Famous People

The

Beatles
In this lesson, you will learn about the Beatles, one
of the most iconic music bands of all time. Youll also
practice comparing and contrasting this band to some
other bands. Lets get started by sharing what you
know about the Beatles.

Pre-Reading

Quick Facts
BAND NAME:

A. Warm-Up Questions

The Beatles

NICKNAME:

1. Do you like listening to the Beatles?

CORE MEMBERS (4):

2. How many members of the Beatles can you name?

3. How do the Beatles compare to modern rock bands?

FORMED IN:

4. Why do you think the Beatles were so successful?

QUOTE:

Im really glad that most of our

songs were about love, peace,

5. Why do bands break up?

and understanding.

B. Vocabulary Preview

Paul McCartney

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

form
schoolmate
audition
core
tour
come out
sign
fab
stadium
boycott

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)

to commit to a contract
to stop supporting for a specific reason
to go from place to place
short for fabulous
a person you go to school with
the strongest / main part(s)
to demonstrate ones talents to someone
a large venue for shows or sporting events
to build into something
to be made available for buyers

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

The Beatles

Famous People

Reading
1. John Lennon was 17 when he formed a band
called the Quarrymen. His band was made up
ofschoolmates from the Quarry Bank Grammar
School in Liverpool, England. Lennons band
played a mix of jazz, blues, and folk music. In
1957, Paul McCartney auditioned to be a guitarist
in Lennons band. The following year, George
Harrison joined, and the band began playing
rockand roll music. The Quarrymen broke up,
butthe core members kept playing together.
In1960, they became theBeatles.
2. T
 he Beatles began touring around Europe. In 1962,
Ringo Starr became the new drummer. The band
released their first hit Love Me Do that same
year. The Beatles first album, Please Please Me,
came out in 1963. A year later, Love Me Do was
released in the US and became a #1 hit. Capitol
Records signed the Beatles in 1964. Nobody
expected the British group to do so well in the US.

3. M
 usic fans went crazy for the Beatles after the
band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
The term Beatlemania was born, and the young
musicians from England were nicknamed the
FabFour. In 1965, more than 55,000 people
filleda New York stadium to watch their concert.
The Beatles started making movies and went on
aworld tour.
4. 1
 966 was the beginning of the end of Beatlemania.
The Beatles had tour troubles in the Philippines
and in Japan. When John Lennon called his band
more popular than Jesus, some people began
to boycott them. The Beatles played their final
concert on August 29, 1966. Between 1962 and
1970, the Beatles made over two dozen albums and
became the most popular rock bandofalltime.

Comprehension
A. Quiz Your Partner

B. Timeline

Student A asks questions 13. Student B asks

questions 46. Dont look at the reading as you answer.

Place the following in chronological order (18). Oneof

the items is not mentioned in the reading. Place a star
beside this item and try to fit it into the correctorder.

1. Name the four core members of the Beatles.

2. Which different types of music are mentioned?

P
 aul McCartney auditioned
for John Lennons band.

3. H
 ow did the Beatles surprise
people in the music industry?

R
 ingo Starr joined the Beatles as a drummer.

4. What was Beatlemania?

5. H
 ow did John Lennon contribute to
the Beatles loss of popularity in 1966?
6. What happened in August of 1966?

An American record company signed the Beatles.

The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
T
 he Fab Four began making movies.
John Lennon was shot and killed.
John Lennon made a statement
that upset many people.
T
 he Quarrymen broke up.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

The Beatles

Famous People

Vocabulary Review
Complete the sentences using vocabulary from page 1.
You may need to change the word forms.
1. The singers for a spot on the reality show.
2. The band is playing at a in the Phillipines.
3. Their first album before you were born.
4. That boy band on Youtube a record deal today.
5. The teens are all musicians with unfair concert ticket prices.

