How to..... Visit the Art Museum

This is my own narration of how my mother (Mimi) led a group of six K-3 homeschoolers through the Art Museum. I thought it went well and it gave me ideas about how to successfully visit the Museum in the future.
We started in the modern wing with a painting containing a topic with which they were all familiar: Pinocchio. Mimi discussed the shapes contained in the painting and they spent some time sketching the painting. Each child brought a pencil, paper and clipboard.


As we traveled backward in time through the galleries, Mimi had some Art vocabulary that she wanted to introduce: narrative, non-objective, still-life and landscape painting. Here the children are looking at a narrative painting and discussing what it could mean. Mimi also explained that many artists view the human body as a work of art so it's not something to giggle over when you see it in a painting. The kids handled this well.


In a room that contained mostly landscapes, Mimi had each child sit in front of the painting that they like the best. Then she had them share with the group what they liked about the painting. Next, the children sketched the major lines of the painting (think horizon, objects, etc.).

I was happy to see a few paintings by Rubens who is the subject of our Artist study this term and also a Bouguereau (I have decided that he is my favorite painter). We ended our visit in the Experience Center which is a more hands-on part of the museum geared towards kids. They have a puppet theatre there and the kids will be making puppets this coming art session so Mimi was hoping they would get inspired.

All in all, I thought it was an enjoyable trip but also quick ( 90 minutes) so that may have been the key to Mimi's success (and her art knowledge, of course!). Thanks, Mom!