Family Backpack activities

Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a

celebration of poetry with a beat
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a celebration of poetry with a
beat
Dear Families,

We have been exploring different genres in writing in

Kindergarten such as fiction, non-fiction and fairy tail.
We are currently studying poetry and students are
discovering that poetry is rhythm , music , sounds and
beats. This genre is important because it helps young
readers to develop phonemic awareness and self
expression. It also encourages students to write
independently.
The text Hip Hop Speaks to Children contains more than
50 remarkable poems and song from artistes such as
from Queen Latifah, Langston Hughes, A Tribe Called
Quest etc. It shows the rich history of spoken word with
colorful illustrations. The poems and songs addresses
themes such as self-esteem, race, emotions and
different relationships. You can read, rap and sing your
favorite song or poem to your child while completing the
activities.
Activities

Discussion topics for before reading:

Do you know what is hip hop?What do you
think is poetry?Do you think songs can be
poems, or if poems could be songs? (For
example, Twinkle Twinkle)
Discussion topics for during/after reading:
What do you think this poem is about?Did
you notice any rhymes?
Activities

Mothers Day Song/Poem:

Make a Hip Hop Mothers Day song/poem. Read Hey
Mama" by Kanye West (p.11) with your child.
Discuss how Kanyes mother helped him
Help child create a list of the nice things moms do
(illustrations/inventive spelling) Then (with your help)
think of words that rhyme with what they describe.
Emphasize that rhyming words sound the same at the end
such as sun and bun.
Look at or read "From of the book and For Word by
Benjamin Zephaniah on page 29
Use construction paper, crayons, markers and craft
materials to design a card.
Activities

Math with Things by Eloise Greenfield:

Watch the video of the first grade students
reciting Things by Eloise Greenfield p. 1. (If
there is no access to the video, read the poem
and have your child repeat each line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BHWDfY3ruEg
After reading the poem, ask your child to guess
how many pieces of candy the character bought
at the store
Have them show their answer by drawing the
candy or by using a number of toys
Activities

Next, ask your child to explain what happened

to the candy if there is no more left (Have your
child demonstrate by pretending to eat the
candy)
Then ask the question what number represents
no more. Explain the concept of zero as none
The math word for none is zero. Emphasize that
the child took away all the candy so there is none
left.
Model the number sentence such as 6-6=0.
Explain that the subtraction symbol means to
take away.
Repeat the activity with the sandhouse from the
poem Extension: Ask child why the character still
has her poem
Other suggested activities

Choose an appropriate poem and ask child WH

questions after reading :
Who or What was the poem about?
What/Why did it happen? How do you know?
Choose a poem or song with a variety of sight
words. Read it with your child. Next help your
child find sight words such as the, but etc. by
using a reading highlighter. Have your child
rainbow right the words and use them in
sentences.
Watch the video of Mother / Daughter Rapping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=pJc90tiB0pY&t=147s. Create your own song or
poem with your child.
Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.2.A
Recognize and produce rhyming words.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.1.A
Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.C
Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are,
do, does).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.A.3
Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written
numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.1
Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images,
drawings1, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations,
expressions, or equations.