The phrase, 6-7, is an internet meme with no clear meaning. In true Hip Hop fashion, the Headucatorz made a song to add meaning and to make “something out of nothing!” Credit to Chase March for conceiving the song idea. This piece will explore the first time that this song and lesson activity were ever used in a classroom.
First, we watched the original live Muppet video.
Watch it on YouTube or with the player below.
We followed this up with the Wizekrak produced lyric video remix.
Students’ initial reaction was laughter and to shout out 6-7. However, the volume started to fade by the start of verse three. Indeed, there was a noticeable focused silence while the second video played with many students reading along. This detail highlights the first success of the lesson, student engagement as the topic definitely got their interest and attention!
The post video discussion, about justifying which version they preferred, was a great exercise in defending one’s position. Both songs had fans. Some chose the original since the live action was dynamic. Some found the use of Muppets amusing. The back story of producer, Chase March, randomly picking and sampling a record from 1967 was fascinating to many. Conversely, the remix was selected for its layered and exciting beat. One student remarked how he appreciated being able to read the words as he was unable to follow everything from the audio alone. This comment led to a teacher anecdote about the benefits of relistening to music and/or rereading any text. Overall, the initial discussion reminded students that it is not so much about what options they pick but more so their reasons why!
After watching and reflecting on the videos, it was time to work on the activity sheet (free download).
Each MC had submitted a few questions which Chase compiled into a complete lesson package. The questions range from lyrical analysis of poetic word play to historical research and even some math calculations. The work period was very productive. A major highlight was how it provided the opportunity to model internet research. Students were advised to put key search terms like “John Lennon”, “Pirate radio”, et cetera in quotation marks plus combine them with 1967 preceded by “AND” (all capitals). They were explicitly taught how such search engine choices direct the internet to look for those phrases together. This function narrows the search results and helps with finding more relevant answers.
In terms of results, students were able to learn about some local geography, such as Victoria Park Avenue being the traditional border of their specific Toronto neighbourhood, Scarborough.
This Afro Caribbean Canadian teacher is most proud of the question about why Caribana (which debuted in 1967) is celebrated around the August 1st holiday instead of February, like the traditional Carnival in Trinidad. Through answering that question, students of all cultural backgrounds learned about August 1st as Emancipation Day in the British Empire and a time to celebrate the end of slavery. Moreover, the final reflection question about attitudes towards the phrase reveal much maturity and growth! One student remarked that they used to say it a lot during the summer but have outgrown it now, especially since their teachers are saying it.
All of those valuable lessons came from a song about a “silly” internet phrase. It just goes to show how “gr8” education can be when teachers, to quote Chase March, “make connections, pay attention [and] meet the students where they are” to take learning far!
Download the song and teacher resource book for free on Bandcamp!
