Barack Obama

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?

3. Did Obama accomplish any major goals in his first presidential term?

B. CHART
On the back of your page, create an OBAMA CHART.
Write at least two points under each heading:
THINGS I KNOW ABOUT OBAMA
THINGS I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT OBAMA

C. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

___ 1. maternal a) to take up permanent residence

___ 2. settle b) the people who run an

organization or business
QUICK FACTS
___ 3. law firm c) a business where one or more
lawyers work Name: Barack Hussein Obama
___ 4. take off
Born in: ___________
d) to completely change something
___ 5. gain media attention Famous Slogan of the first
e) to pay for another’s mistakes Obama Campaign:
___ 6. administration ___________________________
f) related to the mother
Political Party:
___ 7. reform
g) to give someone ___________________________
acknowledgment for their work
___ 8. bail out First _________ American Presi-
h) to become well known in the dent
___ 9. credit news
Quote:
___ 10. campaign i) to attempt to persuade voters to “We are the ones we have been
choose a certain party/leader
waiting for.” - Barack Obama
j) to suddenly grow or go

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 Barack Obama
Famous People

Barack Obama
As a young child, Barack Obama was known as “Barry.” His mother
was from Kansas, and his father was from Kenya. Barack’s parents
met at the University of Hawaii, but divorced shortly after he was
born. For a few years, Barack lived with his mother and stepfather in
Indonesia. At the age of ten, he moved back to Hawaii to live with his
maternal grandparents. After high school, Barack attended university
in Los Angeles and New York City. He settled in Chicago, Illinois
and began working as a community organizer.

As a young graduate, Barack Obama helped rebuild communities. In

1988, he attended Harvard Law School, and became the editor, and
then president, of the Harvard Law Review. In the summers, he
worked at a law firm where he met his wife Michelle. The couple
married in 1992, and had two daughters, Malia and Natasha (Sasha).

Obama’s political career took off in 1996 when he was elected to the COMPREHENSION ✍
A.TRUE, FALSE, or NOT MENTIONED
Illinois State Senate. His strong speaking skills helped him gain
media attention, and he was elected to the United States Senate in 1. Barack Obama was an only child.

2004. In 2008, with only four years of national political experience,

Barack Obama ran for president and won. On January 20th, 2009, at 2. Barack Obama went to university on
the age of 47, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United the mainland of the US.
States. This was a historic day because it was the first time an African
American had ever become the leader of the United States.
3. Barack and Michelle Obama’s younger
daughter is often referred to as “Sasha.”
From 2009–2012, Obama’s 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 4. Barack Obama was inaugurated in
Laden, and for bringing troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. November 2008.
Critics say that Obama did not create enough jobs. When addressing
his nation in the 2012 campaign, President Obama admitted that the
5. The Obama administration rescued
American economy did not recover under his leadership. However, America’s failing auto industry.
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 and is currently serving his second term.

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 Barack Obama
Famous People
B. MATCHING
Create complete sentences by matching the text from both columns.

1. Barack Obama met his wife ____ a) of the Harvard Law Review.
2. Malia and Sasha are ____ b) four years of national political experience.
3. Some people don’t believe that ____ c) to end the war in Iraq.
4. Barack Obama was once the editor ____ d) Barack Obama in the 2012 election.
5. The Obama administration ____ e) while working at a summer job.
6. It was important to Barack Obama ____ f) Barack and Michelle’s daughters.
7. In 2008, Barack Obama only had ____ g) Barack Obama was born in Hawaii.
8. Mitt Romney was campaigning against ____ h) reformed healthcare in America.

VOCABULARY REVIEW
THE FIRST OR NOT?
Group the following words together to make six
English words or expressions. Write an example Guess whether Barack Obama was the
sentence for each one. first US president to do the following.
Write YES or NO as your teacher
reads these statements out loud. Your
out - grandparents - law teacher will share the real answers.
Which student deserves to be class
bail - against - media president?
campaign - maternal - gain
firm - off - took - attention 1. First US president to ever have a personal Facebook page _____

2. First US president to have a twitter account _____

1. ______________________________________ 3. First US president to write a book _____

________________________________________ 4. First US president to sign a law into effect with an autopen _____
2. ______________________________________ 5. First US president to win the Nobel Peace Prize _____
________________________________________
6. First sitting US president to appear on a daytime talk show, and a
3. ______________________________________ late-night comedy show _____
________________________________________
7. First African American president _____
4. ______________________________________
8. First US senator to be elected president of the US _____
________________________________________
9. First US president to celebrate Diwali* at the White House _____
5._______________________________________

________________________________________ 10. First US president to brew his own beer in the White House
m _____
6._______________________________________
*Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights.
________________________________________

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 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 don’t 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

2. “I don’t oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war.”

Barack Obama, Chicago Rally, 2002

3. “A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good

piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, ‘Huh. It works. It makes sense.’ ”
Barack Obama, The New Yorker, 2004

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 Obama vs. Romney
means? Do you agree?
b. Politicians are known for delivering cheap shots during campaigns. What is a The day before the
cheap shot? Does Barack Obama use this tactic? election, headlines were
calling this political race a
c. How important is it for you to share the same religious beliefs as the leader of “dead heat”. Find out
your country? what this idiom means
d. Should the leader of a country have experience living in a foreign country? and what the origin is.
Here are some more to
e. In one of his books, Barack Obama admitted to doing drugs in his youth. Do you
learn:
think this was a wise confession?
f. Elizabeth Cheney said this about Barack Obama: “A gift for reading from a ★down to the wire
teleprompter is not the same as leadership.” What did she mean? Do you agree? ★to win, hands down
g. After signing the Affordable Health Care Act legislation, the government
created an information website called “Reality Check.” What is a reality check? Hint: Check out our blog!
Why do you think the administration used this term? esl-library.com/blog

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.

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 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 Obama’s 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.
THE FIRST OR NOT?
4. False. Barack Obama was inaugurated on January 20th, 2009.
Consider giving a prize or “Class
5. True. President” badge to the person
who guesses the most answers
B. MATCHING correctly.

1. e 2. f 3. g 4. a 5. h 6. c 7. b 8. d 1. YES
2. YES
3. NO
4. YES
VOCABULARY REVIEW 5. NO
Example sentences will vary. 6. YES
7. YES
1. bail out 8. NO
2. maternal grandparents 9. YES
10. YES
3. law firm
4. campaign against Tiebreaker: Malia Obama was
born on an important day. What
5. gain media attention day was she born on?
6. took off Answer: Fourth of July (1988)

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.

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