Museum Tours and Art Lessons
Schedule a tour of Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic, an exhibition of the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University. These tours are FREE and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Other tours are offered at a cost. Museum tours and art lessons must be scheduled in advance. See below for more details.
Museum tours are grounded in PAFA's collection of American art from the 18th century to the present. Each tour is centered on developing visual thinking strategies and utilizes academic concepts to engage and understand works of art, meeting goals in the National Common Core curriculum standards.
For additional information or questions, email fieldtrips@pafa.org or call 215 972-2054
Museum Tours and Art Lessons are generously supported by the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, along with general support for School and Teacher Programs from the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, the Connelly Foundation, the Sylvia W. and Randle M. Kauders Foundation, the Robert Lehman Foundation, and Lincoln Financial Foundation.
Tour and Art Lesson Details
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| FREE admission for 1 chaperone for every 10 students. Additional chaperones pay student Museum admission rate |
Available Museum Tours
| Titles & Descriptions | Grade Level | Pair with Art Lessons |
Let’s Look Discover a variety of American art masterpieces presented in PAFA’s collection and learn about the museum. Students analyze subject matter, discuss color, line, and shape, and apply a range of techniques to engage with art works. | Grades K-2 | |
Telling Tales Immerse yourself in stories from art that draws on mythology, literature, history, imagination, and everyday life. Students analyze visual narratives, observe the use of symbolism and personification, and engage through writing with the ways artists conveyed emotions. | Grades K-5, 6-8 | Mixed Media, Printmaking |
American History in Art Engage your critical thinking, observation, and discussion skills focusing on the theme of, "Who gets to tell the story?" in American art and history. The tour visits PAFA’s collection and explores some of the historic genres of art, namely, portraiture, history painting, still life, genre scenes, and landscape. Juxtaposing artworks from different time periods, the exhibition layout provides striking visual counterpoints that encourage new dialogues about who makes American art, and thus, American history and identity. | Grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12
| Mixed Media, Printmaking, Figure Drawing (9-12 only)
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Science and Art Explore how art and science have worked together for centuries to create artistic masterpieces. Students will trace the innovations of art making tools, learn how different pigments are made and the science of why colors in some great artworks last for hundreds of years while others are fading away. | Grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 | Mixed Media, Printmaking |
Race, Gender, and Diversity in Art Observe and discuss the diversity of American artists in PAFA’s collection. This tour addresses central social themes such as race, social justice, and gender throughout American History and how a museum challenges dominant narratives in our society. | Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 | Mixed Media, Printmaking, Figure Drawing (9-12 only) |
Engaging Contemporary Art Discover the ways artists use new techniques and approaches to translate important social and cultural issues into their art. Students will analyze works to develop their own arguments and interpretations. | Grades 4-8 and 9-12 | Mixed Media, Printmaking, Figure Drawing (9-12 only) |
Special Exhibitions June 27, 2024–November 7, 2024Layers of Liberty: Philadelphia and the Appalachian Environment is an exhibition that explores Philadelphia’s relationship to the Appalachian region. July 18, 2024–December 1, 2024The exhibition of the Atwater Kent Collection (former Philadelphia History Museum) Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic is a large, interactive display of over 600 authentic objects, telling the story of Philadelphia’s city history collection. Inspiring pride in our great city, this major exhibition reflects 350 years of Philly history. Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic | PAFA - Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | All ages | Mixed Media |
School of Fine Arts Tour Learn more about PAFA’s exceptional facilities, faculty, and student life by touring the facilities and studios. Only available for High School students. It is possible to schedule as a short addition to another tour or activity for no additional cost. | Grades 9-12 only |
Available Art Lessons
Titles & Descriptions | Grade Level | Pair with Field Trip |
Mixed Media Through experimentation and play, students work with multiple mediums of art to uncover how they react with each other and create a special work of art to take home! Art projects will reflect subject matter related to offered tour topics or special exhibitions. | Grades K-12 | ANY TOUR |
Meditative Drawing Through observation and experimentation, students will discover a variety of meditative art practices including the long-standing artistic tradition of line drawings. They will explore examples from PAFA’s collection as well as their own environment and follow along on a series of guided observational drawing activities that are fun for all skill levels! | Grades 6-8, 9-12 | ANY TOUR |
Historic Cast Collection Drawing (Grades 9-12 only, limited to 15 students) Sketch from casts of famous sculptures from antiquity to the present in PAFA’s unique and prized Historic Cast Hall. Tuesdays and Wednesdays ONLY. Limited Availability. | 9-12 GRADES ONLY | ANY TOUR |
Figure Drawing Learn about the principles of composition and utilize key drawing skills like shading, perspective, and value. Instructors may focus on still life objects, portraits, or human figures. | 9-12 GRADES ONLY | ANY TOUR |
Common Questions
Museum Etiquette
To help students prepare for their museum trip, we suggest to introduce them to our interactive guide on museum etiquette.
Group Size
Reservations up to 60 students. For larger groups, please inquire using the contact form below or emailing fieldtrips@pafa.org.
Scheduling
Allow at least 90 minutes for complete Museum experience.
Lunch
Lunch space may be arranged and must be requested at time of booking. Subject to availability and limited to 40 kids max.
Transportation
Subsidized transportation may be available. Book in advance to secure fund availability.
Chaperones
School groups are required to bring 1 chaperone for every 10 students, however with recent changes to the Pennsylvania State requirements for all chaperones to have background checks and clearances, PAFA understands the financial burden this can have on Parents and Guardians. Please email fieldtrips@pafa.org to inquire in regards to this policy should your school find it difficult to have this ratio. Chaperones are admitted free of charge. (Additional chaperones are welcome and will be charged student museum admission rate.)
Self-Guiding
High school groups are welcome to self-guide, reservation is required. Self-guiding students must be with a chaperone at all times.
Contact Us
PAFA offers programs for artists and art lovers of all ages and skill levels who want to learn about and make art.