This was the first website I explored, which talks about the history of rap music, as well as how it can be integrated in the classroom.
http://hiphopclassroom.com/ - This site is AWESOME!! It shows multiple ways to use hip hop while teaching vocabulary. Students have also changed famous speeches into rap as well to better understand it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxlwYP0HNdc - A youtube phenomenon...a group of students changed the lyrics from "Whatever you like" by artist T.I to explore the presidential election, going into detail about both McCain and Obama's campaign. Absolutely fantastic!
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/classroom/transcend.htm - Student look at various types of music (jazz, hip hop, and rap) from different periods of time. They look at messages, themes, and topics within the lyrics to learn about the lifestyle and culture within that time period.
http://trailfire.com/mathorpe/trailview/66847 - Using rap to teach poetry; this site provides other links and resources for teachers on how to integrate rap and hip hop into the classroom.
Assignment 1
Class: Creative Writing - poetry unit
**Looking at various poetic devices and the purposes they serve.
Procedure:
Students will:
1. receive a handout with various types of poetic devices (terms), along with their definition.
2. read over the devices and their definitions as a class
3. listen to a song / read the lyrics (song choice is up to instructor) - for this one I'd choose "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.
4. identify 3 poetic devices and state their purpose (as a class).
5. then look at a free verse poem (poem is up to instructor) -
**This serves as an entry point for studying poetic devices. Students are already familiar with music, therefore it appears less daunting than poetry...whose term along carries a lot of weight.
Assignment 2
Class: Creative Writing
(Could take 2 weeks)
Students will brainstorm struggles/issues that individuals and/or society is facing today. Rather than constructing a poem, students will have the choice to take a song and substitue their own lyrics with the beat.
Materials:
- "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson
- "Vote However you Like" video clip
- Paper / writing utensil
- imove / computers
Procedure:
Students will:
1. listen to/watch video for "Man in the Mirror" and watch "Vote However You Like" on youtube in class.
2. discuss the message being presented in the lyrics, as well as its relevancy.
3. choose one of the topics we brainstormed earlier (or a different one if they choose) and create a song to go along with the beat of their song.
4. Questions to consider when constructing your song / message
- Who is your audience?
- What purpose is this song serving? What is the meaning/message??
- Is it relevant to today?
- What poetic devices could you use?
5. After creating their lyrics, students would then use imovie to create a video, using images to add to the meaning of their song. If they do not want to sing, they could simply have the lyrics displayed on the screen...corresponding with the beat.
Music is a universal language...why not spread your message through it?
Hi, Jamie.
ReplyDeleteI like this lesson for a few reasons. First, it neatly ties what some students may consider "boring" (poetic devices) to an engaging assignment.
Second, it integrates an excellent example of student work, giving the class an idea of what is possible.
Third, it requires the students to consider the audience and not just write/create whatever they feel like doing. Similarly, it requires that they consider meaning an purpose, something students are rarely confronted with in high school, unless they take a kick-ass humanities course.
Finally, I like having them use iMovie. It is quickly becoming a required skill, and those who do not get an opportunity to do it at school, may either get left behind or have to play catch-up quickly once they are in college.