Facts and discussions about the US gun laws and the killings in American high schools, suitable for intermediate (A2-B2) levels, from yr 7 and up in Sweden
Background
How Student Survivors Are Fueling a Gun-Control Movement – YouTube (5:30)https://youtu.be/V5V2TVPHjkM
In the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead, student survivors have started a movement for greater gun control.
CNN Explains: The 2nd Amendment – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/BDv1qFBJh1o
CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin helps us understand the U.S. Constitution’s 2nd Amendment. For more CNN videos,
Warm-up
Generation Lockdown — March For Our Lives – YouTube (2:11)https://youtu.be/0IM4p62p3M0
A child’s most important lesson shouldn’t be how to survive.
WHAT DOES THE GUN SAY (parody of) What Does the Fox Say | Don Caron – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/tUqDVKwWSZw
Lyrics available below the video
20 Years of School Shootings (1:33)http://www.wsj.com/video/20-years-of-school-shootings/68473965-DFBC-47D8-8BEE-AF8CFBEC7AB1.html
Since 1998, there have been more than a dozen shootings at kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools that resulted in multiple deaths. These are some of the victims.
Song
GUN BLESS AMERICA – JS Houle ft. Virginie Fortin – YouTubehttps://youtu.be/eUembNyodAo
“This song was written several years ago,” says Jean-Sébastien Houle, “but the issue is as sadly relevant today as it was then.”
Vocabulary
https://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/GUNS/GUNTERM.htmlAction: The part of a firearm that loads, fires, and ejects a cartridge. Includes lever action, pump action, bolt action, and semi-automatic. – Terminology of firearmsFire Arm Parts
Lesson Plans
ESL Lesson Plan on Gun Violence – Breaking News English Lessonhttps://breakingnewsenglish.com/1802/180227-gun-violence-5.html
English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson – Gun Violence – Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3… current events. (Yr 8-9)
How much of a difference can young people make in addressing the problems our society faces? What makes their voices uniquely powerful?
Reading
Timeline
Columbine Shooting – HISTORYhttps://www.history.com/topics/columbine-high-school-shootings
At Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, two teens went on a shooting spree on April 20, 1999, killing 13 people and wounding more than 20 others (Yr 8-9)
The Columbine Massacre School Shooting April 20, 1999https://www.thoughtco.com/columbine-massacre-1779624
On April 20, 1999, in the town of Littleton, Colorado, high-school seniors Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris enacted an assault on Columbine High School. (Yr 8-9)
Nikolas Cruz: Depressed loner ‘crazy about guns’ – BBC Newshttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43067530
Students at the school described Nikolas Cruz, 19, as an “outcast” known for making threats. (Yr 8-9)
Listening
Texas Students Can Bring Guns to College (3:52)https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/texas-students-can-bring-guns-to-college/3446102.html
If you go to college at a state college in Texas, you can now carry a concealed handgun. Audio with the transcript from VOA
Viewing
Passionate Speech By Marjory Stoneman Douglas Student Emma Gonzalez At Anti-Gun Rally – YouTube (12:05)https://youtu.be/PQPr3iMTL98
Emma Gonzalez, a student at the Parkland high school where 17 people were killed, calls out President Trump and the NRA at an anti-gun rally in Fort Lauderdale.
Evan | Sandy Hook Promise – YouTube (1:48)https://youtu.be/A8syQeFtBKc
As the school year winds down, one student finds himself starting an unexpected relationship. – Includes an unexpected message.
Guns With History – YouTube (3:27)https://youtu.be/1nAfWfF4TjM
States United To Prevent Gun Violence opens a “gun store” in NYC as a hidden camera social experiment to debunk safety myths. Every gun has a history.
Dear Mom and Dad- get to work saving my life! – YouTube (3:49)https://youtu.be/TBhdMHsDFOU
A plea from our kids… Enough is enough. Please share this important message.
Parkland Student vs NRA ad (1:30) https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1876366089328568/
This Parkland student was fed up with the NRA’s advertisement so she made her own version. (via Brut)
Speaking
ESL Discussions: Conversation Questions: Speaking Lesson: GUN CONTROLhttps://esldiscussions.com/g/gun_control.html
ESL Discussions: Free worksheet and online activity on Gun Control.
New! 12 stats to help inform the gun control debate
Worksheets
The Pros and Cons of Gun Control – Absolutenglishhttp://absolutenglish.free.fr/?The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Gun-Control
The Pros and Cons of Gun Control The drawing Here can be a good start to tackle the issue of gun control. – Download the .pdf worksheet found in the text.
More Materials
In pictures: US gun-blessing ceremony – BBC News (Yr 8-9)http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43231638
Hundreds of World Peace and Unification Sanctuary church members get their guns blessed in Pennsylvania.
America’s gun culture in charts – BBC Newshttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081
Charts explaining some of the key statistics behind gun ownership and attacks linked to guns in the US.
CC
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