ATA Library Gems

Did you know the ATA library offers a wealth of resources available to its members for free - including return shipping? This month our subject area representatives did a deep dive and discovered some stellar recommendations for our members. Enjoy!

The Drama Teacher's Survival Guide by Matthew Nichols

Recommended by: Aimee Alger, Drama Representative

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover, or in this case, by its title! Being a drama teacher can sometimes feel isolating; you’re likely the only one at your school, but you may also be the only one in your town, or even division!  This book is a great reminder of why we do what we do, and how to refresh and renew interest in yourself or students.   

This book covers it all – from the fight we have all experienced with trying to keep drama alive and relevant in our school cultures, to keeping your program fresh, exciting and relevant in our changing world.  Inside you’ll find tips for making your performances exciting and memorable, along with stories and case studies from other people who are in the same place you are.  If you’ve ever found yourself stumped on what to do or how to shake things up, or you’re a new drama teacher just finding your footing, this is a great resource to remind you why we love what we do, and great ways to keep improving.   

Happy acting! 

Wicked Art Assignments: Practicing Creativity in Contemporary Arts Education, Emiel Heijnen and Melissa Bremmer (eds.).

Recommended by: Andrew Swainson, Art Representative

Wicked Art Assignments is a powerful resource for engaging students in creative thinking that is beyond hand skills, which I would argue is increasingly important in the current climate of Art Education in Alberta. Complex, challenging, open-ended and "knotty" problems are proposed to foster the development of creative thinking, processes, and community in students. The first half of the book discusses contemporary theories and pedagogical commentary from experts within the field of Art and Art Education. The second half of the book provides concrete and easily adaptable lesson plans (along with beautiful examples) that can be applied from K-12 across visual arts, performance, theatre, music and design.

I have my own copy and have adapted many the proposed wicked assignments to meet the needs of my praxis and school climate. This sourcebook is a must-read if you haven't heard of it!

The Music Technology Cookbook edited by Adam Patrick Bell

Recommended by Silken Bruder, Music Representative

The Music Technology Cookbook from Oxford Publishing, edited by Adam Bell is a fantastic resource for music teachers that can be found in our ATA library. At the title suggests, this book is set up as a series of 56 "lesson recipes" ranging from beginner to advanced level activities. This resource covers skill development in composition, production skills, beatmaking, DJing, programming, and designing instruments.  

While many of the more advanced activities seem better suited to Junior High or Highschool classrooms for independent student work, the instructions are laid out so that elementary students could be successful in taking on parts of lessons independently.  For example, lesson 36 (found on p. 219) created by Zack Moir, is all about the capturing and manipulation of found sounds. DIV 1 and 2 students may have the skills to use Ipads or Chromebooks (or whatever technology is available to you) to record various sounds around a classroom, school, or school yard. The manipulation of the collected and shared sounds using a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) can be done as a class on one device facilitated by the instructor. 

As a teacher who is excited but sometimes overwhelmed using digital music technologies, I found that this book offers a ton of easy to follow and easy to adapt lessons for all! 

High-Quality Canadian Dance Resources Through the ATA Library

shared by Victoria Reid, Dance Representative

I often find myself relying on YouTube as my main source for dance videos in class. Recently, while exploring the ATA Library’s online database under the Visual Arts & Theatre tab here, I discovered the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) website, which has a curated collection of high-quality Canadian dance videos and mini-documentaries.  

This resource features work by Indigenous dancers and choreographers, as well as some of Canada’s most recognizable names, including Crystal Pite. What I love about the NFB collection is that the videos are short, informative, and perfect for classroom use. They work beautifully as: 

• Lesson Starters or Closures - a great way to begin or conclude class  

• Reflection pieces - something students can watch and respond to in writing or through movement 

These videos can also spark inspiration for your own lesson plans or choreography ideas. 

Here are a few of my favorites: 

• Sandra Laronde: Embodied Stories: https://www.nfb.ca/film/sandra-laronde-embodied-stories-pgg/ 

• Crystal Pite: Wordless Language: https://www.nfb.ca/film/crystal-pite-wordless-language/ 

• Lost Action Trace: https://www.nfb.ca/film/lost_action_trace/ 

  
  

Through this resource, I also discovered the incredible work of Sandra Laronde, recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (Dance) from the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards and founding artistic director of Red Sky Performance, Canada’s leading contemporary Indigenous performance company. The snippets of her work in Embodied Stories left me in awe. The staging and choreography in the cage set piece are so unique and could inspire some amazing choreography ideas for your students. 

I felt so inspired watching these videos, and I hope you do too! Hopefully, this resource offers you a new place to find and share high quality, Canadian dance videos with your students. 

Inuit Printmaking 

Recommendations by Amanda Noullett, Generalist Representative

As the days get cold and the icy wind blows in the snow, I like to look north to the Arctic for inspiration.   These two links are in your ATA Library under the categories: Curriculum, Fine Arts K-6, Art and Printmaking. Besides, what Albertan doesn’t love a classic National Film Board or Heritage Minute episode!  To me, they are reminiscent of my childhood days of visiting my grandparents house, where our only options were two channels, CBC or CTV. Not only did we have to walk to the TV to change the channel, but when my grandpa used his electric face razor it conflicted with the “rabbit ear” reception and the entire picture would go crazy. 

Back to printmaking, I have done quite a bit over the years with junior and senior high students using art linoleum and lino cutters, with wonderful results.  I still have a koi fish one of my students made.  After carving the designs we would then fold up cardstock to print onto and use as all-occasion cards.  I never did do printmaking with elementary, though I saw many a tutorial on using styrofoam plates for the activity.  Recently, I watched a reel that showed using ballpoint pens on craft foam, cutting around the image, gluing it on cardboard and then using it as a stamp.  Perhaps I will try that this month with my one elementary class!  Let me know your favourite printmaking hack!  Search your ATA Library for more resources on Inuit Art and Printmaking. 

I Can Make Art...Like Andrew QappikThis video is about the art of Andrew Qappik, a world-renowned Inuit printmaker from Nunavut. Learn about printmaking as the artist and students create a soapstone relief print.

Heritage Minutes: Kenojuak AshevakThis Historica Heritage Minute, created in 2016, tells the story of Inuk artist Kenojuak Ashevak. It tells how she started creating her art which now hangs in galleries around the world