Amazing Performers (Level 3)English Readers

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Classroom Activities

Where you see this symbol , the activity type is reusable with any story in this book.

Before reading

1 Guess1 Explain that students are going to read a story about a

performer. Ask what a performer does, e.g. plays music, does magic, acts or dances in a theatre in front of an audience. If helpful, look up a definition of the verb ‘perform’ and the noun ‘performer’ at www.collinsdictionary.com/cobuild.

Give three names and ask which one is a performer, e.g. Daniel Radcliffe, J.K. Rowling and Barack Obama (Daniel Radcliffe, who is an actor; J.K. Rowling is a writer and Barack Obama is a politician – these two are not performers).

Ask students to think of current famous performers, and write their suggestions on the board.

2 Explain that this story is about Louis Armstrong. Ask these questions and discuss answers:

a What nationality was Louis Armstrong? b He was a musician. What instrument did he play? c What kind of music did he play? d He was also a singer. Can you name any of his songs? e When do you think he was born?

2 Guess With books closed, read aloud the short introduction on page 23. Write these ten items on the board. Explain that six of them appear in the story and four don’t. Students tick the six items they think will be part of Louis’s story. Ask some students to justify their reasons for one of the words.

basketball Cold Wardoctor gunjazz nicknameriverboat the Internettrain ‘wonderful world’

While reading

3 Comprehension Print the handout Louis Armstrong: Who said what? at the end of this document and make a copy for each student. Read through the quotes quickly with students. Explain that they are not actual quotes, but things that people in Louis’s story might have said. While students are reading the story, they match the names and quotes.

After reading

4 VideoAfter students have read the story once, but before they are too familiar with the content, play the video. Pause the video at the timings shown, and ask students the related question. (You may prefer to tell students the question before they listen.)

1 Pause at 01' 42" after ‘Ragtime was very popular then.’ Why did Louis join a New Orleans street gang when he was a young boy?

2 Pause at 02' 15" after ‘and to work hard.’ How was Louis able to buy his first musical instrument?

3 Pause at 03' 17" after ‘for eighteen months.’ Why was he sent to the New Orleans Home for Colored Waifs?

4 Pause at 05' 22" after ‘for the rest of his life.’ Was Louis the father of Clarence?

5 Pause at 06' 55" after ‘played with top jazz musicians.’ When Louis appeared on stage, what did he do in between singing and playing songs?

6 Pause at 08' 32" after ‘where the sun was always shining.’ Why did Louis leave New York City in 1929?

7 Pause at 09' 42" after ‘and it became my nickname.’ Who gave Louis the nickname ‘Satchmo’?

8 Pause at 10' 52" after ‘Queens’ in New York City.’ What did Louis start doing, to give himself a break from playing the trumpet?

9 Play to the end of the track. Why did people call Louis ‘Ambassador Satch’?

5 Comprehension1 Now that they know the story well, ask students to think

back to their answers to activity 1 part 2. Were they correct the first time? Do they now know all of the answers?

2 Look back at activity 2. Which six items were mentioned? In pairs, students say why each item was important in Louis’s story. Then compare answers around the class.

Louis Armstrong

Amazing Performers (Level 3)English Readers

© HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2014. This page is photocopiable. 2

6 Research Explain that Louis Armstrong lived through most of the 20th century (1901–71). During that century, the United States of America was the richest and most powerful country in the world. Elicit events from world and American history that are mentioned in Louis’s story, and others that students know about.Write these six events and eras on the board:• 1914–18: First World War• 1920s: Al Capone and Chicago gangsters• 1929: the Great Depression• 1939–45: Second World War • Second half of 20th century until 1991: the Cold War• 1957: the Little Rock Nine, Little Rock, ArkansasDivide the class into six groups and allocate one event to each group. Students in each group research the same topic, either in their own time or in class time. Each group then discusses their research and writes a short presentation to give to the class. Encourage them to vary their presentations with eye witness accounts, timelines, news reports from the scene, etc.

7 Listening Find the lyrics to Louis Armstrong’s signature song, ‘What a Wonderful World’ on a lyrics website, such as www.azlyrics.com. Print them out and blank out some of the words. Make a copy for each student. Play the song in class. Students fill in the missing words as they listen. For example:Verse 1I see 1 of green, 2 roses too.I see 3 bloom, for 4 and you.And I 5 to myself, what a 6 world.

