Titles and Descriptions: B

• Beginning Drama 11-14
• Behind the Scenes Series
• Big Dance
• Black Cat
• The Blues of Flats Brown. 1st ed.
• The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World. 1st ed.
• Bridges Across the World: A Multicultural Songfest
• Bright Ideas for Learning Series
• Building Big
• Building Big With David Macaulay
• Building Dances: A Guide to Putting Movements Together
• Building More Dances: Blueprints for Putting Movements Together
• Building Works Series

Beginning Drama 11-14 (Print-Non-Fiction). Needlands, Jonathon. David Fulton Publishers Ltd (NEL), 1998. 102 p. ISBN 1-85346-528-3 ($38.50 pbk.).

This book provides a positive and accessible account of what teachers need to know, understand and be able to do in order to ensure that their first experiences of drama teaching are controlled, effective and based on best practice. Examples from the classroom and a series of graduated lesson plans are included that will help provide both new and experienced teachers with a progressive introduction to the teaching of drama.

Suggested Use : Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Drama; Teacher Reference

Behind the Scenes Series (Video). Great Plains National T.V. Library (CLC), 1992. 30 min. Order numbers follow. Teacher's Guide for Series - Order no. 5-40601 ($6.10 booklet).

Recommended titles in this series include the following:

Hosted by comic magicians Penn and Teller, Behind the Scenes is a 10-part series that instills creative and critical thinking through exploration of the visual and performing arts. Each program focuses on one artist creating a work: a blank canvas becomes a painting, a melody becomes a composition, random movements become the patterns of a dance or a bare stage is transformed into the magic of a theatrical production. Each program focuses on one aesthetic idea, such as line, colour or musical texture by exploring each idea from several viewpoints. Documentary segments are interspersed with animation, computer graphics, Penn and Teller's visual tricks and examples of works of art from numerous cultures.

The teacher's guide that accompanies the series contains numerous suggested activities that have been designed to extend the concepts addressed in the programs.

Suggested Use : Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; General

Other Use : Arts Education: Elementary Level

Big Dance (Video). Kinetic Inc. (KIN), 1999. 48 min. Order no. 1553/1323 ($89.95).

Big Dance, the documentary, tells the story of a modern dance troupe of large women who celebrate their size, strength and new sense of self-esteem amongst themselves, with their families and most recently, with their audiences. The eight women in the dance troupe share the impact that dancing has had in their personal lives. Footage of rehearsals and actual performances are included. Note: Teachers should preview this video before sharing it with classes in order to prepare for the discussion that it will promote.

Suggested Use : Grade 8; Grade 9; Dance

Black Cat (Video). Myers, Christopher. Spoken Arts, Inc. (MCI), 1998. 9 min. Order no. 530025-11 ($99.95).

Chris Myers introduces his own story in this video titled Black Cat. He talks about exploring his New York City neighbourhood so he could see it from a cat's eye view. His book of the same title is then presented iconographically. Poetic captions accompany Myer's striking photo-collage images as the cat makes its way down to the subways and up to the rooftops. The original background music catches the syncopated feel of the city, adding just the right touch. The video and book of the same title (currently out of print) provide a wonderful combination of modern art, photography, rhythm and words.

Suggested Use : Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Visual Art

Other Use : Arts Education: Elementary Level; English Language Arts: Elementary Level; English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

The Blues of Flats Brown. 1st ed. (Print-Fiction). Myers, Walter Dean and Laden, Nina, illus. Holiday House, Inc. (ALL), 2000. unp. ISBN 0-8234-1480-9 ($20.21 hdc.).

Mississippi junkyard dog Flats Brown loves singing and playing the blues with his beloved old friend Caleb. When mean owner A. J. Grubbs decides to make them fighting dogs, the friends hit the road. Their adventure becomes a road trip through an important musical genre. The unique roots of the blues and the ability it has to bestow comfort and healing are conveyed both through the text and the expressive illustrations. The words and music for “The New York City Blues” are appended. This picture book would make a wonderful introduction to blues music and its ability to transcend time and place.

Suggested Use : Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Music

Other Use : Arts Education: Elementary Level

The Blues Singers: Ten Who Rocked the World. 1st ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). Lester, Julius and Cohen, Lisa, illus. Hyperion Books for Children (FEN), 2001. 47 p. ISBN 0-7868-0463-7 ($22.99 hdc.).

