What is Songwriting? serves as the opening track for the Lyrics and Liberation literacy unit. Instead of starting with dry definitions, this lesson centers student agency and musical culture to define songwriting as a tool for personal and social transformation. It’s designed to bridge the gap between school literacy and the vibrant, rhythmic literacy students engage with every day outside the classroom.
Targeted at middle-level ELA (grades 5–8), the lesson uses a mix of high-interest media and collaborative discourse. Students analyze video clips from Grammy-winner H.E.R. and songwriter Aloe Blacc to identify the patterns and rule-breaking nature of the craft. The lesson moves from individual reflection to a “Split Class Discussion” protocol, where students negotiate the unique power of music versus standard text.
The session concludes with a critical thinking prompt that asks students to identify artists who challenge the status quo, setting the stage for a unit-long exploration of how lyrics can lead to liberation.
What’s Included
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Complete 50-minute lesson plan with detailed teacher scripts and timing.
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Curated Media Links featuring H.E.R. and Aloe Blacc to ground the lesson in contemporary excellence.
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Instructional Scaffolds for “Open Write” and “Turn and Talk” engagement strategies.
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Split Class Discussion Protocol designed to build classroom community and collaborative reporting skills.
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Informal Formative Assessment tools, including an exit ticket prompt focused on artistic boundaries.
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Alignment with WAESN Elements of Liberation and CCSS ELA standards for middle school.
Why Educators Use This Lesson
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Instant Engagement: Starts with music and artists students actually respect, creating immediate buy-in.
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Promotes Critical Thinking: Moves beyond the “what” of songwriting to the “why,” specifically focusing on how art can push societal boundaries.
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Low Barrier to Entry: Designed so that students of all musical backgrounds can participate in the analysis and discussion.
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Builds Community: The split-class discussion format encourages students to hear and value their peers’ perspectives early in the unit.
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Praxis-Oriented: Encourages students to reflect on the intersection of art, identity, and social change.
This is the perfect way to tell your students: “In this class, your culture is the curriculum.”