St. Martin Parish

The Art of Surrealism: A Mixed Media Journey (1-5)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Tiffany Luong, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

Get ready to explore a new concept, engage with artistic materials, and tell a visual story! In this session, students will examine what surrealism was and is today. They will randomly choose cutouts of objects and words to serve as the basis for their own surrealist mixed-media collage. Using acrylic markers and the cutouts they chose, they will be challenged to interconnect these objects to creatively express their own narrative. As they work, the students will apply and internalize the principles of surrealism, and discover how they have allowed artists to express themselves in unique ways.

Big Picture Math (STEM/STEAM Edition) (3-6)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Jessalyn Newton, Math, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

In this STEM/STEAM-based mini-residency, students design and paint a permanent/temporary/moveable collaborative mural while learning measurement, proportion, and perspective. Projects can be done on windows, walls, or posters. The session includes tool exploration, art history, and possibly seasonal themes. Perfect for any school event or holiday (chat with the artist about options after booking)!

Short-Term Residency option:

Day 1: The students will do a “doodle” warm up and icebreaker activity. The class collaborates on the theme, and an official sketch is made for the mural.

Day 2: The finished design is gridded and scaled for transfer to the wall or surface using math. The mural is transferred and painted by the students!

Day 3: The students will spend this final day completing the mural, and have a group discussion to close out the session.

Wall Works: Mural Lab (6-12)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, High School, Iberia Parish, Jessalyn Newton, Literary Arts, Math, Middle School, Short-Term Residency, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

Students go from sketch to wall in just three sessions! Working as a team, they’ll develop a concept inspired by poetry, writing, or events (chat with the artist about options after booking) then scale it up using math, grids, and safe equipment. This session includes color theory, prep, and paint techniques. And lucky for you, we have options – the murals can be permanent or temporary!

Short-Term Residency option:

Day 1: The students will do a “doodle” warm up and icebreaker activity. The class collaborates on the theme, and an official sketch is made for the mural. Finally, we have a discussion about safety when making art.

Day 2: The finished design is sketched onto the wall, and the surface is prepped. The mural is transferred and painted by the students!

Day 3: The students spend this final day completing the mural, and have a group discussion to close out the session.

The Way of Painting (2-8)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, Ke'Shawn Collins, Middle School, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

The goal of this session is for students to feel a sense of freedom and ownership in their artistic expression. But how will they get there? After analyzing a sample painting, students will learn step-by-step techniques for creating their original artwork. They will be provided a template with a basic outline to guide their creative process.

Painting to Free the Mind (PK-12)

by Mandy McGee | Elementary School, High School, Iberia Parish, Ke'Shawn Collins, Middle School, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish, Visual Art

Painting can be a therapeutic and empowering experience for anyone. In this session, students will receive guidance on effectively mixing paints to achieve their desired colors. The class will focus on painting floral scenes set against a sky backdrop. Minds and flowers will bloom!

Moving Through Testing Anxiety (PK-8)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Iberia Parish, Kelsey Billiot, Lafayette Parish, Middle School, School Celebrations/Events, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Ours can be an anxious world, and taking tests has never been fun. Knowing calming techniques can make that all better! Support students through high-stakes seasons with movement-based tools to release tension and reset the nervous system. Activities in this creative movement session promote regulation, focus, and emotional awareness during testing time.

Festival International (PK-8)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Festivals, High School, Iberia Parish, Kelsey Billiot, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Middle School, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

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!

Classroom Ready: Movement for Focus and Transitions (K-5)

by Mandy McGee | Adaptable for Special Education, Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Kelsey Billiot, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

Get to your desk and sit still? Not in this session! Students will use movement strategies to build focus, manage transitions, and support classroom routines. By practicing structured movement tools, students will improve attention and self-regulation. It’s a social and physical win-win!

Oceans & Emotional Regulation (PK-5)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Kelsey Billiot, Lafayette Parish, Single Session, Social Emotional Learning, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

In this session, the ocean is both an inspiration and a metaphor. Add creative movement to the mix, and students will have a powerful tool for emotional regulation! Your students will be guided in a dive deep to find their sense of calm.

Talking Trees! (PK-5)

by Mandy McGee | Creative Movement/Dance, Elementary School, Iberia Parish, Kelsey Billiot, Lafayette Parish, Science, Single Session, St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish, Vermilion Parish

And the trees were WHAT? Yes, they were TALKING! Trees communicate their needs and send reinforcements to loved ones through a special web of communication. Students explore and learn more about the “mycelium network” and the relationships trees have. After learning, classes will use a story and movement to explore their ideas. Finally, students will express their findings through teamwork and performance.

ADDITIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION RESOURCES