K-12 Schools & Educators
From guided tours to online resources, the Palmer Museum of Art offers classroom teachers and homeschool groups a variety of programs and resources to support art in the curriculum.Guided School Tours
Inspire curiosity, support visual literacy skills, and connect students to opportunities for lifelong learning through a guided school tour. All tours encourage close-looking and interpretation through shared-inquiry discussions and activity-based learning.
School Tour Themes
- The Elements of Art (grades pre-K–3) – Recognize and discuss the visual language of art.
- Seeing Ourselves, Seeing Each Other (grades 3–12) – Explore the ways that people and cultures have represented themselves or others in art.
- Art and the Object (grades 3–12) – Discover layers of meaning conveyed through pictured objects, found materials, and artistic mediums.
- Art & Society (grades 5–12) – Reflect on the power of art to communicate ideas and create social connections.
Scheduling: School tours may be scheduled Wednesdays–Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Group Size: Maximum number of students is 60. Students will be divided into smaller groups before entering the galleries.
Chaperones: One chaperone is required for every 10–12 students. Chaperones are not included in the group numbers listed below for fees.
School Tour Fees: The following rates are for K–12 public schools. Community and private youth groups can check fees on the Learn & Teach page:
- $30 for groups up to 12
- $60 for groups of 13-24
- $90 for groups of 25-36
- $120 for groups of 37-48
- $150 for groups of 49-60
School tour request form below. At least three weeks advance notice is required.
School Tour Request Form
Educator Programs
Educator Workshops and other programs offer K–12 teachers the opportunity to explore museum collections, learn about resources and programs available to schools, and enjoy professional development designed to connect visual arts to class curriculum and broader educational goals.
Upcoming Educator Programs:
Educator Open House: August 8 | 3:00–6:00 p.m.
Drop-in to browse school resources, learn about innovative gallery teaching strategies for class visits, and explore current exhibitions. Take away an educational poster featuring an artist from MADE in PA, generously supported by Art Bridges.
Tentative Date: Educator Workshop: October 10 | 2:00–5:00 p.m.
Check back for more information.
Lesson Planning Resources
Museum educators and experienced teachers share “tried and true” lesson plans, images, and discussion guides featuring works from the Palmer’s collection or special exhibitions in these online resources.
Global Asias Educator Resource Packet
This resource packet introduces K-12 educators to online resources and lesson plans that explore artists, concepts, and themes featured in Global Asias.
See below for a downloadable PDF of the Global Asias Educator Resource Packet.
Link to the Educator Resource Packet
Tools for Teacher: The Historical Cartoons Lesson
This lesson focuses on artist Roger Shimomura and his use of cartoon imagery to depict history. Students use historical images to inspire their own piece of cartoon art.
Click here for the Historical Cartoons Lesson
Tools for Teachers: Picturing Place - Drawing with Thread Lesson
This lesson is based on the art of Do Ho Suh and his use of thread as a drawing material. In this lesson, students will draw connections among memories, feelings, and place.
Click here for the Drawing with Thread lesson
Tools for Teachers: Protest Song Packet
Secondary educator Madeilynann Mitchell shares a visual art lesson inspired by music, and Palmer Mueum educators identify works from the Palmer’s collection to support this and other ekphrastic exercises.
Click here for the Protest Song ProjectOnline Resources
Engage with the museum’s collection through virtual tours, online exhibitions, webinars, and art activity videos.
Explore our Online Resources page to prepare for a museum visit or to bring the museum into your classroom. Browse collection-inspired lesson plans created by teachers, for teachers. Use virtual tours for student assignments or to supplement in-class activities and discussions. Spark students’ creativity with art-making tutorial videos, inspired by works of art in the Palmer’s collection.
Online Resources
Educational programs at the Palmer are made possible by our Friends members! Become a Friend of the Palmer today!
