Field Trips

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 5–12
Available February 6, 2023–May 12, 2023
How does place shape one’s identity? How do the choices an artist makes illustrate different types of power? Students will discuss contemporary photographic portraits, large-scale watercolor paintings, and stone sculptures of deities that reveal beliefs and values, historical court life, contemporary urban life, and the representation of women.

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.

Available March 13–April 28, 2023

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.

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 works of art students may examine with docents during the program:
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 March 13–April 28, 2023

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.

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 works of art students may examine with docents during the program:
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

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 works of art students may examine with docents during the program:
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

• Requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and depend on availability
• Please indicate any special needs as “additional information” on the request form.
• Subject to availability, we can provide:
  • virtual field trips in some foreign languages (please specify)
  • sign language interpreters
• Please call the tour scheduler immediately at 202.633.1012 or email AsiaTours@si.edu to report cancellations and/or changes
• To encourage engagement, we request that cameras be turned on for the duration of the virtual field trip
• To encourage participation, we request that teachers call on students to respond to questions and direct students to walk over to the microphone to share their answers