Which generation are you from? –
FREE ELT Worksheet Activity
Download the three worksheets:
- Which generation are you from? – Reference Page
- Which generation are you from? – Activity (Gap-Fill)
- Which generation are you from? – Activity (Info)
Study the gap-fill page and try to predict the missing information, using the internet as a resource. Then match the sentences from the info page to the gaps. Check your answers with the reference page. Then discuss the information. Which generation are you from? Do you agree with the given info? What would you add or change?
Extension: choose vocabulary items from the reference page – e.g. nuclear stalemate and climate crisis – and discuss them with a partner or small group.
Baby Boom Generation: Born 1946-64
Baby Boom Generation: Born 1946-64Aged: 59-77 years old
Famous People: Bill Clinton (b. 1946)
Buzzwords: ‘turn on, tune in, drop out’
Key Events: Cold War; Arms Race; Vietnam War; McCarthy era; Civil Rights; independence of colonies; Summer of Love (1967); the pill (1967); 2nd wave of feminism; equal pay; abortion rights
Social: hippies in the 60s, yuppies in the 80s; provoked real, lasting change
Family: larger families – 3-4 children; more women stayed at home as homemakers
Music: the birth of rock’n’roll; psychedelia; pop music developed; Motown
Tech: TV (three channels); space race; now use Facebook only
Typical Attributes: optimistic; consumerist; activist; workaholic; personal growth
Advantages: could buy a house for a low price; free university education; no world wars; no climate hysteria; parents stayed together
Disadvantages: draft still existed; enormous public and private debt; no internet
Summary: ‘Lucky Generation’
Generation X / Forgotten Generation: Born 1965-80
Generation X / Forgotten Generation: Born 1965-80Aged: 43-58 years old
Famous People: Elon Musk (b. 1971)
Buzzwords: ‘no future’
Key Events: three-day week; mass unemployment; strikes; Fall of Communism; blockbuster movies; nuclear stalemate (MAD); Challenger disaster (1986)
Social: 3rd wave of feminism; rise of plastic surgery
Family: family planning = smaller families; both parents at work all day = ‘latchkey generation’
Music: punk, MTV, electronic music, rave, vinyl, cassettes, CDs
Tech: birth of the PC, video games, internet; home video; satellites
Typical Attributes: rebellious; mistrust of authority; sceptical; adaptable
Advantages: developed self-reliance; last fully analogue generation; developed digital tools for future generations
Disadvantages: student loans; fear of nuclear holocaust; fear of sex (HIV/AIDS)
Summary: ‘Bleak Generation’
Millennial Generation / Generation Y: Born 1981-96
Millennial Generation / Generation Y: Born 1981-96Aged: 27-42 years old
Famous People: Beyoncé (b.1981)
Buzzwords: ‘everyone’s a winner’
Key Events: 9-11; wars in the Middle East; Global Financial Crisis (2007-08); mass immigration; EEC becomes EU (1993)
Social: rise of gay rights; open to collaborate widely
Family: first ‘planned’ generation = most wanted generation
Music: downloads > iPod > iPhone > streaming; festival and concertgoers
Tech: birth of the internet, email; social media; video calling
Typical Attributes: spoilt; mollycoddled; over-protected; opinionated; liberal
Advantages: more university places; strong work ethic; entrepreneurs; team players; flexible working patterns
Disadvantages: more parents got divorced; high cost of credit; heavy student debt; fear of global warming
Summary: ‘ME Generation’
Generation Z: Born 1997-2012
Generation Z: Born 1997-2012Aged: 11-26 years old
Famous People: Olivia Rodrigo (b.2003)
Buzzwords: ‘alone in the world’
Key Events: rise of Wokeism; cancel culture; Brexit (2016); COVID-19; Russia-Ukraine war; climate crisis; rising food prices; migration crisis
Social: rise of trans rights; vaping; #MeToo; glued to smartphones
Family: flexible family structures; marriage not a must; fewer family dinners than previous generations
Music: TikTok; Instagram; genre fusion; Spotify; streaming
Tech: rise of AI; cyber-bullying; Netflix; streaming video; e-scooters
Typical Attributes: socially active; green-minded; tolerant towards minorities
Advantages: constant connection to the internet; enjoy fun experiences; tech experts; many years ahead
Disadvantages: lost years of education; little chance of buying a home/car; mental health issues ; loneliness; fear of environmental devastation; stress about work security
Summary: ‘Detached Generation’
Earlier and Later Generations
<< The Greatest / GI Generation: Born 1901-27
<< Silent Generation: Born 1928-45
Generation Alpha: Born 2013-25 >>
References:
American Generations | C-SPAN Classroom
2022 Generation Names Explained – CareGivers of America
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