TEACHING ARTIST SESSION CATEGORIES
Can you do the Zydeco? In this session, everyone can! Students will get the chance to learn core Zydeco instruments: the accordion, washboard, drums, and the triangle. They will also be learning songs that are sung in both French and English. Then it’s time to grab a partner to “LaLa” (which means “to dance” in Zydeco-speak) and bring culture alive in the classroom.
Where, you may ask, do songs come from? In the session “Expression Through Songwriting,” students will learn about the creative process that goes behind writing a song. They will hear examples based on the personal experiences of a songwriter, and will be guided to find their own inspiration. Then, students will work together to create a song. This flexible session can be adapted for certain holidays, so chat with the artist about options after booking!
Time to sing and make stories! In Audrey Broussard’s Music and Storytelling session, students will learn and sing along to songs that open their creativity. Students will learn about rhythm by using percussion shakers, and they will be accompanied on guitar while they sing and move. Audrey will use the kids song “Magic Soup” as a vehicle for students to move the story along with their imaginations. Students will continue weaving music and stories through activities that feature music by Laurie Berkner and songs from Lisa Loeb’s Silly Sing Along.
What if you were asked what your ideal world would be…and then you had the opportunity to create a visual of it? In Make Your Universe, students will do just that. Students are given the freedom to put together what their ideal world would be and the opportunity to experiment with the art of collage making by using magazine clippings to create a unique art piece. Through this, students both express themselves and gain a better understanding of collage as an art form.
Color, fluidity, line…and freedom. These all come together in a watercolor creation in Paint What You “Sea.” Over the course of a class period, students will experiment with color and shading through painting images of the ocean. They will be guided in creating fluidity and line with their brushes; through that, they will gain a basic understanding of watercolor painting and experience the freedom that comes with the medium.
If your classroom scientists need a new way to approach a project or review content, consider adding the magic of music and movement. Scientific investigations take on new form in this imaginative and interactive session. Storytelling, rhythm games, and dance meet the scientific method in an experience that makes the lesson stick. Available in English & Spanish.
Step off the map and into motion! In this high-energy, immersive arts session, students take a kinetic journey around the globe—exploring diverse cultures, languages, and traditions through the universal power of dance, music, rhythm, and storytelling. Rather than just studying a map or memorizing vocabulary, in this session students embody the concepts. They will move through global dance forms, practice world language phrases through rhythmic call-and-response, analyze how geography shapes cultural expression, and collaborate on original movement pieces that honor global traditions. With a dash of folklore, history, and prop work added to the mix, this session is rich in options and opportunities. Prepare for a lesson with cross-curricular connections between Social Studies, World Languages, Geography, and Global Studies standards that also fosters empathy, cultural awareness, and creative collaboration. This session can be tailored to align with specific world regions, language immersion units, or school-wide multicultural celebrations, so please check in with the artist if you would like to customize.
Zydeco is just one ingredient in our local cultural cookbook, but where did it come from? In this session, students explore how Zydeco grew out of Creole traditions, learn dance steps, and uncover how music and movement reflect Louisiana’s history, identity, and community spirit.
Just like gumbo mixes lots of flavors, Zydeco mixes lots of traditions! Students will dance while learning how music, food, and celebrations are part of everyday Louisiana life.
Let’s get to the “heart” of the matter! Students will learn to roll clay coil shapes and spirals to form heart shapes with clay. Clay hearts can be made as gifts, ornaments, or just for creative fun! Classes will complete the activity by writing a simple message about the creation to go along with their hearts of clay. Perfect for a world that needs more love!