Famous People

Michael
Jackson
In this lesson, you will learn about and discuss
Michael Jackson, a.k.a. the King of Pop. You’ll also get
to be a reporter and a poet. First, let’s find out what
you know about this American music legend.

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions
Quick Facts
1. What words come to mind when
you hear the name Michael Jackson? Name:
2. What is life like for a child star? Nickname: The Gloved One / The King of Pop
3. Do you like Michael Jackson’s music? Why or why not? Nationality:
4. What made Michael Jackson a controversial figure? Born: August 29, 1958
5. How did the world react when Michael Jackson died? Died: June 25, 2009

Best Known For:

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. talent a)  to offset a loss or bad experience

2. solo b)  killing someone without intention
3. take off c)  to suddenly become popular
4. debut d)  identifying characteristics of a person
5. signature e)  the first show or performance in public
6. tabloid f)  a special ability that you are born with
7. custody g)  by oneself rather than in a group
8. biological h)  a newspaper or magazine that features sensational headlines
9. make up for i)  to practice for a show
10. exotic j)  related by blood
11. rehearse k)  having children in one’s protection
12. involuntary manslaughter l)  foreign, unusual

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 Michael Jackson
Famous People

Reading
1. Michael Jackson sold millions of records during his career. He earned “I’m never pleased
the title “King of Pop,” but his fans and friends called him “MJ.” with anything.
2. A teacher recognized Michael Jackson’s singing and dancing talents I’m a perfectionist.
in kindergarten. By age 8, Michael was the lead singer in his brothers’
Motown band. The Jackson 5 had numerous hits, including “ABC,”
It’s part of who I am.”
“I Want You Back,” and “I’ll Be There.” Michael later referred to his —Michael Jackson
own child voice as “Minnie-Mouse-like.”

3. Michael Jackson’s solo career took off in the 1980s. His second album,
Thriller, remains the largest-selling album of all time. “Billie Jean” was
the first video of a black artist to air on MTV. In 1983, Michael Jackson
debuted his signature dance move, the “Moonwalk.”

4. In the 1990s, tabloid newspapers put Michael Jackson under the

spotlight. Journalists accused him of lying about a skin disease.
They also wrote about his cosmetic surgery. During this time, he
married and divorced Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie. He
also married and had two children with his nurse, Debbie Rowe.
When his second marriage failed, Michael Jackson took custody
of the children. A surrogate mother later gave Michael his third
child. Michael claimed to be the biological father of Prince, Paris,
and Blanket.

5. Michael Jackson complained that he missed his childhood. He tried

to make up for this loss as an adult. He invited children to enjoy
Neverland, his private ranch and theme park. Jackson kept several
exotic pets, including snakes, llamas, and Bubbles the chimpanzee.
He was accused of having inappropriate relationships with children.

6. Michael Jackson died from a painkiller overdose in 2009. His doctor

was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prior to his death,
50-year-old Jackson was rehearsing for This Is It, a sold-out concert
series in London. Before he died, Michael Jackson left a voice recording
on his doctor’s phone: “When people leave my show, I want them to
say, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this in my life…He’s the greatest
entertainer in the world.’”

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 Michael Jackson
Famous People

Comprehension
A. Quiz Your Partner B. Timeline

Student A asks questions 1–3. Place the following in chronological order (1–8).
Student B asks questions 4–6.
Don’t look at the reading as you answer. The Jackson 5 became
a popular Motown group.
1. Name one of Michael Jackson’s hit songs.
The “Moonwalk” became a popular dance move.
2. What is the “Moonwalk” referred to as in this reading?
Michael began rehearsing
3. What problems did Michael Jackson have in the ‘90s? for the This Is It tour.
4. Why did Michael Jackson enjoy Neverland? Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley.
5. What types of exotic pets did Michael Jackson keep? Blanket, Michael’s third child, was born.
6. Who was partly to blame for Michael Jackson’s death? Michael Jackson died of a drug overdose.

Michael Jackson’s kindergarten

teacher noticed Michael’s talent.

Michael Jackson started his solo career.

Vocabulary Review
Choose the word that doesn’t belong in each group.

1. a) solo 3. a) biological 5. a) odd 7. a) debut

b) alone b) manslaughter b) foreign b) make up for
c) custody c) murder c) exotic c) fix
d) oneself d) kill d) signature d) compensate

2. a) tabloid 4. a) blood 6. a) gift

b) gossip b) related b) specialty
c) news c) tabloid c) talent
d) childhood d) biological d) take off

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 Michael Jackson
Famous People

Research Fact or Fiction?

