A Tribute to America

ESOL Lesson Plans

Introduction

Goal: Identify basic American concepts and values reflected in “A Tribute to America”.

The following materials are intended to be used with new speakers of English as a way to introduce both American concepts and values as well as learn to speak English.

To the Teacher- These materials can introduce basic American concepts and values to newcomers to the United States while reinforcing grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. Incorporate these lessons into civics or citizenship activities.

How to Teach these Lessons- Play the song, “A Tribute to America” several times to familiarize students with the rhythm and music. When you have played the song three or four times, let the students fill in the missing words as indicated by the blank lines. Each line indicates a missing word.

Beginners should be provided an alphabetized word bank with which to work.

High beginners

1. Distribute Part A of the song sheet. Allow student to listen to the song several times.

2. Call out the line numbers in the first part as the music progresses.

3. Allow the students to try and fill in the words using the word bank. Let them try at least three times.

4. Correct after the third attempt by allowing students to pair and compare answers. They can cross check each other. You may even wish to play the song to the mid point for them to check together.

5. After the group has paired and checked, do a larger group correction.

6. If all the blanks have been filled, listen to this section of the song again and encourage students to sing along with the first part.

7. If all the blanks have not been filled, allow the students to listen and try to complete the missing words.

A Tribute to America

High Beginners Dictation Sheet (Part-A)

1. Our tears may _________________________

2. And our hearts may be shattered,

3. but deep down in our ______________________

4. We are __________________,

5. We are __________________,

6. We are ___________________,

7. We have freedom in our __________________________,

8. We will fight for our _________________________,

9. We will stand up for the brotherhood of ______________________

10. America, America, __________________

11. America you’re grand.

12. We have the _______________________

13. We have the _______________________

14. No terrorist could ever withstand

15. We will not _______________.

16. We will not cower.

17. We will stand up for the rights of our _____________________

18. We’re America, ______________________________

19. Strong, proud, brave, _________________________

20. We’re America, __________________________

21. Strong, proud, ________________________, _________________________

22. America red, white and _________________

23. America This Song we sing for ______________________

Vocabulary development

High Beginner

Key words

Part A	Part B
a. tear(s)	e. freedom
b. heart(s)	f. hide
c. soul(s)	g. motherland
d. right(s)

1. Put key words from Part A on 3 by 5 cards, one word to a card. Make enough sets for the whole class.

2. Pass out the cards.

3. Have students pair and discuss what the think their word means. Allow them to speak in their native languages.

4. Instruct the group to draw a picture on the blank side of each card as to what they think the word means.

5. Allow all the pairs who had the same word to group and discuss their meanings and share their pictures.

6. Bring everyone back together to discuss each of the words. Have one volunteer from each of the larger group explain the meaning his or her group arrived at.

7. Confirm the correct meanings and correct any errors.

8. Listen to the first part of the song again. Allow the learners to sing along.

9. Repeat this activity with the second half of the song.

10. Make enough cards with the words from Part B vocabulary list. Add words from the song of your own or words from the song of the students choice.

Explain American Flag

Extension Activities

1. Ask students to share the meanings of the colors in their ‘native land’ respective Flags.

2. Have students pair and discuss what they think the colors of the American flag mean.

Share with the class

A Tribute to America

High Beginners

Part-B

24. In times of ____________________

25. Compassion fills our ______________________

26. In times of dismay we are _________________

27. We’re a land of ______________________

28. A land of _____________________

29. And no one can take this away

30. We’re America ...America ... _____________________

31. America you’re __________________________

32. No one can destroy us through thick or thin

33. We’re a nation that was built to ___________________________

34. No terrorist plight can destroy our ________________________

35. Or the strength of this ________________________

36. We’re America ... America... _______________________

37. America you’re _______________

38. God extended his _______________

39. And has given us _______________

40. For we will stand tall and ________________

41. We’re a land of _________________________

42. A land of _________________

43. A land like no other land

44. We’re America... __________________

45. Strong, proud, brave ___________________ ____________________

46. We’re America __________________

47. Strong, proud, ___________________ _________________________

48. America, America you’re _________________

49. America _______________ ________________ ___________________

50. America

A Tribute to America

High Beginners

Word Bank *

Part A

1. America

2. blue

3. bold

4. fall

5. hide

6. land

7. man

8. power

9. proud

10. rights

11. Souls

12. strength

13. strong

14. You

*The teacher may wish to pronounce each word and have students repeat the pronunciation before they attempt to fill in the blank.

