Challenge 2- Harmony! #ArtsEdMonthAK
Alaska Arts Education Month is here! We’re celebrating throughout March with a different Creativity Challenge each week. Get inspired by the week’s theme to explore music, dance, theater, cultural arts, media arts, and visual arts. Share creations by you and your students with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by tagging #ArtsEdMonthAK + @akartsed to join the party!
Our second Creativity Challenge for March 7- March 13 is ………….. #Harmony!
When thinking about Alaska, our nation and our world, there are so many ways that we can express feelings of or yearnings for Harmony. Maybe you find harmony in the sounds of nature, maybe you see it in the textures or colors of a piece of art or melody in music, maybe you see it in your classroom or workplace. Today we’re going to share a few ways to investigate Harmony through the arts. Some may work in your current educational setting and some may need to be saved for a different learning landscape. All can be adapted for different ages and abilities.
LEARN ALONGSIDE AN ARTIST
Try one of our AAEC Art Bytes: In what ways can we bring harmonies to the music we share , the traditions we experience and the cultures we explore? In this 63 minute training with Lorrie Heagy from Juneau, educators can learn more about online resources to bring world cultures together and Lingit language into the classroom.
FIND A VISUAL ARTS LESSON PLAN
Harmony in the Classroom: Head to Project ARTiculate to create a “peace” mural using student created ‘puzzle pieces.’ Each student writes a wish for the world and the wishes. These wishes become part of the art and all pieces can be assembled into a class mural. This lesson is based on the book No One Can Ever Steal Your Rainbow by Barbara Meislin. Grades 2 and up.
Harmony in Nature: This activity also comes from Project ARTiculate and is great for virtual or in-person instruction. This lesson gives students the opportunity to create art using nature and return their creation to nature. Grades 5 and up.
JUMP INTO A NEW DRAMA GAME
Mirroring in Harmony: A great way to help your students be aware of their body movements and working together as a team from Beat by Beat Press. This activity is a wonderful way to foster ensemble building, focus and cooperation. Can be adapted for any age group.
HARMONIOUS MUSICAL CONNECTIONS
Harmonic Collaboration: Music and Literature: This series is produced by the National Association for Music Education and explores music in children’s picture literature. In this article, learn about works by authors Carole Boston Weatherford and Robbin Gourley who used harmonious written word to help students learn about Jazz great John Coltrane and guitar master Doc Watson. Can be adapted for your elementary classroom. Included is an interview, lesson plans, videos extensions and links to further students access to diverse and harmonious composers and artists.
We hope these ideas spark your creative thinking for this 2nd week of Alaska Arts Education Month. Whether you create something from this list or from your own inspiration, remember to showcase your work on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with #ArtsEdMonthAK + @akartsed.
Visit again for a new Creativity Challenge and more ideas next week!