, 2016. His real name was David Robert Jones but he changed

(    )

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bowie continued to break new ground with his music. In 1975, he experimented

(    )

it because there was another David Jones singing in the 1960s.

(    )

was the first of many different characters Bowie would use every time he changed musical direction.

(    )

David Bowie first became famous following his 1969 hit "Space Oddity". This song was

(    )

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial

(    )

with soul music and had a number one hit in the USA with the song 'Fame'. He also helped

(    )

movement. He wowed and shocked people with his make-up, dresses and flamboyant costumes. His Ziggy Stardust persona

(    )

he was one of the first artists to use videos to promote his songs.

(    )

2003. He surprised the world by suddenly announcing a new album, 'The Next Day' in 2013. He released his final

(    )

released just ten days before the first Moon landing. In 1972, Bowie became a leader of the glam rock

(    )

stars in music history. He was also an actor, fashion icon, record producer, artist and art critic. He was born in London on the 8th of January, 1947 and

(    )

and jungle. His fans thought he had given up making music after a ten-year break starting in

(    )

to pioneer the electronic and new romantic movements in the mid-1970s. In the early-80s,

1  )

David Bowie is a music legend. He was one of the most original, innovative and influential rock

(    )

album days before his death. Many believe the album was Bowie's goodbye to his fans.

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

in and music influential history rock stars Innovative.

2.

there David He because another it was Jones changed.

3.

days first ten the landing just before Moon Released.

4.

his make - up He wowed and shocked people with.

5.

first different would The many Bowie of characters use.

6.

his Bowie break with to ground music continued new.

7.

one of the first artists to use videos He was.

8.

making His he up thought given music fans had.

9.

album his He final before his days death released.

10.

his fans Many believe the album was Bowie's goodbye to.

DISCUSSION (Write your questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

What do you know about David Bowie?

2.

How important was David Bowie?

3.

What would you like to know about David Bowie 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 David Bowie?

2.

What questions would you like to have asked David Bowie?

3.

What would his answers have been to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

THE DAVID BOWIE SURVEY

Write five questions about David Bowie 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 David Bowie 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 other search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

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

3. DAVID BOWIE POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of David Bowie. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article David Bowie. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about the different stages of his career.

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

5. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on David Bowie. Ask him/her three questions about Bowie's life. Give him/her three suggestions on what we can do to remember Bowie. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “David Bowie expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.

legend

a.

icon

2

original

b.

creative

3.

released

c.

made available

4.

wowed

d.

amazed

5.

persona

e.

character

6.

experimented

f.

explored

7.

pioneer

g.

develop

8.

promote

h.

publicize

9.

styles

i.

genres

10.

fans

j.

followers

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

He was a

a.

music legend

2

original, innovative and

b.

influential

3.

art

c.

critic

4.

He wowed and

d.

shocked people

5.

flamboyant

e.

costumes

6.

every time he changed musical

f.

direction

7.

Throughout the

g.

1970s and 1980s

8.

Bowie continued to break

h.

new ground

9.

use videos to

i.

promote his songs

10.

Bowie continued to experiment

j.

with musical styles

11.

He released his final album

k.

days before his death

12.

Bowie's goodbye

l.

to his fans

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Look at the above article.

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