DISCOVER: ENGAGING ACTIVITIES
for the Classroom or Home
Activities inspired by Maryhill’s collections and suited for school or home. Teachers can tie the lessons to state and national education benchmarks while parents may simply use them for art inspiration on a wintry day. Learn about Rodin, portraiture, chess and ekphrastic poetry. Activities are suitable (or can be adapted) for all ages.
See descriptions and download activities below. Support for this initiative was provided by Judith A. Lackstrom and Robert E. Morrow.
Exploring Rodin
Looking closely at Rodin sculpture, understand the role Rodin’s innovations played in creating a “modern,” emotive experience; make your own tinfoil sculpture in minature.
Download Exploring Rodin Lesson
Maryhill’s Chess Collection
Chess sets are sculptures in miniature, representing the many countries, cultures and periods in which chess has been played. Explore some of the hundreds of chess sets in Maryhill’s collections.
This special interactive program is supported by a generous gift from Jean D. Muehleck given in memory of her husband George E. Muehleck, Jr.
Visit Online Chess Activity
Exploring Chess
Explore one of the most popular and longest-lived games on the planet; then using personal experiences or current events, imagine and create chess pieces and a board made of any materials available.
Download Exploring Chess Lesson
You may also be interested in using this Brief History of Chess.
Exploring Portraits
Learn how portraiture conveys information about the subject through details like pose, props and expression. Use an inquiry method to gather information about a painting or other works of art, then create a self-portrait or portrait.
Download Exploring Portraits Lesson
Ekphrastic Poetry
Art inspired by art, or “ekphrastic poetry.” Learn about Haiku and other poetry forms, then create your own ekphrastic poem inspired by works in Maryhill’s collection.
Download Exploring Poetry Lesson
Ekphrastic Poetry Project
Maryhill Museum wants to inspire the art of poetry! We invite YOU to view objects from the museum’s collection and then write, and/or perform, an original poem inspired by one of our artworks. Upload and share the submissions; we’ll post them to our website.
Visit Our Ekphrastic Poetry Project
More Resources!
Definitions & Visual Art Vocabulary List
Art terms and terminology to help guide your lessons.
State and National Arts Standards
We’ve aligned our lessons to state and national benchmarks so that you can see how the projects meet curriculum standards.
Explore Maryhill’s Collections
Visit Google Arts & Culture to see a variety of objects from Maryhill Museum of Art’s collection.
Explore Online Exhibitions
Explore a range of online exhibitions highlighting Maryhill’s diverse collections, from textiles and sculpture to regional history and Indigenous culture.