Around the World
Introduction to the Spurlock Museum
Description:
Students are presented with highlighted artifacts and gallery themes as they move through the Museum’s five feature galleries. Browsing time is also included for individual exploration.
Program Length: 75 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 75
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: Free
Available as Outreach? No
Human Connections
Description:
Drawing on the cultural concepts of the Central Core, the Human Connections tour sets students on a mission. As they move from gallery to gallery, students record information and create descriptions of artifacts relating to one of the Museum’s cultural concepts (e.g., clothing, art, conflict). Through debate and discussion, students realize that the artifacts they have chosen also fit perfectly with other concepts and connect to contemporary life and issues.
Program Length: 105 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 75
Chaperones: 1 per 5
Cost: Free
Available as Outreach? No
Artworks and Messages
Description:
Artworks and Messages examines the ways art around the world expresses and alters opinions and creates impressions. The works discussed include traditional and contemporary pieces from Papua New Guinea, the Native American painting Tree of Life by Ojibwe artist Blake Debassige, statues and friezes from the ancient Mediterranean, Norman Rockwell’s The Problem We All Live With, Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, and WWII propaganda posters.
Program Length: 60-90 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 30
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: Free
Available as Outreach? No
Masks around the World
Description:
For thousands of years, masks have been created, worn, danced, revered, and enjoyed in cultures around the world. during this tour students look at masks and think about their place in society. A 30-minute mask craft session may be added. This tour is also available as Masks of Asia, which focuses solely on masks used in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
Program Length: 45-90 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 30 tour only / 24 with craft
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: Free / $1 per student with craft
Available as Outreach? No
Cultures of the Past: A Hands-on Experience
(formerly called Ancient Connections)Description:
In Cultures of the Past, students have the opportunity for artifact exploration and hands-on cultural experiences in up to three of the Museum’s cultural galleries (Ancient Mediterranean, Europe, East Asia, Ancient Egypt/Mesopotamia). NOTE: due to the intensive set-up required for this program, it is offered only on certain dates. call for more information.
Program Length: Varies by group size and galleries covered
Maximum Group Size: 75
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $0.50 per student
Available as Outreach? No
Challenging Culture
Description:
This program immerses students in one of five experiential activities with the goal of exploring and reflecting on cultural stereotypes. The teacher and the museum educator will work together to choose an activity will select the activity (Barnga, simulating culture shock; The Emperor’s Pot, confronting stereotypes of East and West; The Cooperative Map, appreciating shared knowledge in a group; and People Like Me, exploring how people categorize others and themselves). classes may complement their visit with gallery time. Ideal for sociology or world
cultures elective courses.
Program Length: Varies
Maximum Group Size: 60
Chaperones: 2 per 30
Cost: Free
Available as Outreach? No
Oral Traditions
Stories around the World
Description:
Students learn about specific Museum objects and the oral traditions that add
context and meaning to their places in culture. Teachers choose the stories
presented from a descriptive list of prepared tales. Groups may end their tour with
a 30-minute craft session related to one of the stories. Suggested topics for Stories
around the World outreach programs include cinderella around the world, Greek
and Roman Mythology, Trickster Tales, and Boy and Girl Heroes. Teaching collection
artifacts complement the stories.
Program Length: 45-90 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 40
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student if craft is added
Available as Outreach? Yes
A Tapestry of Stories
Description:
From Rumpelstiltzkin to The Spider Weaver, folktales are filled with stories of
spinning, weaving, and the wonders of cloth. Students hear a selection of stories
related to objects on display or made available from the Museum’s Teaching
Collection. Groups can end their tour with a 30-minute craft session. we
encourage teachers who schedule this tour to borrow the Resource Center’s A
Tapestry of Stories Building Block, which includes Teaching Collection artifacts and
pre- and post-visit activities.
Program Length: 45-75 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 40
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student if craft is added
Available as Outreach? Yes
Greek and Roman Mythology
Description:
Students listen to the stories of gods and heroes as they relate to the objects
in the Museum’s Ancient Mediterranean Cultures Gallery. Some students are
dressed as characters in the stories. Groups may end their tour with a 30-minute
craft session in the Learning Center. As an outreach program, Greek and Roman
Mythology includes storytelling, dressing in the Greek style, performing a short play,
and handling teaching artifacts.
Program Length: 60-90 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 40
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student if craft is added
Available as Outreach? Yes
Ancient Connections
In the Shadow of the Pyramids
Description:
Based in the Museum’s Ancient Egypt exhibit, this tour covers popular highlights
of this long-lived civilization: the importance of the Nile, scribes and writing, the
Rosetta Stone, tombs and the afterlife, and mummification. Students also hear an
ancient folktale and create their own scroll to take home. The outreach program is
similar to the in-house version but omits the craft and lasts 75 minutes.
Program Length: 105 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 36
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student
Available as Outreach? Yes
Life in the Polis
Description:
This tour touches on many aspects of ancient Greek life as discussed in the
Museum’s Ancient Mediterranean Gallery: home, clothing, war, athletic games,
religion, drama, mythology, and the afterlife. Activities include an artifact hunt,
dressing a few students in the ancient Greek style, and listening to the story of
Orpheus and Eurydice. A 30-minute craft session may be added to the program.
Program Length: 90-120 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 30
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student if craft is added
Available as Outreach? No
Greek and Roman Mythology
Description:
Students listen to the stories of gods and heroes as they relate to the objects
in the Museum’s Ancient Mediterranean Cultures Gallery. Some students are
dressed as characters in the stories. Groups may end their tour with a 30-minute
craft session in the Learning Center. As an outreach program, Greek and Roman
Mythology includes storytelling, dressing in the Greek style, performing a short play,
and handling teaching artifacts.
Program Length: 60-90 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 40
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student if craft is added
Available as Outreach? Yes
Medieval European Life
A Day as a Knight
Description:
As knights-to-be, students discuss suits of armor in the European Gallery, design
their own shields, hear a story, and play the medieval Game of the Goose. Except
for the gallery visit, the outreach program activities are identical to those of the
in-house program, and teaching artifacts the students may handle are brought into
the classroom.
Program Length: 90 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 36
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student
Available as Outreach? Yes
The Blacksmith's Apprentice
Description:
As apprentice blacksmiths, the students create chain mail designs, play a game,
hear a tale, and learn about medieval European living conditions. Time is also
spent exploring armor in the European Gallery. This program (formerly called
Medieval European Craftspeople) can be combined with a general tour; total time
in the Museum for this combined program is three hours. Except for the gallery
visit, the outreach program activities are identical to those of the in-house program,
and teaching artifacts the students may handle are brought into the classroom.
Program Length: 105 minutes
Maximum Group Size: 36
Chaperones: 1 per 8
Cost: $1 per student
Available as Outreach? Yes