TEACHER AND STUDENT

PROGRAMS

2014-2015

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Hello educator,

Thank you for your interest in the Dixon Gallery and Gardens! We really appreciate what you do for the students and this community. Please know that the Dixon is here to inspire and engage your students but also to assist you with your projects and lessons. We trust that this booklet will help you plan your museum visits, outreach visits, special programs and more.

The first section of this publication features the programs we offer At the Museum, including tours and hands-on programs. The second part takes you to our outreach programs and explains what the Dixon can do In your Classroom. Information about Teacher Resources can be found in the final part of the brochure. For each section, you will find information about grade appropriate activities, themes, how to make a reservation and what to expect. Keep in mind that we base our lessons on National Common Core Standards.

We are here for you, and please don’t hesitate to email us or call us at any time. Have a great Dixon experience and a brilliant 2014-2015 school year!Margarita SandinoDirector of Educationmsandino@dixon.org

About The Dixon

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Dixon Gallery and GardensFounded in 1976 by Hugo and Margaret Dixon, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens is a fine art museum and public garden distinguished by its diverse and innovative programs in the arts and horticulture. The Dixon features a permanent collection of over 2,000 objects, including French and American Impressionist paintings and significant holdings of German and English porcelain. The museum organizes and presents eight to ten exhibitions every year, the diversity of which appeals to visitors of all ages. The Dixon’s 17 acre campus is a highly regarded public garden that includes formal spaces, woodland tracts, and cutting gardens. The Dixon is accredited by the American Alliance Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association and Botanical Gardens Conservation International.

Table of Contents

About the Dixon 3

Planning your experience:

•InyourClassroom:ArttoGrow 4-7

•AttheMuseum 10-13

Teacher Resources 14

Contacts 15

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Planning your Experience

InyourClassroom

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GettingtoknowArttoGrow:TheDixonGalleryandGardensisauniqueplacethatfeaturesbothfineartand horticulture. Recognizing this dual focus presents an exciting opportunity for cro ss-disciplinary education. The colorful Art to Grow van and its talented and creative instructors visit schools and other organizations bringing art and horticulturetoyourlearningspace.Thecurriculumofferedprovidesstudentswithstimulatingandcreativeexperiencesthatteachartconceptsandskillsthatmeetthecurricularneedsofstudents.Eachlessonincludesapresentationonthe topic and a hands-on activity.

Who can use Art to Grow?

•Pre-Kthrough8th Grade teachers•ShelbyCountySchools•CharterSchools •Privateandparochialschools

When:

•TuesdaythroughFridayfromapproximately8:30a.m.to3:00p.m.•Teacherscanmakeone reservation for

their class, per school year.•Reservationsaremadeonafirstcome,firstservedbasis.•TheDixonrequiresatleasttwosessionsperschooleachvisit.

How:

•Eachlessonlastsbetween30and45minutes.•TheArt to Growinstructorcanpresentmultiplelessonsperdaydependingon

location and school hours.

Cost: Art to Grow is a FREEprogram.Allsuppliesforyourvisitwillbeprovided;itistheDixon’sgifttothecommunity.

How to make a reservation:

•EmailOutreachCoordinatorChristanMitchellatcmitchell@dixon.org

InyourClassroom

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What happens next?

•AfteryouhavesentyouremailyouwillbecontactedbytheArt to Grow instructor confirmingthedateandtimeofyourvisit.

•Abookinghasnotbeenmadeunlessyoureceiveconfirmationfromtheinstructor.

•Pleasebepatient,thismaytakeafewdays.

Policies and Regulations

•TheclassroomteachermustremainintheclassroomduringtheirArt to Grow visit.•ContacttheArt to Growinstructorwithanycancellationstwoweekspriorto

your visit.•PleaseparticipateinthelessonbyhelpingtheArt to Grow instructorwithsetupandcleanupandwithclassroommanagement.Refrainfromusingelectronicdevices.

Failure to comply with the above may jeopardize your chances of booking future Art to Grow visits.

Lessons

Nowchooseyourtopic.Lessonsaregradespecificandwillgivestudentstheopportunitytouseageappropriate tools and techniques. The lessons are inspired by our current exhibitionsandcollections.AlllessonsadheretotheCommonCoreStandards.

