Teachers
Online Resources
On-site Resources
Every Picture Tells a Story
Grades 3 through 12
Requests for fall tours (September 23 – December 6, 2019) will be accepted from August 1 through November 8, 2019.
Paintings are more than just pictures in a frame—they are unfolding stories with multiple perspectives. During this tour, students will learn to "read" works of art by identifying characters, setting, and plot, and by imaginatively creating dialogues inspired by characters in the works of art.
Looking and Learning Skills
During four or five tour stops in the galleries, students engage in activities—such as looking exercises, small-group work, and sketching—that foster conversations about works of art. On this tour, students will practice the following skills:
• making and articulating careful observations;
• formulating questions that demonstrate curiosity and engagement;
• examining paintings from the perspectives of peers, the artists, and the people in the paintings;
• comparing and connecting different paintings;
• reasoning with evidence from the works of art themselves—developing narratives based on what's seen in the work of art; and
• connecting new ideas learned from the tour to prior knowledge and experience
Examples of Works Featured on Tour
Logistical Information
Group Size: Up to 90 students
Length: 60 minutes for grade 3; 75 minutes for grades 4 through 12
Meeting Location: West Building Rotunda
Additional Gallery Resources
Tour Request Form
Important Information
Tours must be scheduled at least four weeks in advance. Groups must contain at least 15 students.
Once your tour has been scheduled, you will receive a confirmation letter via e-mail in 10 business days (14 days for Spanish-language tours).
Pre-Visit Information
Watch a video (grades 1-4) or download a presentation (grades 4-12) (PPT, 4MB) to show your students what to expect on their tour. Please review museum policies, location, parking, accessibility, security, lunch options, and other important visitor information.
Questions
Our tour scheduler, Jennifer Cross, is available to answer questions Monday through Wednesday (September through May). Please contact her at (202) 842-6249 or [email protected].
Also see our Frequently Asked Questions about School Tours.
Feedback
We greatly value your feedback about your school tour experience. Please submit this form to share your feedback.