Black History Month Reading Passage Activities for Jazz History with Rap Songs

Are you looking for engaging, Black History Month reading comprehension passages? 

Jazz history rap songs are the answer! 

Based on our jazz history rap songs, these activities will keep your students' attention using song lyrics as reading passages while they practice a variety of reading skills. Easily incorporate them into independent activities or complete them together as a class lesson.

Students will listen to the songs then use the song lyrics as reading passages to complete the activities detailed below.

These activities are:

- no prep to save you time,

- super simple and easy to use,

- with high-interest reading passages based on rap songs!

What teachers like you had to say: 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Thank you for the wonderful resource! My 5th & 6th graders loved the raps. They were very engaged throughout the whole time we used this resource and it was a great way to collaborate with my colleagues for language arts." – Lacie H.

The first song for these activities explores the roots of jazz music, beginning with its African heritage in the Congo Square of New Orleans, moving up to the "Jazz Age" with Louis Armstrong.

The second song explores the lives of four jazz musicians, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and Herbie Hancock, examining their careers and how they contributed to jazz music history.

Engage Your Students with Reading and Music!

This resource is a great way to add a cross-curricular connection between reading/ELA and music! Collaborate with a music teacher to teach various activities in the unit or simply expand on your students love for music by teaching the history of jazz using a fun rap song.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I really enjoyed using this resource. Kids were really engaged with the raps. I used it as an opportunity to collaborate with the homeroom teacher to meet both music and language expectations." – Amy C. Y.

The Jazz Music History Reading Activities with Song includes:

- the song lyrics for use as a reading passage

- 12 short-response, comprehension questions with the answer key

- 3 multiple-choice, context clues questions based on the song lyrics

- 5 short-response, context clues questions: 

• students will define jazz music terms and other content-vocabulary words using context clues from the song lyrics

- a timeline activity with a graphic organizer

- a sequential paragraph writing activity that utilizes the timeline.

Listen to the song with subtitles here! (Click here if you have trouble viewing the video.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Extremely engaging and entertaining!" – Dronica D.

How to use this resource:

- Students will preview the comprehension questions on pages 1 and 2 then listen to the song while following along with the lyrics on pages 3 and 4.

- Next, students will answer the questions on pages 1 and 2.

- Students will then complete the context clues, timeline, and sequential paragraph activities on the following pages.

- The answer keys for the questions are located on the final pages of the PDF download.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Another great addition to your jazz resources! Thank you!" – Susan C.

The Jazz Musicians Reading Activities with Song includes:

- the song lyrics for use as a reading passage

- 12 multiple-choice, comprehension questions with the answer key

- a compare and contrast, graphic organizer activity

- 10 multiple-choice, compare and contrast questions with the answer key

- a compare and contrast text structure, paragraph writing activity with transitional words for student use

- 6 multiple-choice, synonyms questions with the answer key

- 6 multiple-choice, antonyms questions with the answer key.

Listen to the song with subtitles here! (Click here if you have trouble viewing the video.)

How to use this resource:

- Students will preview the comprehension questions on pages 1 and 2 then listen to the song while following along with the lyrics on pages 3 and 4.

- Next, students will answer the comprehension questions on pages 1 and 2.

- Students will then complete the remaining activities that are outlined above.

- The answer keys are located on the final pages of the PDF download.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Super fun resource for my kiddos!" – Leah G.

*BONUS* This bundle also includes a Hip Hop and rap music, context clues activity!

Get this bundle now to keep your students engaged with reading!

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*Photos from Wikimedia Commons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Jazz/Selected_picture/Archive

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