School tours: 

Docent led class tours are interactive. Tours stress critical thinking, observation skills and creative evaluation through close observation and discussion of artworks. To schedule a tour, see
Planning Your Group Tour.

Curriculum Connections

: Customized Curriculum Connections offer teachers a way to integrate Visual Thinking Strategies while meeting CT Curriculum Standards outside the classroom. Language Arts and Social Studies are particularly recommended. Gallery activities, related hands-on art projects or writing exercises in response to a work of art are offered. The teacher and the Museum Educator can determine the structure of the visit.

A Tour Fee for docent-led tours is $5 per person. Tour-related art making activities may require a nominal fee.

We Are Here to Assist You! Don’t hesitate to contact our Education Office to find out about our tailored curriculum connections tours, tour fees, lunch or any concerns you may have. We are happy to assist in planning for your successful class visit.

Foreign Language Tours. Parlez-vous français? Looking for a foreign language-speaking docent for your class? We are happy to announce our partnership with the Literature, Cultures and Languages Department at UConn. Advanced French students train with our Student Docent Program to give tours in French to visiting French classes from 9th grade up. We can also provide our visitors Spanish and Italian speaking docents as well!

ESL Tours Art is a universal language! Students of all ages learning to speak English will enjoy visiting the museum to experience informal conversation with English speaking docents as an important aspect of learning the language. Looking at art together provides a wealth of conversational topics for appreciation of art, daily living, emotions and more. Please contact the Education Department to tailor a visit or series of visits.

 

Image Credits: Mola created by the Kuna Natives of Panama, Dragons, Menu.  Museum Education Collection

Exhibitions change regularly. Please check our website for the most up-to-date exhibition information at our home page.

Docent-Guided Tours are available with advance reservation. Please schedule at least 3 weeks prior to your visit. School groups can explore current museum exhibitions as well as the Public Art on Campus through interactive discussion on guided tours. Docent–led tours engage students in an active exchange of ideas about art, culture and personal experiences. As students learn to look at and interpret works of art, they uniquely exercise observation and visual literacy skills, critical thinking and creative problem solving.

Curriculum Connection Tours are docent-guided and connect the visual arts to curriculum in language arts, history, social studies and science. Whether you seek a general introduction to the art museum for your students or want a tour specific to your curriculum requirements, we can provide teachers with an engaging and memorable class visit. Additionally, we can provide writing activities and hands-on art making projects. To plan your visit please email benton.education@uconn.edu or call 860-486-1711

Make reservations at least 3 weeks in advance of your requested tour date and have an alternate date to ease scheduling. Guided tours are available Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Self-Guided Tours are welcomed though it is important to schedule your group tour in advance to avoid conflict with tours in the galleries. Please schedule your tour by email or calling the Education Office. Self-guided tours may be scheduled Tuesday through Friday and weekend hours.

Large groups will be divided into smaller, more manageable groups. We can accommodate a group with a maximum number of 45. If your group is larger, please call the Education Office for assistance.

Length of tour is approximately 50 minutes though it may be longer if a writing activity or hands-on art project is involved. Larger school groups of 40 or more should also plan for additional time.

Cost of Tour depends on whether you schedule a guided-tour with a Museum Docent or plan a self-led tour. The fee for a Docent-led tour is $5 per person. Donations are welcomed for self-led class tours.

Lunch availability is steps away at the UCONN Student Union where there is plenty of seating. You may also bring lunch or purchase it and enjoy it outside in nice weather. Our lovely shade garden behind the museum is perfect for picnicking.

Late Arrival Policy is for groups arriving more than 15 minutes late. We cannot guarantee a full scheduled tour. Prompt arrival is essential. If you are running late, please inform us by call 860-486-4520.

Tour Cancellations or rescheduling should be made in advance of the tour date. If that is not possible due to unforeseen circumstances, please call 860-486-1711 AND 860-486-4520 to notify your docents.

Museum Etiquette should be reviewed with students prior to your visit.

• No backpacks large bags or umbrellas are allowed in the galleries. There is a coatroom in the lobby, laptops may be left with Visitor Services staff.
• No drinks or food (including candy and chewing gum) are allowed in the galleries.
• Cellphones should be turned off, and inside voices are used.
• There is no photography in the galleries unless permission is given.
• Artwork should not be touched (unless specifically designed to be touched) and visitors are asked to keep a 2-foot distance from all objects.
• No pens may be used for note taking. The museum provides pencils if needed.

Foreign Language Tours.  Parlez-vous français? Looking for a foreign language-speaking docent for your class? We are happy to announce our partnership with the Literature, Cultures and Languages Department at UConn. Advanced French students train with our Student Docent Program to give tours in French to visiting French classes from 9th grade up. We can also provide our visitors Spanish and Italian speaking docents when available.

ESL Tours Art is a universal language! Students of all ages learning to speak English will enjoy visiting the museum to experience informal conversation with English speaking docents as an important aspect of learning the language. Looking at art together provides a wealth of conversational topics for appreciation of art, daily living, emotions and more. Please contact the Education Department to tailor a visit or series of visits.

We Are Here to Assist You! Don’t hesitate to contact our Education Office to find out about our tailored curriculum connections tours, tour fees, lunch or any concerns you may have. We are happy to assist in planning for your successful class visit.

 

Image Credits: Arpillera created in Chile, Chilectra.  Museum Education Collection

TEACHER RESOURCES

From Looking to Seeing: The Art of Observation
The focus of this workshop is developing observation skills through art. We’ll spend time in the galleries observing and discussing works of art and learn how art is used as a stimulus for Higher Order Thinking. This workshop will cover the evidence and research for the benefits of developing observation skills through looking at art, curriculum connections and hands-on activities.

Exploring Public Art
The UConn Campus provides a wide-ranging source of public art to explore. We will lead you in the exploration of public art and making connections across the curriculum for middle school and high school levels in social studies, science, technology, math, language arts and visual arts.

In-service Training
1. In-service training may be requested and scheduled for Pre-K-12 educators from a variety of disciplines and are designed to meet school curriculum and teachers’ needs. Teachers may request a focus on artworks from a specific portion of our collection or an introduction and overview to our collection. We will work with you to connect the collection to your curriculum needs. Our workshops stress inquiry-based teaching, critical thinking, and visual literacy skills.
2. Arts Integration.  Many teachers believe they are not artistic. This Arts Integration Workshop provides the opportunity for teachers to experience art for themselves and realize the arts are for everyone. Arts integration is an approach to teaching that interweaves arts education with standard curriculum to help create a richer context for learning and can deepen student engagement. Teachers will gain a greater understanding of the experiences they can provide their students by utilizing art as a vehicle for learning. The idea behind arts integration is that it opens a new door to understanding and can be an effective way to differentiate instruction and break through with students who are struggling. Research has shown arts integrated lessons provide clear improvements in comprehension and retention. Teachers will learn how to look for a natural fit with curriculum content and develop integrated lessons.

Contact our education department at benton.education@uconn.edu if you are interested this training.

 

Image Credits: Georges Braque, Job, 1911, etching and drypoint on Laid paper. Museum Collection

OUTREACH FOR SCHOOLS

Our Museum Outreach Program comes to you! You can request a docent to come to your school classroom or community organization location with works of art and/or slides to educate students or give a talk to your organization. Talks may require a slide/overhead projector and screen. There is a modest $35 fee for docent talks. Contact the Education Office for more information.

 

Image Credits: Reginald Marsh, Sand Dune and Beach Grass, 1930, watercolor.  Museum Collection.