Kids + Families
Explore VMFA in person or at home! Take a closer look at art, get ideas for making your own work, or get ready for a visit to the museum!
- Museum Activities
- At Home Activities
- Filter By: Age/Grades
Prepare for your Visit
These resources help you set the stage for inquiry and engagement with works of art.
Gallery Guide + Hunts
There is so much for families to see and do at VMFA! Discover ideas for exploring the galleries, creating an engaging gallery experience and sharing your own thoughts, to make the most out of your visit!
Collection: African Art, American Art, Ancient Art, Decorative Arts after 1890, European Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, South Asian Art
Culture/Region: Africa, America, Europe, Greece, India, South Asia
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Indigenous American Artists at VMFA
Collection: Indigenous American Art
Subject Area: Fine Arts
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts, Hands-On Activity, Lesson Concept
TOUR TEMÁTICO: ¡ANIMALES!
Collection: American Art, East Asian Art, South Asian Art
Culture/Region: America, China, East Asia, India
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Music, Spanish, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Women Artists at VMFA
Collection: African American Art, African Art, American Art, Decorative Arts after 1890, European Art, Impressionism, Indigenous American Art, Modern and Contemporary Art
Subject Area: African American, Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts, Women
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
at VMFA
Collection: Mesoamerican Art, Modern and Contemporary Art
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts, Hands-On Activity, Lesson Concept
CLASES DE EDUCACIÓN INFANTIL BASADAS EN CONCEPTOS: ENSAMBLA, CONSTRUYE Y ARMA
Collection: Modern and Contemporary Art
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Math, Music, Spanish, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades K-2
Collection: African American Art, African Art, American Art, Ancient Art, European Art, Modern and Contemporary Art
Culture/Region: Africa, America, Europe, Rome
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Spanish, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Gallery Hunt: What Does Power Look Like?
Collection: African Art, Ancient Art, Decorative Arts after 1890, European Art, Fabergé, South Asian Art
Culture/Region: Africa, Egypt, Europe, Greece, India, Rome
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Caza del Tesoro: ¿A qué se parece el poder?
Collection: African Art, Ancient Art, Decorative Arts after 1890, European Art, Fabergé, South Asian Art
Culture/Region: Africa, Egypt, Europe, Greece, India, Rome
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Spanish, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Asian American and Pacific Islander Artists at VMFA
Collection: American Art, East Asian Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, South Asian Art
Culture/Region: America, East Asia, South Asia
Grade Level: Adult, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
African American Art at VMFA
Collection: African American Art, American Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: African American
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Fold It, Bend It, Shape It! Gallery Hunt
Collection: African Art, American Art, Indigenous American Art
Culture/Region: Africa, America, Europe
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Fine Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Gallery Hunt: Emergence of a Global Age: 1500-1800
Collection: African Art, American Art, East Asian Art, European Art, Mesoamerican Art, South Asian Art
Culture/Region: Africa, America, China, East Asia, Europe, India, South Asia
Subject Area: History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Gallery Hunt: Opportunity Knocks!
Collection: African Art, American Art, Modern and Contemporary Art
Culture/Region: Africa, America
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Gallery Hunt: If Your Eyes Were My Eyes
Collection: American Art
Culture/Region: America
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts, Hands-On Activity, Lesson Concept
Topic Tour: Assemble, Build, and Construct
Collection: Modern and Contemporary Art
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Math, Music, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts, Hands-On Activity, Lesson Concept
Topic Tour: Animals!
Collection: American Art, East Asian Art, South Asian Art
Culture/Region: America, China, East Asia, India
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Music, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Gallery Guide: Ancient Egyptian Culture
Collection: African Art, Ancient Art, Egyptian Art
Culture/Region: Africa, Egypt
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Science
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts, Object Set
World History 1: Egypt
Collection: Egyptian Art
Culture/Region: Egypt
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science
Grade Level: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Gallery Guides & Hunts
Búsqueda en la Galería: Egiptomania
Collection: African Art, American Art, Ancient Art, Decorative Arts after 1890, Egyptian Art
Culture/Region: Africa, America, Egypt, Europe, Greece
Subject Area: Spanish, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Engagement Strategies
Pair Engage and Connect activity suggestions with objects of your choice. These activities can be done in the classroom or at VMFA.
