The VMFA is a place I have taken my children for years. Last night, I learned how to incorporate my love of the fine arts into my classroom. Even though our guide, Sarah, said distance learning was not available for elementary school yet, there are many ways I can use their resources.
I plan on teaching grades 3-5. If we cannot take a field trip or have a virtual field trip to the museum, I could download an image related to what we are learning and create a lesson around that. For example, 4th grade students in Chesterfield are learning about the Revolutionary War right now. I could find a painting of key Virginians or key events to help them visualize what life was like then. Similarly, I could find images of artifacts for children to analyze.
I think opening children to the world of fine arts is integral in their education. Yes, they have art and music, but including pieces into their core curriculum enhances the learning for each student.
Chandley, I am glad to hear you are a regular at the VMFA. You will be more prepared to plan a field trip there for your students! You are right about embedding art into your class lessons. There is a painting about the Boston Massacre that is a popular piece of artwork to consider for analysis. The opportunity for students to analyze art as part of their learning can be a meaningful approach.