National Gallery of Art - EDUCATION

School Tours

NGA Classroom for Teachers and Students   Image: Vincent van Gogh
Self-Portrait (detail), 1889   Image: Roy Lichtenstein, Brushstroke (detail), 1965   Image: Jasper Johns, False Start I (detail), 1962   Image: Johannes Vermeer, Girl with the Red Hat, c. 1665/1666 Andrew W. Mellon Collection 1937.1.53   NGA Learning Resources   Image: Sol LeWitt, Wavy Brushstrokes, 1996 The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection 1999.118.1

About School Tours Scheduling a Tour/Registration Form
Frequently Asked Questions Give Us Your Feedback

School Tour Options

Ages 4–6 Kindergarten–Grade 3
Grades 4–6 Grades 6–8
Grades 9–12 French- and Spanish-Language Tours
Special Request Tours Self-Guided Groups

Prepare for your visit

General Information Audio Tours
School Trip Highlights Guides Pre-Visit Orientation Materials
Tips and Resources Art in the Classroom Poster
Museum Policies Lunch Options

About School Tours

Art museums provide powerful opportunities for learning and enjoyment. School visits bring students face to face with original works of art and bring those works alive in a way that enhances and complements classroom lessons. Tours give students time to look at art carefully, ask questions, and develop their own interpretations. Through open-ended discussion they discover that questions seldom have a single answer and that art can possess multiple layers of meaning. Tours offer a shared experience where all voices are valued and contribute to the overall learning of the group.

  • Tours must be scheduled at least four weeks in advance.
  • Foreign-language tours must be scheduled at least eight weeks in advance.
  • Tours are offered at 10:15 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., and 2:00 p.m., except where noted.
  • Groups must contain at least 10 students.
  • Requests for tours in fall 2012 (October 1–December 7) will be accepted August 1 through November 11, 2012.
  • Requests for tours in winter and spring 2013 (January 7–May 31) will be accepted from December 3, 2012, through April 30, 2013.

Scheduling a Tour

  1. Browse tour options to decide which tours meet your needs.
  2. Decide on dates and alternate dates for your visit.
  3. Select "Request Tour" to access the tour request form.
  4. Fill out the form completely, then click "Submit." You will receive an automated response acknowledging receipt of your request.

Alternatively, you may mail or fax the school tour request form.

Once your tour has been scheduled, you will receive a confirmation letter via mail in 10 business days (14 days for foreign-language tours).

Pre-visit materials are available.

Questions about Tours
Our tour scheduler, Jennifer Cross, is available to answer questions on Monday through Wednesday between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. (September through May). Please contact her at (202) 842-6249 schooltourrequests@nga.gov.

Canceling or Changing Your Tour
To cancel or change a tour, please call (202) 842-6249 at least seven days before your tour date so that your slot can be made available to others.

Chaperones
Tour groups must be accompanied by one adult chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones must remain with the group at all times. It is the responsibility of chaperones to maintain orderly student behavior at the Gallery. Chaperone information cards outlining Gallery visitor policies will be distributed on the day of your tour or may be printed in advance.

Scheduling Large Groups
If the number of students in your group exceeds the number that we permit for your tour, you may consider:

  • scheduling the same tour at different times on the same date;
  • scheduling different tour themes at the same time;
  • scheduling the same tour on different dates.

Tour Length
All tours for students in kindergarten through grade 4 are 60 minutes. All tours for students in grades 5–12 are 75 minutes, except where stated.

Tours: Ages 4–6

These hands-on tours introduce the art museum to our youngest viewers, cultivating their curiosity and imaginations as they begin their journey of discovering art.

Art Tales Tours
Art Tales is an engaging three-step exploration of works of art. Through children's literature, students are introduced to different themes in a familiar way, followed by an opportunity to connect these themes with art they observe in the galleries. The program culminates with a hands-on experience linking the works of art and themes discussed.

Little Cloud by Eric Carle

Shapes that Roll by Karen Nagel

Tours: Kindergarten–Grade 3

Art Investigators
As "art investigators," students will look for clues, explore artists' choices, and use their imaginations to learn about modern and contemporary art. This tour will introduce students to the museum and the basic elements of art. (Please note that this tour replaces Color, Line, and Shape.)

Faces and Places
Explore portraits, landscapes, and genre scenes, and learn about people and places from the past.

Nature in Art
If you could step into a landscape, what would you hear or feel? This tour explores how artists depict the natural world and invites students to use their imaginations while carefully exploring art and nature too.

