Música activities book

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TEACHING WITH MUSIC
Including songs by Kate Perry, 
Coldplay and many more!
English Activities ready to print!
ne of the biggest challenges facing the language teacher is 
motivating students who have different expectations, levels of 
knowledge and speeds at which they learn.
One of the resources that is most valued by teachers and which most 
motivates students is working with songs. And that’s no big surprise; 
after all, international hits are present in the students’ everyday lives 
(and of the teachers, too) in all sorts of situations: from nightclubs to 
earphones, from YouTube to cell phone ringing tones. This kind of work 
puts students in touch with other languages and cultures so that they can 
learn while enjoying themselves. It also brings successful songs into the 
school, giving the teacher another trump card to play in the classroom.
To meet your needs, we have created the Teaching with Music Activity 
Notebook for you, the teacher! Our hope is that this material, together 
with our books, will optimize your teaching practices and involve the 
whole class leading to increased learning.
O
Presentation
TIPS:
1. If necessary, the students can help by downloading 
the music: all you need to do is arrange it with them 
earlier. Ensure you have the appropriate audio or 
video equipment which may well include a cell phone.
2. While carrying out the activities, make use of the class 
motivation to divide it up so that stronger students 
are able to help the weaker ones. 
Usage Guidelines 
Student’s Material
I Counting Stars, by OneRepublic 
II Lucky, by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
III Rise, by Katy Perry
IV The 3Rs, by Jack Johnson
V Treat You Better, by Shawn Mendes 
VI Yellow, by Coldplay 
VII You Gotta Be, by Des’ree 
Teacher’s Material
I Counting Stars
Teacher’s notes 
Lyrics and translation
II Lucky
Teacher’s notes
Lyrics and translation 
02
03
06
09
12
15
18
21
24
25
26
27
Summary
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
III Rise
Teacher’s notes 
Lyrics and translation
 
IV The 3Rs
Teacher’s notes 
Lyrics and translation
 
V Treat You Better
Teacher’s notes 
Lyrics and translation 
VI Yellow
Teacher’s notes
Lyrics and translation 
VII You Gotta Be
Teacher’s notes 
Lyrics and translation
Educational Services 
Usage Guidelines
Let’s get started
In this box, the students will get to know curious 
facts about the song, the artist or the context of the 
words. The students might know the song and/or 
the performer and may be able to add some more 
information, as well as expressing opinions and 
musical preferences.
Pre-listening
The aim of these activities is to prepare the 
students for the main listening task and to put 
them in contact with subjects and topics that will 
be relevant to understanding the song. As for any 
possible vocabulary questions, let the students know 
beforehand that either you will clear them up directly 
or help them use a bilingual dictionary.
While listening
At this stage, the students should carry out a task while they are listening to 
the song. Before playing the song, request that they read the words and the 
proposed activity. Clear up any doubts or allow them to exchange ideas among 
themselves for a limited amount of time. Play the song twice. If necessary, 
allow students to compare their answers before playing the song a third time.
Lyrics and Translation
In this section you will find the 
words and a translation. You 
may take photocopies in order to 
maximize exploitation of the song 
focusing on reading comprehension. 
Guidelines for Teachers
Present the link to the song on 
Youtube; the teaching aims, 
suggestions for usage together with 
our published teaching material; 
and the answers to each activity. 
After listening
Because these are more 
interpretative, at this stage it 
might be more productive to 
allow the students to work in 
pairs or groups so that they 
can exchange opinions and 
personal experiences and/or use 
reference material to do some 
research. You can, at anytime, 
revise any linguistic topics listed 
on the teacher guideline sheets.
PHOTOCOPIABLE
3
Pre-Listening
1. The underlined words in the sentences are important to understand Counting Stars. Match them to their definition.
a. Sometimes Ashley loses sleep over her school exams. She always wants to get the best grades.
b. Every time I come across a church, I feel the urge to get inside, kneel down and pray for some minutes.
c. When I was a child, I loved to see the way my mom’s earrings would swing every time she moved her head.
d. During his track in the jungle, Lukas grabbed a vine to help him walk over the bridge that crossed the river.
e. My grandma is a bold and determined woman. Although she is 70, she has decided to do a parachute jump. 
f. Since there wasn’t much the firefighters could do at that point, the family just watched in consternation their house burn to the ground. 
[ ] Be destroyed by fire.
[ ] Make regular movements from one side to another.
[ ] A plant with long stems that attaches itself to another plant or tree.
[ ] Be unable to rest your mind and body by closing your eyes because you are too worried about something.
[ ] Speak to God in order to say thanks or ask for help or comfort.
[ ] Not afraid of taking risks and making difficult decisions.
2. Read some of the most significant lines in Counting Stars. What do they say about the song? Write down your ideas.
 “Said no more counting dollars
 We'll be counting stars
 Yeah, we'll be counting stars”
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date: ______ /______ /_______
STEP
I 21 3
SONG
Counting Stars | OneRepublic
by Ryan Teder
Let’s Get Started...
Lead vocalist Ryan Tedder and guitarist Zach Filkins formed One Republic in Colorado, U.S., in 2002. They first drew attention 
on MySpace, a social networking website that was popular among musicians who wanted to break into the industry, but only 
had their first hit with Apologize, in 2005. Besides Tedder and Filkins, Drew Brown (guitar), Brent Kutzle (bass guitar) and Eddie 
Fisher (drums) also make part of the band.
Released in the album Native (2013), Counting Stars has become One Republic’s most popular song, reaching number one in 
several countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada. It is a folk pop song with a disco beat, written by lead vocalist Ryan 
Tedder. Its music video has reached over 1.9 billion views on YouTube so far.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OneRepublic; http://www.songfacts.com/facts-onerepublic.php; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_Stars
PHOTOCOPIABLE
4
STEP
I 21 3
SONG
COUNTING STARS | ONEREPUBLIC
While Listening
3. Listen to the song Counting Stars. Pay special attention to the underlined sentences. 
Cross out an extra word – or words – in each of them.
Counting Stars
One Republic
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars
Yeah, we'll be counting stars
(a) I see this wonderful life
Like a swinging vine
(b) Swing my heart wildly across the line
In my face’s flashing signs
(c) Seek it out and you shall find love
Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
(d) And I don't think the whole world is sold
I'm just doing what we're told
(e) I feel something so right about us
Doing the wrong thing
I feel something so wrong
But doing the right thing
I could lie, could lie, could lie
(f) Everything that kills me makes me feel so alive
[Chorus]
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
Baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby