Challenge 4- Community! #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 fourth Creativity Challenge for March 21 – March 27th is ………….. #community!

As spring begins, our communities blossom in new ways, the streets get busier and we stay out later. A question that comes to my artist’s mind is how can community and art communicate. In the big ways, artists can organize community murals, displays and events that demonstrate the qualities of that community and bring people of all demographics together. I find creating with people to be one of the most meaningful ways to listen and connect. In the smaller things we can share art with a neighbor, a health care worker, or an elderly person to let them know they are loved. Today we’re going to share a few ways to investigate community 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: Celebrate the beauty in the natural world that surrounds your community! In this sweet hour long Art Byte with teaching artist Kristin Link, learn more about observational drawing techniques. Great for any grade level! 

FIND A VISUAL ARTS LESSON PLAN

kids look at public art at a clinicIntroduction to Public Art Lesson Plan: This lesson has students investigate different pieces of public art in groups. It encourages students to look at why it was made and how location plays into public art.  Grades 4-5.  

 

Yarn "bombed" trees in SeattleYarn Bombing Lesson Plan: Is graffiti good or bad? How does it shape our communities? Educator Rebecca Reichman presents a very cohesive lesson on yarn bombing. I did this with my 6th grade class on the trees outside our school and it was a big hit. This is a great way to involve all students in a colorful project that is visible all over the community. This lesson could be done with in-person or at-home learners! Grades 6-12

Alvin Amason paintingEverything I Love is Here: Explore the artwork of Alutiiq artist, Alvin Amason, with your students! This fantastic lesson plan was created by the Anchorage Museum and is recommended for Grade 1.

 

 

art from the quietest placeQuietest Place: Jace Clayton, aka DJ /Rupture, challenges you to take a walk from where you live and find the quietest place. Once you’re there, take it in for a moment and then make a short video or take some photos there.

 

JUMP INTO A NEW DRAMA GAME

Improv Community Game“Improv Community” Game for Drama Students: This activity has students practice listening, reacting and responding after being given a community location It is complete improve and helps students learn to be aware and listen. Most importantly to “go with the flow”. This lesson is presented by the Theatre Folk Drama teacher resource company. Grades: 3-12 

SING AND DANCE ALONG

Folk Music of GhanaWest African Song and Chants: Children’s Music from Ghana: The Smithsonian Folk Ways recordings is an incredible resource for how communities all over the world use song and dance in community! Check out this lesson plan from Ghana. It includes music and dance and can be used online or in person. Grades 3-6 

 

We hope these ideas spark your creative thinking for this 4th 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!