STEM Lab students empower learning through song

At STEM Lab, Mrs. Simpson’s fourth grade class students are having meaningful learning experiences where student voice, ownership and leadership are thriving! This is highlighted through a student-created social-emotional learning (SEL) song—set to the tune of a Wilson Phillips classic—that the class collaboratively developed through an iterative process.

The project began when Cassius, a student who is actively developing his writing skills, shared original rap lyrics he was creating about his class as a community of global leaders. His idea sparked a collective effort in which students worked together to revise the lyrics, refine their message, and connect social-emotional learning themes to academic skills such as reading, writing, and critical thinking. Throughout the process, Cassius’s willingness to share his thinking and the class’s collaborative response created space for all learners to take risks and contribute.

By blending SEL, literacy, and the arts, Mrs. Simpson’s class demonstrated how empowered students lead learning together. This experience reflects a classroom culture where students are encouraged to share ideas, build on one another’s strengths, and shine as capable, confident global leaders.