Diandra Jones is an educator, interdisciplinary artist, and author with 23 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and English Literature from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago. Since beginning her teaching career in 2003, Diandra has taught Dance, English, Visual and Performing Arts, and Physical Education to students in grades 6–12 and adult learners across the United States, West Africa, and the Caribbean. She is also the author of Irma Was Here, inspired by her experience surviving the eye of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands in 2017. Through her work as an educator, artist, and writer, Diandra empowers learners of all ages to explore creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling across disciplines.
In this lesson, students learn how trees are invaluable allies in our fight against climate change and utilize the power of music to honor a tree in the form of a love song.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students brainstorm characteristics of love and acts of appreciation towards something.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students examine the invaluable role of trees in our lives, spend time with a tree outside, and contemplate ways in which trees “show love” to us and our planet.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students explore the power of music to express love and write a love song to a tree.
In this lesson, students use teamwork, strategy, agility, and speed to reinforce lessons on how to reduce waste and fight climate change.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn how to use the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle to reduce their carbon footprint and work together to fight climate change.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students play a game to learn how long it takes for different types of waste to decompose.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students test their knowledge of the 3 R’s and decomposition timelines in a game of speed, agility, and teamwork.
In this lesson, students choreograph a dance that honors their natural environment and inspires sustainable living.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students discuss the various functions of dance in society.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students explore ways in which dance can help people reconnect with nature and live more sustainably.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students observe their natural environment closely, reflect on the impact of climate change, and create a dance to honor and reconnect with nature.
In this lesson, students analyze artwork by a Hawai’i-born climate artist and create art that inspires the protection of a Hawaiian endangered species.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students explore the power of art to inspire climate action by analyzing the work of Hula, a Hawai’i-born artist.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students learn the importance of Hawai'i’s unparalleled biodiversity, choose a Hawaiian endangered species, and discover the forces endangering it, including climate change.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students plan and create artwork that inspires the protection of their chosen species and collaborate to create a class exhibit of their work.
