Over the last two weeks we have been looking at Macbeth in Year 6 as part of our play writing unit.  As part of the work, the children have re written the witches on the heath scene to update it to modern times, written a letter from Macbeth to Lady Macbeth telling her about the prophecies and that the King is coming to stay, prepared and delivered a speech from Lady Macbeth to Macbeth persuading him to kill King Duncan, looked at the differences between lady Macbeth in Act 1 and Act 5 , mapped out the main parts of the story as a mind map and wrote a newspaper report and finally watched this video from flocabulary below:

I first discovered this video via my pln on Twitter and have been waiting to use it with the class, they all thought it was brilliant! The task was then for them to produce their own raps telling the story or  a part of the story of Macbeth! They really enjoyed this task, both the preparation and the presentation.  I have included their raps below:

Rap 1

It all started out with me on the heath, When I saw three weird women without any teeth!

With my best friend Banquo by my side, We just listened quietly with our mouths open wide.

This scared me, this scared me bad, they said:‘You’re going to be king – young lad!’

So I wrote to my babe, Lady Macbeth and she told me plainly:There’s going to be death.

 Chorus:

It’s the story of his lifetime,It’s the story of his lifetime, It’s Macbeth

 I killed King Duncan with blood on my hands, I really regret it but that’s how it is man.

I went out of mind and killed Banquo, Although he came back and haunted me, As if I was a foe.

I had a big fight with that guy Macduff, But he beat me and that was tough.

Rap 2

Banquo and I met three old hags, Under their eyes they had big bags,

They told me that I was the thane of Cawdor, But I knew that I would have to commit murder

‘cos they told me I’d be the Scottish King, My Mrs said she wanted it more than a ring!

 The King said that he was gonna come to my house, So in the night time I crept on him like a mouse,

Then I pierced his heart,With a dagger so sharp,

The servants was sleeping heavily, So we blamed  it on them cleverly,

The Kings sons fled,While I was in bed,

But to me this wasn’t a very big thing, Because I have finally become King

 Chorus:

 Who’s the King? M acca-Macca-beth! Woo!

Say What, Say What?

Macca-Macca-beth!Woo!

Rap 3

Me and my mate,Walking in the woods,

Looked over the gate,Saw 3 hags wearing hoods.

 They stopped me to say,Things are coming my way.

 Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor,

Gonna be King. WORD!

 My king comes to mine,I give him some wine,

My babe says to me,I need to shank him fine.

 If I don’t do this my babe is gonna cry.YO!

 Rap 4

My name is Macbeth, I’m all about death

Upon the heath it all starts, Where the witches told me a story in 3 parts

Witches told me I’ll be king, I was like WOH, I don’t want any bling

 Chorus:
I will, I will be king Woh, Be king Woh x3

 I told my wife the king is coming, She was like WOH, we better get going!

Chorus:

I will, I will kill him, WOH, Kill him, Kill him

 Witches told me I’d me than thane of Cawdor that’s the name,  Thane of Cawdor I became.

The witches were true, I can’t believe it, My true destiny

And I was starting to believe it.

 I am I am Thane of WOH, Cawdor WOH

 I killed Banquo and his son,To but that was not true

Then my Mrs died and I cried

The wood advanced on my castle

Then………..   

The end.

Rap 5

I saw three witches they promised lots of riches, I’m in the fame coz now I’m Thane.

 I rushed to my babe saying I’m the Thane, And by the way the,King’s gonna stay, she told me to kill him,

Even though I wasn’t willing I did the deed,

Filled with greed.

 Chorus

Macbeth the name, I used to be a Thane but now I’m King,I’ve got lots of bling!

This was a great way of ending the unit and also of the children showing their understanding and knowledge of the play. So what do you think? Does Macbeth rap?