Lessons and Ideas Archives

April 23, 2009
Flocabulary Team

The Hip-Hop Game of Skillz

That's right: A hip-hop board game that educates players about the history of the genre and the culture intertwined with it, connects "rap culture slang" to standard English, and more. Learn more about this innovative and engaging (and educational) game here. How did we find out about this? Folks connected to the Hip-Hop Skillz creators reached out to us! Here's what Shon wrote: "I enjoyed looking at all the work other educators are doing to use hip-hop as an engaging tool to embrace youth culture and get them involved more actively in the learning process. I noticed you did not…

Read on!

February 17, 2009
Flocabulary Team

Rappers are Millionaires (Not!)

Another great, complete lesson plan from Daniel D. Zarazua, this one uses the complexities of the "rich rapper" myth to address various topics related to microeconomics. It also gets students thinking critically about portrayals of wealth in the media, and about how economic principals can affect their lives in unexpected ways. Mr. Zarazua writes, "I've use it in different contexts, but students analyze constructions of 'wealth' as presented in music videos, concepts such as supply and demand, monopolies, distribution, and costs of living." This lesson plan is a great way to connect with students' "out-of-school" interests and expertise to teach…

Read on!

January 13, 2009
Flocabulary Team

Obama’s Inauguration as Teaching Moment

A powerful and historic moment will occur next week when Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the first African-American to become the President of the United States. Obama’s inauguration provides a rich teaching opportunity for educating students on a variety of topics from speech-making to civics, from the history of African-Americans in the White House to the plans of Obama’s administration. Lesson plans can get students to parse the vocabulary of the oath of office. While MSNBC provides an overview of the history of African Americans in the White House: From builders and slaves to guests to residents.…

Read on!

January 12, 2009
blake

Pre-Test Jitters? Try a Pep Rally!

With the increased importance on high-stakes standardized tests in recent years, lots of teachers find themselves devoting more and more time to test preparation. You can teach students how to take the test, but what do you do for all those students who find test-taking a nerve-racking experience? One unique solution that we've seen in action: Have a pre-test pep rally. Two members of the Flocabulary crew (Blake and Vlad) had a chance to participate in an amazing pep rally this morning to kick off the ELA tests that start tomorrow in New York. At PS 40Q, an elementary school…

Read on!

December 12, 2008
Flocabulary Team

Hip-Hop Geography Game

Hip-Hop related trivia as a tool for teaching geography? Absolutely. Daniel D. Zarazua - a teacher at Oakland Unity High School - created this incredible excercise, which quizzes students on their geography skills by connecting Hip-Hop artists, groups, and history to places and cultures from around the globe. With 31 questions, an answer key, and suggested lesson plan, this is the best Hip-Hop Geography exercise I've seen yet. Mr. Zarazua's site has a wealth of advanced ideas for integrating Hip-Hop into your classroom and more. Hip-Hop Geography Exercise

Read on!