School & Outreach Programs for Teachers For Teachers

School tours
 Docent led class tours are interactive. Tours stress critical thinking, observation skills and creative evaluation through close observation and discussion of artworks. To schedule a tour, see Planning Your Group Tour.

Curriculum Connections
 Customized Curriculum Connections offer teachers a way to integrate Visual Thinking Strategies while meeting CT Curriculum Standards outside the classroom. Language Arts and Social Studies are particularly recommended. Gallery activities, related hands-on art projects or writing exercises in response to a work of art are offered. The teacher and the Museum Educator can determine the structure of the visit.

Bus Funding is available to public K-12 schools with a shortage of funding for field trips. Call our Education Office to find out about our School Bus Assistance Program. The fee for docent-led tours is $3 per person. Tour-related art activities may require a nominal fee.

Call our Education Office to find out about our School Bus Assistance Program.
The fee for docent-led tours is $3 per person. Tour related art activities may require a nominal fee.

Foreign Language Tours Parlez-vous français? Looking for a foreign language-speaking docent for your class? We are happy to announce our partnership with the French Language Department at UConn. Advanced French students train with our Student Docent Program to give tours in French to visiting French classes from 9th grade up. We are working to provide our visitors Spanish- and Italian-speaking docents as well. Please contact the Education office for more information on foreign language and ESL tours.
Museum Outreach

Our Museum Outreach Program comes to you! A docent may come to your school classroom or community organization location with a work(s) of art and/or slides to discuss with students or organization members. Talks may require a slide/overhead projector and screen. There is a modest $25 fee for docent talks.

Students at the Willimantic Housing Authority's Community Center learn how to make their own sand mandalas with staff from the Benton Museum Education Dept. during the Mandala of Enlightenment exhibition.
Students with Tracy Lawlor of the Benton Museum, Benton student docents and students from UConn’s Program for Advanced Academics.

*Distance, weather or group size may hinder availability. Please call the Education Office for information, 860.486.1711.