The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) has introduced a new curriculum that will use Louisiana music and culture as a supportive element for teaching core curriculum concepts. The new initiative was made possible through the support of Dorothy Hanna, a retired Calcasieu Parish teacher. The lessons, as well as additional interactive resources, can be accessed for free through Aunt Dorothy’s Teacher Toolkits online.
The first series in Aunt Dorothy’s Teacher Toolkits is Louisiana Musical Legends, which focuses on the lives and legacies of nine cherished Louisiana musicians. The units are designed to be classroom-interactive and feature a biography of the musician, an educator-created lesson plan, and a musician-focused video. The Louisiana musicians spotlighted in the series include Luther Gray and Bamboula 2000 (Greater New Orleans), Nellie Lutcher (Southwest Louisiana), Tony Joe White (Northeast Louisiana), Amanda Shaw (Northshore), Susan Aysen (Bayou Parishes), Kenny Neal (Greater Baton Rouge), Little Water (Central Louisiana), Lead Belly (Northwest Louisiana) and Nathan Williams Jr. (Acadiana).
In partnership with First Lady of Louisiana Donna Edwards and the nine regional arts councils, the LEH held a statewide contest that called for teachers to create innovative lesson plans focused on local musicians. Winning lesson plans came from educators across Louisiana, including Diana Turner of Bricolage Academy (New Orleans), Rebecca Holmes of Emily C. Watkins Elementary (LaPlace), Barbara Helveston of Edgar Martin Middle School (Lafayette), Julie Groth of Sam Houston High School (Lake Charles), Hallie Franks of St. Joseph Catholic School (Shreveport), Andrew Price of West Ouachita High School (West Monroe), and Kelly Stomps of Woodlake Elementary School (Mandeville). First Lady Edwards has emphasized the importance of music within education, saying “Music education benefits our children in many ways, both inside and outside of the classroom. Louisiana is blessed to have incredibly diverse and talented musical artists, and educating our students about our rich culture will keep them excited about learning and help lay the foundation to make the music last for generations to come.”
Two units, one lesson plan on blues musician Kenny Neal aligned with 9th and 10th grade ELA standards, and one on Luther Gray and Bamboula 2000 aligned with 2nd grade ELA standards, are currently available. Future curricula will continue to be released throughout 2020 focusing on the work and lives of the different Louisiana musicians listed above.
To find out more information about Aunt Dorothy’s Teacher Toolkits or the Louisiana Musical Legends units, visit their website 64parishes.org/education.
