TEACHING ARTIST SESSION CATEGORIES
Need to support phonics-based classroom goals? Want to engage students through movement, music, storytelling, and interactive arts?
In this session specially tailored for grades PK-3, students will practice early CKLA sounds, letter names, and phonemic recognition through creative movement. Rhythm activities, collaboration games, and storytelling exercises are all a part of this immersive and interactive experience for young language learners. Available in English & Spanish.
Learning English as a second language and body movement come together in this session where participants go beyond everyday language acquisition. Students will increase vocabulary, strengthen English speaking and listening skills, and practice following directions through rhythm exercises, musical activities, games, and more. Bilingual reinforcement will be provided as needed, but movement and creative interactions will power the learning in a welcoming, supportive environment. Available in English & Spanish.
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.
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.
The Mermaid Music Showcase is an interactive music and movement experience that introduces students to rhythm, singing, creative expression, listening skills, and musical storytelling through an imaginative under-the-sea adventure. Students actively participate by singing, echoing rhythms, moving with the music, and creating sound together using age-appropriate activities that encourage confidence, cooperation, creativity, and self-expression. Each presentation is designed for Pre-K through elementary students and aligns with arts education goals by strengthening musical awareness, focus, imagination, and group participation. No advance preparation is required, but teachers are encouraged to enjoy the experience alongside their students.
The Ocean Calm introduces students to the calming sounds of instruments from around the world, including crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, harp, gong, chimes, and other peaceful percussion. Students begin with a brief demonstration of each instrument, learning how sound and vibration can encourage relaxation, focused listening, and emotional regulation. They are then invited to sit comfortably or lie quietly while experiencing a guided sound bath designed to promote calm, imagination, and mindful awareness. No prior experience or preparation is required, and teachers are welcome to relax and enjoy the experience alongside their students while providing normal classroom supervision. Students need to wear comfortable clothing and have enough space to sit or lie down comfortably.
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.
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!