One in a Billion: Expressing Your Individuality with Erykah Badu

How do we discover, express, and embrace who we are as individuals?

Mastery Objective:

• Students will be able to identify and describe the elements that make up their individuality by analyzing examples from Erykah Badu’s artistic and fashion choices and by creating a four-line rap verse that expresses their own unique identity.

Day 1 - Students will:

• Watch a video message from Erykah Badu
• Define individuality
• Consider what aspects make up a person’s individuality

Day 2 - Students will:

• Listen to “Apple Tree” by Erykah Badu
• Reflect on strategies for embracing individuality
• Acknowledge barriers or challenges to embracing individuality

Day 3 - Students will:

• Watch a video clip on one of Erykah Badu’s fashion influences
• Discuss methods of expressing individuality
• Explore fashion as a vehicle for self-expression

Day 4 - Students will:

• Listen to “On and On” by Erykah Badu
• Consider whether individuality can evolve throughout a lifetime
• Explore how their sense of self may have changed over the past few years

Arts-Based Activity - Students will:

• Listen to “Love of My Life” by Erykah Badu
• Compose a four-line rap to celebrate their individuality and express what makes them unique.

In this lesson, students will define individuality and explore the many elements that shape their own sense of self, including personality, interests, values, and style. They will reflect on strategies for embracing who they are and examine how Erykah Badu expresses her individuality through both fashion and artistic choices. Students will consider the different ways individuality can be communicated and how it can evolve over time.

Required for all lessons:

• Student Journals
• Art Supplies

Day 1:

• Handout - Individuality Map