The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has a great section on their website devoted to teachers and education resources. They also have an educator's newsletter,Teaching the Arts, you can sign up for that contains helpful articles and ideas.
One of their ongoing features is called Object in Focus. It showcases one piece from the MIA's collection that's currently on display in the museum. Each Object in Focus gives you some information about the art work, its history, meaning, and includes ideas for lesson plans and activities based off of it.
This month's featured item is the Bella Coola Frontlet, a headpiece designed for a dancer from the Bella Coola tribe in the Pacific Northwest. There's enough activities given to take up several weeks worth of study, if you're so inclined. A list of books is listed for further study, from a kids' story to a travel guide about the Pacific Northwest. You can teach your children about this specific piece, then take a field trip to see it and other related items in the museum's collection. There's just no replacement for actually seeing the art in person. Or you can incorporate the related Native American history into your current curriculum. Object in Focus is a great springboard into new subjects and projects.
Register to receive the Teaching the Arts e-mail newsletter as well as others from the MIA. It's a truly helpful resource, from giving you new ideas to try to expanding on knowledge you might already have.
