Hip-Hop and Climate: Creative Writing Lesson
Lesson Plan
3 hoursGrades6, 7, 8English Language Arts, Visual and Performing Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Dan Castrigano, Elaine Makarevich, Elizabeth Ward, Ben Charles
About this lesson
In this lesson, students explore the intersection of music and climate change, learn about environmental connections in rap music, and create their own original rap songs.
Inquire: Students share fun facts about hip-hop, learn about hip-hop as a cultural and social movement, and view examples of hip-hop intersecting with environmental concepts.
Investigate: Students research a climate change topic and create a class rubric for evaluating student-created raps.
Inspire: Students create and share an original rap about a climate change topic as a means to express their feelings and emotions through music.
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Suggestions
- This lesson is intended to be a six-day lesson. Teachers can spend one day on the Inquire section, two days on the Investigate section, and three days on the Inspire section.
- This lesson connects students to music and how it intersects with environmental concepts. Students explore their feelings about climate change topics and solutions as they express themselves through the creation of an original rap song.
- The Student Document can be shared digitally or printed.
- Students facilitate their learning through independent research on a topic of interest and note-taking.
- Student groups learn how to develop a rubric for assessing musical works.
- Completed Student Documents and final drafts of the rap songs can serve as assessments.
- This lesson could be taught in ELA, music, or social studies classes.
Prerequisites
- Towards the end of the hip-hop forestry video, Dr. Thomas RaShad Easley mentions people who were lynched, which may be upsetting to students.
- This lesson uses the term hip-hop to refer to the deeper cultural movement and the term rap to refer to the style of music that came out of hip-hop culture.
- Using AI tools like ChatGPT to write the rap would be considered cheating for this lesson. However, students with experience in responsible AI use may be able to use AI tools to support them with certain elements of the writing process.
- This resource provides further clarification on the distinction between a chorus and a hook.
Differentiation
- Examples of climate change topics can be shared during the brainstorming session to support students if needed. While some students may prefer to see a list of options to select from, others may welcome less structure and the freedom to research independently, thus creating a more personal rap song without topic limits during the Inspire section.
- Teachers can preselect climate change topics to assign to groups for research.
- Students can share their creative works in the presentational mode of their choice, or the class can host an “Open Mic” or “Showcase” event.
- Students can work independently, in pairs, or in groups to write their raps.
- Students can use this resource for support with song structure.
- This video is a spoken word poem from Prince Ea. The video features poetry over music and can be used to inspire students’ writing process and support students in making connections between hip-hop and poetry.
- The following resources can provide additional support with rhyme schemes:
From the scientist review
Music has impacted people's spirits and connected people for decades and counting. With this lesson, students can hone their creative talents by writing hip-hop songs with climate change content. Songs have the ability to connect with a wide range of people and cultural identities, which is crucial for pushing climate action. Even though there is limited science to back it up, the lesson is appropriate and interesting for pupils and has passed our science review.
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About the teacher writers
Dan Castrigano
Academic Teacher at Burlington YouthBuild
Dan Castrigano taught STEM and humanities at elementary, middle, and high schools for 11 years. From 2021-2023, he served as the Chief Content Officer at SubjectToClimate. Dan advocates for climate education and organizes for climate, social, and racial justice.
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Elaine Makarevich
Chief Outreach Officer
Elaine Makarevich, M.Ed., is SubjectToClimate's Chief Outreach Officer. She has over 30 years of experience teaching K–6 across all subjects and holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and an M.Ed. from East Stroudsburg University and Centenary University, along with Supervisor and Gifted Education certifications. Outside of work, she loves gardening — flowers, vegetables, and everything in between.
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Elizabeth Ward
Elizabeth Ward, B.S., is SubjectToClimate's Chief Product Officer. She has more than 12 years of teaching experience across 3rd-grade science and social studies, Kindergarten, and online EFL, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement. She has spent 8 years in the education sector, spanning curriculum development and ed tech. Outside of work, she loves exploring the natural beauty of her home state of Texas.
Ben Charles
Chief of Partnerships and Communication
Ben Charles holds a Master's Degree in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. He has nine years of experience teaching grades 3–7 across multiple subject areas. His expertise includes interdisciplinary instruction designed to support diverse learners and foster meaningful student engagement
