School Group Tours

Your Classroom Away from School

Teachers, imagine a classroom filled with . . .
astonishing sculpture from Africa, a real mummy coffin from ancient Egypt, a sculpture of Hercules from ancient Rome, portraits of America’s founders (painted by artists who actually knew them), masterpieces from around the world (to discuss in French, Italian, and Spanish with your students), challenging and thought-provoking contemporary art that’s off the wall (and on it)!

In spectacular West Building, the art and history of the world cultures await you and your students. You are invited to tour the collection with your class. Our docents are available to lead tours tailored to your grade level and subject areas. Reserve a tour now in the state’s largest, most exciting classroom: the North Carolina Museum of Art!

Recommended for All Grades and Subjects, K–12

A World of Art—Let us design a tour to meet your class’s needs. Studying the French Revolution? Ancient Egypt? Reading Greek and Roman mythology? Exploring the rich history of Africa’s cultures? Or maybe you’d just like an introduction to the Museum’s collection. Discover traditions, beliefs, and cultures from around the globe through works of art.

Social Studies: Focus on the Americas, Europe, Africa, or Asia. Strands: Global Connections, Geographic Relationships, Historic Perspectives, Technological Influences and Society, Individual Identity and Development, Cultures and Diversity
Arts Education: Focus on critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness. Strands: Perceiving, Producing, Knowing, Communicating, Evaluating, Connecting

Recommended for Grades K–2:

All in the Family—Learn about family life in other times and cultures around the world in this tour of the Museum’s permanent collection. What clues do artists give us about the families they depict? What can we learn about family life in our own time by comparison?

Social Studies: Focus on families and communities at home and around the world. Strands: Individual Development and Identity, Cultures and Diversity, Historical Perspectives, Geographic Relationships, Global Connections

Animals in Art—Explore the wonderful world of animals in the Museum’s collection: noble steeds, faithful hounds, and gentle farm creatures abound! Discover how images of animals have been used by artists from ancient to modern times.

Science: Focus on animals and life cycle. Strands: Nature of Science, Science as Inquiry, Science and Technology, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

Parts of Art—Where can you find circles, rectangles, squares, triangles, and patterns in every color imaginable? In works of art, of course! Learn to recognize and talk about the elements of art on this lively tour (and hone your math skills, too).

Mathematics: Focus on number sense, geometric shapes, and patterns. Strands: Numbers and Operations, Measurement, Geometry

Recommended for Grades 3–5:

North Carolina Focus in Art—From Murphy to Manteo and Bath to Boone—North Carolina has served as an inspiration for artists since colonial times. Learn about the state’s rich history through the eyes of artists who call it home (and some who might wish they could). Students will explore works of art with direct links to the Old North State, as well as other works that help place North Carolina (and its art) in a larger context.

Social Studies: Focus on citizenship, North Carolina history, American history. Strands: Individual Development and Identity, Cultures and Diversity, Historical Perspectives, Government and Active Citizenship

From Sea to Shining Sea: Exploring America in Art—Experience the history of America’s struggles and triumphs through the Museum’s collection. Students compare and contrast works of art to explore ideas of freedom, development, economics, and America’s ever-changing landscape.

Social Studies: Focus on social, economic, and political American history. Strands: Individual Development and Identity, Cultures and Diversity, Historical Perspectives, Geographic Relationships, Economics and Development

Forces of Nature in Art—Wind, rain, snow! Volcanic eruptions! Misty mountaintops and sunny summer days! Learn how artists capture the forces of nature in works of art.

Science: Focus on weather and earth materials. Strands: Nature of Science, Science as Inquiry, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

Recommended for Grades 6–8:

The Power of Art— What symbolizes power? How do people rise to power in different cultures? Examining ideas ranging from political and social hierarchy to media, communication, and changes in technology, students will consider how artists throughout the centuries have represented power. From portraits to ceremonial objects to video installations, explore the powerful influence of art and the effects it can have on everyday life across the globe.

Social Studies: Focus on considering and comparing political, economic, and social institutions across the globe. Strands: Historic Perspectives, Government and Active Citizenship,
Cultures and Diversity English Language Arts: Focus on comprehension strategies (critical, creative, and strategic thinking). Strands: Oral and Written Language

Making Math Artistic—Discover the creative ways artists apply mathematical concepts in their works of art, from three-dimensional sculpture to two-dimensional works on the wall. Students explore ideas of scale, ratio, perspective, symmetry, and proportion. Let our galleries be a math laboratory where students can see math concepts at work

Mathematics: Focus on number sense, geometric shapes, and patterns. Strands: Number and Operations, Measurement, Geometry

Classical Connections: Art and the Humanities—Whether you’re studying the Labors of Hercules in mythology or the classical influences in the Italian Renaissance, this tour helps students explore connections between the visual arts, literature, and history of culture and language. Let works of art stimulate lively conversations for students and provide content for classroom writing projects.

Second Languages: Focus on cultures, comparisons, connections. Strands: Listening, Speaking, Reading
Arts Education: Focus on critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness. Strands: Perceiving, Producing, Knowing, Communicating, Evaluating, Connecting

Recommended for Grades 9–12:

What Is Art? —Explore the world of art with challenging and thought-provoking questions such as: What makes art “art”? Does art have to be beautiful? Does art have to mean something? And who decides?

Arts Education: Focus on critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness. Strands: Perceiving, Producing, Knowing, Communicating, Evaluating, Connecting
English Language Arts: Focus on comprehension strategies (critical, creative, and strategic thinking). Strands: Oral and Written Language

Vive la France! Monet, Rodin, and More—Relax into a serene trip along the Seine, discovering the impressionists’ views of French cityscapes and countrysides. Then surround yourself with the powerful, gravity-defying beauty of Rodin’s figures cast in bronze. From sunlight-dappled canvases to the Rodin Garden’s shimmering reflecting pool, your journey leads you through the masterworks of France. C’est magnifique!

Second Languages: Focus on cultures, comparisons, connections. Strands: Listening, Speaking, Reading.
Arts Education: Focus on critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness. Strands: Perceiving, Producing, Knowing, Communicating, Evaluating, Connecting

Classical Connections: Art and the Humanities—Whether you’re studying the labors of Hercules in mythology or the classical influences in the Italian Renaissance, this tour helps students explore connections between the visual arts, literature, and history of culture and language. Let works of art stimulate lively conversations for students and provide content for classroom writing projects.

Second Languages: Focus on cultures, comparisons, connections. Strands: Listening, Speaking, Reading
Arts Education: Focus on critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness. Strands: Perceiving, Producing, Knowing, Communicating, Evaluating, Connecting