ThefollowinglessonsareforPre-Kthrough8thGradeandareavailablethroughout the school year. They are adapted to suit your grade level.

ThePermanentCollectionObjective:StudentswillbeinspiredbyaworkofartfromtheDixon’spermanentcollection,theywilllearnabouttheartist,investigatedifferenttechniques,and producetheirownmasterpiece.

TheDixon’spermanentcollectionhasover2000worksofart.Thisincludesworks onpaper,sculptures,decorativeartsobjects,andworksbyImpressionistsand Post-Impressionists.ThecollectionfeaturesartistssuchasMonet,Degas,Renoir, andmore!

about th

e dixon

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The Living CollectionObjective:Studentswillexploreanelementofthegardensandworkwithmixedmediatocreateanoriginalpiece.Studentswilllearnaboutspecifictypesoftrees,plants,oranimalslivingintheDixongardens.Theywilllookattheeffectofthechangingseasons,wildlife,habitats,andtheimportanceandimpactplantshaveontheenvironment.

TheDixonGallery&GardensisacertifiedLevelIV(four)arboretumwithmorethan120identifiedspeciesoftrees.

Seasonal Lessons Thefollowingprojectswillonlybeavailableforthespecifiedtime:

September MusicObjective:SeptemberisClassicalMusicMonth.Studentswillappreciatehowartandmusiccaninfluenceoneanotherandwilllearnaboutclassicalexamplesofboth.StudentswilllookatartworkfromtheDixon’scollectiondepictingmusiciansandwillcreatetheirownmasterpieceinspiredbyclassicalmusic.

October-December RodinObjective:ThislessonisdesignedtoacquaintstudentswiththeworkofFrenchartistAugusteRodin.Studentswillviewexamplesofhisworkandwillmaketheirownsculptures.

Inspiredby:SelectionsfromtheIris&B.GeraldCantorCollections.OnviewatTheDixonGalleryandGardensfromOctober19,2014-January4,2015

January-May RoyaltyObjective::StudentswillexploreportraitsofBritishRoyaltyandcreatetheirownfantasticportraits!

Inspiredby:Treasures of British Art 1400-2000: The Berger CollectiononviewattheDixonbetweenJanuary25-April19,2015.

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AttheMuseum

Planning your Experience

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AttheMuseumWhenplanningatriptotheDixonwithyourstudents,youwillhavemanyoptions.TheDixonofferstoursforbothgalleriesand/orgardens.Pleasekeepinmindthatthenumberofstudentswillplayabigpartinwhattypeoftourisbestforyourgroup.Visitsshouldbescheduledatleasttwoweeksinadvance.

Self Guided ToursSelf guided tours encourage teachers to take charge of thevisitandwalkthestudentsthroughthegalleriesthemselves.Whenarrivingtothemuseum,thegroupwillhaveanorientationthatgivesabriefoverviewoftheDixonhistoryandcollections.Teachersarewelcometocometothemuseumpriortothegroupvisitandexplorethedifferentexhibitions,selectingspecificareasorworksofart.Byrequest,youcanscheduleashortmeetingwithamemberoftheeducationdepartmenttohelpyoudesignyourtourandprovideyouwithmaterials.

Whocancome:PreK-12th Grade Maximumgroupsize:25 Cost:FREEwithadvanceregistration Requirements:ratioof1:5adult/studentforPreK-5th gradesand1:7for6th-12th grades

Docent Led toursYour students can enjoy a unique tour in the galleries or gardens, led by a Dixon docent. These tours emphasize critical thinking and visual literacy skills, andencourage curiosity and communication. Dixon docents are trained in VisualThinkingStrategies(VTS),aschoolcurriculumandteachingmethod, to facilitateopen-endeddiscussionswithstudents.

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Whocancome:PreK-12th Grade Maximumgroupsize:20 Cost:FREEwithadvanceregistration Requirements:ratioof1:5adult/studentforPreK-5th

gradesand1:7for6th-12th grades

Dixon DiscoveriesThis one hour session includes an interactive tour of the galleries or gardens, followedby ahands-onactivity. Each session isdesigned tomeetCommonCore Standards and help with your units of study. A seasonal Dixon

Discoveries Garden tour and activity is available March through October.

