Let your students be the story tellers!

Isn’t it fascinating that communicating through pictures pre-dates even written language? Each work represented in our new visiting exhibit,“Framed: Step into Art” captures a moment in time. This one-hour school program invites your students literally step into great works of art. They will visit a campground in Canada with John Singer Sargent’s Camp at Lake O’Hara and then travel to Mexico with Diego Rivera’s Corn Festival. Together we will use visual thinking strategies to discuss: what is going on in each picture? What do students see that makes them say that? What else do they see? And what do they think happened right before this moment in time, and right after it? Students will get to explore their ideas first hand by creating the before and after moments of one of the works in the exhibit.

(Available Sept. 20, 2012 – January 8, 2013)

Age recommendation: Grades 2 - 6. Pre-K and Grade 1 by special arrangement. Adaptations to connect with your curriculum may be available.

Standards Met: Visual Arts: 3.3, 3.6, 6.1, 6.3; History and Geography: 2.2, 3.1

“Always a fabulous culmination of our Japan unit.”
“Educator is knowledgeable, patient, organized, prepared and clear!"

Take off your shoes and step into an authentic 100-year old house from Kyoto, Japan!

Your students will experience a typical day for a Japanese child and will discover what customs, artifacts, and aspects of home and school life in Japan are similar to, and different from their own.

We provide cultural immersion and hands-on activities in the Kyo-no-Machiya (the Japanese House) using contemporary stories, objects, and images.

Age recommendation: Grades 1 – 6. Specially arranged programs are also available for Grades 7 through 12. Adaptations to connect with your curriculum may be available.

Standards Met: History and Social Science: 1.1, 1.6, 2.1, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, G6 NEA

English Language Arts: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 4.3

“Staff is knowledgeable and engaging. The program is simple enough to understand, but with opportunities for complexity and thought.”
Ken A., 2nd grade teacher

2nd Graders and up
After observing gravity, friction and momentum in action in the Raceways exhibit, your class will work in groups to design their own unique Raceways track. Kids are the engineers as each team of students designs a roller coaster track using only the materials given to them. In addition to putting their problem-solving skills to work, your students will improve their teamwork abilities. The design challenges will be adjusted to suit your grade.

“Students had a wonderful time and learned how to work together, to test their creations on a regular basis and that science is FUN!”
Carol M., 5th grade teacher

“Money does matter! I love teaching this program to both four year olds and seven year olds. They take away important messages including how to save money, how to make money, when to spend money, and the importance of charitable giving away of your money. It’s a win-win for fun and learning!”

Money Matters is an early financial literacy program designed especially for students in grades K-4. In this exciting one-hour program, students can role-play as wage earners in our Boston Black exhibit, discuss important community roles and jobs, and “spend” the money they’re earning at the local barber shop, flower store, corner market and restaurant. Together as a group they will explore the many ways that members of a community rely on each other for goods and services. This program aligns with Massachusetts Standards in both Economics and Mathematics.

Let our all-new Native Voices exhibit and school program take your students far beyond traditional tales and stories of New England Native Americans' history. This hands-on exploration introduces five thriving New England communities as they work to balance cultural traditions with life in a modern world. Through group activities, compelling immersive environments, and evocative artifacts, your students will meet members of the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot of Maine, the Narragansett of Rhode Island, and the Aquinnah Wampanoag and Mashpee Wampanoag of Massachusetts. You can toboggan down a hill in Maine with Kaia, a young Penobscot, practice beading in an artist's studio on Cape Cod, meet students in a classroom at the Nuweetooun Tribal School in Rhode Island, and explore a cranberry bog and the Aquinnah Tribal Museum on Martha's Vineyard. (Available starting February 1, 2012).

Age recommendation: Grades 1 – 6. Specially arranged programs are also available for Grades 7 through 12. Adaptations to connect with your curriculum may be available.
Standards Met: History and Social Science: 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.8, 4.15, 4.16, 5.6, 5.15

“… great educator – the kids were engrossed with her calm presence and wealth of knowledge…They leave with a strong appreciation for the art form and want to do more at school. A GREAT program to get kids excited about our Japan unit!”

Suminagashi (Japanese for “ink-floating”) is a paper marbling technique that has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Students will learn the “secrets” of this technique and use them to create one-of-a-kind images on paper. They will also surprise teachers and themselves, as they master the focus and tranquility of this unforgettable art-making experience.

Age recommendation: Grades 1 and up

Standards Met: 1.3, 1.4, 3.2, 7.1, 8.3

“I can’t believe how quiet and focused everyone was! Our students can’t wait to share the secrets with their families…”