iLUMA (inter-generational Literacy Using Music and Art) is an arts integration program designed to use music, art, dance, and world culture to improve reading comprehension, listening and memory skills in VPK students, k-2, 3-5 students with disabilities, non native speakers of English (Programs are given in English, Spanish or both. We also have a Sign Language Interpreter standing by for deaf and low hearing participants.
Every month participants hear a fairy tale from around the world that is connected to the number 40. Participants receive a storyboard (see sample below) and must listen for keywords in the narration in order to complete the storyboard by coloring and drawing answers to reading comprehension questions. As they color and/or draw, musicians from the South Florida Chamber Ensemble play music from the world culture being portrayed. The music matches the mood of the panel and participants are encouraged to listen to the music to help complete each panel. Many sessions also include the creation and playing of a musical instrument and/or singing using call and response. Each session comes with a dance break. This break is designed to give participants an opportunity for movement during the session, and also to learn 3 steps in a simple choreography to a dance from the culture.
Storyboards are collected at the end of each session and scored through a rubric that includes ability to write one’s name (VPK only), fine motor skills (coloring inside the lines) and reading comprehension (understanding the story enough to draw and color each panel correctly.) We evaluate month to month improvement and overall improvement in reading comprehension, listening skills, and memory skills. Residencies last four months each. At the end of each residency participants receive their completed storyboards. Below are samples of the storyboard, narration and evaluation. We have iLUMA programs from all around the globe. View an iLUMA session here https://youtu.be/2LSSQAPOOOw from iLUMA Urashima Taro, a Japanese story. Contact us at sfcemusic@gmail.com or (954) 803-3762with any questions.
Sample storyboard
iLUMA Stories and Countries for Season 14
The Magic Ball (Mapuche Culture of Argentina) September 2024
The Forty Judges (India) October 2024
Hiiaka (Hawaii) November 2024
The Spider’s Gift (Ukraine) December 2024
Treemonisha (USA) January 2025
How the Monkey Got a Drink (Brazil) February 2025
Rhodpsis (Egypt) March 2025
Ali Baba (Middle East) April 2025
Tezen (Haiti) May 2025
Urashima Taro (Japan) June 2025
The Firemakers (Aboriginal Australia) July 2025
Aggayu and Shango (Yoruba Culture of Nigeria) August 2025