Former folk singer and recording artist Julius Lester introduces 10 of the most beloved African American blues singers in this book. In the three pages devoted to each subject, Lester relates anecdotes of personal encounters with the performers, stories told to him by his grandparents and explanations about times gone by to help readers understand the context of each person's life. Significant details about the singers convey not only who they were but also the influence they had on the music culture. The full-page stylized portraits in bold, flat colours invoke the spirit and soul of each blues great. A brief bibliography and list of CDs are included. This title will be a valued resource in school libraries.

Suggested Use : Grade 6; Grade 7; Music

Other Use : Arts Education: Elementary Level

Bridges Across the World: A Multicultural Songfest (Compact Disc). Barchas, Sarah. High Haven Music (HNM), 1999. ISBN 1-889686-14-X ($15.28 U.S. ).

The focus of this sound recording is three fold: to share traditional folksongs from various cultures, to foster awareness and appreciation of others, to delight in learning words and phrases through song in many different languages. The CD contains 30 original and traditional multicultural songs that celebrate cultural diversity and vitality. The 60-page booklet includes illustrated song lyrics, a language appendix of 12 languages, and bibliographies. This could be used as a springboard for dance and movement creation or for research projects involving various cultures.

Suggested Use : Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Music

Other Use : Arts Education: Elementary Level

Bright Ideas for Learning Series (Print-Non-Fiction). Please refer to the title: Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters .

Building Big (Print-Non-Fiction). Macaulay, David. Houghton Mifflin Company (ALL), 2000. 192 p. ISBN 0-395-96331-1 ($26.25 hdc.).

This book is a companion to a PBS video series (see the following annotation). In sketches and engaging text, Macaulay deconstructs the design and engineering features that make each of the dams, domes, bridges, tunnels and skyscrapers so fascinating. Various views of the structures are presented—cross section, detailed study and elevation—to present the material in an easy-to-understand and appealing manner. The videos and the book can be used independently, but together they offer a highly entertaining, informative glimpse at some of construction's greatest stories. A glossary is appended.

Suggested Use : Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Visual Art

Other Use : Arts Education: Elementary Level; Arts Education: Secondary Level; Science: Middle Level

Building Big With David Macaulay (Video). WGBH Boston (KIN), 2000. 5 hr. Order no. 1927/2155 ($159.95 set).

Recommended titles in this series include the following:

This set of five videos explores and pays tribute to some of the world’s most impressive architecture and engineering feats. Hosted and narrated by David Macaulay, each video focuses on a particular type of structure by highlighting international examples. The videos are filmed on location, using detailed historical and modern footage and stills, dramatic re-enactments, animation and Macaulay’s own on-camera sketches. Each video ends with a "Building Small" segment, in which viewers are challenged to build a model of a structure. An accompanying 40-page activity guide contains suggestions for projects suitable for individuals and groups.

Note: This set of videos has a companion book entitled Building Big (see the previous annotation).

Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Visual Art

Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Arts Education: Secondary Level; Science: Middle Level

Building Dances: A Guide to Putting Movements Together (Print-Non-Fiction). McGreevy-Nichols, Susan and Scheff, Helene. Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc. (HKB), 1995. 115 p. ISBN 0-87322-573-2 ($47.95 pbk.).

Created for the generalist, this resource will help teachers introduce, develop and assess the basics of dance. The book is a hands-on tool that will assist teachers in understanding the relationship between creativity and choreography, the movement skills and elements, accents and gestures, and assessing student performance. Numerous charts and figure drawings clarify the text. The book encourages the joy of moving in a variety of ways and includes suggestions for the dance-making process. A table of contents and a glossary of dance terms are provided.

The book is accompanied by 112 "Deal-a-Dance" cards that provide movement examples students can explore during warm-up or dance-making activities.

Teachers are advised to use this resource within the context of the objectives found in the curriculum guide.

Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Dance; Teacher Reference

Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Physical Education: Elementary Level

Building More Dances: Blueprints for Putting Movements Together (Print-Non-Fiction). McGreevy-Nichols, Susan, Scheff, Helene and Sprague, Marty. Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc. (HKB), 2001. 172 p. ISBN 0-88011-973-X ($39.95 pbk.).

Building More Dances expands on the information found in Building Dances. It contains 23 new dance construction models. Numerous charts and figure drawings clarify the text. This resource encourages the joy of moving in a variety of ways and includes suggestions for the dance-making process. A table of contents and a glossary of dance terms are provided.

The book is accompanied by 108 new "Deal-a-Dance" cards that provide movement examples that students can explore during warm-up or dance-making activities.

Teachers are advised to use this resource within the context of the objectives found in the curriculum guide.

Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Dance; Teacher Reference

Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level

Building Works Series (Print-Non-Fiction). Please refer to the title: Theater.