High School

Stage the Lesson! Because Some Lessons Deserve a Standing Ovation (PK-12)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Music, Paula Calderon, Single Session, Theatre

What if a lesson ended with a standing ovation? This Broadway musicals-inspired session blends choreography, interpretation, and drama with academic content. Students step into the spotlight by adapting lessons, concepts, songs, or movies into powerful scenes full of character, movement, and imagination. It’s a perfect entry point into physical expression, storytelling, design, and the joy of performing arts. If you need a new way of getting the point – or the facts – across, this session can do it for you. Available in English & Spanish.

Zydeco Music History Told by Chubby Carrier (PK-12)

by Mandy McGee | Chubby Carrier, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Middle School, Music, Single Session, Vermilion Parish

You can hear it at festivals, at barbecues, and on the radio. Maybe your family knows how to dance to it, and it is firmly woven into the soundscape of Louisiana. But where did it come from? This interactive history lesson will answer that and also address how important it is to keep our tradition and culture alive.

The Zydeco Fais Do Do! (5-12)

by Mandy McGee | Chubby Carrier, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Music, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

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.

Expression Through Songwriting (K-12)

by Mandy McGee | Audrey Broussard, Elementary School, High School, Holidays, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Literary Arts, Middle School, Music, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

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!

Turning Creative Writing into Songwriting (7-12)

by Mandy McGee | Audrey Broussard, High School, Holidays, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Music, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Genres will blend, creativity and inspiration will be unlocked, and artistic visions will evolve and merge during Creative Writing Into Songwriting. Through guided creative writing exercises, the students will write poems, flash fiction, or prompts that will be used to fuel their songwriting experience. Much music will ensue. This session can be adapted for certain holidays, so please chat with the artist about options after booking!

Carve it Out (9-12)

by Mandy McGee | Anna Teer, High School, Lafayette Parish, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

It’s printmaking! It’s carving! It’s a beginner’s workshop on both! Linocutting, a process by which the artist carves into a flat surface and then inks the “raised” bits to create a mirror image print, is the glue that unites the two techniques. Students in this session will be given design samples and work on carving in a technique used by Picasso, Escher, and many others. At the end of the workshop, students will be able to take home the stamps and prints they created. Here’s to a new skill and a very cool piece of art!

Junk Journaling from Scratch: Mixed Media Storytelling (9-12)

by Mandy McGee | Brianna Autin, High School, Lafayette Parish, Short-Term Residency, Single Session, Visual Art

In this workshop, students will design and construct their own handmade journals using recycled and found materials, then bring those pages to life with collage, writing, drawing, and mixed media techniques. Through a mixture of guided prompts and creative freedom, students will explore personal expression and visual storytelling in a low-pressure, highly tactile format. Students will learn simple book binding techniques, explore artistic journaling as a tool for self-reflection, and discover methods for collaging and repurposing recycled materials.

Short-Term Residency Option:

Day one: The teaching artist will discuss what a junk journal is, show examples, and create the cover/main structure for their journals.

Day two: The teaching artist will begin with a brief demo showing students some ideas for pages and techniques for creating things like pockets. Students will be given a number of prompts to use as jumping off points for their pages.

Day three: Students will warm up by creating a new spread focusing on slightly deeper prompts such as “what my room says about me” or “things I want to remember,” followed by time for reflection and group discussion.

Science Investigations and Creative Movement (2-12)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, Music, Paula Calderon, Science, Single Session, Theatre

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.

The Zydeco Rhythms: Moving through Louisiana’s Culture (K-12)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Chris Lemelle & ShaRhonda Joseph, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Louisiana, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, Music

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.

Louisiana Living: From Gumbo to the Dance Floor (K-12)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Chris Lemelle & ShaRhonda Joseph, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Louisiana, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, Music, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

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.

ADDITIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION RESOURCES