Sissieretta Jones was heralded as one of the greatest singers of her generation and a pioneer in the operatic tradition at a time when access to most classical concert halls in the U.S. were closed to Black performers and patrons. Learn more about this trailblazing classical performer in this video from Unladylike2020. Support materials include discussion questions, vocabulary, research extension tips, and a newspaper analysis activity.

Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.

Students are introduced to traditional folk music with an animated rendition of a familiar song, “Skip to My Lou.” The animation features an band made up of forest creatures, plus a few other surprises.

Explore the sweet, slimy world of snails (and worms!) as you discover the difference between fact and fiction with videos, stories and games.

Learn about the music of Brazil. Have you ever wondered how music transforms from notes on a page to something so beautiful it can touch our souls? Mike travels to Harrisonburg, VA to meet a pianist from Brazil, who teaches us about the music of Brazil and performs a lively piece on the piano. Mary guides us in moving our bodies to all of the different musical sounds and we learn to sing a children’s folk song in Portuguese.

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Presented by VPM.

Songs and Stories with Mary and Mike uses music and story as the joyful pathway to learning for young children while integrating and modeling the state's new EC learning standards for literacy, math, and social-emotional learning as well as the National Standards for Music Education. The show forges connections across the greater community by featuring guest teachers, artists, musicians, authors, and community members. With every music selection, book selection, and guest spotlight, Mary and Mike strive for a rich, diverse, beautiful representation of all people and cultures. The message to beautiful learners is clear: they are loved, they are valued, and they can do amazing things.

Learn about Cuban music. Mary and Mike learn about Cuban culture and music. Gustavo Pellon, a University of Virginia professor originally from Cuba, teaches us about this unique country, tells a childhood story, and shares a poem. Dr. Mike Davison, a trumpet player and University of Richmond professor, plays his trumpet and demonstrates the clave rhythm, the foundation of Cuban music. Come learn with us!

More About This Resource
Presented by VPM.

Songs and Stories with Mary and Mike uses music and story as the joyful pathway to learning for young children while integrating and modeling the state's new EC learning standards for literacy, math, and social-emotional learning as well as the National Standards for Music Education. The show forges connections across the greater community by featuring guest teachers, artists, musicians, authors, and community members. With every music selection, book selection, and guest spotlight, Mary and Mike strive for a rich, diverse, beautiful representation of all people and cultures. The message to beautiful learners is clear: they are loved, they are valued, and they can do amazing things.

Learn about the sounds of the night. Mary and Mike stay up late to explore the magic and music of nighttime. We sing songs about the beauty of the night and a young pianist plays Clair de Lune under the light of the moon. Our friend, Dr. Lerdau, teaches us about nighttime creatures who are making music of their own: owls, crickets, and even plants! Enjoy a lovely evening with us as we discover the simple beauty of our surroundings.

More About This Resource
Presented by VPM.

Songs and Stories with Mary and Mike uses music and story as the joyful pathway to learning for young children while integrating and modeling the state's new EC learning standards for literacy, math, and social-emotional learning as well as the National Standards for Music Education. The show forges connections across the greater community by featuring guest teachers, artists, musicians, authors, and community members. With every music selection, book selection, and guest spotlight, Mary and Mike strive for a rich, diverse, beautiful representation of all people and cultures. The message to beautiful learners is clear: they are loved, they are valued, and they can do amazing things.

Learn about the frequencies that combine to make the "sound fingerprints" of various instruments.

Meet Bay Area artist Mike Shine, who discusses his carnival-inspired paintings, and his recent large-scale stencil murals. He makes art for people to enjoy, both superficially and in depth, and condemns much of modern art because of the context needed for interpretation. He wants his art to be able to be interpreted, regardless of how it is interpreted. He wants it to transcend cultural and language barriers. Check out how his art is made in this video.

Sherry and Justin from Story Pirates show you how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat in this clip about suspense in this video from Camp TV. They explain all the steps to make a story where the reader has to know what happens next and share their own mysterious and exciting examples.

Explore the history of The Drama League and New York theater in this video from Treasures of New York: The Drama League. Students are asked to consider how the theater community depends on help from organizations like The Drama League to educate the public about the performing arts and to prepare future artists for a career in the theater industry. In addition to learning more about The Drama League, teaching tips ask students to create drama guides and awards for their own school productions.

Learn how monotypes are created by examining the work of artist Susan Carney.

Talon Wilson is learning the master craft of blacksmithing at Sätergläntan school in Sweden and the experience has caused him to think deeply about who he is and how his Dakota ancestry can influence his art.

A lesson plan for grades 9-12 is included as a gallery asset and in the support materials.

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Postcards is an award-winning series showcasing the arts, history, and cultural heritage of western Minnesota and beyond. Funding for Postcards comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. To watch more Postcards, visit the show page or video portal.

Now more than ever, it’s essential that young people know how to use credit cards wisely and manage their debt, before they learn the hard way. This video features Lauren Popkoff, a teacher at Brooklyn College Academy in Brooklyn, New York. As Lauren lifts the veil off of credit, she outlines a lesson she teaches her high school students to arm them with the knowledge they need to make wise financial decisions. In this lesson, Lauren presents the advantages and disadvantages of credit, compares credit card offers with her students, discusses ways to establish credit, and highlights the credit card act of 2009.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Design Competition and learn about the skills required for a career in costume design.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Design Competition and learn about the skills required for a career in projection design.

Learn about sound design from theater majors participating in the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Design Competition. Get advice and learn about the skills required for a career in sound design.

Brendan Monroe doesn't follow strict guidelines, especially when it comes to his artwork. He makes rough sketches of his ideas and improvises along the way, making sure to keep the blurriness of the concepts and the mystery. His aim is to encourage people to see living things in everything in their environment.

Nigel Poor is a photographer who spends time documenting everyday existence, exploring the meaning of the traces of ourselves that we leave behind. She focuses on ordinary objects and materials, researching what makes an object “worthy of preservation,” in her words. This KQED Art School video was created in collaboration with SFMOMA, who commissioned art-making activity ideas from Nigel Poor for their Open Studio project.

Explore how masculinity is portrayed in a modern stylized version of Shakespeare's iconic play in this video from Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet. What does it mean to be a "man?" How is our understanding of masculinity reflected in the interplay of Shakespeare's words and the way in which this production interprets the text? Support materials ask students to analyze the fight scene in Act I of the play and whether Romeo accepts or rejects the ideas about masculinity introduced in that opening scene.