Museum in the Classroom

UMFA educators inspire creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking with authentic art objects, hands-on experiences, and art-making activities delivered to your classroom. Museum in the Classroom travels across the state—from one-room schoolhouses to metropolitan campuses—providing K–12 curriculum that supports classroom learning and introduces new concepts and techniques.

If you have more questions, read the lesson descriptions below or contact the Manager of School and Teacher Programs.

Current Classroom Presentations

Please note, most lessons take 45-60 minutes of classroom time, unless otherwise coordinated with our Manager of School and Teacher Programs.

Huichol Yarn Painting (K-6) 

Explore yarn painting, a Huichol tradition from Western Mexico. Students will observe and discuss nierakate – images composed of yarn attached to a wooden board with beeswax. Using yarn, students will “paint” symbols and naturescapes. Museum educators can make connections about animal adaptations and biomes through the sEED core or share Huichol traditions and symbolism in the context of the Social Studies core.

---

Topical Textures (3-8)

Explore global perspectives and the properties of matter through art objects with diverse textures. Students will participate in a guided exploration of five stations featuring objects from around the world, discussing their distinct textures and properties. Using air-dry clay, students will make a textured tile to keep.

---

Photography (3-6)

Develop visual literacy by focusing on Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Students will examine authentic photographs, learning and using new vocabulary to talk about artwork. Students will take their own photographs and make an individual photo collage using Polaroid cameras.

---

Printmaking (7-12)

Discover the fascinating process of printmaking in your classroom! We have two different themes for secondary students this year:

• Exploring Traditions with Mexican Prints (7-9th): Look at four prints from Mexico, two historic and two contemporary to explore how traditions and culture influence our current lives. Students will create a print answering the question: How do you see the role of your culture and traditions in your life?
• Monoprinting with Gelliplates (9th-12th): Students compare monoprints and relief prints from the collection, and create their own abstract designs using different masking materials.

---

AP Art History (10-12)

It’s ideal to come to the museum or schedule a virtual tour to see all that the UMFA permanent collection has to offer for the AP Art History exam. If you can’t get to the museum, you can request items from the test to be shared in your classroom as an introduction or end-of-year review.

---

Land Art (K-12)

Students will explore themes in Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty and Nancy Holt’s Sun Tunnels through discussion and participate in hands-on activities, including: entropy painting with marbles and watercolors with wax resist and salt crystals. This presentation can be adapted for any grade level