Teachers
Giertz Education Center
School Tours
Art-to-Go Classroom Visits
Teacher Workshops
Art Speak Teen Program
Teacher E-News
Fred and Donna Giertz Education Center
Located on the lower level of Krannert Art Museum, the Giertz Education Center is dedicated to the integration of art appreciation and art history into instruction of humanities and science at all levels, from pre-K through college. Our free-loan collection offers more than 6,000 teaching resources, including videos, teacher manuals, touch kits (containing images, background information, and lesson plans), art prints and replicas, slide sets, books, and more.
The Center circulates education materials to schools, libraries, and other community sites throughout central Illinois. As a member of the Lincoln Trails Libraries System, materials can be picked up at the Center or delivered to your local public or school library.
Search the collection and request items online. All users will be asked to establish a new borrowers' account with the center. Materials may be borrowed for up to four weeks. Art replicas must be requested directly from Center staff.
Contact Virginia and her staff at the Giertz Education Center at 217-333-8218 or verickso@illinois.edu.
School Tours
Guided Tours
Tour Details: Length, Max. Students, Chaperones
Illinois State Goals
Self-Guided Tours
Schedule a Tour
Krannert Art Museum is pleased to offer the following guided tours to student groups free of charge. We also welcome special requests. If you would like a tour on a topic not listed below, please ask.
General Introduction
Pre-K—grade 12
Students discover the many artistic treasures at Krannert Art Museum. Great for first-time visitors.
Special Exhibition
Pre-K—grade 12
Krannert Art Museum has many exciting exhibitions each year. See exhibition descriptions and dates.
Colors, Lines, and Shapes
Pre-K—grade 3
Artists do amazing things with colors, lines, and shapes. Students find, identify, and analyze these elements in a variety of artworks.
Stories in Art
Pre-K—grade 5
Students become storytellers by examining artworks for such literary elements as plot, setting, character, and mood, and applying the skills of sequencing, predicting, and interpreting.
Art from Many Places
Pre-K—grade 12
Students travel the globe and examine cultural similarities and differences as reflected in art from around the world.
Ancient Worlds (Maximum of 30 students)
grades 6-12
Students journey back in time to explore ancient Egypt, Greece, China, and Peru by closely examining art from these cultures. Ideal for sixth-grade students.
French Language Tour (Maximum of 30 students)
grades 9-12
French-language students have the opportunity to learn more about French culture by exploring artworks from the medieval period through the 20th century. Tour will be conducted in French, with English as needed.
Spanish Language Tour (Maximum of 30 students)
grades 9-12
Spanish-speaking students can practice their skills while learning about art from Spanish-speaking countries. They will see ancient Peruvian artworks and paintings from the Baroque period and 20th century. Tours will be conducted in Spanish, with English as needed.
| Tour Details |
Grades Pre-K—K |
Grades 1—8 |
Grades 9—12 |
| Length | 45 minutes | 1—1.5 hours | 1—1.5 hours |
| Maximum Number of Students (exceptions noted above) |
30 students | 60 students | 60 students |
| Chaperone Requirements | 1 for every 5 students |
1 for every 8 students |
1 for every 15 students |
Students will be divided into groups of approximately 15 students per tour guide.
Illinois State Goals
All guided tours meet the following goals:
Language Arts
• 1 Reading
• 2 Literature
• 4 Listening and Speaking
Social Science
• 16 History
• 18 Social Systems
Fine Arts
• 25 Language of the Arts
• 27 Arts and Civilization
Self-Guided Tours
Teachers are invited to lead a tour for students on their own. Self-guided tours must be scheduled to ensure a positive experience in the galleries for all of our museum guests. Materials in the Giertz Education Center may be helpful in planning a self-guided tour.
Schedule a Tour
Schedule a tour online or call Virginia at 217-333-8218. Please submit request at least two weeks in advance.
Art-to-Go Classroom Visits
This outreach program is a great way to bring the museum into your classroom! University students engage Pre-K—grade 8 students in a lively discussion about art and lead a hands-on art activity. The classroom visit can easily stand alone as a lesson or serve as preparation for a field trip to the museum. Available October—April. Schedule an Art-to-Go
Schedule an Art-to-Go online or call Andrea at 217-333-2778. Please submit request at least two weeks in advance.
Teacher Workshops
Exploring the Visual Arts through Creative Movement
Recommended for pre—K and elementary school teachers
October 17
9 am—12 pm
3 CPDUs
Donna Warwick, co-founder of the Champaign Urbana Ballet, will model her Artsfusion method, which integrates storytelling, music, creative movement, drama, and art appreciation. Using visual art as an inspiration, Warwick will lead participants to intepret works of art kinesthetically, create and illustrate their own stories using music and motion, and ultimately bring the works of art to life.
Using Visual Arts to Enhance Reading and Writing Skills
Recommended for middle and high school teachers
February 20
9 am—12 pm
3 CPDUs
By identifying and evaluating the ways artists use literary elements to create meaning, teachers will experience the similarities between reading and interpreting written text and analyzing works of visual art. Teachers will participate in hands-on exercises to develop observation skills that can be used as inspiration for creative writing assignments, including writing detailed descriptions, dialogue, poetry, and persuasive essays.
Register for a Workshop
Register online or call Virginia at 217-333-8218.
Art Speak Teen Program
Krannert Art Museum has offered Art Speak at Rantoul Township High School (RTHS) since 2006. Each year, twelve RTHS high school student interns experience the multifaceted, multi-culturally oriented offerings at KAM—including its collections, programs, and community events. Interns attend selected KAM events, study artwork in the museum's galleries, staff activity tables, teach children about art, express themselves creatively using different art forms, and document their experiences.Krannert Art Museum would like to bring the Art Speak Teen Program to your high school. Contact Anne at 217-244-0619 or asautman@illinois.edu for more information.