A Tribute to America

Intermediate ESOL

Activities

1. Allow students to listen to the song half way and follow along on their sheets. Play “A Tribute to America” two or three times.

2. Have students listen two or three times more as they try to fill in the blanks. (Word Bank optional)

3. After the third or fourth time through, allow students to pair and compare answers.

4. Play the song for partners to discuss their answers.

5. Bring the class together to share responses.

6. Confirm answers by listening together again.

7. Encourage singing along as answers are verified.

Homework Assignment – Have students use a bilingual dictionary to look up words they don’t know. Share in the next class what was learned about the meaning of the words.

A Tribute to America

ESOL Lesson

Intermediate Activities

1. Play the song again on Day 2 and have students share the new words learned.

2. Check student understanding of each of the following words:

a. shattered d. nation

b. terrorist e. extended

c. compassion f. rights

3. Form trios of students to discuss the concept of “freedom”. What does it mean in America? How is it manifested?

Extension: Compare and contrast concepts of freedom in other countries.

4. Repeat Activity # 3 using the Concept of “brotherhood” and/or “rights”.

5. Grammar focus- may

Have students pair and ask each other:

a. “What freedoms may you practice in your country?”

b. “I may practice __________”

c. What freedoms may you not practice?

b. “I may not practice __________ “

Repeat substituting “rights” for “freedoms”

6. a. Using a picture or the American flag, review the meaning of the thirtieth stripes and the stars in the American flag.

b. Put the Pledge of Allegiance on the board.

“I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, invisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

c. Discuss word meanings and phrases.

A Tribute to America

Intermediate Dictation Sheet (Part-A)

1. Our tears ____________ _____________

2. And our hearts _____________ be shattered,

3. but deep _______________ in our ______________________

4. We are __________________,

5. We are __________________,

6. We are ___________________,

7. We have ______________ in our __________________________,

8. We will ____________ for our _________________________,

9. We will ___________ ___________ for the brotherhood of __________

10. America, America, __________________

11. America you’re _______________.

12. We have the _______________________

13. We have the _______________________

14. No terrorist could ever _______________

15. We will not _______________.

16. We will not ____________.

17. We will_________ _________ for the ______________ of our _________

18. We’re America, ______________________________

19. Strong, ______________, brave, _________________________

20. We’re America, __________________________

21. Strong, ____________, ________________________, _______________________

22. America ____________, _______________ and _________________

23. America This ______________________ we sing for ______________________

A Tribute to America

Intermediate

Part-B

24. In times of ____________________

25. Compassion _____________ our ______________________

26. In ____________of __________________ we are _________________

27. We’re a _______________ of ______________________

28. A land of _____________________

29. And _____ _____ ______ take this away

30. We’re America ...America ... _____________________

31. America you’re __________________________

32. No one ________ ________________ ______ ____________ thick or thin

33. We’re a ____________ that was __________ to _____________________

34. No _____________ _____________can ______________ our ________

35. Or the _____________of this ________________________

36. We’re America ... America... _______________________

37. America you’re _______________

38. God _________________ his _______________

39. And__________ _______________ us _______________

40. For we will _____________ tall and ________________

41. We’re a land of _________________________

42. A land of _________________

43. A ______________ like ________ _____________ land

44. We’re America... __________________

45. Strong, ________________, ______________ _______________

46. We’re America __________________

47. Strong, proud, ___________________ _________________________

48. America, America you’re _________________

49. America _______________ ________________ ___________________

50. America

A Tribute to America

High Beginners

Word Bank *

Part B

1. America

2. bold

3. brave

4. faith

5. freedom

6. grand

7. hand

8. hearts

9. motherland

10. need

11. peace

12. proud

13. sight

14. strong

15. survive

* The teacher may wish to pronounce each word and have the students repeat the pronunciation before they attempt to fill in the blanks.

