Starter Kit for Music 6-12

This guide gives users a brief overview of our approach (question-based media decoding) and materials (e.g., lessons) available for free from the Project Look Sharp website for a particular level and subject.

Origins of Hip Hop: Considering "The Message"

Students analyze song lyrics, a music video and an excerpt from a documentary for messages about the origins of hip hop as reflected in the song, “The Message.”

Women in Hip Hop: "Ladies First"

Students analyze song lyrics, a music video and an excerpt from a documentary for messages about women’s place in hip hop in Queen Latifah’s song “Ladies First.”

America: Through Music Videos

Students analyze excerpts from music videos about America for messages about identity, media forms and historical and cultural context.

Indigenous Media Making: Affirming Identity

Students analyze short videos from TikTok, a feature film, a video game, Hip-Hop video, and a documentary film for messages related to Indigenous identity and cultural pride.

Rapping the Revolution: Music and Social Change in Iran

Students analyze excerpts from five short Iranian music videos for messages about the causes of the protests in Iran in 2022 and the role of music in revolution.

Youth, Hip Hop & Climate Change

This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students analyze two short hip hop music video to compare different approaches to encourage youth activism to deal with climate change.

College Level: Decoding "Last Words" by Nas

Related to kit: Media Constructions of Social Justice

An example of leading a class through a constructivist media decoding using a lesson from our kit, Media Construction of Social Justice. Students in this video decode the rap song "Last Words" by Nas to gain insight about prison life and the greater justice system.