As part of a project in 7th grade when learning about the systems of the body I wrote and performed a rap as “Ricky the Rapper” to educate the class on the purpose of white blood cells with the sad amount of basic knowledge that I had accumulated. Thankfully this was a group project and there were other contributions including lessons given by Judy the jogger, and a scientist with a lot of pens in her pocket.

I’m Ricky the rapper,
and white blood cells are my game,
I’ll tell you what they do,
knowledge isn’t a shame!

The white blood cell
is your body’s defense
against toxins, virus and disease,
and you’ve had them since…

You were little and,
your body made them itself.
You don’t need to get help
From the doctors shelf.

Unless you’re really sick,
and the white blood cells are weak.
Then you take some medicine,
and the sickness it will seek!

The white blood cells,
surround the virus,
they destroy it, spit it out,
and then it’s up to us

To take care of ourselves,
the way they take care of us.
you gotta stay healthy!
Exercise is a must!

But have you ever wondered,
where all those dead cells go?
Well here’s what you do,
to stop the sickness flow…

You blow your nose!
You hack a lugie,
But one thing’s clear,
don’t show it to me!

If you’re wondering why,
white blood cells are so smart,
it’s because they have a nuclei,
and that’s a good start.

White blood cells can live
from days to weeks.
But you’ve got plenty,
so don’t you freak.

A drop of blood
has ten thousand or more.
They must be small
for your body to store.

But there is a disease
called Leukemia,
in which you have
fifty thousand or more.

But not to worry,
if you’re healthy they will
take care of you,
so just you chill!

Cause the white blood cell
Is a beautiful thing,
and that’s why this song,
I had to sing, yo.

Luciana, 13