Hey guys-

So, I was pretty shocked when I was doing a quiz game with my third-grade middle-schoolers and the vast majority of them did not know anything about The Beatles. I decided a Beatles Lesson was in order, so here it is.

Some things to note:

1) I AM NOT A BEATLES EXPERT. If this upsets your delicate Beatle-loving sensibilities, just change anything you want. Most of the stuff on these slides are internet/Wikipedia based.

2) I tried to find Youtube vids that actually showed them singing and performing. The links should work.

3) This is not meant to be exhaustive, and will likely be added to over the next week. Check back for updates if you want them!

Hope somebody can use it! :D

I can add a little more! Attached it is a listening activity worksheet and lesson plan.... I have two versions, a long (8 minute) and short version.

It was especially touching when you put red x's over John and George's faces and crossed their names off the list as if to say 'two down, two to go'. 
 :D

In all seriousness, though... this is fantastic. I love the Beatles... I don't think anyone who actually likes music wouldn't. But I'm usually afraid of topics like this because I feel like I would just be really enthusiastic about it and the students wouldn't care. Anyway, they should definitely like the music... and maybe if you do it again you could add in something about how they were pretty much the first 'boy band', and a lot of the newer ones sort of play up the whole cute one/quiet one/rebel/goofball thing with their marketing of whatever new piece of crap band they're trying to sell to the 12 year olds-- that might get their attention!

@hilarity ensues: Haha, yeah... basically I started the class in this like hushed, reverent tone and it disintegrated pretty quickly into 40 kids singing Yellow Submarine over and over for the second half of the class. Eh, whatever. My co-teacher liked it.

@minamteacher: I'm not super tech-savvy... if anybody has advice on how to do this, I'd be happy to convert it!

Cool! This is essential. I'm trying to figure out how to make it more English-oriented, but a good cultural lesson is always important too.

Somebody mentioned saying something about Pete or Stu as early Beatles, but I'd have to disagree with that. While they were indeed a part of the band's history, a lesson like this should be put into the simplest terms for middle school students in Korea. They already probably don't know the Beatles names, I don't think it's so relevant to know about minor players who ultimately did not have a very big impact on the band. Just my thoughts about that, though. I think you picked relevant things to discuss and made it easy and fun for students! I'll probably try it myself. Hope that my students like it! Thanks!

 I'm not super tech-savvy... if anybody has advice on how to do this, I'd be happy to convert it!

Just go to Save as and click on 97-2003. Thanks I am looking forward to seeing this.

Can't wait to use it. Love The Beatles!

This looks awesome and thank you!

Just one question though: How can I get my students to see that this is somehow relevant to them? Sometimes when I pull out older music, they roll their eyes and ask why we're not listening to Big Bang. Have you run up against this and how did you handle it?

(My excuses are always "too adult". I tell them that this formed culture and that many English references are made to Beatles songs. In one ear and out the other with them!)

@minamteacher: Okay, let me know if this works. I went in and saved it under the 97-2003 setting. Some strange stuff in Korean popped up, but it went through with the save. Hope it's functional?

Works great! I was planning a 'music camp' this summer and it will be a perfect addition! Thank you!