K-12 Student Groups

Planning Your K-12 Group Visit

Book A K-12 Student Group Tour

Group size:

- Minimum 10, maximum 60. Groups greater than 60 must reserve additional time slots. Groups with physical or cognitive disabilities are not required to meet the 10 person minimum.
- Please note: The maximum group size for Self-Guided tours is 20. The maximum group size for a Workshop Tour is 50.

Chaperones:

We require all K-12 student groups to include 1 adult chaperone per 15 students.

Tour Times:

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Please note: Workshop Tours are only available Tuesdays–Thursdays, at 10 a.m.

Pricing (fees include admission):

K-12 student groups: FREE thanks to a grant from Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee.
1 chaperone per 15 students: Free. Additional chaperones beyond 1 per 15 students will pay the discounted adult group rate of $10 per person.
Docents are provided free of charge.

Tour Types

Elementary (designed for 1st–6th grades):

Learning to Look: Storytelling – Students will discover how artists tell stories through images, symbols, and characters. Guided by inquiry-based discussions, students will practice close looking and imaginative thinking as they uncover narratives hidden in works of art. Activities will encourage students to make connections to literature, build storytelling skills, and express their ideas with confidence.

Learning to Look: Art & Emotion – Students will explore how artists express emotions through color, facial expressions, and composition. Through guided discussions and activities, students will practice social-emotional skills such as identifying feelings, empathy, and perspective-taking. By connecting their own emotions to works of art, students will build confidence in expressing their thoughts while developing a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

Learning to Look: Elements of Art – This interactive museum tour introduces students to the elements of art—line, shape, color, texture, space, value, and form—while exploring how artists use them to communicate ideas and create meaning. Through guided looking and discussion, students will develop visual literacy skills and learn how to interpret artworks.

Portraits & Personalities – Students are invited to explore portraiture and discover how artists use facial expressions, body language, clothing, and background details to tell a story about their subjects. Students will learn to interpret visual clues, make connections to their own experiences, and consider what makes a portrait meaningful.

Artistic Ideas, Materials, & Processes (Available Spring 2026) – Students will consider the choices artists make to communicate their ideas, including subject matter, style, and media. They will gain insight into the artistic decision-making process and develop a deeper appreciation for the creativity behind each work of art.

STEAM (Available Spring 2026) – This tour connects art with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEAM), showing students how artists use problem-solving, experimentation, and innovation in their creative process. By making connections between art and STEM disciplines, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the role of creativity in both artistic and scientific discovery.

Art & Religion: Bodies Celestial, Bodies Terrestrial – Students will explore the role of religion in art, examining how artists have expressed faith, spirituality, and religious narratives. Students will analyze symbolism, storytelling, and artistic techniques used to depict sacred themes, rituals, and figures.

Secondary (designed for 6th–12th grades):

Spanish Art in Context – Help your students go beyond what they think they know about Spain. Students will explore artworks that speak to the rich diversity and complexity of Spanish culture—from politics, religion, and power to costume, place, and artistic process. (Optional Focus: AP Spanish Literature and Culture)

Art Through the Ages – On this tour, students will journey through time, exploring Spanish masterpieces in connection with major historical events and artistic movements from the early Renaissance to the mid-20th century. Through guided discussion, students will develop a deeper understanding of how historical context shapes artistic expression and how these masterpieces continue to inspire audiences today.

Customize Your K-12 Group Tour

Make it A Workshop Tour:

1.5–2 hours depending on group size | 1 chaperone per 15 students | Only offered Tuesday–Thursday at 10 a.m. FULLY BOOKED FOR THE 2025–2026 SCHOOL YEAR
Workshop tours consist of a Learning to Look, Artistic Ideas, Materials, & Processes, or Portraits & Personalities tour, followed by a related art-making activity in an event space.

Add an In-Gallery Activity:

Request that your docent include an in-gallery activity as part of your tour. Activities may include writing, drawing, and/or games.

