THE RINGLING’S DYNAMIC K-12 PROGRAMS

ENHANCE AND ENRICH CLASSROOM LEARNING

SATURDAYS FOR EDUCATORS

2015-2016

NOVEMBER 7, 2015

Getting to Know the Bayfront Gardens

JANUARY 16, 2016

Samurai: The Way of the Warrior

FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Ink, Silk and Gold: Islamic Art from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

MAY 7, 2016

When I Ran Away with the Circus

Whether experiencing a 500-year-old painting in the Museum, the splendor of the Venetian Gothic architecture of Ca’ d’Zan, or the reality of moving an immense traveling circus by wagon and rail, cross-disciplinary and cross-platform opportunities for teaching and learning at The Ringling are everywhere.

As the State Art Museum of Florida, The Ringling takes seriously its responsibility to educate the region’s young people. The Ringling’s free educational programs for K-12 students form the heart of its mission to increase the cultural literacy of Florida’s citizens from a young age and to serve as a critical catalyst in their understanding of the community’s important heritage.

“The Ringling’s offerings geared towards school-age learners evolve and respond to the needs of the students and teachers,” said Curator of Education Maureen Zaremba. “Through novel instructional approaches and tools, we endeavor to truly bring this historic campus and its collections to life and share what makes this place so special—and fun. Our tours represent a handshake across time for students.”

“First and foremost, The Ringling’s educational role is to be a place where students from a diverse array of backgrounds can have transformative learning experiences. The Ringling is their museum, though for many students, this will be their first visit to a museum site,” said Bonnie Thomas, Scholastic Programs Coordinator. “Building on that, we aim to engage students by amplifying what they learn in the classroom and providing a stimulating learning environment that fosters meaningful conversations and new pathways to knowledge.”

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE?

A menu of thematic and age-appropriate tours led by trained volunteer docents is offered at the Museum of Art and Ca’ d’Zan. For example, “Meet The Ringling” introduces students to the organization itself and to the experience of looking at art and may be adapted for any grade level, while students in grades 4-8 can experience the Roaring Twenties by touring The Ringling’s bayfront palazzo. At the Museum of Art, K-5 students can take an animal safari and explore the notion of symbolism in art, middle school students might examine the role and use of color to create meaning, and high school students can discuss myths and legends reflected in works of art.

More than 10,000 students and chaperones tour The Ringling every year, many accompanied by docents who are well versed in how to engage younger audiences through active looking and interpretation. Ringling docents are passionate about facilitating the best possible experience for school-age students. A considerable amount of preparation goes into each individual school tour in order to assist teachers in achieving their goals for the visit and complementing classwork.

“Learning concepts in any subject matter is made more concrete through physical objects, so we always prioritize close looking in order to expand what students have been exploring in the classroom and to relate it to the real world,” said Thomas.

Educators may also customize their own self-guided tours of The Ringling, leading their students to any venue, allowing for increased flexibility and endless possibilities to make curriculum connections. For instance, at the Tibbals Learning Center, students can witness a sprawling miniature circus and interactive galleries that explore the circus during its heyday. To prepare for such a visit, The Ringling has developed a variety of resources and activities that correspond to different venues, themes, and exhibitions.

Supplementing the tour offerings are professional development workshops for K-12 teachers in all subject areas that are offered several times throughout the school year. This Saturdays for Educators series provides teachers with not only a toolkit and materials to incorporate The Ringling’s collections into their lesson plans but also an opportunity to refresh, recharge, and share.