New Song Work Shop, Spring of 2025

"Welcome to the Bead Trade" 

This workshop aimed to guide middle school students through a historical African-European bead enterprise. Students were first given direct instruction regarding the historical significance of the bead trade, specifically what made beads so valuable and how they became a luxury. After direct instruction, students were asked to create a sketch or "bead map" depicting the pattern they chose to use. Students were shown various types of bead patterns and encouraged to create something unique to them. Students were then given a demonstration on creating their paper beads from magazine paper. The creation of these beads was then rewarded with a velvet "mystery bag" from the treasury (me), signifying the value of their created beads. Then, students successfully traded their mystery beads with each other and the "treasury" to achieve the pattern they mapped in the beginning. This workshop was enriching; students could understand concepts, engage with each other and the studio work, and were very proud of their final creations.