![Woodcrest fourth graders smiling in front of the Spoonbridge and Cherry at the Walker Art Center]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1552584977/springlakeparkschoolsorg/qeotztragmfuqjrsevfm/WC-students-visit-Walker.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1552584977/springlakeparkschoolsorg/qeotztragmfuqjrsevfm/WC-students-visit-Walker.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1552584977/springlakeparkschoolsorg/qeotztragmfuqjrsevfm/WC-students-visit-Walker.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1552584977/springlakeparkschoolsorg/qeotztragmfuqjrsevfm/WC-students-visit-Walker.jpg","width":1000}])
Annie, a professional museum educator from the Walker Art Center, visited fourth grade Woodcrest Spanish Immersion art classes on Wednesday, February 27. Annie familiarized students with what they could expect and appropriate museum etiquette for their upcoming visit to the Walker.
“A lot of things at the Walker are unique and different than what other museums may do because we are a contemporary art museum,” said Annie, the Walker educator.
Sharing expectations with students in advance helps the museum feel more friendly when students visit for the first time. In comparison to children’s museums, most of the art at the Walker can’t be touched. Students were excited when Annie shared there are some living works of art, like bridges in the Walker Sculpture Garden, and a rug in the gallery that are meant to be touched and interacted with. Educators and gallery assistants at the Walker will make sure visitors help keep the art safe.
Annie also showed students photos of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry and the blue rooster in the Walker Sculpture Garden. She asked students to use scale to determine how tall the big blue rooster sculpture was. By showing students a few different photos for context of how tall trees in the background are and how tall a real rooster stood, students determined the size of the rooster was 25 feet tall. Scale is just one way that students can use STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) skills to interact with art.
On Wednesday, March 6, Woodcrest students got to experience the real size of the rooster when they visited the Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis to learn about and experience modern art.
“The field trip focused on STEAM and was a perfect cross-over to our Transdisciplinary Units of learning in conjunction with the exhibits in the Walker gallery and the makerspace Art Lab. The children had an experience I doubt they’ll ever forget."
– Rani Nicholas, Woodcrest Art Specialist
Students were broken into small groups and guided through the gallery by Walker professional museum educators. Through observing the works of art, conversations, experimentation and problem-solving, students explored art through the lens of STEAM subjects.
Students enjoyed asking the educators what inspired the artists to create their art and what materials were used in their creations, among other things.
Students also had the opportunity to visit the Art Lab and create their own work of art. The Art Labs are designed by artists and the Walker’s educators to complement what students learn and experience while in the gallery.
“I can’t begin to tell you how amazing the connections were and how fabulous it was to expose these kiddos to art and provide different kinds of learners with this opportunity,” Nicholas said. “The Walker inspired my divergent thinkers to experience, participate, feel the difference and challenge their perceptions and perspectives.”
View more photos on the Woodcrest Facebook page
On the first Saturday of every month the Walker offers Free First Saturdays with free gallery admission plus performances, games, art-making and kids’ films from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Click here to learn more on the Walker website.