Education

School and Teacher Programs and Resources

School Programs for K–12 Students

Bring your class to the Block Museum this semester! Choose from a variety of engaging and exciting programs. From lively discussions to studio workshops, there is something for every class at the Block.

Tour and activity descriptions are below. Information about reservations can be found below these descriptions. Activities are flexible and our education staff is happy to work with your curriculum goals when arranging the program for your visit.

Fall 2009

Tours are based on the exhibitions Robert Motherwell: An Attitude Toward Reality, From the Collection of the Walker Art Center and Henry Moore: Elephant Skull.

Guided Tours
- 45 minutes, FREE, 30 students maximum
- Motherwell: This gallery tour will explore Robert Motherwell's series of works and his creative techniques.
- Moore: This gallery tour will look at Henry Moore's Elephant Skull portfolio.

Gallery Activity
- 50–60 minutes, $10 per group of 30 students
- Motherwell: This tour will focus on Robert Motherwell's use of color and line to express emotions and ideas. Following the tour, students will develop their own blind drawings using one color of their choice. Older students (grades 7–12) will also create their own Haiku poem about the artwork of their choice.
- Moore: This tour will focus on how Moore created a print portfolio by studying an elephant skull. Following a discussion, students will create their own sketches of the real elephant skull featured in the exhibition.

Studio Session
- 80 minutes, $25 per group of 30 students
- Motherwell: Following a gallery tour, students will create their own abstract artwork using drip techniques and drawing. Older students (grades 7–12) will employ creative writing exercises to develop a group narrative and then create their own artwork from found images.
- Moore: Following a gallery tour, students will create their own abstract drawings by drawing, cutting, and adding color. Older students (grades 7–12) will create their own portfolio of six drawings.

Winter 2010

Tours are based on the exhibition A Room with a View: The Bloomsbury Artists in American Collections.

Guided Tour
- 45 minutes, FREE, 30 students maximum
- This tour will focus on learning about the members of the Bloomsbury group through talking about the artworks and objects in the exhibition.

Gallery Activity
- 50–60 minutes, $10 per group of 30 students
- Following a gallery tour, students will create their own decorative drawings or develop a creative writing piece in response to the work in the exhibition.

Studio Session
- 80 minutes, $25 per group of 30 students
- Following a gallery tour, students will create their own decorative art objects inspired by the exhibition.

Spring 2010

Tours are based on the exhibition The Brilliant Line: Following the Early Modern Engraver, 1480–1650.

Guided Tour
- 45 minutes, FREE, 30 students maximum
- This gallery tour will explore the various subjects and techniques displayed in the exhibition.

Gallery Activity
- 50–60 minutes, $10 per group of 30 students
- Following a gallery tour, students will create their own line drawings in response to a selected work.

To schedule a visit to the Block for your class, e-mail blockeducation@northwestern.edu or call 847.491.4852. Please include the following information in your e-mail or phone mesage:

Name of the teacher(s)
School name
Age, grade, and number of students (Maximum of 30, minimum of 8 to schedule. One chaperone is required for every 10 students)
Type of tour/program you would like to schedule
Three preferred dates and times for your tour/program (Available Tuesdays through Fridays between 10 am and 4 pm)

Please note that reservations must be made at least 4 weeks in advance of the desired tour/program date. All materials are included in the price for the Gallery Activity and Studio Session programs.

To arrange a tailored program for your class or for groups larger than 30, please call us at 847.491.4852.

Teacher Programs and Resources

The Block Museum provides elementary, middle, and high school teachers with programs and resources to enhance arts learning in the classroom. All of our online lesson plans adhere to Illinois State Learning Standards in Fine Arts, English, or Social Studies. Lesson plans can be used for a Museum visit or onsite in your classroom. All lesson plans are available online as pdf documents for teachers and educators. The Museum also offers teacher workshops exploring topics from studio programs to history and English lessons. Additionally, selections from the Block Museum’s permanent collection are available online for educational use. We invite teachers and other educators to use the Museum, its collection, and programs as teaching resources for your classroom.

Online Lesson Plans

Elementary School

Middle School

High School