3 lesson plans of social issues which you can use in your classes
DST 1-1: Jesus (a homeless person gets a makeover)
DST 1-2: Ron (a homeless person speaks of dignity)
DST 1-3: People take a break from their cancer
I have been taking a look at a number of the posts many of you have published and I noticed that many involve the theme of social issues. Like you, I have found this to often stimulate interest in the classroom and have a few lesson plans I’d like to share with you.
Jesus lives in the streets of Vancouver and one day gets a makeover. He has a conversation with the video crew as he gets a haircut and a shave.
There is a handout for you to give the students which includes some vocabulary to cover before the video as well as a few questions. Students watch the YouTube video in segments, to listen for info and to answer the questions. After the video students discuss the issues that are brought up. Click on the above title (DST 1-1 Homeless man: Jesus) to see the lesson plan and handout (and the video too).
Ron lives in the streets of Chicago and explains to the interviewer a bit of his daily routines. He also wants to make it clear that people who are homeless still are people and have their dignity.
There is a handout for you to give the students which includes some vocabulary to cover before the video as well as a few questions. Students watch the YouTube video in segments, to listen for info and to answer the questions. After the video students discuss the issues that are brought up. Click on the above title (DST 1-2 Homeless man: Ron) to see the lesson plan and handout (and video too).
Some people who have terminal cancer are interviewed and then have a makeover which completely takes them by surprise. The new look is nothing that they expected! Very special reactions. Note: This video was originally French which would be good for you French language teachers. The reference here has English subtitles.
There is a handout and lesson plan accompanying this video, similar in structure and direction as the two described above.
If one of these three videos captures your interest and you’d like to try it out in your class, let me know. I would be very grateful to hear any comments you might have to offer, either here or directly in the CONTACT section on the website.
Have a good one!
-Max
I’d like to add a little postscript here. There are other videos that you can find in the top menu bar under LESSONS / DESSERT. The following 3 come from the category of BEHIND THE SCENES, which also touch on some social issues. You may want to have a look at those too. These three videos, by the way, come from a Canadian television programme which focuses on investigative journalism concerning the consumer in today’s world. There are many episodes which could touch on some themes which might be of interest to you and your students. One way to access them is to go into YouTube and type in CBC Marketplace.
Investigators interview people to see how much they know about the radiation coming from their cellphones and then conduct experiments to see just how dangerous those radiation levels are.
Everybody has heard that these days it is easy to tap into your personal information. This episode shows you just how easy and how extensive that invasion can be.
You would think that with government pressure and the high competition among hotels that the levels of hygiene would be quite high. This video shows otherwise.