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Inspire the next generation through a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. We offer a variety of educational programs for students at all grade levels, both in person and online.
Interested in reserving a tour for adults and university students? See our Tours page.
Is your group planning to visit the museum without a tour guide? Reserve a self-guided visit.
Are you planning to visit the museum with a group of students larger than thirty? E-mail AsiaTours@si.edu.
Reserved docent-led tours for grades Pre-K–12 are offered at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 12:15 p.m. daily, except for Wednesdays and federal holidays. All tours are subject to availability. Each tour lasts approximately one hour, although length can be adjusted to group needs. Suggested tour size is thirty students. One adult chaperone is required per group of ten students.
Why do people create works of art to express their relationship with nature? Through storytelling, movement, and close looking at flowers, plants, and creatures (both real and imagined!), students will discover ways in which artists express important ideas and feelings about the natural world. Students may “jump into” works of art and imagine what they might hear, feel, see, and smell; draw their own creature; and move and roar like a dragon.
Visit the Learning Lab for pre- and post-visit materials
How are art, architecture, and other media used to communicate concepts such as values, identity, and power? Students will identify and interpret designs and objects across Asia that reveal cultural associations and societal values. Students may conclude the program by drawing a symbol that reflects their identity or one of their personal values.
Visit the Learning Lab for pre- and post-visit materials
What can we learn about ancient cultures through the study of art and artifacts? Students will explore the cultures of ancient Egypt, India, and China through objects that communicate concepts of social order, power, values, and belief systems. Students may conclude the program by designing their own protective amulet or composite creature.
Visit the Learning Lab for pre- and post-visit materials
Do you have galleries, exhibitions, or cultures you would like your students to explore? Do you have a tour concept in mind you do not see advertised here? Select the topic for your tour or the galleries of your choice. Please be sure to indicate your topic, desired galleries, special exhibition, and other ideas in the “additional information” section of the tour request form. Our docents will work with you to refine your ideas and give suggestions.
How does art preserve and communicate beliefs? Students will examine works of art from the major religious traditions and philosophies that originated in Asia to learn religious stories and devotional practices central to each. Teachers may request a focus on one or a combination of the following topics: Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam. Teachers may indicate which faith traditions they would like their students to discuss in the “additional information” section of the tour request form.
Visit the Learning Lab for pre- and post-visit materials
What can we learn about ancient cultures through the study of art and artifacts? Students will explore the cultures of ancient Egypt, India, and China through objects that communicate concepts of social order, power, values, and belief systems. Students may conclude the program by designing their own protective amulet or composite creature.
Visit the Learning Lab for pre- and post-visit materials
How are art, architecture, and other media used to communicate concepts such as values, identity, and power? Students will identify and interpret designs and objects across Asia that reveal cultural associations and societal values. Students may conclude the program by drawing a symbol that reflects their identity or one of their personal values.
Visit the Learning Lab for pre- and post-visit materials
Do you have galleries, exhibitions, or cultures you would like your students to explore? Do you have a tour concept in mind you do not see advertised here? Select the topic for your tour or the galleries of your choice. Please be sure to indicate your topic, desired galleries, special exhibition, and other ideas in the “additional information” section of the tour request form. Our docents will work with you to refine your ideas and give suggestions.
Grades 3–12
Available starting March 6, 2023
What can we learn about daily life in ancient China by studying its art and artifacts? Students will discover ancient bronzes, oracle bones, weapons, tomb goods, and more from the Shang dynasty as they tour Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings. Drawn exclusively from the museum’s collections, the exhibition will feature over two hundred objects that illuminate life in Bronze Age China.
The museum offers reserved, highly interactive, live online learning programs Mondays through Fridays, except for federal holidays. All programs are subject to scheduling availability. Programs can be customized to last from twenty minutes to one hour and will be hosted live in an encrypted, password-secured meeting on Zoom. Teachers and program coordinators may make specific requests regarding program length, platform, and interaction options. Participants are expected to be on camera and to interact with the presenter.
Choose from the following program topics or design your own program. Each program is tailored to meet grade-level and curricular needs.
Why do people create works of art to express their relationship with nature? Through storytelling, movement, and close looking at flowers, plants, and creatures (both real and imagined!), students will discover ways in which artists express important ideas and feelings about the natural world. Students may “jump into” works of art and imagine what they might hear, feel, see, and smell; draw their own creature; and move and roar like a dragon.
View pre-visit and post-visit activities and resources:
Learning Lab: Animals and Nature in the Arts of Asia
How do the acts of participating in conversations about art and engaging in movement promote social and emotional learning skills? Students will pair breath, stillness, and movement exercises to recreate a work of art, to explore the senses, and to discover mind-body connections. Through close-looking activities, students will describe, analyze, and connect with a work of art.
This program was developed in partnership with the mindfulness education nonprofit Create Calm.
Available December 11, 2023–February 23, 2024
What is Lunar New Year, and how is the celebration similar to and different from celebrations marking January 1? Discuss the entertainment, foods, symbols, and other customs of Lunar New Year. During this virtual field trip, students will explore works of art. Other possible activities include participating in an interactive storytelling session, completing a simple art project, or watching video clips of Lunar New Year festivities. Ring in the Year of the Dragon!
Available March 11–April 12, 2024
What is it about cherry trees, or sakura, that makes them so beloved? During this virtual field trip, students will explore hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of “flower viewing.” Through paintings, woodblock prints, and other art forms, students will discover Japanese symbols, values, and traditions associated with blooming cherry trees. Students may write poetry; learn Japanese characters; or “jump into” a work of art and imagine what they might hear, feel, see, and smell.
Available October 2–November 30, 2023
How does art communicate how we imagine the supernatural? Students will meet scary ghosts, powerful demons, and comical monsters in works of art from Japan. Students will learn about theatrical plays and folktales that feature these supernatural beings and the heroes, guardians, and regular/everyday people they menace.
What can we learn about daily life in ancient China by studying its art and artifacts? Students will discover ancient bronzes, oracle bones, weapons, tomb goods, and more from the Shang dynasty (occupied ca. 1250 BCE–ca. 1050 BCE) that are featured in the virtual exhibition Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings. Drawn exclusively from the museum’s collections, the on-site exhibition includes over two hundred objects that illuminate life in Bronze Age China.
How do the acts of participating in conversations about art and engaging in movement promote social and emotional learning skills? Students will pair breath, stillness, and movement exercises to recreate a work of art, to explore the senses, and to discover mind-body connections. Through close-looking activities, students will describe, analyze, and connect with a work of art.
This program was developed in partnership with the mindfulness education nonprofit Create Calm.
How does art help us understand the lives of people from different times, places, and cultures? Students will investigate scenes and objects of daily life in works of art across Asia to discover what people in the past valued and how they celebrated through food and rituals. Through the objects they examine, students will compare daily life in the past to how they live today.
View pre-visit and post-visit activities and resources:
Learning Lab: Eat and Celebrate
How are art and fashion used to communicate concepts such as values, identity, and power? Students will identify and interpret designs and objects across Asia that reveal cultural associations and societal values. Students may conclude the program by drawing a symbol that reflects their identity or one of their personal values.
View works of art that students may examine with docents during the program:
Learning Lab: Symbols in the Arts of Asia
Available December 11, 2023–February 23, 2024
What is Lunar New Year, and how is the celebration similar to and different from celebrations marking January 1? Discuss the entertainment, foods, symbols, and other customs of Lunar New Year. During this virtual field trip, students will explore works of art. Other possible activities include participating in an interactive storytelling session, completing a simple art project, or watching video clips of Lunar New Year festivities. Ring in the Year of the Dragon!
Available March 11–April 12, 2024
What is it about cherry trees, or sakura, that makes them so beloved? During this virtual field trip, students will explore hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of “flower viewing.” Through paintings, woodblock prints, and other art forms, students will discover Japanese symbols, values, and traditions associated with blooming cherry trees. Students may write poetry; learn Japanese characters; or “jump into” a work of art and imagine what they might hear, feel, see, and smell.
Available October 2–November 30, 2023
How does art communicate how we imagine the supernatural? Students will meet scary ghosts, powerful demons, and comical monsters in works of art from Japan. Students will learn about theatrical plays and folktales that feature these supernatural beings and the heroes, guardians, and regular/everyday people they menace.
What can we learn about daily life in ancient China by studying its art and artifacts? Students will discover ancient bronzes, oracle bones, weapons, tomb goods, and more from the Shang dynasty (occupied ca. 1250 BCE–ca. 1050 BCE) that are featured in the virtual exhibition Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings. Drawn exclusively from the museum’s collections, the on-site exhibition includes over two hundred objects that illuminate life in Bronze Age China.
How does art preserve and communicate beliefs? Students will examine works of art from the major religious traditions and philosophies that originated in Asia to learn religious stories and devotional practices central to each. Students will learn to identify symbols and designs in artworks that communicate the values of these belief systems and faith traditions. Teachers may request a focus on one or a combination of the following topics: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Daoism, or Confucianism. Teachers may indicate which belief systems and/or faith traditions they would like their students to discuss in the “additional information” section of the tour request form.
View works of art that students may examine with docents during the program:
Learning Lab: Arts of Devotion
How does art help us understand the lives of people from different times, places, and cultures? Students will investigate scenes and objects of daily life in works of art across Asia to discover what people in the past valued and how they celebrated through food and rituals. Through the objects they examine, students will compare daily life in the past to how they live today.
View pre-visit and post-visit activities and resources:
Learning Lab: Eat and Celebrate
How are art and fashion used to communicate concepts such as values, identity, and power? Students will identify and interpret designs and objects across Asia that reveal cultural associations and societal values. Students may conclude the program by drawing a symbol that reflects their identity or one of their personal values.
View works of art that students may examine with docents during the program:
Learning Lab: Symbols in the Arts of Asia
Do you have a virtual field trip concept in mind you do not see advertised here? Do you teach a language immersion class? Select the topic for your program or the works of art of your choice. Please be sure to indicate your topic and other ideas in the “additional information” section of the tour request form. Our virtual museum educator and docents will work with you to refine your ideas and offer suggestions.
Subject to availability, we offer tours in the following languages: Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin.
For questions about tours that are not answered here, call 202.633.1012 or e-mail AsiaTours@si.edu.
1050 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20013
202.633.1000
© 2023 Smithsonian Institution
