SONG ACTIVITY – Thunder

by Imagine Dragons

Name: Group: Date: / /

1. Work in pairs. Discuss these questions.

a. Think of a dream you had when you were a child. Did it come
true? Do you think it will ever come true? Why (not)?
b. Sometimes adults discourage children from having dreams.
What do you think about this?

2. The underlined words in the sentences are important to understand the lyrics of the song
Thunder, by Imagine Dragons. Match them to their meaning.

a. Little kids should always sit in the back seat of a car, wearing a safety belt.
b. The audience cheered and clapped at the end of the concert.
c. I’m afraid the TV doesn’t fit the box you bought. We’ll need a larger one to transport it.
d. Leave Buddy at home. You can’t let dogs loose on the beach.
e. I couldn’t see Madonna… I’ll never ever sit in the nosebleed section again.
f. The thieves were ready to light the fuse to explode the door when the police arrived.
g. Be careful when talking to Jake. He gets uptight easily when he’s close to his exams.

[ ] hit the palms of your hands against each other to show approval
[ ] set something or someone free
[ ] behaving in an angry way, usually because the person is nervous or anxious
[ ] the highest seats of public arena, usually far from the stage
[ ] a piece of string that, when lit, burns slowly to make a bomb explode
[ ] the rear seat in a car, behind the driver and the passenger’s seats
[ ] be the right size of a container

3. Now  listen to the song. Choose the line that is sung in each case.

A B
a. [ ] I was uptight, wanna let loose [ ] I was upset, I was confused
b. [ ] I said “yes sir”, I’m a follower [ ] Not a “yes sir”, not a follower
c. [ ] Fit the box, fit the mold [ ] Fill the box, fill the mold
d. [ ] I was laughing because of the [ ] I was lightning before the thunder
thunder
e. [ ] Kids were playing in my classes [ ] Kids were laughing in my classes
f. [ ] Who do you think you are? [ ] Who do you think I am?
g. [ ] Wondering about being a rock star [ ] Dreaming about being a big star
h. [ ] You’re always riding in the back [ ] You’re always sleeping in your room
seat
i. [ ] You are clapping in the nosebleeds [ ] You are happy in the nosebleeds
j. [ ] Thunder, hear the thunder [ ] Thunder, feel the thunder
 SONG ACTIVITY – Thunder
by Imagine Dragons

4.  Listen to the song again. Check (✓) the best meaning for the words in bold in each
sentence. The word meanings in Activity 2 will help you.

a. Just a young gun, with a quick fuse.

[ ] a short temper, getting angry very easily [ ] very few opportunities in life

b. I was uptight, wanna let loose.

[ ] play games [ ] behave in an uncontrolled way

c. Not a yes sir, not a follower.

[ ] I’m a very calm and controlled person. [ ] I don’t recognize authority.

d. Fit the box, fit the mold.

[ ] conform to people’s expectations [ ] use your creativity

e. You’re always riding in the back seat.

[ ] taking control of your life [ ] accepting a less important position

f. Now I’m smiling from the stage. / While you were clapping in the nosebleeds.
[ ] in your living room, at home [ ] at the highest and farthest seats from the stage

5. Discuss the questions with your teacher and classmates.

a. Do you know any stories of people who were laughed at for their dreams and became
successful later in life?
b. In your opinion, how should we react to people who don’t believe or make fun of our
dreams?
 SONG ACTIVITY – Thunder
by Imagine Dragons

TEACHER’S NOTES

Target audience (age): Ensino Médio.

Aims: Explore the comprehension of the lyrics. Expand vocabulary, working with literal and
figurative meanings of words and expressions.
Duration: 50 min.
Organization: individual work and in groups.
Material: worksheet(s).
Preparation: make copies of the worksheet(s) (1 per student). Check the website with the
song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKopy74weus).
Procedure:
Pre-listening (Activities 1 and 2)
• Warm up students by asking if they know the band Imagine Dragons and their songs.
Imagine Dragons
Imagine Dragons is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, consisting of
lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, lead guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist and keyboardist
Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. They are famous for songs as “It’s Time”
and “Radioactive”. “Thunder” is the second single from the band’s third album,
Evolve. It was launched in April, 2017.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagine_Dragons
• Hand out the worksheet(s). Tell students that, before listening to the song, they’re
going to do some activities to discuss the theme of the song and work with vocabulary
that will help them understand the lyrics.
• Organize students into pairs for Activity 1. First, go through the questions with the whole
class. Then, have students discuss them. When they are finished, encourage some
students to share their ideas with the whole class.  Answer(s): personal answers.
• In Activity 2, have students match the underlined words to their meaning. Point out that
the context, given by the sentence, will help them do the task.  Answer(s): b.; d.; g.;
e.; c.; f.; a.; c.
Listening (Activities 3 and 4)
• In Activity 3,  play the song for students to order the lines. Encourage them to
compare their answers with a classmate’s. Check answers with the whole class. 
Answer(s): a. A; b. B; c. A; d. B; e. B; f. A; g. B; h. A; i. A; j. B.
• Before playing the song again in Activity 4, allow students some time to read the lines.
Make sure they notice that many of the words and expressions in bold were dealt with
in Activity 2, but that now their meaning is figurative rather than literal. Point out that
the meanings in the previous task will help them do this one. Then,  play the song.
Let students compare their answers with a partner. Check answers with the whole class.
Note 1: “a quick fuse” is a variation of the more common expression “a short fuse”. If
you find it convenient, point out that this expression has a literal translation in
Portuguese (“pavio curto”).
Note 2: “In the United States and Canada, the nosebleed section (or nosebleed seats)
are the seats of a public arena, usually an athletic stadium or gymnasium, that are
highest and, usually, farthest from the desired activity. […] The reference alludes to the
 SONG ACTIVITY – Thunder
by Imagine Dragons

propensity for nasal hemorrhage at high altitudes, usually owing to lower barometric
pressure.”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosebleed_section
 Answer(s): a. a short temper, getting angry very easily; b. behave in an uncontrolled
way; c. I don’t recognize authority; d. conform to people’s expectations; e. accepting a
less important position; f. at the highest and farthest seats from the stage.
After listening (Activity 5)
• Hold a discussion with the whole class in Activity 6.  Answer(s): personal answers.
Note: for some inspiring stories of famous people who haven’t quit pursuing their
dreams, check http://motivationgrid.com/famous-people-who-never-give-up and
http://www.careers24.com/career-advice/work-life/famous-people-who-first-failed-
miserably-20151230
Wrap up activity
• Students sing along with the song.