FAQ
Each lesson focuses on three to five art objects to encourage close looking and in-depth discussion. Lessons may be taught in a single collection or include several different collections, as indicated in the descriptions below. Be sure to specify which collection(s) you are interested in when making your reservation. These lessons may be adapted for other grades.
Many lessons meet New York City Learning Standards in art, social studies, and English language arts. Speak to the museum educator assigned to your class about adapting lessons to meet your curricular needs.
Animals in Art
Recommended for Early Childhood Classes (K–2)
Hunt for animal imagery in the Museum’s galleries. Students will be introduced to artistic elements such as line, shape, and gesture, as well as the cultural elements of mythology and symbol.
Recommended for Early Childhood Classes (K–2)
Hunt for animal imagery in the Museum’s galleries. Students will be introduced to artistic elements such as line, shape, and gesture, as well as the cultural elements of mythology and symbol.
Learning to Look
Recommended for Early Childhood Classes (K–2)
Explore shape, line, color, and texture in art through scavenger hunts, interactive discussion, and drawing. Students will discover the Museum’s collection while building their observation and description skills and art vocabulary.
Recommended for Early Childhood Classes (K–2)
Explore shape, line, color, and texture in art through scavenger hunts, interactive discussion, and drawing. Students will discover the Museum’s collection while building their observation and description skills and art vocabulary.
People in Art
Recommended for Early Childhood classes (K–2)
Discover gesture and facial expression in American painting, European sculpture, and Asian and African art. Through role-playing, drawing, and discussion, students will examine how an artist represents the emotions and actions of a character.
Recommended for Early Childhood classes (K–2)
Discover gesture and facial expression in American painting, European sculpture, and Asian and African art. Through role-playing, drawing, and discussion, students will examine how an artist represents the emotions and actions of a character.
Drawing and Writing
Explore the choices that artists make when telling a story. Students will examine character, setting, main idea, and point of view in American and European paintings. They will use their observations to develop descriptive and other writing skills. This lesson can be adapted for older grades as well.
Explore the choices that artists make when telling a story. Students will examine character, setting, main idea, and point of view in American and European paintings. They will use their observations to develop descriptive and other writing skills. This lesson can be adapted for older grades as well.
Art and Community
Discover African art that emphasizes community bonds. Students will examine the cultural context and function of art objects and discuss the way art conveys communal ideas and values.
Discover African art that emphasizes community bonds. Students will examine the cultural context and function of art objects and discuss the way art conveys communal ideas and values.
Masks
Compare and contrast ceremonial masks from the African art collection. Emphasis will be placed on formal elements such as material, texture, shape, and color. Students will investigate cultural context and function through discussion, storytelling, and viewing videotapes of masquerades.
Compare and contrast ceremonial masks from the African art collection. Emphasis will be placed on formal elements such as material, texture, shape, and color. Students will investigate cultural context and function through discussion, storytelling, and viewing videotapes of masquerades.
Artists’ Choices
Focus on the wide array of artistic choices made in American and European paintings. Students will compare and critique paintings of similar subjects (landscapes, cityscapes, interiors) and discuss the different techniques each artist has used in creating a point of view, mood, and meaning. This lesson can be adapted for older grades as well.
Focus on the wide array of artistic choices made in American and European paintings. Students will compare and critique paintings of similar subjects (landscapes, cityscapes, interiors) and discuss the different techniques each artist has used in creating a point of view, mood, and meaning. This lesson can be adapted for older grades as well.
Art and the Environment
Examine the relationship between humans and the environment and the representation of nature through objects in the Native American, African, and Asian art collections. Students will focus on animal and plant imagery, discuss the materials used to make objects, and relate these materials to the natural environment in which the objects were created.
Examine the relationship between humans and the environment and the representation of nature through objects in the Native American, African, and Asian art collections. Students will focus on animal and plant imagery, discuss the materials used to make objects, and relate these materials to the natural environment in which the objects were created.
History’s Mysteries
Investigate decorative arts objects from colonial times to the present to determine their function and significance. Through drawing, interactive discussion, and group work, students will reflect on their own experiences while exploring artistic, cultural, social, historical, and industrial developments in America over the past several hundred years. Please be aware that the Jan Martense Schenck House will not be on view during the 2004–2005 school year and will not be available for lessons on colonial Brooklyn. Call the Youth Tour Coordinator at (718) 501-6221 for information on availability after September 2006.
Investigate decorative arts objects from colonial times to the present to determine their function and significance. Through drawing, interactive discussion, and group work, students will reflect on their own experiences while exploring artistic, cultural, social, historical, and industrial developments in America over the past several hundred years. Please be aware that the Jan Martense Schenck House will not be on view during the 2004–2005 school year and will not be available for lessons on colonial Brooklyn. Call the Youth Tour Coordinator at (718) 501-6221 for information on availability after September 2006.
Cityscape/Landscape
Investigate cityscapes and landscapes in American and European paintings. Students will examine paintings of natural and urban environments and discuss the decisions artists make when representing a place in art. (You may request a lesson focusing on images of New York City.)
Investigate cityscapes and landscapes in American and European paintings. Students will examine paintings of natural and urban environments and discuss the decisions artists make when representing a place in art. (You may request a lesson focusing on images of New York City.)
Important Information about Your School Visit
Guided Gallery Visits for Middle and High School Students
Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum