On-Site Programs Offered at the McMichael
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
2 HOURS
Fee: $16 per student
COLOUR QUEST
KINDERGARTEN
Specifically designed for young learners and focusing on the elements of design, this program offers play-based gallery activities, including role-playing and storytelling, to introduce students to iconic Canadian artworks. The gallery visit is followed by a workshop in which students experiment with artmaking techniques. A short break is included.
Curriculum Connection: KP
STORY QUEST
KINDERGARTEN
This fun and interactive program will expose students to a variety of artistic styles and introduce the idea of “reading the art” to find stories within an artwork. Guided viewing will gently encourage visual exploration, while incorporating music and movement to foster creative storytelling. The visit will conclude with an art making workshop applying previously discussed concepts.
Curriculum Connection: KP
Curriculum Connections Legend
Kindergarten Program | KP |
Elementary School | |
Visual Arts | VA |
Social Studies | SS |
Science and Technology | ST |
Language | L |
Environmental Education | EE |
High School | |
The Arts: Visual Arts, Media Arts | VA, MA |
Canadian and World Studies | CWS |
First Nations, Metis and Inuit Studies | FNMI |
English | E |
Science | S |
Environmental Education | EE |
GALLERY TOURS
1 HOUR
FEE: $8 per student with the required two-hour booking, $6 per student with a three-hour booking
Designed to reflect curriculum expectations, these programs encourage the development of students’ abilities to comprehend, negotiate, and derive meaning from visual information contained in works of art.
NEW! ONCE UPON A GALLERY
GRADES JK – 3
This fun and interactive program will expose students to a variety of artistic styles and introduce the idea of “reading the art”- finding stories within an artwork. Guided viewing will gently encourage visual exploration, while incorporating music and movement will foster creative storytelling.
Curriculum Connections: VA, L, KP
ABC — ART BASIC CONCEPTS
GRADES JK – 3
Students will explore a variety of artworks in the Gallery and develop a greater appreciation for the composition of visual forms by focusing on the elements of design, such as colour, shape, and line. Discussion will take place around an artist’s personal style, choice of subject matter, and individual interpretive response to the work.
Curriculum Connections: VA, L, KP
STORIES OF OUR LAND
GRADES 1 – 3, 4 – 6
Through storytelling and a guided viewing of artwork, students will discover the multicultural mosaic of Canadian art and explore the importance of tradition and geography to the shaping of identity. Hands-on activities are used to further engage younger students.
Curriculum Connections: VA, SS
CHECKING YOUR PRINCIPLES
GRADES 4 – 6, 7 – 8
Through close observation, interactive activities and focused discussions, students develop their understanding of the principles of design in practice and the various ways that artists use visual language to communicate emotions and ideas.
Curriculum Connections: VA, L
ART SUBJECT MATTERS
GRADES 7 – 8, 9 – 12
A great overview of the McMichael Collection and various genres of art. Landscapes, portraits and abstract art are examined, encouraging students to consider the position and tradition of these genres within specific cultural and historical contexts. The program includes an art-focused discourse, based on personal response, interpretation, and ideas about the impact that artworks can have on individuals and communities at large.
Curriculum Connections: VA, SS, CWS, E
STORIES FROM CANADA
GRADES 7 – 8, 9 – 12
Using the McMichael’s rich and diverse art holdings, students will explore art as an expression of personal experience and examine various cultural narratives of the past and present. Artworks exploring the legacy of colonialism in Canada, such as the residential-school system, slavery, and industrialization will be among the topics discussed. Stories of resiliency, honouring pride, identity, and connection, will encourage students to examine their own experiences, personal gifts, and community, contributing to a new-found sense of belonging and reconciliation.
Curriculum Connections: VA, SS, CWS, FNMI
GALLERY TOUR AND VIEWING AT LEISURE COMBO: TWO HOURS
GRADES 9 – 12
Fee: $16 per student
Choose any one-hour guided tours of the McMichael’s exhibitions led by a McMichael Educator and enjoy a second hour where students are free to explore the gallery spaces and/or the grounds under your supervision.