Unit Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: The Poetics of Hip Hop

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Students will analyze form in Shakespearean sonnets and hip-hop music. Concepts viewed in-depth include rhythm, form, diction, and sound. [Requires QuickTime 7].
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Rap/hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry gives a brief history of rap and hip hop and the influences of the music on modern culture.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Transcending Poetry, Jazz, Rap & Hip Hop

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The objectives in this lesson plan will have students describing the characteristics of poetry, jazz, rap and hip hop music. Students will also analyze how poetry, jazz, hip hop and poetry reflect the culture of the time.
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 36: Cross Genre Comparisons in Hip Hop

For Teachers 9th - 10th
From being viewed as a fad, hip-hop's commercial success has allowed it to permeate virtually all aspects of popular culture. By critically analyzing hip-hop music and comparing it with established music forms, the cultural relevance,...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: From Aaliyah to Jay Z: Captured Moments in Hip Hop History

For Students 9th - 10th
Jonathan Mannion once convinced rapper DMX to climb into a pool of blood- all in pursuit of the perfect photo. In this passionate TEDYouth talk, the photographer shares how fighting for the moments he needs to capture has helped him tell...
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: The Birth of Hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
Article focuses on the birth of hip-hop and the four elements of the movement: graffiti art, break dancing, DJing, and MCing (rapping). Author continues with the history of the movement and the personalities involved.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Beatboxing 101 Beat Nyc

For Students 9th - 10th
There's no need for instruments to make music; you can use the greatest instrument of all, your own body. Members of BEAT NYC teach the basics of beatboxing (think trumpets, bass drums, and everything in between), all while driving...
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 33: 8 Rap

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Rap music and hip-hop were the pop music of the nineties. Students of all ages liked to mimic the rappers they listened to on CD's, tapes, and the radio. This lesson builds on students' interest in rap music as well as their enjoyment of...
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: The Evolution of Rap

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Here you can find a detailed overview of the evolution of rap music in the United States, followed by several lesson plans.
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Other

Davey D's Hip Hop Corner: History of Hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers an extensive history of hip hop and rap, for those who want to know where it all came from!
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Other

Davey D's Hip Hop Corner: Grandmaster Flash's Hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Davey D's Hip Hop Corner contains Grandmaster Flash's definition of Hip Hop.
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Other

Davey D's Hip Hop Corner: Afrika Bambaataa's Hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains Afrika Bambaataa's definition of Hip Hop.
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Other

Davey D's Hip Hop Corner: Definition of Hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Davey D's Hip Hop Corner contains DJ Kool Herc's Definition of Hip Hop.
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Other

Davey D's Hip Hop Corner: What Is Hip Hop?

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Davey D's Hip Hop Corner contains a brief explanation of hip hop.
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PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Rap as Lyrical Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is an excellent way to engage your students in the study of poetry; use rap! PBS provides the materials you will need. Students will examine central themes, hip hop culture, political, social and cultural events that may have...
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Understanding Poetry of Maya Angelou Through Rap Lyric

For Teachers 9th - 10th
By examining the lives and lyrics of popular, positive black female rappers such as Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill, students can trace a direct line back to the inspirational writer and poet, Maya Angelou. Rap lyrics will help explicate...
Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Lauryn Hill

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Lauryn Hill, a critically acclaimed hip-hop artist. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Russell Simmons

For Students 9th - 10th
Hip-hop's master impresario brought marginalized voices to a mass audience -- and cross-marketed a youth cultural movement in music, comedy, fashion, poetry, and social action.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Dizzy Gillespie

For Students 3rd - 8th
Dizzie Gillespie helped create a new form of modern jazz called be-bop. It was the predecessor of hip-hop that is so popular today.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Queen Latifah

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry extols Queen Latifah as the most influential female rap singer. You can read about her evolution as a rap singer and actress.
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 52: Scops, Rappers and You

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson will help learners to better understand and appreciate the epic poem Beowulf by comparing it to a modern rap song. All learners, and at-risk students in particular, learn better when they are able to find relevance and...
Handout
Other

Run d.m.c.

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography amd discography of early rap group Run-D.M.C.
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Techno Pop

For Students 9th - 10th
Feature series on "The Secret History of Technology and Pop Music," traced partly through the story of an Indiana company that stopped making pianos and started cutting 78 rpm records using the talents of famous jazz musicians and others.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Keep, Change, Flip

For Students 6th - 8th
Watch and listen to an approach to dividing fractions set to hip-hop music. This video focuses on showing why when dividing fractions you should multiply by the inverse of the second fraction.

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