THE GLOVE Guess whether the following
statements are fact or fiction.
What do you know
about Michael 1. All of the profits from the “Man in the Mirror” single went to charity.
Jackson’s “glitter
2. Lisa Marie Presley is Paris Jackson’s mother.
glove”? What do
you want to know? 3. Michael Jackson played the Tin Man in an
Use your phone, African-American version of The Wizard of Oz.
the Internet, or an
4. Michael Jackson playfully hung one of his children off a balcony.
MJ fan to find out three interesting
facts about “the glove.” Share your 5. Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson wrote “We are the World.”
research with the class.
6. Michael Jackson was raised as a Catholic.

7. Michael Jackson was a vegetarian.

8. An autopsy confirmed that MJ suffered from vitiligo.

Discussion
Michael Jackson had a signature glove and a signature dance move.
Which famous people have the following?

# Signature... Name Describe It

1 smile

2 hairdo

3 mustache

4 phrase

5 eyes

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 Michael Jackson
Famous People

Pair Activity
TABLOID REPORTER

Imagine you are a journalist for Hello,               . I’m               ,

a tabloid newspaper. Write some reporting from the               News.
questions for one of Michael Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?
Jackson’s family members. Try
to use at least one word from 1.
the vocabulary list (on page 1) in
2.
each question. Find a partner and
take turns pretending to be the 3.
reporter and the family member.
4.
Michael’s family members include
sisters, brothers, parents, and 5.
children. What is the name of
your tabloid paper?

Class Activity
Work together to write an acrostic poem about Michael Jackson.

Example: Class Poem:

M J M
I ‘ll Be There I
C hild at heart C
H and in a glove H
A lways dancing A
E arned a lot of money E
L oved the “Moonwalk” L

J anet is his sister J

A lways breaking records A
C himpanzee lover C
K ids have interesting names K
S old millions of albums S
O ne of a kind O
N everland no more N

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 Michael Jackson
Famous People

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Intermediate

In this lesson, students read a brief history of the “King of Pop.” TIME: 1.5–2 hours
They review vocabulary and pretend to be tabloid reporters.
TAGS:  M ichael Jackson, King of Pop, American, US,
An optional online research activity is included.
celebrity, music, glove, poem, reporter, tabloid

Pre-Reading Comprehension

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS A. QUIZ YOUR PARTNER

Individual answers. 1. Hit songs that are mentioned are “ABC,” “I Want You Back,”
“I’ll Be There,” “Billie Jean,” and “Thriller.” Many other songs
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW may be mentioned.
2. The “Moonwalk” is referred to as
1. f 3. c 5. d 7. k 9. a 11. i
Michael Jackson’s signature dance move.
2. g 4. e 6. h 8. j 10. l 12. b
3. In the 1990s, Michael Jackson had relationship problems, health
problems, legal problems, and problems with tabloid reporters.
Quick Facts
4. Michael Jackson enjoyed Neverland because
it let him be a kid again. He said he missed
Name: Michael Jackson
his childhood because he was busy being a star.
Nickname: The Gloved One / The King of Pop
5. Michael Jackson kept pets like llamas, snakes, and a chimp.
Nationality: American
(Other pets such as tigers are not mentioned in the reading.)
Born: August 29, 1958
6. Michael Jackson’s doctor was charged
Died: June 25, 2009
with involuntary manslaughter.
Best Known For: his music, being eccentric

B. TIMELINE

2 The Jackson 5 became a popular Motown group.

4 The Moonwalk became a popular dance move.
7 Michael began rehearsing for the This Is It Tour.
5 Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley.
6 Blanket, Michael’s third child, was born.
8 Michael Jackson died of a drug overdose.
1 Michael Jackson’s kindergarten teacher noticed Michael’s talent.
3 Michael Jackson started his solo career.

(continued on the next page...)

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 Michael Jackson
Famous People

Answer Key cont.

Vocabulary Review SPELLING NOTES:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Mustache

1. c 2. d 3. a 4. c 5. d 6. d 7. a
and Practice. Most other English-speaking countries spell
these words this way: Moustache and Practise (when used as
Research a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make it a challenge for
your students to find these words in the lesson and see if they
Answers will vary. know the alternate spellings.

Fact or Fiction

You can invite your students to do some research to

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

1. Fact
2. Fiction Paris Jackson’s mother was Debbie Rowe.
3. Fiction He played the Scarecrow.
4. Fact
5. Fact
6. Fiction He was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness.
7. Questionable He called himself a vegetarian, but
his friends said he sometimes ate meat.
8. Fact

Discussion

Answers will vary.

Pair Activity

Answers will vary.

Class Activity

Answers will vary.

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