A group of boys can be energetic and boisterous when put together in the same room. Engage them in a hip-hop dance activity to keep them on task and paying attention. Choose four basic dance moves to teach the students. Hip-hop moves, such as the moonwalk or the glide, can be found online if you need to learn them. Separate the students into groups and let them practice the moves to music. Allow the students to create their own moves to add to the dance or to teach each other moves they already know. Using the four moves they learned, plus some of their own, have each group create and present a dance.
Motivate reluctant writers to pen poetry, song lyrics and even narratives using influential hip-hop artist's lyrics. Choose a song that delivers a message, such as "Three Strikes You In" by Ice Cube. This song uses symbolism to relay a message. Incorporate this song when teaching the literary technique of symbolism to teenage boys. Use hip-hop lyrics to compare other literary devices as well, including rhyme, simile and metaphor. After looking at hip-hop lyrics and literary works, practice writing with the boys by having them create their own poems or song lyrics focusing on one literary device at a time. They may also be interested in writing about the life of a hip-hop artist that has influenced their life.
People always seem to be able to recall the lines of their favorite songs. If you are trying to get boys to memorize math facts, scientific data or even vocabulary words and their meanings, get creative and put the information to a hip-hop beat. You may also choose to put boys into groups and have them choose their favorite hip-hop song to rewrite using what they need to learn.
Researching the history of hip-hop can be interesting and motivating for boys who have a passion for music. Create an activity that allows boys to use the Internet, music magazines, books and newspapers to make a timeline of the history of hip-hop. Boys who are more technologically inclined may want to design a slide show or produce a short film about the history of hip-hop. This activity can be extended into a longer project for those who are interested in the history of hip-hop by having the boys study the lives of prominent hip-hop artists.