Every Picture Tells a Story (Grade 3 only)
Paintings are more than just pictures in a frame—they are unfolding stories with multiple perspectives. In this tour, students will learn to "read" works of art by identifying characters, setting, and plot, and by creating dialogue.

Tours: Grades 4–6

American Art
How does art send messages about a nation and its identity? In this tour, students explore the historical and cultural connections in works of American art.

Exploring the Elements of Art
What are the different elements that make up a work of art? This tour examines color, line, shape, form, and texture. Guided looking, together with art making, writing, and discussion activities, helps students understand how artists consciously manipulate and combine these elements to achieve particular effects.

Every Picture Tells a Story
Paintings are more than just pictures in a frame—they are unfolding stories with multiple perspectives. In this tour, students learn to "read" works of art by identifying characters, setting, and plot, and by creating dialogue.

Mythology
Which significant episode or moment in a mythological story did an artist choose to depict, and why? This tour unravels Greek and Roman myths, which artists through the ages have depicted with great drama and imagination.

Sculpture and Sketching
From figurative bronzes and marble carving to objects that challenge conventional ideas about sculpture, students investigate materials and techniques as well as the works' subjects and functions.

Tours: Grades 6–8

American Art
How does art send messages about a nation and its identity? In this tour, students explore the historical and cultural connections in works of American art.

Every Picture Tells a Story
Paintings are more than just pictures in a frame—they are unfolding stories with multiple perspectives. In this tour, students learn to "read" works of art by identifying characters, setting, and plot, and by creating dialogue.

Exploring Modern Art: Breaking the Rules
What is "modern" about modern art? Investigate the ways artists "break the rules" when they depart from realistic representation, use innovative techniques, and engage the viewer as a partner in the creation of meaning.

French Art
This tour gives students a taste of French art and explores a variety of themes, such as artistic styles, portraits of historical figures, scenes from everyday life, and images of patronage and power.

Mythology
Which significant episode or moment in a mythological story did an artist choose to depict, and why? This tour unravels Greek and Roman myths, which artists through the ages have depicted with great drama and imagination.

Portraits and Personalities
How does a portrait reveal the life and time of its sitter? This tour explores portraits and self-portraits from multiple points of view, examining works of art that reveal the sitters' personalities, status, and social and historical environments.

Renaissance Art
What radical changes in art—and life—marked the period known as the Renaissance? Original works of art provide students with firsthand answers to this question. Students will explore such artistic developments as perspective and the naturalistic representation of the human figure, and how these stylistic changes were influenced by scientific discovery and the rise of humanism.

Sculpture and Sketching
From figurative bronzes and marble carving to objects that challenge conventional ideas about sculpture, students investigate materials and techniques as well as the works' subjects and functions.

Tours: Grades 9–12

American Art
How does art send messages about a nation and its identity? In this tour, students explore the historical and cultural connections in works of American art.

Every Picture Tells a Story
Paintings are more than just pictures in a frame—they are unfolding stories with multiple perspectives. In this tour, students learn to "read" works of art by identifying characters, setting, and plot, and by creating dialogue.

Exploring Modern Art: Breaking the Rules
What is "modern" about modern art? Investigate the ways artists "break the rules" when they depart from realistic representation, use innovative techniques, and engage the viewer as a partner in the creation of meaning.

French Art
This tour gives students a taste of French art and explores a variety of themes, such as artistic styles, portraits of historical figures, scenes from everyday life, and images of patronage and power.

Mythology
Which significant episode or moment in a mythological story did an artist choose to depict, and why? This tour unravels Greek and Roman myths, which artists through the ages have depicted with great drama and imagination.

Portraits and Personalities
How does a portrait reveal the life and time of its sitter? This tour explores portraits and self-portraits from multiple points of view, examining works of art that reveal the sitters' personalities, status, and social and historical environments.

Renaissance Art
What radical changes in art—and life—marked the period known as the Renaissance? Original works of art provide students with firsthand answers to this question. Students will explore such artistic developments as perspective and the naturalistic representation of the human figure, and how these stylistic changes were influenced by scientific discovery and the rise of humanism.

Sculpture and Sketching
From figurative bronzes and marble carving to objects that challenge conventional ideas about sculpture, students investigate materials and techniques as well as the works' subjects and functions.

Spanish Art
Students explore and compare the style, subject matter, and technique of artists ranging from El Greco to Picasso.