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | SIFT Dismal Swamp Canal
Collection: American Art
Culture/Region: America, Virginia
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Step in, Step Out, Step Back Marian Anderson
Collection: African American Art, American Art
Subject Area: African American, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Observational Poetry Walking Man
Collection: Modern and Contemporary Art
Culture/Region: Africa
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, English, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Think, Puzzle, Explore Nataraja
Collection: South Asian Art
Culture/Region: India
Subject Area: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Step In, Step Out, Step Back Army Teamsters
Collection: American Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: African American, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Teacher Professional Development
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Choose, Consider, Connect Still Life
Collection: European Art
Culture/Region: Europe
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Explanation Game Map: Commonwealth Project
Collection: Indigenous American Art
Culture/Region: America, Virginia
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Caption It! At the Mine
Collection: European Art
Culture/Region: Europe
Subject Area: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Beyond the Frame Scene from the Romance of Amadis de Gaule
Collection: European Art
Culture/Region: Europe
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | DJ the Artwork Stadia III
Collection: African American Art, American Art, Modern and Contemporary Art
Subject Area: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Explanation Game Pitcher
Collection: American Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Perceive, Know, Care About
Collection: American Art, Photography
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: African American, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Thought Ladder suite Mémoire
Collection: African Art
Culture/Region: Africa
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, History and Social Science, Photography, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity, Hands-On Activity
Interactive Exercise | Clay, Paper, Scissors! Formulation – Articulation
Collection: American Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Math, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Observational Poetry
Collection: Modern and Contemporary Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, English, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Contemplation Exploration
Collection: South Asian Art
Culture/Region: India, South Asia
Subject Area: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | SIFT Progress
Collection: American Art, Indigenous American Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Thought Ladder Page from a Harivamsa Manuscript
Collection: South Asian Art
Culture/Region: South Asia
Subject Area: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Ejercicio interactivo: Sea el artista
Collection: Mesoamerican Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Spanish, Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Before and After
Collection: American Art
Subject Area: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Be the Artist Tabard
Collection: Mesoamerican Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Interactive Exercise | Question into Monologue Willem van Heythuysen
Collection: African American Art
Culture/Region: America
Subject Area: African American, Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Teacher Professional Development
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
MIRAR PARA APRENDER: PERCIBIR, SABER, TENER INTERÉS (LOOKING TO LEARN: PERCEIVE, KNOW, CARE ABOUT)
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Spanish, Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
MOVER PARA APRENDER: HACER UNA POSE (MOVING TO LEARN: STRIKE A POSE)
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Spanish, Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
DIBUJAR PARA APRENDER: MÁS ALLÁ DEL MARCO (SKETCHING TO LEARN: 30-SECOND SKETCH)
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Spanish, Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
ESCRIBIR PARA APRENDER: PALABRAS EN LA BOCA Y PENSAMIENTOS (WRITING TO LEARN: WORDS IN THEIR MOUTHS AND THOUGHTS IN THEIR HEADS)
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Spanish, Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Distance Learning, Engagement Activity
Visit Observation Tool
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Writing to Learn: Words in Their Mouths and Thoughts in Their Heads
Subject Area: English, Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: College, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Writing to Learn: Sensory Inventory (German)
Subject Area: Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Escribir Para Aprender: Inventario Sensorial
Subject Area: Spanish, Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Writing to Learn: Sensory Inventory (French)
Subject Area: Visual Arts, World Languages
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Sketching to Learn: Contour Drawing
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Sketching to Learn: Before and After
Subject Area: English, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Sketching to Learn: 30-second Sketch
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Writing to Learn: Sensory Inventory
Subject Area: English, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Adult, College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Writing to Learn: Headlines, Captions, and Memes
Subject Area: English, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Sketching to Learn: Beyond the Frame
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Sketching to Learn: Lines, Shapes, and Pattern Hunt
Subject Area: Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Writing to Learn: Simile and Metaphor
Subject Area: English
Grade Level: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Writing to Learn: Creative Comparisons
Subject Area: English, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Looking to Learn: What Makes You Say That?
Subject Area: English, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Looking to Learn: Perceive, Know, Care About
Subject Area: Fine Arts, History and Social Science, Visual Arts
Grade Level: College, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Activity Type: Engagement Activity
Looking to Learn: I See, I Think, I Wonder
Subject Area: English, Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Grade Level: Early Childhood, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-2
Explore the collections with our interactive map!
Use the interactive map to discover more or plan your visit!
Explore with the Museum Map
Museum Events
Check out VMFA’s calendar of events to find out the latest on what's happening!
VMFA Programs
VMFA offers programs for all visitors, infant to infinity, including lectures, gallery programs, educator programs, and studio classes.
Book Your Class Visit
We offer self-directed visit options as well as interactive, multidisciplinary SOL-based tours and programs for students in grades Pre-K-12.