How can I make a tour of MMoCA relevant to my classroom plans?
Tours at MMoCA can meet a variety of curricular goals and support learning in visual arts, language arts, and social studies. When you call to schedule a tour, you will be asked to define your learning goals for the visit. We encourage you to visit the museum to see MMoCA's exhibitions firsthand before scheduling a tour. This preplanning will help you to suggest specific curriculum connections for gallery discussion or the direction you wish the tour to take.
All guided tours meet Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for visual arts. Tours may also be designed to meet social studies or language arts standards.
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When are tours available?
Tours for school groups may be scheduled Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM.
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How long does a tour last?
Tours typically last an hour, but the time may be modified to fit your goals for the visit. MMoCA's classroom is available upon request for teacher-led activities following a tour.
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How much does it cost?
$1 per student (no charge for teachers and adult chaperones); tour fees are waived for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch programs. Checks should be written to MMoCA Education Department and received prior to or on the day of the tour. A receipt will be generated and given to you at the conclusion of the tour.
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How should I prepare my students and chaperones for their tour?
MMoCA's Education Department develops a Teacher's Guide for each temporary exhibition and for the permanent collection. The Teacher's Guide contains an outline of the main ideas explored in an exhibition, background information on participating artists, suggested questions for pre-visit discussion written for a representative sampling of artworks, a CDRom and set of color illustrations of these artworks, and pre- and post-tour classroom activities.
Each Teacher's Guide includes information for chaperones that describes their role during a tour. Teachers are asked to give this information to each chaperone prior to the group's arrival at the museum. Chaperones are important in helping students observe the following rules:
Respect others
Stay with your group
Walk in the galleries (no running)
Do not touch the art
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Where do I arrive with my group for a scheduled tour?
Groups should enter MMoCA through the entrance at 227 State Street. Buses should temporarily park on North Henry Street so students may disembark and walk to the main entrance. School buses and private vehicles are not permitted on State Street, which is open only to city buses, delivery vehicles, and bicycles.
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Where should the bus driver park the bus during the tour?
According to city ordinance, buses are not permitted to remain on North Henry Street for the duration of a tour. Bus drivers should park at an unrestricted area, such as Olin-Turville Park.
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Who will meet me at the beginning of the tour?
Groups are met at MMoCA's main entrance by Education Department staff and docents (museum guide). Your group will receive a brief orientation in the museum's lobby.
MMoCA maintains a 10:1 student/docent ratio for guided tours. Groups will be divided in the lobby according to this ratio, with one chaperone or teacher required to accompany each group. Each group will move to a different location in the museum to begin its tour. All groups will return to the lobby at the conclusion of the visit.
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Is there a place where my students may leave their belongings?
There is limited locker availability at the museum, so leave backpacks, cameras and valuables on your bus. Cell phones must be turned off and are not to be used in the galleries. Museum staff will direct members of your group to hang their coats in the coat room.
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What can I expect from the docents (museum guides) who lead the tour?
MMoCA docents are skilled at engaging students in a dialogue about visual art and its expressive content. They use an interactive approach to facilitate students' careful observations, thoughtful analyses and open-ended interpretations of works of art and help them to make connections between art objects and everyday life. Docents frequently employ gallery activities designed to promote imaginative and critical thinking. These activities provide students with tools for looking and thinking.
Docents are trained specifically for their role as museum guides. They are responsible for providing your students with a well planned tour that engages them directly with works of art. Docents are not responsible for maintaining discipline within a group; teachers and chaperones take on this role.
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Is there a room where my students may eat lunch?
You may make prior arrangements with the Education Department to use MMoCA's classroom for lunch. The classroom accommodates up to 35 students; groups are responsible for placing all trash and recyclables in receptacles.
MMoCA's classroom also is available upon request for teacher-led activities following a tour.
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May we visit the Museum Store following the tour?
Groups are not permitted in the Museum Store.
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How can I learn about the art on view at MMoCA?
You may visit the Exhibitions section of MMoCA's website, call the Education Department at (608) 257-0158 to talk with a staff person or request MMoCA's newsletter, or send an email to scasteln@mmoca.org to request information. If you schedule a tour, you may request a Teacher's Guide to the exhibitions.
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May I bring my students to MMoCA on a self-guided tour?
Although a guided tour is recommended, high school teachers may plan a self-guided visit of MMoCA exhibitions. Please register in advance with the Education Department so we may welcome your group and provide you with an orientation.
Self-guided groups are limited to 25 students. Teachers must accompany their group during their visit and are responsible for their students' behavior.
Elementary and middle school teachers must schedule a guided tour.
