Professional Development

detail from an ink painting showing a scholar under a tree in a landscape.

Join us as we engage in creative teaching strategies and explore interdisciplinary curriculum connections focused on the National Museum of Asian Art’s collections and exhibitions. Workshops are designed to help educators who are new to using Asian art in the classroom learn about digital resources and teaching strategies. As a result, teachers will expose their students to new perspectives and will increase their students’ critical and creative thinking skills. Educators will leave each professional development session with ready-to-use classroom resources such as lesson plans, discussion guides, and Learning Lab collections.

For more information, email us at AsiaTeachers@si.edu.

Upcoming Educator Events

Artful Movement: Art and Mindfulness for Calmer Classrooms

On-Site Teacher Workshop
Choose from one of two dates: Saturday, January 25, 2025, or Saturday, March 29, 2025, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Freer Conference Room

Learn and practice tools for slowing down to facilitate deep conversations through works of art. Engage in breathwork and movement practices to improve calm, focus, and regulation in the classroom. Learn to bridge the acts of slow looking at art and mindful movement to create powerful connections within yourself and the classroom.

Pre-registration is required.

Presented in partnership with Create Calm

Artful Movement: Prioritizing Self-Care to Educate Mindfully

On-Site Summer Teacher Learning and Retreat
Monday, June 23–Wednesday, June 25, 2025
9 a.m.–4 p.m. each day
Gallery 27

Refresh and renew yourself and your teaching at this summer professional development program for pre-K–12th-grade educators. Connect with others to build resilience, inspire creativity, and improve routines for physical and mental well-being for you and your students. Practice and learn skills for slowing down, regulating the classroom, and developing social-emotional awareness through mindful movement, breathwork, art discussions, and reflection activities.

Presented in partnership with Create Calm

Registration: $150. Early bird pricing before April 15: $125. Space is limited.

Workshops by Request

Are you interested in scheduling a workshop for a group of educators? Does your school district have an upcoming professional development in-service day? National Museum of Asian Art staff will design a menu of workshop choices for you to select to support your specific curricular needs.