Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)

michaeljacksonVEVO

526.3M views 17 years ago

Warm-up Questions

From the title “Earth Song,” what topics do you expect the video to focus on?
What environmental problems do you think a song might mention when it talks about “Earth”?
Do you think this video will feel hopeful, sad, angry, or something else? Why?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)

Intro + first questions about nature and war (00:00 – 03:04)

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1. Which pair of natural things is mentioned first in the lyrics?

Mountains and rivers
Wind and snow
Sunrise and rain
Trees and oceans

2. What does the singer ask if people ever stopped to notice?

The future of space travel
All the blood we've shed before
How fast technology changes
How beautiful cities are

3. Which line connects war directly to children?

All the children dream of stars
All the children plant the fields
All the children sing today
All the children dead from war

Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)

Lost direction and drifting away (03:04 – 04:12)

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1. What does the singer say he “used to” do?

Build a better world
Dream
Fight for power
Run from danger

2. Where did the singer say he used to glance?

Into the ocean
Over the mountains
Beyond the stars
Behind the clouds

3. How does the singer describe humanity’s movement over time?

We have stayed the same
We have risen high
We have drifted far
We have returned home

Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)

A long series of “What about…?”: environment, people, and responsibility (04:12 – 06:45)

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1. Which crisis image is used to describe what is happening to the world?

The heavens are falling down
The oceans are turning to gold
The sun is burning out
The mountains are moving away

2. What does the singer say “we’re” doing to the seas?

Protecting them
Studying the seas
Ravaging the seas
Crossing the seas

3. What final question challenges whether people truly care?

Do we love this song
Do we understand science
Do we give a damn
Do we remember the past

Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the main purpose of repeatedly asking “What about…?” in this song?

To explain how to solve every problem step by step
To tell a detailed personal love story
To pressure listeners to think about harm and responsibility
To list random topics for fun

2. Which theme best connects the different examples in the lyrics (war, animals, forests, seas)?

Celebrating modern life
Traveling to different countries
Human impact on the Earth and on people
Training for sports competitions

3. What overall tone is most consistent with the lyrics?

Light and humorous
Neutral and purely informational
Urgent and sorrowful
Carefree and relaxed

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Official Video)

Which line or image from the lyrics feels most powerful to you, and why?
Do you think asking questions (instead of giving answers) is an effective way to persuade people? Explain.
What are two problems mentioned in the song that you see in the world today? What could individuals do about them?
The lyrics include both nature (seas, forests, animals) and people (children, the common man). Why do you think the song connects them?