Challenge 3- Culture! #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!Â
Our Creativity Challenge for March 14 – March 20 is #CULTURE! Â
Beautiful Indigenous Cultural Arts in Alaska identifies who and where they come from through their creativity, imagination, and originality. All art is based on history, skills, and survival. Culture is shared in multiple cultures throughout Alaska. Today we’re going to share a few ways to investigate culture 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. Â
LEARN ALONGSIDE AN ARTISTÂ Â
Try one of our AAEC Art Bytes: How can a simple shape help create beautiful beaded pin? In this one-hour training with Yurrliq Nita Rearden from Homer, educators try a distance delivery lesson for grades 2-12. This session features Yup’ik and Athabaskan artists, beading techniques, vocabulary list, math patterns, colors, and history.Â
FIND A VISUAL ARTS LESSON PLANÂ Â
Athabaskan Mittens- Athabaskan bead artists are well known for their creativity. Shapes come in many sizes. Students learn to shape a mitten and to design using markers. Students learn how to create colored patterns using construction paper. Grades K.Â
JUMP INTO A GAME OF STRENGTHÂ Â
Native Youth Olympics Games: Games rooted in Alaska Native history test physical and mental strength, concentration and stamina. Students can practice; knee jump, wrist carry, high kick, stick pull, and seal hop at home, gym, or outside with guidance. Keeping self motivated and healthy is important. Open to all grades.Â
SING AND DANCE ALONGÂ Â
Children as Culture Bearers: Every culture has its own music and traditions. Children can be engaged with their personal musical culture and of others. What is culture? How do musicians make meaningful connections to creating, performing, and responding? Grades 1. Launch into the lessons in Music In Our Schools Month
Haa KusteeyÃ: Our Way of Life: Explore LÃngit values through story and song! This website has a myriad of resources for teachers, students, and family members to learn the LÃngit language and culture. These lessons are geared for K-5, but can be enjoyed by all! Gunalchéesh to Jinkasee.ee Rose Willard and Lorrie Heagy for your work creating this amazing resource!
LEARN YUGTUN & TRY STOP MOTION ANIMATION!
Yup’ik Word of the Week: Check out KYUK’s Yup’ik Word of the Week database! Students from the Ayaprun Yup’ik Immersion School in Bethel are helping to produce a series of colorful, animated videos, each of which explains the meaning of a different Yup’ik word. Feeling inspired? Have your students create their own stop motion animation celebrating the indigenous language of your community!
We hope these ideas spark your creative thinking for this 3rd 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!