High School

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.

Free Your Mind (4-12)

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

Spontaneous, unscripted, and supportive – those 3 words describe a freestyle poetry circle. In this session, students participate in such a circle and have a both literary and an SEL experience. Workshop goals: encourage students to control their thoughts, think strategically and accept themselves. Poetic inspiration included? Absolutely!

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.

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.

The Yarn Lab (3–12)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Crystal Bridgewater, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

The Yarn Lab is an entry-level crochet program designed to introduce students to the art of crochet while building focus, patience, and creativity. In this hands-on class, students will learn basic stitches, follow fun projects, and discover how yarn and imagination can turn into tangible creations. Designed for beginners and hands-on types, The Yarn Lab makes learning both engaging and rewarding.

Mindful Moves (PK–12)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Creative Movement/Dance, Crystal Bridgewater, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Do yoga in the classroom? Yes, you can! Mindful Moves is a yoga-inspired program designed to help students bring calm, focus, and energy into their school day. Through simple yoga poses, breath work, and gentle stretches, students learn techniques to manage anxiety, boost concentration, and start their mornings feeling awake and energized. All activities are designed to be done right in the classroom, making mindfulness and movement accessible anytime, anywhere.

The History of African Americans in Louisiana through Music (9-12)

by Mandy McGee | Ado Soul, Art History, High School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Mini-Presentation, Music, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Get ready for a musical feast and a historical journey! Journey from the vibrant rhythms of jazz to the soulful melodies of blues in this session that delves into the rich cultural heritage that has shaped American music today. Through a listening session and discussion, students will learn about the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in Louisiana and how their experiences have been reflected in the music they created. Groups will examine the influence of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Great Migration on the development of musical genres such as gospel, zydeco, and hip-hop. When it is time to get hands-on, students will also have the opportunity to create their own musical projects inspired by the history and traditions of Louisiana’s African American community.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Flowers (3-12)

by Mandy McGee | Art History, Elementary School, High School, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Roz Fisher, Science, Single Session, Visual Art

No one saw a flower the way artist Georgia O’Keeffe did. She looked closely, depicted flowers on a large scale, and over the course of seven decades, this modernist painter changed the art world. In this session, students will draw their own flowers, large and up-close. This project enables us to see all parts of the flower and emphasizes warm and cool colors.

Clementine Hunter’s Zinnias (3-12)

by Mandy McGee | Art History, Elementary School, High School, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, Roz Fisher, Visual Art

No one taught her, so she taught herself and made her art her own. In doing so, Louisiana artist Clementine Hunter developed a visually distinctive style and vividly depicted plantation life in the early 20th Century. In this session, students will learn more about Clementine’s world. How, they will learn, did she arrive at her ideas of plantation life and her vision for depicting people, animals, and everyday life on a plantation? Then, students will create a piece of art in Clementine’s style and pay homage to her work.

Short-Term Residency option:

Day 1: After learning a brief biography of the artist, students draw vases in the shape of their choosing, and backgrounds are painted onto paper bags.

Day 2: Students add stems and leaves with oil pastels to their vase. Then they paint their vases. We will create different values of color and paint the petals of our flowers.

Day 3: Students can decorate their vase using chinoiserie or another style. Then, they can add details and monogrammed signatures similar to the style of Hunter.

A Lesson In Street Dance (K-12)

by Mandy McGee | Art History, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Middle School, Mini-Presentation, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Terrance Morgan, Vermilion Parish

The best classrooms are full of energy and inspiration – and the same is true of street dance! This session includes a historical breakdown of diverse and unique street dance styles such as House, Locking, Popping, Freestyle Hip-Hop, and Breaking. Students will also learn self-expression, motivation, hard work, and will participate in a live dance workshop. It’s a dance and history fusion in your classroom!

ADDITIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION RESOURCES