TEACHING ARTIST SESSION CATEGORIES
Traditional craft time! French beading techniques were brought to Louisiana from our French ancestors. This hands-on demonstration includes how to string beads onto wire, how to loop shapes, and then finally, how to pull all of the parts together to complete the final project. This lost art is hard to “bead”!
Don’t wait for Easter to buy a pack of colored tablets from the grocery store! Natural egg dyeing has been around for centuries in Europe. Our French ancestors brought this method of dyeing eggs to Louisiana in the late 1700s, and some farm families in Acadiana still practice it today. In this lesson, students will “go back in time” by learning this technique to create a truly unique egg.
Across the globe, dance is not only an art form, but a way to communicate. In this session, classes celebrate global cultures through music and movement inspired by Lafayette’s Festival International. Students can explore rhythms and dances from around the world by learning simple choreography based on current artists featured at the festival. Keep calm and dance on!
Time for a Mardi Gras parade in your classroom! Students in this session explore the history and traditions of Louisiana’s Mardi Gras through creative movement. Using rhythm, locomotor movement, and group choreography, they will discover how parades bring communities together. All the while, students are also building coordination, collaboration, and confidence. Connect movement with Louisiana culture in an engaging, hands-on way! (Note: Activities in this session are adapted for each grade level.)
Join Crawfish and friends for a toe-tappin’, hand-clappin’ Zydeco adventure straight from the heart of Louisiana! In this interactive session, kids sing, dance, and laugh their way through fun YouTube hits like “Zydeco 123,” “Crawfish Shuffle,” “Don’t Eat My Fruit Loops,” and more. Each song brings a mix of rhythm, storytelling, and movement, while teaching children about Louisiana culture, Creole roots, and the joy of Zydeco music.
Ready to make your own music? Music Production 101: Recording & Producing a Song is a fun, hands-on course where kids learn how to create songs from start to finish! Students will explore recording voices and instruments, making beats, adding cool sounds, and putting it all together to make a real song. At the end of the session, students will create a full composition using everyday school items—like pencils, desks, and chairs—and will turn your classroom into a musical playground!
In this cross curricular arts-integrated lesson, students will explore the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana through the lens of quilt-making. Students will learn about the historical and cultural significance of quilts in Louisiana communities, and identify influences from African American, Creole, Cajun, and Native traditions. Students will discover how quilts tell stories of family, place, and identity, while making Social Studies connections. Then the class will pivot to visual arts – students will design their own quilt squares using patterns, symbols, and colors inspired by Louisiana landscapes, traditions, and festivals. Finally, dance will be incorporated! Students will bring their quilt stories to life by creating movement sequences that represent stitching, patterns, and the themes within their quilt squares. We will use elements of folk dance and creative movement to reflect unity, diversity, and storytelling. This lesson fosters collaboration, creativity, and cultural understanding all the while addressing Louisiana Student Standards in various disciplines.
It’s a musical storytime! Author Theresa Singleton will read her book Zydeco Zoom to students and discuss Zydeco music, musicians and important Zydeco instruments. Students will be taught the “Zoom dance” too!
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!
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.