Song Activity – BETTER PEOPLE, by India Arie
Target audience (age): Ensino Médio
Aim: work with vocabulary, expressions and collocations related to living together in a better way;
answer questions that help comprehend the lyrics; work with comparatives; have fun by singing the
song and watching the video
Duration: 50 min.
Organization: individual work or in groups (teacher’s choice)
Material: activity worksheet
Preparation: make copies of the worksheet; check the website with the song
http://youtu.be/jc7x9mH6MGg
Procedure:
Pre-listening
• Warm up students by asking them what comes to their mind when they hear the
title of the song, “Better People”.
• Brainstorm some ideas on how we can become better people.
• Hand out the copies of the worksheets.
• Before listening to the song, tell students they’re going to work with some
vocabulary from the lyrics. Ask them to do exercises 1 and 2 and check their
answers.
• If possible, watch the video with the song and check what students understood
from the lyrics.
• Discuss with the whole group if their ideas from the brainstorming are present in
the song.
• Go over the other exercises in the worksheet with students and check if they
understand all of them.
• Exercise 6 mentions “republicans” and “democrats”. Ask students if they know
what these words refer to. If necessary, explain that they refer to the members and
supporters of the two main political parties in the U.S., who have different points of
view (democrats are more liberal and republicans are more conservative).
• Ask students to do the exercises and help them if necessary.
• Correct the exercises on the board.
Wrap-up activity
• Students sing along with the video.
Photocopiable – Teacher’s copy
Song Activity – BETTER PEOPLE, by India Arie
1. Before listening to the song, match the words/expressions in bold to their meaning.
(a) “They call it a generational curse”
( b ) let something fall
(b) “These problems don’t just drop out the sky”
( c ) completely new
(c) “I can help you with the brand new technology”
( e ) people from whom someone descends
(d) “Start with yourself and healing will multiply”
( a ) evil that has been invoked to harm somebody
(e) “To teach you your ancestors’ name”
( d ) getting better or restoring health
2. All the sentences present mistakes in terms of vocabulary. Cross out these mistakes and correct
them using the words/expressions from exercise 1.
(a) The students were using different websites to find out about their descendants.
(ancestors)
(b) Carol has had such bad luck lately that she thinks someone has put a blessing on her.
(curse)
(c) People have been using old-fashioned gadgets to work, communicate and have fun.
(brand new)
(d) Getting depressed easily is a skill resilient people have.
(Healing)
(e) Be careful not to hold the glass on the floor. We can’t break it.
(drop)
3. Complete the chart with comparatives you can find in the song and their corresponding adjective.
Adjective
Comparative
good
better
bad
worse
4. Complete the chart with the comparative form of other adjectives found in the song and write
a sentence with each of them.
Adjective
Comparative
Sentence
young
younger
(Answers will vary.)
old
older
(Answers will vary.)
new
newer
(Answers will vary.)
diplomatic
more diplomatic
(Answers will vary.)
Photocopiable – Teacher’s copy
5. The song mentions old and new technologies. Compare these devices using your own ideas.
Remember to justify your opinions.
(a) Radio – TV
(Answers will vary, but may include: the TV is more interesting than the radio because you can see colorful
images.)
(b) LP – CD
(Answers will vary, but may include: the quality of the sound is better in the CD than in the LP because of
its technology.)
6. According to the song, there are some situations in which people can try to be better. Explain.
(a) Young / Old people
(Answers will vary, but may include: if they talked to each other, old people could learn about new
technologies and young people could learn about old philosophy.)
(b) Black / White people
(Answers will vary, but may include: if they talked to each other, they could realize we’re all humans and
learn to respect their differences.)
(c) Republicans / Democrats
(Answers will vary, but may include: if they talked to each other, they could work together democratically
and make a better country.)
7. Answer the questions about yourself.
(a) Do you try to be a better person? How? (Answers will vary.)
(b) In what daily situations do you think people should try to be better?
(Answers will vary, but may include: in traffic or public transportation, at school and in their family
relationships.)
(c) Complete the sentences with your own ideas. (Answers will vary.)
(I) If teachers talked to students,
.
(II) If parents talked to their children,
.
(III) If men talked to women,
.
(IV) If drivers talked to pedestrians,
.
8. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. How would you explain this statement?
(Answers will vary, but may include: if you want to change things, don’t wait for other people to do it. For
example, if you want people to be nicer, be nice yourself; if you want to preserve nature, do your part.)
Photocopiable – Teacher’s copy
Song Activity – BETTER PEOPLE, by India Arie
Name: ________________________________________________________ Date: _____/_____/________
1. Before listening to the song, match the words/expressions in bold to their meaning.
(a) “They call it a generational curse”
(
) let something fall
(b) “These problems don’t just drop out the sky”
(
) completely new
(c) “I can help you with the brand new technology”
(
) people from whom someone descends
(d) “Start with yourself and healing will multiply”
(
) evil that has been invoked to harm somebody
(e) “To teach you your ancestors’ name”
(
) getting better or restoring health
2. All the sentences present mistakes in terms of vocabulary. Cross out these mistakes and correct
them using the words/expressions from exercise 1.
(a) The students were using different websites to find out about their descendants.
( _____________________________________)
(b) Carol has had such bad luck lately that she thinks someone has put a blessing on her.
( _____________________________________)
(c) People have been using old-fashioned gadgets to work, communicate and have fun.
( _____________________________________)
(d) Getting depressed easily is a skill resilient people have.
( _____________________________________)
(e) Be careful not to hold the glass on the floor. We can’t break it.
( _____________________________________)
3. Complete the chart with comparatives you can find in the song and their corresponding adjective.
Adjective
Comparative
4. Complete the chart with the comparative form of other adjectives found in the song and write
a sentence with each of them.
Adjective
Comparative
Sentence
young
old
new
diplomatic
Photocopiable – Student’s copy
5. The song mentions old and new technologies. Compare these devices using your own ideas.
Remember to justify your opinions.
(a) Radio – TV
(b) LP – CD
6. According to the song, there are some situations in which people can try to be better. Explain.
(a) Young / Old people
(b) Black / White people
(c) Republicans / Democrats
7. Answer the questions about yourself.
(a) Do you try to be a better person? How?
(b) In what daily situations do you think people should try to be better?
(c) Complete the sentences with your own ideas.
(I) If teachers talked to students,
.
(II) If parents talked to their children,
.
(III) If men talked to women,
.
(IV) If drivers talked to pedestrians,
.
8. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. How would you explain this statement?
Photocopiable – Student’s copy