Better With A Song with Ken Whiteley
Grades 3 to 8, 9 to 12, 150 performance or 2 classes per session, maximum 2 sessions/day
Social Studies: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments / History / Citizenship Education
Students come to understand how music can influence and propel positive change today with Ken’s rich repertoire of songs from the labour, civil rights, peace and environmental movements.
Chaos Theory – The Butterfly Effect
An Interdisciplinary program with Inner City Angels visual artists: Pria Muzumdar, Moojan Nazmi and Paul Walty (in French) and dance with Sarina Condello and Bailey Davis from Mariposa In The Schools.
Grades JK to 8 | dance: 2 to 3 visits/class & visual art: 2, half-day visits/class
Science: Energy & Matter, Earth & Space / Healthy Living / Citizenship Education
What difference do we make in the world? What difference does it make if we don’t get involved or step up to an injustice. How much difference can one individual make in the wellbeing of a greater community, or in society in general? Heard of the Butterfly Effect? The scientific theory that the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil could set off a tornado in Texas by creating tiny changes in the atmosphere that could accelerate or even prevent the tornado. Understanding the Butterfly Effect in nature and in social encounters and using it in our daily lives gives us a rare empowerment. With storytelling, spoken word, dance and mixed media we can examine one single choice and action that can impact our wellbeing and the world. And…we can learn a little about this well-known scientific theory.
See IDEAS YouTube: Butterfly Effect
The Circle of Life: Traditional Ojibwa Teachings and Stories with Esther Osche
Grades 3 to 8, 9 to 12, | 2 classes/session | maximum 3 sessions/day | limited availability
Social Studies: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments / History & Geography
Ojibwa storyteller and Manitoulin Island resident, Esther Osche, tells stories about the connections between humans, animals, thunder beings, water and wind spirits in an authentic experience that incorporates drum and song.
Esther is also available for presentation regarding the history of Aboriginal Treaties and the military alliances between the Ojibwa, French and English, including contemporary Aboriginal issues.
Constructual Flow Theory
An interdisciplinary program conceived and led by Inner City Angels visual artist and designer Pria Muzumdar and with Mariposa In The Schools dancer-choreographers Sarina Condello and Bailey Davis.
Grade 3 to 8 | dance: 2 to 3 visits/class & visual art: 2, half-day visits/class
Science: Life Cycles & Systems, Earth & Space / Social Studies: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments / History & Geography / Citizenship Education
Here we examine the universal presence of constructual flow seen in successful natural and social organizations and discover how these tree-like structures have core strength, are rooted with organic branches or split patterns that can adapt to environmental conditions. We can compare tree branching to our circulatory system, rivers, etc., and then to other social organization schematics such as families, schools, networks, communities and neighbourhoods. We can create a collaborative social system inspired by how nature ebbs and flows. Artwork is mixed media with colourful illustrations and paint.
One World, One Voice with Sheniz Janmohamed
Grade 7 to 8, 9 to 12 | 5 day residency, 1 class/session, maximum 3 sessions/day
Social Studies: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments / History / Citizenship Education
“One World with One Light/One Mission for One Fight/ The Fight to be One”. With repetition, rhyme and rhythm to drive her hard hitting poetry home, this inspirational spoken word performance and workshop features the political, social and humanitarian elements of spoken word where students will experience how powerful one voice can be in giving voice to a cause. Following the performance, the Voice Is Power workshop is available as a single session to a 5-day residency leading to a student showcase where students are given the opportunity to write and recite their own spoken word pieces while learning the art of recitation, gesture and delivery. They will also learn how to fuel their passion for a cause through creativity and performance. Themes can include social justice and civil responsibility to battling bullying.
Our Stories with Mariella Bertelli, Rita Cox, Marylyn Peringer, Esther Oshche, Itah Sadu, Dan Yashinsky
Grades JK to 8 | 45-60 minute performance for up to 150 students or classroom visits
Social Studies: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments / History / Citizenship Education
Family stories and memories are the primary link to the DNA of our personal identity and the stories that have been passed on from generation to generation in the form of folk tales, legends and myths form our collective identity. MITS master storytellers bring their vast repertoire of stories to illustrate the concept of how our personal and collective stories form our identity as much as the cells that make up our physical selves.
Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings with Esther Osche
Grades 3 to 8 | 2 storytelling visits/class | minimum 4 classes | limited availability
Social Studies: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments / History & Geography / Science: Life Systems / Health & Physical Education: Healthy Living
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of North America were given seven sacred Teachings of the Seven Sacred Grandfathers that form the foundation of their spirituality. The traditional concepts of respect and sharing that form the foundation of the Aboriginal way of life are built around these teachings where each teaching honours one of the basic virtues to achieve a full and healthy life and is represented by an animal whose characteristic serves to remind us of our connection to nature and to respect all living things.
This program brings Esther Osche into the classroom in partnership with Inner City Angels visual artist and sculptor Charmaine Lurch. Esther shares the Sacred Teachings to further students’ understanding of the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of balance and harmony in achieving a full and healthy life. Students listen to, discuss and reflect on the stories and then create a visual understanding of each.
See IDEAS YouTube: Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings
Stories That Make You Holler! with Itah Sadu
Grades 1 to 4, 6 to 8 | maximum 150 | limited availability
Social Studies: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments / Citizenship Education
Highly theatrical, always inspirational! Itah shares contemporary and traditional stories and folklore from across the African Diaspora, weaving history, social justice and adventure in a spellbinding hour.