Elementary School Tours

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats
September 09, 2011 - January 29, 2012
Grades K-12


Examine original works by author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, including illustrations from the 1963 Caldecott Medal winner The Snowy Day. Elementary school tours will focus on visual storytelling and narrative.

Download the pre visit materials.

The Radical Camera: New York's Photo League, 1936-1951
November 04, 2011 - March 25, 2012
Grades 2-12


Explore stunning images of New York by renowned 20th-century photographers including Berenice Abbott, Sid Grossman, Aaron Siskind, Paul Strand and Weegee. All were members of the Photo League, a group of young, politically engaged photographers who explored diverse approaches to street photography from the end
of the Great Depression to the start of the Cold War. Elementary School Tours examine
representations of New York City,past and present.

Contemporary Portraiture: The Art of Kehinde Wiley
March 9–July 29, 2012
Grades K-12



Examine large-scale portraits by contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley in the exhibition Kehinde Wiley/The World Stage: Israel. Displayed alongside Jewish ritual objects that inspired their designs, the vibrant paintings feature Israeli youth of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds. School tours address issues of identity, portraiture and self-expression.

Edouard Vuillard: Modern Art in Focus
May 4–September 23, 2012
Grades K-12


Visit the exhibition Edouard Vuillard: A Painter and His Muses, 1890–1940, and discover the artist’s iconic patterned interiors, as well as later portraits and figures. Students will discuss Vuillard’s artistic choices and how they relate to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting.

Archaeological Dig: Exploring the Ancient World
Grades K-6


Students learn about ancient times by participating in an archaeological dig and discovering the field of archaeology. They examine pottery, metalwork, mosaics, and glassware.
This tour includes:

• Participation in a simulated archaeological dig;
  
• Exploration of the ancient civilizations galleries
  
• Hands-on studio art project.

Archaeology Zone
Grades K-6


This interactive children’s exhibition reveals what happens after archaeologists unearth artifacts and bring them back to their labs for in-depth analysis. By magnifying and sketching objects, piecing together fragments, and imagining how people used these materials, students discover how cultures evolve.
This tour includes:

• Exploration of Archaeology Zone exhibition
  
• Tour of the ancient civilizations galleries
  
• Hands-on studio art project

Archaeological Dig PLUS Archaeology Zone
Grades 3-5


This program offers students an extended opportunity to participate in a simulated archaeological dig and explore Archaeology Zone: Discovering Treasures from Playgrounds to Palaces, the Museum’s interactive children’s exhibition. After digging for artifacts, students learn the methods archaeologists use to examine and analyze their finds.
This school tour plus workshop includes:

• Participation in the Museum's simulated archaeological dig;
  
• Exploration of the Archaeology Zone exhibition
  
• Tour of the ancient civilizations galleries
  
• Hands-on studio art project.

New tour offering! Number the Stars
Grades 3-5


Elementary school students reading Lois Lowry's Number the Stars focus on issues of resistance and hope through an exploration of age-appropriate works in the permanent collection.
Educator Resource: Holocaust

Festivals of Lights
Grades 1-4


Explore the role of light in the Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa holidays while viewing our spectacular collection of Hanukkah lamps.
Educator Resource: Jewish Holidays

The Immigrant Experience
Grades 3-5


Students consider the experience of immigration by examining paintings, photographs, and artifacts.
Educator Resource: Immigration

Paintings Tell Stories
Grades 3-5


By analyzing paintings, photographs, and sculptures, students gain insight into how artists use color and form to convey meaning.
Pre-visit material (PDF)

Writing Through Art
Grades 4-5


Students discover how works of art can inspire creative writing and how writing can be a powerful means of engaging with the visual world.
Pre-visit material (PDF)

Ceremonial Objects: Beautifying a Tradition
Grades K-5


Why do Jewish people decorate ritual objects? Students explore the diverse artistic styles of ceremonial objects in the Museum. Teachers may request a concentration on Torah scrolls and related ritual objects.
Educator Resource: Jewish Holidays

A Year of Jewish Holidays
Grades K-5


Students view artifacts and works of art connected to Jewish holidays and discover a magnificent collection of Hanukkah lamps, considered the finest in the world.
Educator Resource: Jewish Holidays