Mandy McGee

Command the Room – Movement tools for Public Speaking (7-12)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Michael Crotty, Middle School, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Theatre, Vermilion Parish

Help students develop dynamic, authentic presence by exploring Laban’s Effort Qualities—a system for understanding how movement expresses intention, emotion, and energy. In this interactive session, students will identify how body language, gesture, and physical effort impact communication. Then, students will apply those insights to improve their own public speaking. Through movement exploration, speaker analysis, and short performance practice, students will build greater confidence, self-awareness, and expressive control—essential skills for any speaking, debate, or performance context.

Exploring Erasure Poetry (5-12)

by Mandy McGee | Alex PoeticSoul Johnson, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Literary Arts, Middle School, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish

There is a reason erasure poetry is also called “blackout poetry.” Erasure poetry is not about starting from a blank page, but about taking a page or poem that is already created and blacking things out. What does not get erased becomes the new poem. It’s conceptual, it’s creative, and it leaves a visual statement. Students in this workshop will learn about erasure poetry through analyzing examples. Then, they will create their own erasure poem…and visual art in the process.

Loving My Louisiana (K-3)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Lafayette Parish, Literary Arts, Louisiana, Mini-Presentation, Music, Theresa N. Singleton

Louisiana life will come to life in this session with author Theresa Singleton! Theresa will share two of her books in interactive fashion with unique accompanying songs and movement. Through Grandfather Lee and the Bees and Pierre’s Empty Pouch, children will learn facts about Louisiana, their lovely and culturally rich home state!

Music, Imagination, and Storytelling (PK-12)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Andrea Kapell Loewy, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Music, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

What does the imagination sound like? Classes can explore that in this multi-sensory, cross-curricular workshop. Students will learn how the sounds of the flute can be used to evoke stories with various moods and feelings. Andrea will perform several pieces from many different eras and cultures (including the French impressionism/embedded-story style as well as the Bossa Nova dance style of Brazil). Students will engage in a meaningful discussion and be supported in describing how the imagination creates stories and expressing the feelings evoked by the pieces. This richly-textured activity incorporates music, social-emotional learning, spoken word/aural stories, and language arts.

The Magic of the Flute Family – Music and Emotions (PK-8)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Andrea Kapell Loewy, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Music, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

A cross-curricular and multi-sensory session is coming your way! In this “magic” lesson, students will learn about the various instruments of the flute family, will engage in a discussion about sound, acoustics, as well as how various sounds affect mood, and will examine the links between imagination and emotion. Then, students will be guided in creating a narrative where each instrument and its sound takes a role. The takeaway? This activity incorporates music, social-emotional learning, and the spoken word. When studying sound, a dash of math and science will be thrown in.

Self-Expression through Music & Art (PK-8)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Andrea Kapell Loewy, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, Music, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

A visual representation of sound and imagination! Flute music from various time periods, cultures, colors, and contrasting styles will form the foundation of this session. Students will listen to the music and then engage in drawing exercises to express the imagined stories and moods the music inspired. The students will show the drawings at the end and will describe and analyze the stories and feelings evoked. This cross-curricular confection combines music, visual arts, the spoken word, language arts, and social-emotional learning. This activity is also adaptable for Special Education.

Dot Zines (2-6)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Literary Arts, Margaret Simon, Middle School, Single Session, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

Combine creativity with writing! Classes will read and discuss the picture book The Dot by Peter Reynolds. Then, students will create their own dot and make it a foldable book with poetic language.

Heart Maps (1-6)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Holidays, Iberia Parish, Literary Arts, Margaret Simon, Middle School, Single Session, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

What do you love? And can you express that love in a poem? In this session, students will create a heart map with drawings and words about the things that they love (including sensory loves, rituals, nature, objects, nonhuman companions, etc). Then, their visuals will become words of wonder when they turn their heart maps into a single poem about the things that make their hearts sing.

Color Collage: Letter to Nature (1-8)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Literary Arts, Margaret Simon, Middle School, Single Session, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

Yes, you have a favorite color. So let’s do a deep dive into it! We will start with the book Dear Acorn, (Love, Oak) by Joyce Sidman and illustrated in collage art by Melissa Sweet. Then, students will channel that author and illustrator by creating a color collage that incorporates metaphors and writing a letter poem to a bit of the natural world. Let’s celebrate sky, rain, sun, and acorn!

Dancing with a Paintbrush (2-6)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Literary Arts, Margaret Simon, Middle School, Single Session, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

It’s a multi-faceted artistic fusion! Students will listen to a variety of music and feel the mood by “dancing with a paintbrush.” But don’t stop there – each image will become inspiration for writing as well. Students will refine their word choice, incorporate metaphor, and make a masterpiece.

ADDITIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION RESOURCES