Whocancome:PRE-K-5th When:ThursdaysandFridayspreferred(subjecttoavailability)

Maximumgroupsize:50studentsCost: $2 per student, adults free

Requirements:ratioof1:5adult/student

Group SketchingAs part of your self guided tour, you can request supplies to sketch in the galleriesorgardens.Thesupplieswillincludepaperorsketchpads,clipboards,andpencils.Thematerialswillbepreparedandwaitingforyourgroupatthefrontdesk.Groupsketchingmustberequestedwhenyoumakeyourreservation.

Whocanparticipate:Grades6th-12th Maximumgroupsize:25studentsCost:free(includingsupplies) Requirements:ratioof1:7adult/student

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HowtoScheduleaVisit: • CalltheDixonat(901)761-5250andspeaktotheTourCoordinator.Theywillhelpyouselectadayanddecidewhattourisbestforyourgroup.Theywillalsocontactdocents, instructors, and arrange supplies if needed.

• AbookinghasnotbeenmadeunlessyoureceiveaconfirmationemailfromtheTourCoordinator or the instructor.

Policies and Regulations• Duetothehighdemand,itisimportantthatyoucontacttheTourCoordinatorwithanycancellationstwoweekspriortoyourvisit.

• Iftheamountofstudentsisgreaterorlessthanthescheduledamount,theprogramwillbemodified.

• Ifyourgroupismorethan15minuteslate,theprogramwillbemodified.

•Pleaseparticipateinthelessonbyhelpingtheinstructorwithsetupandcleanupandwithclassroommanagement.Refrainfromusingelectronic devices.

Dixon ExpressStudenttransportationfundingprogram.

The Dixon Express is a resource for Shelby County Schools and their students. Groups planning to visit The Dixon during the school year can apply to receive funding for studenttransportationforonevisit.ThereisalimitonhowmuchTheDixoncanallottoeachschool,sopleasekeepinmindthatTheDixoncanonlyhelppayforonebus.Thecompletedapplicationisduetwoweekspriortoyourmuseumvisit.

Whoiseligible:ShelbyCountySchoolsand/orcharterschools.GroupsmusthaveaconfirmedDixonvisitduringthecurrentschoolyear.

FormoreinformationpleasecontacttheDirectorofEducation,MargaritaSandinoat msandino@dixon.org.

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Teacher Packets VisittheDixonwebsiteandfindlessonplansinspiredbytheDixon’scollectionsandspecialexhibitions.ComplementyourvisittotheDixonwithpreandpostvisitlessonsandactivitiesthatengageyourstudentsandtargetspecificCommonCorestandards.

FineArtsPortfoliosforStudentGrowthWorkshopsSpruceupyourFineArtsEvaluationPortfolio! TheDixon’seducationdepartmentinpartnershipwithShelbyCountySchoolsoffersmonthlyworkshopstoSCSVisualArtsteachersinterestedinimprovingandexpandingtheirFineArtsPortfoliosforStudentGrowth.Designedtoshowstudentgrowth,thesessionswilltargetspecificportfoliodomainsandCommonCore standards. The lessons presented are inspired by the Dixon’s art exhibitions and incorporated du ring these sessions.

Dates:2014:September20,October18,November22 2015:January24,February22,February28

Time:10:30a.m.-12:30p.m.Cost:Free.Materialsincluded.

Spacelimited.RegistrationRequired.Teachersmayregisterforone session per year. To register, please contact Margarita Sandino at msandino@dixon.org.

Comevisit,it'sfree!Wewouldlovetomeetyouandhelpyouidentifynewwaystoconnectwithyourstudentsduringyourgroupvisit.PleaseknowthatallShelbyCountySchoolteacherswithcurrentIDreceivefreeregularadmissionattheDixon.

Teacher Resources

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AmandaBjorklund Group Tour Coordinator abjorklund@dixon.org 901.761.5250

Christan Mitchell Outreach Coordinator ArttoGrow cmitchell@dixon.org

Erica McCarrens StudentProgramCoordinator Dixon Discoveries emccarrens@dixon.org

Contacts

Margarita Sandino Director of Education msandino@dixon.org

JohnDustinBuckmanCharitableTrustMarthaandRobertFogelmanBradleyandRobertFogelmanIIKemmonsWilsonFamilyFoundation

ArttoGrowismadepossiblethroughthekindfinancialsupportof:

dixon.org