How a School Program From Baltimore Is Using Hip-Hop to Teach Social-Emotional Skills
How can hip-hop help students grow emotionally and socially? This Baltimore-based program is remixing SEL with beats, rhymes, and real talk.
Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
Nationwide, schools are looking for better ways to connect with students and support their emotional well-being. A Baltimore-based organization called “We Do It 4 the Culture” is using hip-hop and storytelling to help students learn empathy and express themselves. Ali Rogin speaks with founder Jamila Sams to learn more.
View the transcript of the story.
Key Term
Social emotional learning — the process of gaining the necessary skills to be aware of and manage emotions; develop concern and empathy for others; make responsible and thoughtful decisions; deal with challenging situations and build positive relationships
Discussion Questions
- Where is the organization We Do It 4 the Culture based out of? How many states use its program?
- Who was We Do It 4 the Culture designed to support?
- What role does listening to the music of Kendrick Lamar play in helping students with social and emotional skills, according to Jamila Sams?
- How does We Do It 4 the Culture include and support the needs of students of color?
- Why does We Do It 4 the Culture use hip hop to teach SEL, according to Sams?
Essential Questions
- How would you define social-emotional learning, or SEL, in your own words? Had you heard of SEL before? What social or emotional skills have you used to get through a tough experience?
- About 61 percent of young people across the country say they do not have a sense of belonging in school and that the U.S. is experiencing its lowest academic levels in three decades. Studies of SEL programs over the years have shown they help improve academic achievement. Why do you think this is?
- Media literacy: "And so when you have self-awareness and you know your history, you know who you are, you know who you belong to, then you have the confidence to be able to speak up for yourself. You have the confidence to be able to ask questions. You have the confidence to be able to push back when everyone is telling you that you know you're not worthy," said Jamila Sams.
- How could you find out more about the adversities Black and brown students face in America? Why do you think this information is important?
Extension Activity
Watch the video, "Songs in the key of biology: Students write hip-hop to learn science" (see transcript here) and complete the accompanying questions in the Daily News Lesson below, if time allows. Discuss the following questions with a classmate, family member or neighbor:
- Do you think that social-emotional learning (SEL) should play an important role at school? Explain.
- Do you think that SEL should be taught in different subjects, including math and science? Why or why not?
Social Emotional Learning for Middle and High School Students
Our comprehensive collection of SEL resources is designed to empower educators, parents, and guardians with the tools needed to support middle and high school students' emotional and social development during these critical years.
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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