K–12 visits

We start with the art.

Using the Museum’s varied collections as an anchor, lessons connect themes that span time, geography, and cultures.​​

We help students build skills and connect with standards.

Lessons support Common Core Learning Standards; New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts (Visual Art); and New York State Learning Standards for the Arts, English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science.

We take an anti-oppressive approach.

We recognize the effects that cultural and social inequities have had on societies around the world and throughout history. We recognize that oppression takes many forms and that it shapes the histories we are taught, the policies we live by, and the language we use. Taking an anti-oppressive approach means we take special care to use language, research, and images that help students explore works of art with thoughtfulness, empathy, and cultural fluency. We make choices to reduce harm to community members and expect teachers, students, and families to do the same. Together we can:

• Speak and listen with care

• Acknowledge multiple narratives through art

• Use gender- and racially inclusive language

• Share what we know and admit what we don’t know

• Challenge cultural assumptions and expand understandings of art and culture

We believe less is more.

Lessons focus on two to three objects to develop observation skills and critical thinking.

We recognize that people learn differently.

We engage students through a range of learning strategies—including open-ended and guided questions, conversation, storytelling, drawing, writing, sensory learning, and movement—to support every learner.

We are a community of learners.

Lessons employ inquiry-based approaches, which include discussions between students and adults to foster respect for all individuals and their perspectives and identities. Together, we create a brave space where all are welcome to learn, listen, and play.

We have what you need.

Students will receive any necessary handouts and art-making materials during Guided Gallery Visits. Virtual Gallery Visits are hosted on Zoom by a team of educators who are able to facilitate various modes of student engagement.

We need to know you’re visiting.

All school groups must make advance reservations. Learn more and book your visit.

We are accessible.

Closed captioning is provided upon request during Virtual Gallery Visits. American Sign Language interpretation is also available upon request for all Guided Visits. Indicate any accommodations your class may need on the booking form.

We support English language learners.

Bilingual lessons in Spanish are available upon request.

Contact youth.tours@brooklynmuseum.org.

Observe how artists engage with social movements like racial equity, feminism, environmental justice, and more. Explore what activism means for these artists and their communities while connecting contemporary and historic resistance movements.

Apply close looking techniques to artwork inspired by or made with materials from the natural world. Analyze how communities throughout history have interacted with their natural and built environments.

What kind of choices do artists make when telling a visual story? Who are the characters, what’s the setting and the plot? Use artwork to foster literacy skills through exploration.

Examine artwork from various cultures to learn about communities through their belief systems (religious, spiritual, political, and philosophical). Compare and contrast across continents such as Africa, Asia, North America, and South America, and between the past and present.

Investigate the history of the United States from the points of view of many groups of people, including Native Americans, enslaved Africans, European colonizers, and immigrants, as well as their future generations. Assess how complex histories of community and power are told through art objects. Visits focus on one of four historical moments:

• The Colonial Period

• The Civil War

• Westward Expansion

• The Industrial Revolution

Investigate how civilizations around the world have used symbolism to create and maintain cultural traditions and to communicate power. Recognize how symbols and traditions across societies (such as ancient Egypt, ancient China, the Aztec empire, and Assyria) present culturally specific notions of power, and make connections between cultures.

Complete a booking form to request a reservation for an in-person or virtual visit. The Museum is unable to process reservations by phone, fax, or mail.

Reservations are processed in the order they are received. Within two weeks of submitting your reservation request, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the date and time of your visit, or alternate dates if the Museum is unable to accommodate your original request. Your reservation isn’t complete until you receive a confirmation email with an invoice that includes the time and date of your visit.

If you need to cancel your visit, contact youth.tours@brooklynmuseum.org as soon as possible.

On rare occasions, gallery visits may be canceled due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. If this occurs, you’ll be notified as far in advance as possible. If your reservation is canceled, then staff will do their best to reschedule your visit. If rescheduling is not possible, you’ll receive a full refund.

All prices listed are per visit for one class (up to 30 students and five adult chaperones).

Self-guided visits:
NYC Department of Education public and charter schools: $40
Public and charter schools outside NYC: $50
Private and parochial schools: $60

Guided visits:
NYC Department of Education public and charter schools: $60
Public and charter schools outside NYC: $90
Private and parochial schools: $130

Virtual visits:
NYC Department of Education public and charter schools: $50
Public and charter schools outside NYC: $80
Private and parochial schools: $120

We offer free visits for all Brooklyn public schools, and NYC Title 1 and District 75 schools in other boroughs, as space permits. Fees will automatically be waived for applicable schools before your booking is confirmed.

Payment is made either in advance or upon your arrival at the Museum on the day of your visit. As soon as you arrive, check in at the Admissions Desk, located in the lobby. Payments can be made by credit card, check, or purchase order. To pay by purchase order, email youth.tours@brooklynmuseum.org with the order along with a class roster and your reservation number.

NYC DOE Vendor Code: BRO130

For in-person visits, elementary and middle school classes must have one chaperone for every 10 students. High school classes must have one chaperone for every 15 students. The visit fee covers up to 30 students and 5 chaperones. Additional chaperones are asked to contribute suggested admission rates.

For virtual visits, your school group must have an adult chaperone in the Zoom session at all times.

Please arrive for or log into your session on time! Classes that arrive late may receive a shortened lesson. If your group arrives more than 30 minutes late for in-person visits or 15+ minutes late for virtual visits, your lesson may be canceled because of scheduling limitations. Classes will not begin earlier than the scheduled start time. If you’re running late, email youth.tours@brooklynmuseum.org as well as the educator who contacted you prior to your lesson.