Introducing Cultural Rhythms

A New Curriculum Connecting Storytelling, Music, and Student Voice

What happens when Shakespeare meets hip hop?

At first glance, the connection might seem unexpected. One comes from 16th century England. The other emerged hundreds of years later. But when students begin exploring rhythm, rhyme, storytelling, conflict, loyalty, love, grief, identity, and survival, the similarities become impossible to ignore.

That idea is at the heart of Cultural Rhythms: Shakespeare & Hip Hop, a new curriculum created by See Stories in collaboration with educators, artists, and teaching artists from Alaska and beyond.

 

Curriculum Highlights

Designed for middle and high school classrooms, the curriculum invites students to engage with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, historic primary sources from the Library of Congress, and modern music, while creating original collaborative art of their own.

Students analyze themes across time periods, reflect on their own lived experiences, and ultimately create projects such as:

• original group songs
• student-written sonnets
• modern reinterpretations of Shakespeare scenes
• live performances
• audio recordings
• music videos

Empowering Student Voice

More than a traditional literature unit, Cultural Rhythms is project-based, student-centered, culturally responsive, and rooted in relationship building. Throughout the unit, students engage in daily writing, collaborative discussion, and self-reflection. They analyze themes like revenge, belonging, violence, loyalty, exile, and love, as ideas connected to their own experiences and communities.

At See Stories, we believe storytelling can help young people see themselves in history, connect across differences, and build confidence in their own voices. Our hope is that this curriculum gives educators practical tools to foster those experiences in their classrooms.

This project was developed with support from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative, which supports history, civics, and democracy learning through creative engagement with primary sources.

 

Innovation in the Classroom

Whether you are a longtime Shakespeare teacher looking for a fresh approach, or an educator trying Shakespeare for the first time, we hope this curriculum offers inspiration, flexibility, and meaningful opportunities for student creativity.

Because sometimes the best way to understand Shakespeare… is through a beat.

 

Explore the curriculum here!:

Click Here to  Explore the Cultural Rhythms Curriculum