Student Voice Rap Contest 2024: Meet the winners and finalists
We’re excited to announce the winners and finalists for Flocabulary’s 2024 Student Voice Rap Contest! We invited students to research and write lyrics about a historical figure they felt a connection to or were interested in learning more about. This year, we received over 130 submissions from parents and teachers on behalf of their students!
What is Flocabulary’s Student Voice Rap Contest?
The Student Voice Rap Contest gives learners a platform to express themselves, share their voices, and showcase their creativity and skills. It’s a chance for students to get inspired and connect to the world around them and their identities and interests.
After reviewing and scoring each and every student lyric submission, nine finalists from elementary and secondary grades were asked to send a video of themselves performing their songs. The two winning students will have their lyrics turned into a Flocabulary lesson, will be featured in the lesson video, and will meet the rappers and artists contributing to the lesson. Winning lessons will be published in April 2025, during National Poetry Month, to celebrate the student poets who won the contest.
Take a look at the creative and talented entries from our 2024 winners and finalists!
Student Voice Rap Contest 2024: Meet the winners and finalists
Winners: Ayoub S. and Alaina S.
Elementary Winner: Ayoub S., a 5th grader from Oklahoma, wrote about Lionel Messi
“His homeland pulled him closer to another debut.
This time winning gold on the world stages.
His finger to the sky, he always knew
His grandmother’s spirit, motivation for the ages.”
Secondary Winner: Alaina S., an 8th grader from Ohio, wrote about Grace Fryer
“His homeland pulled him closer to another debut.
This time winning gold on the world stages.
His finger to the sky, he always knew
His grandmother’s spirit, motivation for the ages.”
Elementary Finalists
Estelle G., a 4th grader from Oklahoma, wrote about X Gonzalez
“They set up the march,
The March for Our Lives
To connect with everyone their friends’ demise.
Their speech was six minutes and twenty seconds long,
The exact amount of time the shooting went on.”
Jadon C., a 4th grader from Texas, wrote about Abraham Lincoln
“Abe Lincoln, standing tall.
Fighting for the people, bring freedom to the game.
From the cabin to the White House,
Honest and brave, now we all say his name.”
Tavisha M., a 4th grader from New Jersey, wrote about Rosa Parks
“So let’s honor her legacy, keep the fire lit.
In the struggle for justice, we’ll never quit.
Just like Rosa, let’s stand and embark.
Together we rise, ’cause we carry her spark.”
Secondary Finalists
Emily C., a 7th grader from South Carolina, wrote about Sylvia Rivera
“Sylvia Rivera, yes, that is my name.
In the scorch of oppression, I am a hurricane.
We start a revolution, begin the evolution
We deserve human rights, and we are the solution.”
Kyron C., a 7th grader from Ohio, wrote about Albert Einstein
“From the atom to the stars, he was deep in the grind,
Thinking ’bout the fabric of space and time.
Took the world to school, no need to rewind,
Droppin’ knowledge so fresh, it’s still blowin’ your mind!”
Tessa F., an 8th grader from Ohio, wrote about Sir Isaac Newton
“First law says, objects in motion stay the same,
Unless a force acts, it’s all in the game.
Second law tells us force equals mass times acceleration,
A formula so simple, yet powerful in explanation.
Third law, for every action, there’s a reaction,
Equal and opposite, a perfect interaction.”
Justin H., an 8th grader from New York, wrote about Upton Sinclair
“Food inspections, clean work floors,
He opened up minds, unlocked closed doors.
Workers suffering, the factories foul.
Made the people, the nation, the government scowl.”
Congratulations to all of the Flocabulary contest winners and finalists!
Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry. The learning shouldn’t stop when the contest ends; these themes and topics enrich cross-curricular learning all year round. Keep the conversation going by exploring the Flocabulary historical figures topic page to get inspired for next year!