French- and Spanish-Language Tours

Explore works of art while practicing your language skills. These tours, conducted in French or Spanish by fluent speakers, are intended for advanced high school language students.

Tours generally include works from the French or Spanish collections but may also include works from other areas of the Gallery, depending on availability. Docents will contact teachers to tailor tours to learning goals.

If a foreign-language docent is not available for your request time slot, the Gallery may be able to make an English-language tour available as an alternative. Please check this option on the tour request form if you are interested.

Special Request Tours

We are happy to work with you to customize a tour that meets the needs of your class, or create a tour that closely connects to your curriculum. Please provide as much detail as possible on the tour request form. Tours focus on the Gallery's permanent collection only; however, self-guided print and online resources for children, for some temporary exhibitions, are also available.

School tours with religious art themes can be requested using the special request tour form. Please note that the Christmas Story tour is limited to 50 students and the Stories from the Hebrew Bible tour is limited to 30 students.

Logistical Information

Group Size: Up to 90 students
Length: 60 minutes for kindergarten–grade 4
75 minutes for grades 5–12
Meeting Location: West Building, Rotunda, Main Floor or East Building, Entrance (inside)
Museum policies | Student lunches | General information | Give us your feedback

Self-Guided Groups

Teachers are welcome to guide their students through the museum independently. Please complete the self-guided group form at least four weeks prior to your visit. This assists museum staff in preventing overcrowding in the galleries. Be sure to indicate whether you would like to receive information about Gallery teaching resources.

Planning Your Visit
Thousands of images, information, and tour planning tools can be accessed on the Gallery Web site.

Our pre-visit video and PowerPoint can help orient and introduce your students to the National Gallery of Art.

Learn about the collection, preview the free kids' West Building audio tour, see which exhibitions will be on view, explore floor plans, read visitor information, and check the Calendar of Events. Use our new NGA Learning Resources to access online educational materials, videos and podcasts, past exhibition features, and borrow free teaching resources.

Remember that exploring a few works of art in depth can be more rewarding than quickly surveying many works. Also, please be aware that some works of art may be moved or removed from view before the Web site can be updated.

Students learn more during a museum visit when they feel comfortable in the environment. Prepare your students with a virtual tour of the museum and pre-visit activities. Reviewing key vocabulary terms and introducing an artist or theme from the tour can help students come to the museum ready to learn.

Students under grade 9 must be accompanied by an adult.

Museum Policies

During Your Visit
Students require adequate supervision. Groups must have one adult chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones are responsible for monitoring and accompanying students at all times.

Please share the rules with your students and chaperones both before and during your visit.

  • Do not touch works of art. Please maintain a distance of at least 12 inches away from any work of art.
  • Do not lean on the walls, display cases, or pedestals—even to draw or take notes.
  • Do not block doorways, aisles, or stairways.
  • Self-guided groups are expected to yield to tours given by school docents or staff; only one group may be in a gallery at a time.

Cameras and Backpacks
Handheld cameras, pencils, and pads are allowed in the permanent collection areas but not in special exhibitions. Students may not wear backpacks in the galleries. Backpacks must be checked at a checkroom. We recommend that students leave all backpacks at school or on the bus to prevent entry delays. Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the Gallery.

The use of tripods, easels, and ink or chalk drawing materials is prohibited without special advance permission.

Student Lunches
Considering eating lunch at the Gallery? To make arrangements please call (202) 712-7458 three days in advance of your tour to purchase lunches from the cafeteria or submit an order form. Bag lunches may be stored in the checkrooms but may not be eaten in the Gallery cafeteria. View group meal plan menus and ordering information.

Audio Tours

Free Children's Audio Tour for Ages 7–12
This free self-guided tour gives children an opportunity to get "up close and personal" with some of the world's greatest paintings, on display in the West Building—including master works by Leonardo, Rembrandt, Rubens, Degas, Monet, and Homer. Pick up your family's free audio tour at the Acoustiguide desk in the Rotunda on the Main Floor of the West Building. For group reservations (10 or more), call (202) 842-6592. The tour, with images, is also available at www.nga.gov/education/timetravel.

Made possible through the generous support of MSST Foundation

Director's Audio Tour
Director Earl A. Powell III and Gallery curators explore more than 130 beloved masterpieces by such artists as Leonardo, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, and others, offering expert insight into these treasured works. Pick up your free audio tour at the Acoustiguide desk in the Rotunda on the Main Floor of the West Building. For group reservations (10 or more), call (202) 842-6592.

