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star pictureTHE ARTICLE

Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, serving one term in office. He was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, New York and died of heart failure in 1862. His father was a tavern keeper and farmer. Van Buren was the first president born as a citizen of the U.S.A., as all previous presidents were born before the American Revolution.

Van Buren studied law and entered New York politics at the age of 17. He faithfully fulfilled his official duties for a decade and a half. His skill at gathering support for his party earned him the nickname “The Little Magician”. In 1821, he was elected to the United States Senate representing New York. President Andrew Jackson rewarded Van Buren’s loyalty by appointing him Secretary of State in 1829.

Van Buren’s rise to the Presidency continued in 1833 when he was appointed Andrew Jackson’s Vice President. Van Buren was President Jackson’s first choice to take over from him from 1837. He easily won the 1836 election. Van Buren devoted his Inaugural Address to explaining how the American experiment and its prosperity was an example to the rest of the world.

His Presidency was largely dominated by the recession that followed the “Panic of 1837”. Hundreds of banks and businesses failed. Thousands lost their land. It was the worst depression to hit America in its short history. Many blamed him for it and nicknamed him "Martin Van Ruin". He was voted out of office in 1840 and was an unsuccessful candidate for President as an independent in 1848. He died in 1862.

Article adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/martinvanburen

         
         From www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents

star picture LISTENING GAP FILL

Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, serving _______________________. He was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, New York and _______________________ in 1862. His father was a tavern keeper and farmer. Van Buren was the first president _______________________ the U.S.A., as all previous presidents were born before the American Revolution.

Van Buren studied law and entered New York politics at the age of 17. He faithfully fulfilled his official duties for _______________________. His _______________________ for his party earned him the nickname “The Little Magician”. In 1821, he was elected to the United States Senate representing New York. President Andrew Jackson rewarded Van Buren’s _______________________ him Secretary of State in 1829.

Van Buren’s rise to the Presidency continued in 1833 when he was appointed Andrew Jackson’s Vice President. Van Buren was President Jackson’s first _______________________ from him from 1837. He easily won the 1836 election. Van Buren _______________________ Address to explaining how the American experiment and its _______________________ to the rest of the world.

His Presidency was _______________________ the recession that followed the “Panic of 1837”. Hundreds of banks and businesses failed. Thousands lost their land. It was the _______________________ hit America in its short history. Many blamed him for it and nicknamed him "Martin Van Ruin". He was voted out of office in 1840 and was _______________________ for President as an independent in 1848. He died in 1862.


star picture  CORRECT THE SPELLING

Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, serving one term in ffcoie. He was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, New York and died of heart iualerf in 1862. His father was a tavern keeper and farmer. Van Buren was the first president born as a zitneci of the U.S.A., as all previous presidents were born before the American Revolution.

Van Buren studied law and nreetde New York politics at the age of 17. He faithfully fulfilled his official duties for a eeaddc and a half. His skill at gathering support for his party earned him the nickname “The Little Magician”. In 1821, he was elected to the United States Senate representing New York. President Andrew Jackson ddrareew Van Buren’s loyalty by appointing him Secretary of State in 1829.

Van Buren’s rise to the Presidency continued in 1833 when he was dpoteainp Andrew Jackson’s Vice President. Van Buren was President Jackson’s first choice to take over from him from 1837. He easily won the 1836 election. Van Buren deetvod his Inaugural Address to explaining how the American experiment and its prosperity was an elxmape to the rest of the world.

His Presidency was largely dominated by the recession that llweofdo the “Panic of 1837”. Hundreds of banks and businesses failed. Thousands lost their land. It was the worst depression to hit America in its short rsyoiht. Many blamed him for it and nicknamed him "Martin Van Ruin". He was voted out of office in 1840 and was an unsuccessful idtdcaaen for President as an independent in 1848. He died in 1862.


star picture  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, serving one term in office. He was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, 1862 of New heart York failure and in died. His father was a tavern keeper and farmer. Van Buren was the president U citizen born A of as first S the a., as all previous before the American Revolution presidents were born.

Van Buren studied law and entered New York politics at the age of 17. a for duties official his fulfilled faithfully He decade and a half. His for support gathering at skill earned party his him the nickname “The Little Magician”. In 1821, he was elected to the United States Senate representing New York. President Andrew loyalty Buren’s Van rewarded Jackson by appointing him Secretary of State in 1829.

in continued Presidency the to rise Buren’s Van 1833 when he was appointed Andrew Jackson’s Vice President. Van Buren was President Jackson’s him to from take 1837 over first from choice. He easily won the 1836 election. Van Buren devoted his Inaugural Address to explaining how the American experiment and its example an was prosperity world the of rest the to.

His Presidency by recession was dominated the that largely followed the “Panic of 1837”. Hundreds of banks and businesses failed. Thousands lost their land. It was the worst depression to hit history short its in America. Many blamed him for it and nicknamed him "Martin Van Ruin". He was voted out of office in 1840 candidate President was unsuccessful for and an as an independent in 1848. He died in 1862.


star picture  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________


star picture  STUDENT MARTIN VAN BUREN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Martin Van Buren in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

star picture  WRITING

Write about Martin Van Buren for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

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star picture  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about Martin Van Buren. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Martin Van Buren. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. MARTIN VAN BUREN POSTER Make a poster about Martin Van Buren. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY MARTIN VAN BUREN LESSON: Make your own English lesson on Martin Van Buren. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on Martin Van Buren. Share your findings with the class.

star picture ANSWERS

    You can check your answers to these activities by looking at the article at the top of this page.

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