Classroom Activities (Continued) Louis Armstrong

8 Writing In pairs, students use the information in the story, the timeline, and if appropriate the ‘Further Research’ document, to create a social network page for Louis Armstrong, including pictures they find on the Internet. They can select one of these dates for their screengrab: • 1929 (just after he moves to Los Angeles)• 21st February 1949 (when he appears on the cover of

Time magazine)• 1967 (when he releases ‘What a Wonderful World’)

Possible elements: • Status update• About• In a relationship• Number of friends • Photos• Comments and wall posts from friends/fans• Music and film ‘likes’• Louis could share a poster for a concert he’s playing and

start a new group

Amazing Performers (Level 3)English Readers

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Answer Key (Classroom Activities)

1 Guess1 Answers will vary.2 a American b the trumpet c jazz d Answers will vary. ‘What a Wonderful

World’, ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’ are three options.

e 1901

2 GuessSee activity 4 below for answers.

3 Comprehension(see handout Louis Armstrong: Who said what?)a (from top to bottom)1 Mr Karnofsky 2 Louis’s grandmother 3 Louis 4 Lil 5 Professor Davis 6 the US State Department 7 the audience in a Harlem jazz club 8 a musician on a Mississippi riverboat 9 the boys in Louis’s singing group 10 Johnny Collins

b 2 1 9 5 8 4 7 10 6 3

c 1 1907 2 1903 3 1971 4 1924 5 1913 6 1957 7 1929 8 1914 9 1912 10 1934

4 Video1 Because you had to join a gang to survive.2 A kind man called Mr Karnofsky lent him

the money.3 Because he fired a gun in the air in the

street.4 No, Louis’s cousin was Clarence’s father.

Louis Armstrong

5 He told the audience stories about life in New Orleans.

6 Because the Wall Street Crash happened, and the clubs closed.

7 A music journalist in London called Percy Brooks.

8 He began acting in films.9 Because he worked for the US State

Department, spreading American culture around the world.

5 Comprehension1 The six items mentioned are: Cold War,

gun, jazz, nickname, riverboat, ‘wonderful world’.

2 Answers will vary. Suggested answers: Cold War: Louis was sent around the world

by the American government, and found new fans in many countries

gun: Louis was sent to the Colored Waifs’ Home because he fired a gun, and he was taught music there

jazz: Louis played this style of music; it was very popular in clubs in Chicago and New York, and it made him famous

nickname: Louis was given the nickname ‘Satchmo’

riverboat: Louis learned to read music on the Mississippi riverboats

‘wonderful world’: Louis’s most famous song was called ‘What a Wonderful World’

6 ResearchAnswers will vary.

7 ListeningTeacher provides answers. (Answers to example: 1 trees, 2 red 3 them 4 me 5 think 6 wonderful)

8 ResearchAnswers will vary.

© HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2014. This page is photocopiable.

Louis Armstrong: Who said what? a Who do you think says these things in Louis’s story? Write a name underneath each quote.

b In the small box, number the quotes in the order they happen. c Now look at the timeline on page 31. Find a date (a year) to go with each of the

quotes. Write the date in the box next to each quote, e.g. 1923 .

Check back to the story if you need more information.

“Come and stay with us tonight, Louis. There’s a hot dinner and you can help me deliver some chairs in

the morning.”

“Please change your mind, Mr Armstrong. It’s too late to stop the

tour now and the Russians are expecting you.”

“I can’t buy you lots of things, Louis, but you and your sister must

learn to be good hard-working people.”

“We love you, Louis!” “More! More!” “Play ‘Lazy River’!”

“I’ve had a wonderful life.”“We’ve got half an hour before the show, Louis – I’ll show you how to

read this music.”

“Let’s go to church – I want you to hear real gospel singing.”

“Where did you get such a big mouth?”

“Louis, I know you’re only thirteen, but I want you to be the

leader of the band!”

“You’re going on tour – I’ve arranged concerts in London and

other cities in Europe.”

a musician on a Mississippi riverboat Johnny Collins

LouisLouis’s grandmother

Professor Davis

the audience in a Harlem jazz club

the boys in Louis’s singing group

Mr Karnofsky

Lil

the US State Department