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Lesson Plan: Writing Academic Raps

Lesson Plan: Writing Academic Raps

* How To Write Vocabulary Rhymes * Many students say that memorizing vocabulary words is a struggle, so we designed a simple lesson plan to help students learn, master and retain difficult vocabulary by writing a rhyme. This exercise can be done while a beat is playing (free beats are available here) or without music. Step 1. Choose Your Vocab Word and Pre-teach In this case, let’s use the word vain – an SAT-level vocabulary word that students might have to grapple with as early as middle school. A.    Teach the word and the definition: Vain (adj.) too proud, into…

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The Hip-Hop Game Of Skillz

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…

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Julius Caesar Rap In A Quick Minute

Julius Caesar Rap in a Quick Minute

Better than Flocab? Have any students who listen to one of our songs and say, "not bad, but I could do better"? Well, three such students at Lindenwold High School in New Jersey heard "Three Times," our version of Marc Antony's famous speech in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and decided to take the challenge. So Booshon, John, and Kyle spent a weekend writing and recording their version of the famous speech. The result is pretty incredible. Lyrics: Friends, lend me your ear for a quick minute! Romans, lend me your ear for a quick minute! Countrymen, lend me your ear for…

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Rappers Are Millionaires (Not!)

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…

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Obama’s Inauguration As Teaching Moment

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.…

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