Extension Activities

Have students work in pairs with a bilingual dictionary to determine the meaning of the words in the word blank.

A Tribute to America

Advanced Level

At the advanced level students should be encouraged expand their critical thinking skills and dialogue freely. Advanced ESOL students should be able to listen to the song one or two times and fill in the blanks after the third or fourth time. Allow students to pair and share answers. Use whole group discussion to finish confirming what the missing words are.

Key Words

terrorist compassion

shattered dismay

brotherhood thick or thin

motherland plight

strength

1. Put key words on board and pronounce

2. Allow students to pair and discuss meanings

3. Have entire groups discuss meanings

4. Have students make personal vocabulary cards to remember meanings

5. Play song and do dictation activity. Correct in pairs then whole group.

6. Have the class form groups of three to five. Provide them with one of the following topics or one of your choice to discuss in their groups.

a. How has the United States and its citizens manifested compassion in the past and present? How has it not?

b. What are strengths of your country? Identify strengths of the United States. Compare and Contrast each country’s strengths.

c. Identify the weaknesses in your country. Why are they weaknesses? What are weaknesses of the United States? Why are they weaknesses?

7. Have students work in groups by ethnicity to translate their respective national anthems. Post the translations and discuss the importance of anthems and the feelings they engender.

A Tribute to America

Advanced Dictation Sheet (Part-A)

1. Our ______ _______ _______

2. And _______ ________ __________ _________ ___________,

3. but _______ __________ ______ ______ _____________

4. We ______ __________________,

5. We are __________________,

6. We _________ _______________,

7. We ________ _________ _________ _________ ____________________,

8. We ______ _________ __________ ___________ _______________,

9. We ______ ______ _______ _______ ______ ____________ ___ __________

10. America, ____________, __________________

11. America _______ _______________.

12. We _________ _________ _______________________

13. We ________ _________ _______________________

14. No ________ ________ _______ _______________

15. We ______ ________ _______________.

16. We ________ ___________ ____________.

17. We ______ _______ ______ ______ ______ ________ _____ _______ _________

18. We’re ____________, ______________________________

19. Strong, ______________, __________________, _________________________

20. We’re ____________, __________________________

21. Strong, ____________, ________________________, _______________________

22. America __________, ___________ _____________ _________________

23. America __________________ ________ _______ ___________ _________

A Tribute to America

Advanced Part-B

24. In ________ _________ ____________________

25. Compassion __________ ______________ _______________

26. In ___________ _____ ___________ ____ _____ _____________

27. We’re ___ ________ ______ ____________

28. A ______ ______ _____________________

29. And _____ _____ ______ ______ _______ ________

30. We’re ____________ ...__________... _____________________

31. America _______ ____________

32. No ____ ________ ________ ______ _______ ________ _____ _______

33. We’re ____ _________ ________ _________ _______ _____ ________

34. No ________ __________ ______ _____________ ______ ________

35. Or ________ _____________ ____ ________ ________________________

36. We’re _______________ ... _______________... _______________________

37. America _________ _______________

38. God ___________ _________ ______________

39. And__________ ____________ _______ ___________

40. For _______ ______ ___________ _______ _____ ________________

41. We’re ____ ______ ____ _____________

42. A ______ ____ ______________

43. A ___________ ___________ ________ _____________ _______

44. We’re ____________... __________________

45. Strong, ________________, ______________ _______________

46. We’re ___________ __________________

47. Strong, __________, ___________________ _________________________

48. America, __________ _________ _________________

49. America _______________ ________________ ___________________

50. America