Michael Mason Folklorist Audio Lesson

Description

Are you seeking a powerful and fresh resource to bring alive important social studies lessons for your students? People Are Culture’s 12-episode podcast interview series offers insightful and heartfelt personal stories that give students a first-hand perspective on different dimensions of culture. Each interview is conducted by Meg Pier and features a fascinating narrative from a real person on topics as varied as refugees, arts, music, folk art, artisan, dance, crafts, archeology, anthropology, festivals, gardens, cultural heritage, and museums.

Podcasts are becoming popular in the classroom because they engage students in storytelling and provide an accessible and effective way for students to learn. Podcast lessons offer a dynamic and engaging educational tool for the classroom, providing students with an immersive and auditory learning experience. The storytelling format of podcasts captures attention from students, which creates a deeper understanding of complex subjects through real-life narratives and personal perspectives. Additionally, podcasts encourage critical thinking and active listening skills. This is the perfect podcast series for teaching cultural lessons inside the classroom.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

• Inspirational podcast story from the Editor of the Bradshaw Foundation
• 5 thought-provoking podcast discussion questions
• A podcast summary sheet with 3 questions about rock art

Smithsonian Folk Life & Cultural Heritage Center Director Michael Atwood Mason shares a wealth of knowledge on all things cultural in this podcast interview. In that role, he was responsible for the Folklife Festival on the National Mall, as well as organizing the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and other cultural educational programs.

Previously, Michael worked at the National Museum of Natural History, which he joined in 1994 as an exhibit developer and co-curator on the “African Voices” exhibit. In 2007, he became the chief of exhibit development and project management, then in 2009 the director of exhibitions. During this time he was instrumental in the development and opening of the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins in 2010. Michael first joined the Smithsonian in 1992, working at the Anacostia Community Museum as a researcher and exhibit developer for the “Black Mosaic” exhibition. A champion of cultural sustainability, Michael was one of the leaders of the Smithsonian’s Recovering Voices Initiative, a signature program of the Consortia for Understanding the American Experience and World Cultures.

This lesson takes students on a journey, using storytelling to promote engagement, critical thinking, and literacy skills. Buy it now to download a lesson sure to engage your learner!