Middle School

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.

Rodrigue’s Blue Dog (3-8)

by Mandy McGee | Art History, Elementary School, Jan Fontenot, Louisiana, Middle School, St. Landry Parish, Visual Art

Big, blue, and everywhere you look – that’s the story of Louisiana artist George Rodrigue and his iconic Blue Dog! Students in this session will learn about the artist, his canine legacy, and create masterpieces in the artist’s unique style.

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