introduction to art tours

Sample our art collections while learning basic viewing skills. Introductory tours for elementary grades focus on just a few works from the museum’s collection—masks, chairs, sculptures, or other works of art—from a variety of cultures and time periods. For middle and high school students, the introductory tours look at a broad range of objects in the collection.

Introductory tours are one hour long. Tours are available in English, Spanish, or bilingual (English/Spanish). Cost is $3.50 per student; free for teachers and adult chaperones.

Registration for 2009–2010 school tours begins September 8.

Grades K–2

Imagination Games

7–100 students

Tuesday–Friday at 9:45 am & 11 am

In this active tour, students sharpen their looking skills by imagining themselves in the world of a painting, holding the pose of a sculpture, or comparing two objects from their own point of view.

CMCS: Vis Arts 1, 2, 4, 5; Reading/Writing 2, 4; Geography 6; Science 1; Math 3, 5

Grades 3–6

Perception Games

7–150 students

Tuesday–Friday at 9:45 am, 11:15 am & noon

We learn 80 percent of what we know through our eyes. Each child will discover the unique quality of his or her own perception through games that teach looking skills.

CMCS: Vis Arts 1, 2, 4, 5; Reading/Writing 2, 4; Geography 6; Science 1; Math 3, 5

Grades 6–12

Collection Highlights

7–100 students

Tuesday–Friday at 9:45 am, 11:15 am & noon

Teachers have three options for this one-hour tour: see the collections in the Hamilton Building (modern and contemporary, African, Oceanic, and western American art), visit the North Building (European and American, Asian, pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, and American Indian art), or  choose a combination of art in both buildings.

CMCS: Vis Arts 1, 4, 5; Reading/Writing 2, 4; Geography 6; Math 3, 5; Science 1