Renaissance Nearpod has launched the Flocabulary Student Voice Rap Contest, inviting students to create rap songs about historical figures who inspire them. The aim of the contest is to enhance student engagement and writing skills through hip-hop, with winning entries turned into Flocabulary video lessons and shared with 20,000 schools across the nation.
Here’s how students can participate in the Flocabulary Student Voice Rap Contest:
First, they choose a historical figure to write a rap song about. The only parameters are to pick a person who has had a significant and lasting impact on history and does not already have a lesson about them in Flocabulary. They can use this project as a mirror, selecting a figure they see themselves in; or as a window, selecting a figure that helps them learn more about the world around them.
Next, students conduct research to learn about the person’s life, significance, and the traits that made them impactful.
And then for the fun part, students use the research they’ve compiled and turn it into a rap song. Their lyrics should rhyme, have rhythm, include figurative language and wordplay, and be at least 16 lines long. Students can use the “Lyric Lab” or graphic organizer in the free downloadable content packet, which includes other useful resources along with rules and rubrics. In addition, potential applicants may be inspired by winning videos from previous contests.
The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (EST). Two winners (one at K–5 and another at 6–12) will have their hip-hop-inspired raps turned into a Flocabulary video with a suite of learning activities. The winning lessons will be made available to 20,000 schools across the country in April 2026 during National Poetry Month.