Accessibility:

Several additions and modifications are available for tours in order to enhance and support your group’s experience. Some items listed below are always available, such as use of the elevator and gallery seating, but it is helpful for us to know ahead of time that your group would benefit from their use so we can alert your docent. If a member of your tour group would benefit from any of the following accommodations, please indicate them on your tour request form. You can learn more on our accessibility webpage.

Use of the elevator
Seating in the galleries
Tactile/multisensory opportunities – objects, scents, recorded sounds, tactile (braille) representations of works, and/or other opportunities for touch
Visual description – verbal descriptions of visual elements of art and the environment Auditory assistance – headphone or T-coil-compatible speech amplifiers
ASL interpretation – American Sign Language (1-2 weeks’ advanced notice required) EnChroma glasses for the color blind

Prepare for your K-12 Tour

Prepare students for their museum visit by making the purpose of the field trip clear, discussing museum expectations, and linking the trip to their learning in the classroom.

Pre-Visit Lesson: A pre-visit lesson in English and Spanish is available for you to download and customize.
Chaperones: Prepare chaperones for the field trip by sharing our downloadable chaperone letter. The letter is available in English and Spanish.

Transit Scholarships

Transit scholarships are available to qualifying schools. For more information, download our transit scholarship form.

Visitor Code of Conduct

We expect that all Meadows Museum visitors behave in a respectful manner toward all visitors, staff, and volunteers. Visitors who violate the following Code of Conduct or disregard verbal instructions given by museum staff will be asked to leave the museum without refund.

All museum visitors must follow these museum policies:

Food and drink is prohibited in the museum.

Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Large backpacks, umbrellas, and/or other bulky items are prohibited in the galleries. Please leave such items at home or use the self-service lockers in the north hallway next to the Custard Institute to temporarily store them during your visit. Tokens for securing lockers are available at the Box Office. The museum is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Do not touch the works of art, frames, display cases, or walls.

Photography for one’s own personal use without flash is permitted in the galleries, except where indicated. Selfie sticks are prohibited. Photography for commercial purposes must be authorized in advance with the Marketing Department, 214-768-1584.

Out of consideration for others, visitors should silence their cell phones and devices while in the galleries and refrain from making/taking calls. Please limit mobile phone use to non-flash photography (where permitted), texting/notetaking, and/or when accessing the Meadows Museum mobile guide.

We ask that visitors use headphones or other listening devices in the galleries when accessing the mobile guide or anything that emits sound from mobile phones, smart watches, tablets, and/or other electronic devices.

Visitors may bring sketchbooks sized 9” x 12″ or smaller into the galleries. Do not use the walls or benches as writing or drawing support; use only hand-held boards or notebooks. Writing and sketching materials may include pencil, crayon and oil pastels only. Absolutely no charcoal or wet materials are allowed in the galleries, including ink/ pens. Do not bring large, sharp objects into the galleries including rulers, T-squares, and easels.

Visitors should not distribute, communicate, or wear materials that are obscene, sexually explicit, vulgar, hateful, bullying, violent, harmful, defamatory, or disruptive and/or that advocate illegal action.

SMU prohibits the possession of any dangerous weapon, or facsimiles of dangerous weapons (either openly or in a concealed manner), on all university property.

Practice proper hygiene for the prevention of disease as directed by the CDC, including frequent handwashing and cough/sneeze etiquette. If experiencing signs of illness, please stay home.

In the event of an emergency, visitors should follow the instructions of museum staff and security.

All visitors to the SMU campus must follow the SMU Guests of Campus Policy.

Visitors coming to the museum as a part of a group should also be aware of these policies:

Teachers and chaperones must remain with their groups at all times.

If touring with a docent, groups must remain with their docent at all times.

Visitors participating in any tour are expected to express themselves in a manner that is respectful and not disruptive, disorderly, or defamatory.

Groups are expected to follow all museum tour policies to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all visitors. If a group does not adhere to these policies, the entire group may be asked to leave the museum.