Students in grades kindergarten through twelve are invited to visit MMoCA through a guided tour. MMoCA's docents focus on engaging students with works of art through an interactive process of observation, analysis, and interpretation. All guided tours meet Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for visual art. Tours may also be tailored to address social studies or language arts standards as well as teachers' specific learning goals.
Teachers my schedule a guided tour for groups of 10 to 60 students by contacting the education department at 608.257.0158 x 227 or completing an online tour request. Please allow three weeks advance notice for guided tours.
School tours are available Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm; tours combined with an art activity in MMoCA’s classroom are available from 9 am to 1 pm on Thursdays and Fridays.
Answers to frequently asked questions about school tours, including pre-visit planning, cost, bus parking, tour logistics, and lunch options.
The museum's School Tour Program provides art teachers with bus transportation and substitute teacher subsidies to enable them to introduce their students to original works of modern and contemporary art. School Tour funds are limited and are dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis; preference is given to urban and rural schools with limited funds and to schools that serve students who are economically disadvantaged.
The 2009-2010 School Tour Program has been generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and American Girl's Fund for Children.
Teaching Guides are offered free of charge to teachers who schedule guided tours of MMoCA. The guides provide analysis of a selection of works of art on view at the museum, biographical information on featured artists, pre- and post-visit discussion questions, interdisciplinary lesson ideas, and full-color reproductions. Effective as an introduction to a museum visit, the guides also are valuable as an ongoing classroom resource.
“The docents went far beyond expectations, planning activities and asking questions that challenged and inspired my students!”