Techniques for brainstorming, collaborative project management, and individual artistic expression. Guides students through the iterative creative process from initial concept to final execution.
A 3-day collaborative art project where students transform recycled materials into large-scale sculptures while applying principles of design and creative problem-solving.
A comprehensive 3D art unit that guides students from transforming recycled materials to mastering monumental scale, combining fine arts history with engineering and technical skill.
A comprehensive workshop where students in grades 5-8 master the art of digital storytelling by blending narrative structure, audio production, and visual composition into a final multimedia project.
A comprehensive workshop sequence on goal setting and visual manifestation.
This project-based sequence takes students on a global tour as ethnomusicologists, examining how geography and culture influence musical instruments and sounds. Students classify instruments using the Hornbostel-Sachs system and explore rhythms and scales from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
This sequence analyzes how technology in the 20th and 21st centuries revolutionized music production and consumption. Students trace the evolution from early Rock 'n' Roll amplification to electronic synthesis and digital sampling, culminating in a creative project where they design music for the future.
This sequence traces the evolution of contemporary music from 19th-century African American spirituals through the development of the Blues, Jazz, and Rock & Roll. Students investigate how cultural exchange, technology, and social struggles shaped the sounds we listen to today, culminating in a musical genealogy project.
A 5-lesson unit for 6th-grade students exploring character construction and the narrative structure of stage plays, from initial concept to a professional pitch.
Students explore relief printing using soft foam plates, focusing on positive and negative space, inking techniques, and pattern creation. The sequence culminates in a professional-style edition of prints and a gallery walk critique.
A comprehensive introduction to graphic design and typography for 6th grade, focusing on how visual elements communicate mood, hierarchy, and meaning. Students transition from analyzing font psychology to creating their own balanced layouts and logos, culminating in a professional-style client pitch.
A project-based unit where 6th-grade students explore the intersection of Pop Art and graphic design. They learn stencil-based screen printing techniques to produce bold, reproducible icons on paper or fabric.
A 5-lesson journey into music composition using graphic notation. Students explore sound textures, invent visual symbols for audio, compose narrative soundscapes, and lead ensembles as conductors.
A comprehensive 5-lesson sequence for 6th graders on vector illustration, focusing on the technical differences between raster and vector graphics, mastering shape-building and pen tools, and creating a personal logo. Students move from basic geometry to complex symbolic design.
This sequence explores the foundational principles of theatrical improvisation, focusing on the 'Yes, And' rule, CROW (Character, Relationship, Objective, Where), object work, and status dynamics. Students will build ensemble trust and spontaneity through a variety of workshop games and simulations, culminating in a short-form improv performance.
A 5-lesson sequence for 6th graders focused on the core skills of improvisation, including acceptance, object work, character dynamics, and narrative structure. Students develop collaborative creativity through the 'Yes, And' philosophy.
This sequence focuses on improvisation and ensemble building, teaching students to think quickly and collaborate creatively. The arc moves from basic rule-setting (Yes, And) to active listening and reacting in the moment. Students learn to build scenes cooperatively without a script, focusing on maintaining character and narrative logic.
A 5-lesson unit exploring the 20th-century rebellion against ballet that birthed Modern and Contemporary dance. Students analyze pioneers like Duncan, Graham, and Ailey, experimenting with movement innovations and culminating in their own 'rule-breaking' choreographic project.
Students explore the history of American social dance, focusing on the cultural fusion and resilience of marginalized communities that birthed Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. The sequence covers rhythmic roots, the Cakewalk, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Bronx origins of Hip Hop, culminating in a historical timeline project.
A 5-lesson unit exploring how dance served as the primary form of communication and history-keeping before written language, investigating Hawaiian, Greek, and West African traditions.
A 3-day collaborative sculpture project where students transform recycled materials into massive structures while overcoming engineering challenges.
A comprehensive exploration of world music and dance, focusing on cultural heritage, musical elements, and creative expression through drumming, melody, and global fusion.
A comprehensive score analysis framework for middle school band and choir ensembles that integrates music literacy with text-based evidence and academic rigor. Students learn to 'read' a musical score as a primary source document, identifying technical elements and structural patterns while providing specific citations for their findings.
