American Presidents-Sample-Esllibrary 1
American Presidents-Sample-Esllibrary 1
American Presidents-Sample-Esllibrary 1
Famous People
PRE-READING
A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS
1. What adjectives come to mind when you hear the name Barack
Obama?
2. How does Obama compare to previous American presidents?
C. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
pl
B. CHART
On the back of your page, create an OBAMA CHART.
Write at least two points under each heading:
3. Did Obama accomplish any major goals in his first presidential term?
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
___ 2. settle
___ 3. law firm
___________________________
QUICK FACTS
sa
___ 1. maternal
Political Party:
g) to give someone
acknowledgment for their work
___________________________
dent
Quote:
j) to suddenly grow or go
Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.
Barack Obama
Famous People
Barack Obama
pl
sa
Obamas political career took off in 1996 when he was elected to the
Illinois State Senate. His strong speaking skills helped him gain
media attention, and he was elected to the United States Senate in
2004. In 2008, with only four years of national political experience,
Barack Obama ran for president and won. On January 20th, 2009, at
the age of 47, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United
States. This was a historic day because it was the first time an African
American had ever become the leader of the United States.
From 20092012, Obamas administration reformed the healthcare
system, and bailed out the American auto industry. Supporters also
credit Barack Obama for the death of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin
Laden, and for bringing troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Critics say that Obama did not create enough jobs. When addressing
his nation in the 2012 campaign, President Obama admitted that the
American economy did not recover under his leadership. However,
he still believed in his slogan Yes We Can! and asked Americans to
vote for him and keep things moving forward. After a very tight
election race against Republican candidate Mitt Romney, Obama was
re-elected for a second term as president.
COMPREHENSION
A.TRUE, FALSE, or NOT MENTIONED
Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.
Barack Obama
Famous People
B. MATCHING
Create complete sentences by matching the text from both columns.
pl
1. ______________________________________
_____
________________________________________
2. ______________________________________
sa
________________________________________
3. ______________________________________
________________________________________
4. ______________________________________
________________________________________
5._______________________________________
________________________________________
6._______________________________________
________________________________________
_____
_____
_____
Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.
Barack Obama
Famous People
FAMOUS QUOTES
Discuss these famous Barack Obama quotes with a partner or your classmates. Which one is your favorite? Which ones do
you agree with? Which ones do you disagree with? Look up any words or expressions that you dont know.
1. It may make your blood boil and your mind may not be changed, but the practice of listening to
opposing views is essential for effective citizenship. It is essential for our democracy.
Barack Obama, University of Michigan Commencement, 2010
pl
4. Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men
with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.
Barack Obama, Acceptance Speech for Nobel Peace Prize, 2009
DISCUSSION TOPICS
Discuss a few of these questions as a class, or choose one and write a paragraph about it.
2012 Election
a. Some people say Barack Obama has cross-party appeal. What do you think that
means? Do you agree?
b. Politicians are known for delivering cheap shots during campaigns. What is a
cheap shot? Does Barack Obama use this tactic?
sa
c. How important is it for you to share the same religious beliefs as the leader of
your country?
d. Should the leader of a country have experience living in a foreign country?
e. In one of his books, Barack Obama admitted to doing drugs in his youth. Do you
think this was a wise confession?
f. Elizabeth Cheney said this about Barack Obama: A gift for reading from a
teleprompter is not the same as leadership. What did she mean? Do you agree?
g. After signing the Affordable Health Care Act legislation, the government
created an information website called Reality Check. What is a reality check?
Why do you think the administration used this term?
RESEARCH
How does the Democratic party differ from the Republican party? Do a little research for homework. Find at least
three points to share with your class.
Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.
Barack Obama
Famous People
ANSWER KEY
Lesson Description: Students read a brief bio about Barack Obama. They review vocabulary, check comprehension, and
discuss issues related to Obamas first term and the 2012 election. Famous Obama quotes are also discussed.
QUICK FACTS
Born in: Hawaii
Famous Slogan: Yes we can!
Political Party: Democrats
First African American President
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
1. f
2. a
3. c
4. j
5. h
6. b
7. d
8. e
9. g
10. i
COMPREHENSION
A. TRUE, FALSE, or NOT MENTIONED
1. Not mentioned.
2. True.
3. True.
4. False. Barack Obama was inaugurated on January 20th, 2009.
5. True.
B. MATCHING
1. e
2. f
3. g
4. a
VOCABULARY REVIEW
Example sentences will vary.
1. bail out
2. maternal grandparents
3. law firm
4. campaign against
5. gain media attention
5. h
6. c
7. b
8. d
1. YES
2. YES
3. NO
4. YES
5. NO
6. YES
7. YES
8. NO
9. YES
10. YES
Tiebreaker: Malia Obama was
born on an important day. What
day was she born on?
Answer: Fourth of July (1988)
6. took off
Spelling Note: The instructions on page 4 show the American spelling of the word Favorite. Most other English-speaking
countries spell it this way: Favourite. Make it a challenge for your students to find this word in the lesson and see if they
know the alternate spelling.
Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.