Cootamundra Public Class shares message by writing rap

The school hosted children’s writer John Heffernan as an author-in-residence towards the end of term one.

Mr Heffernan has written extensively for children to young adults and his books include The Adventures of Pete Paddock Basher, Harry’s War, and Stinky – The Tale of a Smelly Dog.

He shared some of what he had learned during this time writing.

Principal Lucy Greene said students were able to work closely with the Australian author.

“This enriching learning experience was well received by students from kindergarten to year 6, with one of the highlights being his rap writing workshop,” Miss Greene said.

She said Mr Heffernan’s workshop explored how students could add rhymes, be succinct in their vocabulary choices and how to share a messages with a reader.

Miss Greene shared a sample of the rap with an environmental message written by students from the stage three group.

Chorus

Cough, cough, splutter, splutter

Sniffle, snuffle, sneeze.

I’m a planet on my knees, I’m in disease

And it’s cos’ of all you humans if you please.

Verse 1

Seas rising, ain’t surprising

Due to melting ice.

Flooding out the planet and it really ain’t nice.

Verse 2

Pollution’s no solution,

We’re really on the brink,

We need a revolution in the way that we think

Verse 3

People fighting, bombs igniting

War is everywhere

They break the law and make the war

And no one ever cares.

Verse 4

Smoke rising, paralysing

Poor old dying hair

We need to survive,

Hey, we REALLY need to care.

Verse 5

Broken bones, flattened homes

What an awful sight,

Teasing faces cos of races,

This is not alright.