A comprehensive book club unit for Natalie Babbitt's *Tuck Everlasting*, exploring themes of immortality, nature's cycles, and moral choices through guided discussion, vocabulary expansion, and project-based learning.
This sequence investigates how the technological explosion of the 20th and 21st centuries, from the electric guitar to AI, redefined music genres and creation. Students analyze production techniques, listen for layers, and explore the concept of technology as a musical instrument.
Students investigate how costumes and properties (props) function as tools for character development and storytelling. The sequence guides students through the process of distinguishing between prop types, exploring costume psychology, fabricating safe props, and mastering backstage organization.
A 5-lesson sequence for 5th-grade students focusing on the iterative process of playwriting, from the first table read to a final, polished performance-ready script. Students develop skills in auditory analysis, dialogue refinement, conciseness, and collaboration.
Students learn to translate narrative fiction into dramatic scripts by analyzing storytelling modes, converting internal thoughts to external actions, and drafting their own theatrical adaptations of fables.
A foundational unit for 6th-grade students introducing the mechanics and creativity of playwriting. Students explore the differences between prose and drama, master character voice, learn standard script formatting, and craft original conflict-driven scenes.
This sequence guides 6th-grade students through the fundamental patterns of Western music theory, focusing on the construction of Major and Minor scales and the practical application of key signatures. Students move from measuring small intervals (whole and half steps) to composing their own melodies using established tonal frameworks.
A comprehensive sequence for 6th-grade students on rhythmic notation, meter, and mathematical subdivision of music. Students progress from basic note values to complex syncopation and original composition.
Students step into the shoes of a set designer to transform a written script into a physical world through script analysis, floor planning, mood boards, and 3D model construction. The sequence emphasizes how visual choices in color, texture, and space support the storytelling.
An introduction to the intaglio printmaking family through drypoint etching on plastic plates. Students explore line weight, tonal variation, wiping techniques, and mixed media additions like chine-collé.
A 5-lesson unit for 6th-grade singers focusing on the intersection of technical performance and artistic storytelling. Students explore lyrics as poetry, master the mechanics of phrasing and breath management, manipulate dynamics and tempo for emotional impact, and analyze interpretive choices in cover songs.
This sequence explores how musicians work together as an ensemble, focusing on conducting cues, dynamic control, balance, and tempo maintenance. Students transition from following a leader to collaborating in small independent groups.
This sequence introduces students to the foundations of rhythmic composition through the creation of layered ostinatos. Students progress from internalizing pulse to composing and layering original rhythms, culminating in a group performance.
A 5-lesson journey into ensemble techniques, focusing on non-verbal communication, dynamic control, layering parts with ostinatos, and collaborative performance. Students develop the skills needed to listen, adjust, and play as a unified musical group.
An 8-session sports broadcasting course for grades 4–12, covering play-by-play, color analysis, interviewing, and technical production. Students move from foundational commentary to producing a full capstone broadcast segment.
An 8-session sports broadcasting course for grades 4–12, covering play-by-play, color commentary, interviewing, camera work, audio mixing, and live production directing. Students progress from foundational vocal skills to a complete capstone broadcast project.
A comprehensive introduction to physical theater for 6th graders, focusing on neutrality, body awareness, leading centers, tableau, and pantomime. Students develop the discipline and technique to tell stories and express emotions without speaking, culminating in a silent scene performance.
This sequence develops improvisation skills and ensemble collaboration, teaching students to react authentically in the moment. Students build trust and creative confidence by practicing 'Yes, And,' establishing environments, and solving narrative problems as a team.
An inquiry-based exploration of dance as a language of storytelling and ritual in indigenous cultures, focusing on gesture, formation, regalia, and rhythm.
A journey through the history of classical dance, exploring how power, fashion, and social hierarchy shaped the movement styles of the Renaissance and Baroque eras into the formalized art of ballet. Students will move from court etiquette to the technical rigor of King Louis XIV's court, analyze Romantic era narratives, and create their own codified dance systems.
