The Harlem Renaissance

History Lesson: 

Students spent the week discussing the history, culture, and art from the Harlem Renaissance. They read from authors Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston, and Dr. W.E.B. Du Bios. They also discussed the art of Jacob Lawrence, James Van Der Zee, Augusta Savage, and Winold Reiss. Music was incorporated into daily lessons as they learned about jazz with the Harlem Hellfighters, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith. Students were encouraged to think critically and read from publications and poems released during the time.

Throughout the week, they built a diorama of a brownstone which included a jazz bar, barbershop, and literary salon (younger students built smaller brownstones with two floors). They included period appropriate furniture, decorations, and mini covers of The Crisis, a magazine published by Dr. W.E.B. Du Bios. At the end of the workshop, students stepped away with a new and deeper understanding of New York City history!

Arts Skills:

Diorama constructions

Miniature buildings

Texture painting technique 

Collage skills