School Trip Highlights Guides
Middle and high school students can use our illustrated one-hour guides to navigate the Gallery's most important works. Download PDFs below or pick up printed guides at Information Desks.

East Building Highlights Guide      West Building Highlights Guide      West Building Sculpture Highlights Guide
East Building
Highlights

(PDF 340k)
  West Building
Highlights

(PDF 209k)
  West Building
Sculpture
Highlights

(PDF 208k)

After Your Visit

  • Continue the museum experience back in the classroom using teaching resources available online or on free loan from the Gallery.
  • Send us your student pictures or letters describing your visit, as well as ideas on how we can further support you.
  • Has your class or organization taken a National Gallery of Art school tour? Please take a moment to share your experience and comments with us by completing our online feedback form.

NGA Learning Resources
View a searchable library of more than 300 teaching packets, DVDs, online resources, PDFs, and podcasts on various periods, artists, and the art of specific cultures. All are available free of charge. Teaching packets available for loan range from Picturing France: 1830–1900 to Islamic Art and Culture. Packets may include in-depth illustrated booklets, large color reproductions suitable for posting in the classroom, slides and image CDs, and timelines. Submit requests for loan materials here.

Request a free printed catalogue of loan materials here, e-mail EdResources@nga.gov, or fax (202) 842-6937. Please allow one month for delivery.

Requests by mail:
Education Resources
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785

NGAkids
Take an animated tour through the sculpture garden or visit a Dutch dollhouse. This treasure trove of interactive, "learning to look" online acthttps://learningresources.nga.gov:7008/vwebvof art in the National Gallery collection and from temporary exhibitions, with links to other Gallery resources and program offerings for children and families. Tailored for students in prekindergarten through grade 6, NGAkids may be enjoyed by children of any age.

General Information

Location and Hours
The National Gallery of Art, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 7th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. See also area map, public transportation, parking.

Floor Plans: West Building | East Building

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, located on the National Mall at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, is bounded by Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive and by 7th and 9th Streets NW.

Accessibility
The 6th Street entrance to the West Building at Constitution Avenue and the 4th Street entrance to the East Building have ramps to accommodate visitors in wheelchairs. Please inform the tour scheduler and docents of any special needs before your tour. A Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available at (202) 842-6176. A TDD for use by visitors is located at the public telephone adjacent to the stamp machine near the Concourse Level Sales Shop. This TDD is situated to accommodate wheelchair users.

Parking
Metered street parking for cars and vans is available along the Mall. Buses may let students off at the entrance noted on your confirmation sheet. Parking for buses is usually allowed only on Independence Avenue near the Washington Monument.

Public Transportation
The nearest Metrorail stops are Judiciary Square on the Red Line, Archives–Navy Memorial–Penn Quarter on the Yellow/Green Lines, and Smithsonian on the Blue/Orange Lines. Metrobus stops are located on 4th Street and 7th Street NW. Metrobus stops are located on 4th Street and 7th Street NW.

Further information about Metrobus and Metrorail routes and schedules is available at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Web site. The WMATA RideGuide Web site provides a fast and easy way to plan your visit to the Gallery.

Security
Visitors will be asked to present all bags and parcels for inspection. All backpacks, luggage, oversized bags, parcels, and umbrellas must be left in the checkrooms. These items will be subject to x-ray screening prior to acceptance. We regret that we are unable to admit any items larger than 17 x 26 inches (43 x 66 cm) into the Gallery or its checkrooms. Checkrooms, located at the entrances to both the East Building and the West Building, are provided free of charge. We recommend that students leave their backpacks at school or on the bus to prevent entry delays. See further information about cameras, art supplies, and backpacks.

Museum Shops
Reproductions, exhibition catalogues, and books on the collections are available to educators at a 20 percent discount by mail order only. For more information, call (202) 842-6002 or (800) 697-9350.

Calendar of Events
To obtain a free bimonthly calendar of events by mail, call (202) 842-6662, or contact us by e-mail at calendar@nga.gov. Please include your mailing address. The current bimonthly Calendar of Events is available in PDF format. (Download Acrobat Reader)

Film Calendar
To obtain a free quarterly film calendar by mail, contact us by e-mail at film-department@nga.gov. Please include your mailing address. The current quarterly Film Calendar is available in PDF format. (Download Acrobat Reader)

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