Facilitator Prep:

Watch "Hip Hop & Shakespeare?" by Akala to understand the reciprocal influence of both genres of writing. Assess if this is a topic that you can teach and facilitate by asking yourself: how does my life experience and music preference influence this lesson?

Sequences of Activities:

Session One:

Community Check-In (10 Minutes)

• Engage students by sharing their names, pronouns, personal success, or challenge they are going through
  • Sidenote: each answer can be as silly or serious as the student feels comfortable
• Introducing snapping in solidarity: snap if you relate to what a student said. Explain that this is a great way to let students know I am holding space for you. Invite them to do the same.

Watch and Discuss "Dear Mama" by Tupac Shakur (15 Minutes)

• Are there images that caught your attention? Why?
• Are there certain lyrics you remember? Why?

Read and Discuss "A Rose That Grew From Concrete" by Tupac Shakur (15 Minutes)

• What does that rose symbolize in this poem?
• What about the concrete?

Session Two:

Community Check-In (10 Minutes)

• Engage students by sharing their names, pronouns, personal success, or challenge they are going through
  • Sidenote: each answer can be as silly or serious as the student feels comfortable
• Introducing snapping in solidarity: snap if you relate to what a student said. Explain that this is a great way to let students know I am holding space for you. Invite them to do the same.

Review Dear Mama & A Rose That Grew From Concrete  (10 Minutes)

Classroom Reflection (10 Minutes)

• How are these works similar?
• How are these works different?

Write Letter Poem using the following prompts (15 Minutes)

• Dear person who gives me strength,
• To the person who teaches me everything,

Share Poems (10 Minutes)

• Allow students to share a poem
  • Equitable sharing strategies to share poetry:
    • Have all students read poems at same time
    • Offer to read poem for students
• Listeners: encourage snaps and warm comments after the students has read their poem