Song Activity This used to be my playground

by Madonna
Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone; August 16, 1958) is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The song This used to be my playground was written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone. Released in the summer of 1992, the single was a worldwide hit, spending one week at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in August 1992, and became Madonna's tenth song to top the charts. It is the theme song for the film A League of Their Own, which starred Madonna as well as Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Rosie O'Donnell.

1.

VOCABULARY Children pastimes. Look at the following childhood activities and classify them into the corresponding category. Can you think of other games?

Play hopscotch

Jump the rope

Play Tag and Chase

Play with Tops

Play with dolls

Play with marbles

Play with Hula Hoops Boys only

Play Hide and Seek Girls only

Play with yo-yos Both

Play clapping games

2.

LISTENING AND GRAMMAR Word order. Unscramble the following sentences. Then listen and check. For example: Playground/used/This/be/to/my This used to be my playground a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. dream/my/This/childhood/used/be/to ______________________________________________________________ to/ran/used/place/This/to/the/be/I ________________________________________________________________ was/Whenever/need/in/friend/a/of/I _______________________________________________________________ end?/it/did/to/have/Why ________________________________________________________________________ always/they/do/say?/why/And ____________________________________________________________________ back/look/Dont ________________________________________________________________________________ high/Keep/head/your/held _______________________________________________________________________ why/ask/them/Dont ___________________________________________________________________________ is/short/Life/because ___________________________________________________________________________ know/you/And/before __________________________________________________________________________ old/Youre/feeling _____________________________________________________________________________ heart/your/breaking/is/And ______________________________________________________________________ hold/Dont/on/past/the/to _______________________________________________________________________ ask/much/too/Well/to/thats _____________________________________________________________________
Activity prepared by Francisco Carrizo Zirit May 2010

3.

LISTENING Sentence order. Listen to the song and order the lines. This used to be my playground This used to be my childhood dream This used to be the place I ran to Whenever I was in need of a friend Why did it have to end? And why do they always say? Don't look back Keep your head held high Don't ask them why Because life is short And before you know You're feeling old And your heart is breaking Don't hold on to the past Well that's too much to ask This used to be my playground [used to be] This used to be my childhood dream This used to be the place I ran to Whenever I was in need of a friend Why did it have to end? And why do they always say? And that little fire Is still alive in me Well the years they flew It will never go away Can't say goodbye to yesterday (can't say goodbye) We were foolish then Live and learn And we never knew We would never tire This used to be my playground [used to be] This used to be my childhood dream This used to be the place I ran to Whenever I was in need of a friend Why did it have to end? And why do they always say? I can see your face Well then there's hope yet Those are words I'll never say [I'll never say] No regrets Were here with me But I wish that you You're not just a memory Say goodbye to yesterday In our secret place This used to be our playground [used to be] This used to be our pride and joy This used to be the place we ran to That no one in the world could dare destroy

This used to be our playground [used to be] This used to be our childhood dream This used to be the place we ran to The best things in life are always free Wishing you were here with me Discussion and comprehension a. Is the song about good memories or bad memories? b. Was the playground a safe or a dangerous place to be? c. What did the singer do in the playground? d. How does the singer feel now?

Activity prepared by Francisco Carrizo Zirit May 2010