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! 

Our Creativity Challenge for March 14 – March 20 is #CULTURE!  

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.  

LEARN ALONGSIDE AN ARTIST  

beaded heartsTry 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. 

 

FIND A VISUAL ARTS LESSON PLAN  

athabaskan mittensAthabaskan 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. 

JUMP INTO A GAME OF STRENGTH  

girl does two foot high kick, NYONative 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. 

SING AND DANCE ALONG  

Tlingit drumChildren 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 KusteeyiHaa Kusteeyí: Our Way of Life: Explore Língit values through story and song! This website has a myriad of resources for teachers, students, and family members to learn the Língit 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 weekYup’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!