Available School Tour Programs

FIELD TRIP GUIDE

Docent-Led Tours

A minimum of three weeks advance registration is required

The Harn offers docent-led tours with a discussion and inquiry-based learning approach for students in all grade levels and subject areas. Choose from one of the School Tour Programs listed below or customize your visit to directly relate to themes and topics being explored in your classroom. A maximum of 60 students may be accommodated for each tour, and guided school groups may tour the museum Tuesday-Friday 10 am to 3 pm.

Home School Groups

Home school groups are welcome at the Harn. Complete the tour request form to schedule a group tour that can be customized to meet your learning goals.

Self-Guided Museum Tour

Self-guided Group Tours

Groups that prefer to self-guide the museum without docent educators are welcome to visit during our regular hours of operation Tuesday – Sunday. To avoid scheduling conflicts with other programs and tours, please contact the museum at least two weeks in advance of your visit. Please note that our policy requires that K–12th grade students visiting our galleries be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Access suggested activities for self-guided student groups.

Museum-School Tour

Suggested grade level: K 12 • Program Length: 1 hour

Choose one of these special themes or simply request “highlights of the museum.”

Windows and Mirrors

Suggested grade level: 9 – 12
Students will participate in creative exercises that prompt a deeper understanding of the connection of art to identity. Students will view art as a reflection of themselves (mirror) and as an opening into the world (window) through interactive experiences that foster critical thinking and emotional intelligence.

What is an Art Museum?

Suggested grade level: 2 5

Students will engage with museum objects, museum staff and the physical museum site to develop and inform their understanding of how an art museum works.

The Natural World Reflected in Art

Suggested grade level: K 12

Students will encounter artwork inspired by or created in response to the natural world, investigating the connection between artist and environment.

Living in Diverse Worlds

Suggested grade level: 4 12

Students will explore artwork from various countries and cultural traditions, expanding their concept of self in the context of their community and beyond.

Describe-Create-Relate

SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL: 3 ­– 8

Students analyze and respond to artwork through individual, partnered and team activities in the galleries. Guided by a docent-educator, students participate in three discussion-based quests that strengthen visual literacy skills, deepen personal connections and inspire creativity.

 

Reflections & Conversations

SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL: 10 ­– 12

Students choose one artwork in response to a question. Following individual time reflecting, studying and writing about their selected objects, students join together to share their ideas with each other during an educator-led tour that includes all selected artwork. Reflection questions are designed by museum staff and focus on empathy-building, self-reflection and multi-cultural awareness.

Classroom Subject Theme

Teachers may request custom themes to connect directly with class curriculum.

Funding Opportunities

The Harn offers funding opportunities for costs associated with bus transportation and substitute teachers for museum visits. Interested in applying? Indicate your financial need when completing the online tour request form to be considered for these limited funds.

Request a Tour

Virtual Tour Programs

Tour the museum virtually through an interactive Google Slide presentation or facilitated Zoom session. Virtual tours feature guided viewings of a selection of objects through videos and images and suggestions for related activities and discussion prompts. Museum educators are available to facilitate live interactive Zoom sessions of The Natural World Reflected in Art Tour and What is An Art Museum? themes. To request a Zoom session, please contact tours@harn.ufl.edu.

Virtual Tour

What is An Art Museum?

Intended for elementary and middle school students, the What is An Art Museum? Virtual Tour examines how an art museum functions by looking at the people who work there and the different types of art inside. Uncover the role of an art museum by using your mouse or touch screen to navigate through the presentation.

VIEW PRESENTATION

Virtual Tour

The Natural World Reflected in Art

Intended for elementary and middle school students, The Natural World Reflected in Art Virtual Tour explores artworks inspired by or created in response to the natural world. Investigate the connection between artist and environment by using your mouse or touch screen to navigate through the presentation.

VIEW PRESENTATION

Resources for K 12 Educators

See All K-12 Educator Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I schedule a classroom visit?

    Teachers interested in using Harn resources in the classroom may enhance the experience by scheduling an interactive class presentation by a museum educator. Contact Paige Willis, Community Engagement and Museum Interpretation Manager at pwillis@harn.ufl.edu or 352.294.7062 to discuss this opportunity and begin the scheduling process.

  • Are exhibition checklists available?

    Illustrated lists of works on view are available for each of our exhibitions. These may assist teachers in planning and customizing field trips. Additional lists of works on view, grouped by theme or subject are available upon request. Contact pwillis@harn.ufl.edu with requests for specific checklists.

  • What early learning programs do you have?

    Video by Studio601.

    Early Learning at the Harn is a school and museum-based program for pre-K and kindergarten children to promote visual literacy, vocabulary development and individual expression, especially for children of low-income families who face an educational achievement gap. The program features multiple components that include teacher workshops, in-class lessons, museum field trips, and school-based family programs.

    Field trips are organized around the theme “The Language of Art.” This guides students to investigate how images are related to words and how pictures tell stories. It also provides a foundation for investigating the Elements of Art, such as line, color and shape. In addition to an age-appropriate gallery experience, students also get to create art during the museum visit.

    During the 2017-2018 school year, Early Learning at the Harn served a total of 27 classes and 500 children and families through a partnership with Alachua County Public Schools.  Participating children were enrolled in Head Start (age 4) classes at Duval Early Learning Academy, Fearnside Family Services Center, Terwilliger Elementary and Wiles Elementary, in addition to Duval ELA kindergarten classes.

    Plans for the 2018-2019 school year include expansion of Early Learning at the Harn to all Head Start (age 4) classes in Alachua County Public Schools. For more information, contact Eric Segal, Director of Education, esegal@harn.ufl.edu.

Need more information?

For more information about any of our School and Educator Programs, contact Paige Willis, Community Engagement and Museum Interpretation Manager at 352.294.7062.