Workshops Archives | Nelson Atkins

School Tours and Workshops

Tours are free and last for one hour and 15 minutes.
Workshops are $7 per student and last for 90 minutes.

Browse the tours and workshops below.

Teachers may request one Docent-led tour OR one Workshop per day.
A same-day Teacher-led tour can be added to a requested Docent-led tour or Workshop.

To begin your request, please review the appropriate guidelines. You will continue to registration after that.
Tour Guidelines Workshop Guidelines

Collection Tours
Highlight Tours
Teacher Led Tours
Thematic Tours
New Dimensions Workshop

Tours | Workshops

3D Design & Printing

New Dimensions Workshop

This class encourages students to think three-dimensionally as they build 3D objects inspired by the museum’s collection. Students design an object using Tinkercad software. They learn to construct 3D objects through computer aided design (CAD) methods by combining simple shapes and structures. In addition, students observe how digital models become physical objects by seeing 3D printing in action.

Duration: 1-3 days

To schedule this workshop, contact Brent Bellew at 816.751.0418 or bbellew@nelson-atkins.org. Registration is not available online.

[Grades 6-12]

Ancient Discoveries

Investigate visual communication in ancient civilizations. Inspired by art in the galleries, students create a metal embossing that illustrates symbolic communication. November 15, 2019-March 29, 2020 students will visit the exhibition Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt.

Maximum number of students: 112
Length: 90 minutes
Cost: $7.00 per student with a minimum of 15 students. One adult must accompany every 15 students.
Availability: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 10-11:30 am or 12:30-2 pm

Classroom Connection Resource

[Grades 2-8]

Art-Worthy Animation

Discover how the relationship between art, nature, and technology has evolved over time, including a look at Land Art. In the studio classroom, students use natural elements to collaborate on a stop-motion animation.

Maximum capacity: 112 students
Length: 90 minutes
Cost: $7.00 per student with a minimum of 15 students. One adult must accompany every 15 students.
Availability: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 10-11:30 am or 12:30-2 pm

Classroom Connections Resource

[Grades 5-8]

Curator for a Day

This class challenges students to think critically about the museum’s collection in relation to a central theme. Teams of students organize their own themed exhibition while exploring the galleries. They create a curatorial statement, write gallery labels, and present their exhibition to the class.

Duration: 1-3 days

To schedule this workshop, contact Brent Bellew at 816.751.0418 or bbellew@nelson-atkins.org. Registration is not available online.

[Grades 6-12]

Dragons

Discover the difference between dragons from Eastern and Western cultures and their distinct roles in art. Have fun manipulating clay to create a three-dimensional dragon to keep!

Classroom Connections Resource

[Grades 2-4]

Graphic Design

New Dimensions Workshop

(1 – 2 days) – This class explores the museum’s collection through digital two-dimensional design methods. Students work individually or in pairs to design their own promotional graphic based on a work of art or specific gallery. Students complete their projects using Adobe Creative Suite software and present their final designs to the class.

To schedule this workshop, contact Brent Bellew at 816.751.0418 or bbellew@nelson-atkins.org.

[Grades 6-12]

Indigenous Designs

Explore the galleries in search of distinctive designs from various cultures, including Native American art. Inspired by the collection, design a portfolio, or parfleche, utilizing colors, shapes, and patterns.

Classroom Connection Resource

[Grades 2-6]

Light Painting

Connect science and art while having fun exploring circuitry, and the photographic techniques of light painting.

Maximum number of students: 90
Length:90 minutes
Cost: $7.00 per student with a minimum of 15 students. One adult must accompany every 15 students.
Availability: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 10-11:30 am or 12:30-2 pm

Classroom Connections Resource.

[Grades 3-5]

Mythical Creatures

Search the museum for mythical creatures like griffins, dragons, and mermaids in works of art from diverse cultures and times. Create an imaginary creature to keep with collage materials, oil pastels, and watercolors.

Classroom Connections Resource

[Grades 1-4]

Personality Portraits

Scribble Bot

Scribble Bots

Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math come to life as students explore the galleries, and tinker with simple circuitry to create a motorized mark-making machine. Lots of fun!

Classroom Connections Resource.

[Grades 5-8]

Shapes and Colors

[Grades 3-5]

Shapes and Colors

Hunt for shapes and colors in the galleries, then integrate the art of color mixing with the math of geometric shapes to create a mixed-media work of art!

Classroom Connections Resource

[Grades PK-1]

Stop Motion Animation

New Dimensions Workshop

This class focuses on storytelling and building creative thinking skills. Students work in small groups to create stop motion animations by utilizing the museum’s collection and bringing a work of art to life. Students create their animations using iStopMotion software and develop video editing skills in iMovie. Additionally, they have the option to add sounds effects, music, and voice recordings. Student work is displayed in the Ford Learning Center for all museum visitors to view.

Duration: 1-3 days

To schedule this workshop, contact Brent Bellew at 816.751.0418 or bbellew@nelson-atkins.org. Registration is not available online.

[Grades 6-12]

Texture Time

Is it smooth, rough, scratchy or spiky? Discover textures in works of art and have fun using actual and implied textures to create a mixed media collage.

Classroom Connections Resource

[Grades K-2]