| .
 School
Tours
Tour Programs |
Studio
and Writing Programs|
Classroom
Resources |
Information/Scheduling
Tour
Programs for Pre-K through Grade 12
How can our tour programs help
you?
The collection’s
many links with history, literature and music encourage
interdisciplinary approaches to learning. School tours
are designed to enrich school curricula and reflect
the NBMAA’s approach of engaging students in dialogue
as they look at selected works of art. Trained docents
invite students to explore American art and culture
through discussion and gallery activities that help
students to look carefully, solve problems and evaluate
ideas. Tactile and sensory aids are used for most tours.
Tours may be tailored to meet the curricular needs of
participating school groups. Reservations are required
for all programs and should be made at least four weeks
in advance.
Pre-K
and Kindegarten tours
Mini-muse Tour for Preschoolers
and Kindergartners
This 45-minute program
introduces young children to the Museum experience and
the wonder of art. Museum educators lead students in
an exploration of line, shape, color and story telling
in the galleries.
Grades 1-5
Art Elements Tour
One hour
Elementary students will tour art works from the Colonial Period , Hudson River School, Impressionism, and 20th century masterpieces including the Thomas Hart Benton murals while practicing the basic elements of art. Students will examine line, color, shape, texture, and additional elements with the aid of hands-on gallery tools.
Grades
6-12
Highlights of the Permanent Collection
One hour.
This survey of three centuries of NBMAA’s American
art masterpieces from the Colonial period through today
is recommended for the first-time visitor.
Special
Exhibitions Tours
One hour
Students will look at art
works in the changing exhibitions including contemporary
art in the New/Now exhibition. Please see schedule of
exhibitions for current offerings.
Grades
5-12
Discover America Tour
One
hour.
Students will discover American history and culture
through an exploration of American art spanning more
than 250 years. Students will examine art works from
the Colonial Period, 19th century and the Civil War
period, the 20th century tracing the development of
American innovation and culture.
Grades
6-8
Multiple Perspectives Tour for Middle School Students
One hour.
This tour incorporates
multiple intelligences approaches to understanding art.
Our “Token Game” engages students in looking,
expressing and evaluating their ideas about art from
everyday life, past and present.
Groups may
schedule additional free time in galleries for sketching
and writing activities at no extra charge. Pencils only
are allowed in galleries. Pencils and clip boards provided
upon request in advance.
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Studio
and Writing Programs
Half-hour and one-hour
programs led by Museum educators; $4 per person; supplies
provided. In addition to tours hands-on activities in
the Art Studio or galleries may be scheduled for student
groups. Please select from the following studio programs.
Special programs will be considered upon request.
•
Portraits and Photographs – Participants will draw inspiration from portraits
created by colonial painters or contemporary photographers
to create their own portraits using traditional or digital
processes. Grades 1-12
•
Landscape –
Participants will learn basic perspective and grid techniques
employed by artists for centuries. Grades 1-12
•
Impressionist Pastel Painting –
Participants will use pastel sticks to learn impressionist
techniques while creating individual works of art. Workshops
may be conducted en plein air in Walnut Hill Park weather
permitting. Grades 1-12
•
Magnificent Murals – Participants will create a group mural inspired
by Thomas Hart Benton that expresses the arts of life
in America today. Mural project may be completed in
your classroom.Grades 6-12
•
Abstract Expressionism –
Participants will create their own “drip”
or texture paintings inspired by the work of Sam Francis
and Robert Natkin. Grades 3-12
•
Collage –
Participants will study the work of master collage artist
Romare Bearden as inspiration for their personal collages.
Grades 3-12
•
Write-on! –
Responding directly to works of art participants will
work with educators in galleries or studio to develop
their creative writing skills through journaling, haiku
and collaborative poetry.
Classroom
Resources
Teacher packets are available
to loan for all tour topics, studio and writing programs
and are excellent sources of for pre- and post- visit
activities. Teacher resources may also be used in place
of Museum visit. Fee: $10 per packet.
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NUTS
& BOLTS: Information and Scheduling for School Tours
Docent-led
& Self-guided Tours
Docent-led tours are one
hour in length. Tours are offered Tuesday through Friday
from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of up to 60 students
can be accommodated at one time. Teachers with specific
lesson plans in mind are welcome to schedule self-guided
visits for their classes. These visits are available
only during public hours, Tuesday through Friday, noon
to 5 p.m.
Admission/Tour
Fees
Docent-led tours are $4
per student. There is no charge for accompanying adults.
Self-guided groups
pay regular admission fees, $4 per student, adults free.
There is no charge for New Britain public and private
schools.
Scheduling
a Tour
Call our tour scheduler
weekdays at 860/229-0257, ext. 224, or email education@nbmaa.org,
attention Group Tours. Please schedule your tour at
least four weeks in advance as our tour schedule fills
rapidly. Please mention any special requests or special
student needs. Once a tour is booked please review your
confirmation sheet to ensure that all tour information
is correct and accurate.
Lunch
Limited space for lunch
is available to student groups. Please inquire when
you book your tour.
Accessibility
The museum is handicapped
accessible. Ramp is located to the right of the Museum
parking lot leading to the front door. All public levels
of the Museum are accessible by elevators. The museum
is conveniently located from Interstate 84 (exit 35
to route 72) or Interstate 91 (22N route 9 to 72). Highway
signs provide directions from route 72. There is ample
on-street parking for busses nearby.
Group
Size & Chaperones
Plan your groups in advance
to avoid confusion on arrival. Please divide your group
into sub-groups of between 8-12 students before arriving
at the NBMAA. The Museum requires that you have at least
one chaperone per 8-12 students.
Nametags
Please have students wear
nametags with their first names. Museum docents find
it helpful to call students by name.
Museum
Behavior
*DO NOT TOUCH
- even the lightest touch can harm an artwork.
*Students should plan to stand back from artworks and
leave a space of a foot or more away from the artwork
and walls. There should also be no leaning against any
of the walls throughout the galleries.
*Groups should stay together and students should walk,
not run, when moving between galleries. Chaperones must
remain with group at all times.
*Speak softly using “indoor voices” to avoid
disturbing other visitors and groups touring.
*When on a guided tour, groups are to give their full
and undivided attention to the docent. Note taking or
assignments by a teacher can be very disruptive to your
guide and is not recommended. Additional time may be
scheduled at the time of booking your tour for any assignments
you would like to give as long as there are enough chaperones
to take the groups around.
*Backpacks and heavy jackets/coats are not allowed in
museum galleries.
Coat racks and shelves are available
upon arrival.
When
you arrive at the museum
Checking-in – Plan to arrive
15 minutes prior to tour start time.
For curbside delivery,
turn left into the Museum’s parking lot. Buses
should drop students off at the sidewalk. Group leaders
must first check-in at the front desk. Groups will only
be allowed to enter the Museum up to 15 minutes before
the start time of their tour. A staff member will be
expecting you. The handicapped access is the paved ramp
to the left of the entrance and is accessed by the Museum
parking lot.
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Directions
to the Museum
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