Sir Paul McCartney

In 1997, Paul McCartney was knighted by the Queen of England.
From then on, many people began referring to him as Sir Paul.
Do a little research about knighthood, and share your findings
with the class.
1. What types of people usually get knighted?
2. Why did Paul McCartney get knighted?
3. What happens at a knighting ceremony?
4. Are there perks to becoming a knight?
5. Which other famous people currently have this title?
6. Can a female be knighted?

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

The Beatles

Famous People

Compare and Contrast

Compare the Beatles to other famous music groups. What is similar about
these groups? What is different? What is each known for? If you dont
recognize these groups, try listening to some music on the Internet.
FAMOUS MUSIC GROUPS

COMPARE

CONTRAST

1. The Spice Girls

2. The Backstreet Boys

3. Aerosmith
4. The Bangles
5. The Jackson 5
6. a famous band from your country

just as
similarly
in the same way
likewise

however
while
although
in contrast

EXAMPLES

The Beatles were a young male band,

and so were the Backstreet Boys.
The Jackson 5 were from the US,
while the Beatles were from the UK.

Fact or Fiction?
Guess whether the following statements are fact or fiction.
1. In 1964, the Beatles played 32 concerts in 19 days.
2. S
 ome fans believed that Paul McCartney died
in the 60s and was replaced by a look-alike actor.
3. Yoko Ono had a bed inside John Lennons car.
4. The Beatles disliked Elvis Presley and American music.
5. The Beatles were against smoking.
6.  Hey Jude was written by Paul McCartney for
Julian Lennon, whose parents were getting divorced.
7. Before joining the Beatles, Ringo Starr wanted to be a hairdresser.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

The Beatles

Famous People

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:

LEVEL: Intermediate

Students read a brief bio about the Beatles. They share their own

TIME: 1.52 hours

knowledge and practice comparing the Beatles to other bands.

TAGS: famous people, intermediate, Beatles, the Beatles,

Students can also research how a musician gets knighted.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison,

Ringo Starr, music, rock n roll, compare and contrast

Pre-Reading

4 An American record company signed the Beatles.

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS

6 The Fab Four began making movies.

5 The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

8* John Lennon was shot and killed.

Individual responses.

7 John Lennon made a statement that upset many people.

2 The Quarrymen broke up.

B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
1. i

3. g

5. c

7. a

9. h

2. e

4. f

6. j

8. d

10. b

Quick Facts
Band name: The Beatles

Core members:

Nickname: The Fab Four

John Lennon, Paul McCartney,

Formed in: Liverpool, England

George Harrison, Ringo Starr

Comprehension
A. QUIZ YOUR PARTNER

Vocabulary Review
1.

auditioned

3.

came out

2.

stadium

4.

signed

5.

boycotting

Sir Paul McCartney

Have students do research and share their findings with the class.

Compare and Contrast

If you have already taught your students how to use transitional
expressions for comparing and contrasting, use this topic to

1.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr.

practice. If you have not practiced this before, work through a few

2.

folk, blues, jazz, rock and roll

examples on the board first. Brainstorm some other words and

3.

The Beatles surprised people in the

phrases that can be used, such as in the same way, at the same rate,

music industry by doing well in the US.

by the same token, on the contrary, on the other hand, unlike...

4.

Beatlemania referred to the fame

the Beatles enjoyed in the mid 60s.

5.

6.

Fact or Fiction?

John Lennon made a comment about the bands

popularity that caused people to boycott the band.

You can invite your students to do some research to find

He said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

out these answers, or you can give them the answers.

In August of 1966, the Beatles played their final concert.

B. TIMELINE

12.fact
3.

fiction Yoko Ono had a bed inside the Beatles studio.

4.

fiction T he Beatles claimed that Elvis Presley influenced

1 Paul McCartney auditioned for John Lennons band.

3 Ringo Starr joined the Beatles as a drummer.

their music. They loved American music.

5.

fiction The Beatles were all heavy smokers.

67.fact
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.