Learning Through Art
Learning Through Art at the MFAH connects the Museum’s collections of world art into classroom curriculum for art, literacy, math, science, social studies, and technology. Use the elementary and middle school curriculum to integrate higher level cognitive skills, such as observing and organizing information, making predictions, and communicating ideas and thoughts with art inquiry methods to promote development of 21st-century skills that are needed to succeed. LTA/MFAH bridges disciplines and curriculums to enable students to explore key concepts in the real-world context of the art museum.
Through discussions on works of art from the MFAH collections and hands-on art projects using everyday materials, LTA/MFAH teacher training introduces TEKS and STAAR-aligned lessons that use the visual arts to teach students how to think critically and creatively as well as encourage self-confident, self-motivated, and self-disciplined learners.
All “Learning Through Art” workshops are G/T approved.
Online Curriculum
Rembrandt van Rijn, Portrait of a Young Woman, 1633, oil on wood, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by various lenders in memory of Caroline Wiess Law.
Jackson Pollock, Number 6, 1949, Duco and aluminum paint on canvas, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by D. and J. de Menil. © The Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Pre-Columbian, Colima, Dog, 300 BC–AD 300, ceramic, the MFAH, gift of Meredith J. Long in honor of Fayez Sarofim and Alfred C. Glassell, Jr.
John Singleton Copley, Portrait of a Boy, c. 1758–60, oil on canvas, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg.
The Learning Through Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (LTA/MFAH) online curriculum is an exciting way to connect your classroom to the Museum. Discover how the MFAH collections of world art can be used to connect language arts, social studies, math, science, and art to K–12 students.
The LTA/MFAH curriculum:
• Connects the Museum’s encyclopedic collection with your subject matter.
• Develops students’ higher-order thinking skills.
• Offer free, high-quality images of the MFAH art collections.
► Access the LTA/MFAH online curriculum.
► Learn more about the LTA/MFAH project.
► To see the curriculum in action, and for teaching tips and tools, check out the LTA/MFAH video series, and refer to the LTA/MFAH seminars and workshops listed above, when available.
► For a closer look at LTA/MFAH art lessons, view the illustrated PDFs for first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, and sixth grade.
► Check out these LTA/MFAH virtual learning modules. Additional information and resources for each module can be found here.
• John Biggers, Jubilee: Ghana Harvest Festival
• Fernand Léger, Man with a Cane
• Henry Taylor, Cora’s
• Louis Comfort Tiffany, A Wooded Landscape in Three Panels
• Teotihuacan, Incense Burner (Incensario) Lid
Questions? Contact teachers@mfah.org
Call for Applications | Inaugural MFAH Object-Based Learning: Teaching Artist Training
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), invites applications for its Inaugural Object-Based Learning: Teaching Artist Training, a pioneering program designed to elevate teaching artists while supporting community engagement. This initiative integrates Object-Based Learning (OBL) pedagogy to enhance artistic practice, foster professional networks, and create lasting community impact.
Program Overview
The Teaching Artist Training focuses on:
- Professional Growth An immersive experience, offering mentorship, skill-sharing workshops, and peer-to-peer learning to build a robust teaching artist network. Selected applicants receive a membership to easily access the MFAH art collections.
- Community Engagement Teaching artists lead art-based programs with the MFAH and a collaborative focus with Third Ward, fostering cultural awareness and creative expression.
- Interdisciplinary Learning Participants are trained in OBL methodologies, learning to connect museum collections with broader educational and artistic disciplines, enhancing critical thinking and creativity in the classroom and community.
Key Activities
- Professional development workshops focused on teaching strategies, community engagement, and interdisciplinary approaches.
- Peer mentorship and collaborative projects to strengthen teaching and artistic skills.
- Community-led art programs with the MFAH and a strong focus on collaboration in Third Ward.
- OBL training and application in classroom and community-based teaching settings.
2025 Program Training Dates
Friday, January 24 | Saturday, January 25 | Thursday, January 30 | Saturday, February 1 | Saturday, February 15 | Saturday, March 1 | Thursday, March 6 | Saturday, March 8
Eligibility
This program is open to post-graduate, visual artists based in Third Ward Houston, with a preference for those with teaching experience or interest in working with culturally responsive pedagogy and community engagement. Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of studio-gallery practice and teaching. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to professional growth, interdisciplinary teaching, and a passion for using art to foster community connections. A demonstrated connection to the Third Ward community is preferred.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit:
- A completed application form.
- A statement of interest (500 words) explaining how you would benefit from the program and how you plan to engage with the Third Ward community.
- A current artist and teaching résumé and portfolio showcasing your teaching and artistic practice.
- Two professional references.
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024
Notification of Acceptance: January 5, 2025
Participants receive a $1,500 honorarium upon completion of the Object-Based Learning Training, with additional opportunities for honoraria for leading MFAH programming.
Partnerships with Teachers
Teacher Fellows are distinguished educators from the Houston area who have demonstrated leadership skills and a passion for innovative teaching and learning methods in their classrooms. Established in 2011, the Teacher Fellows program brings participants together with MFAH staff to craft new approaches to interdisciplinary classroom curriculum; school and teacher resources; and professional-development opportunities at the Museum. The teachers are selected through their participation in other MFAH activities or recommended by Museum staff members. Learn more about the collaborative process with MFAH educators and teacher fellows here.
Ongoing Workshops at the MFAH
The Museum offers a multitude of learning opportunities throughout the year to help K–12 educators integrate the arts into their classrooms for successful learning, including Learning Through Art at the MFAH workshops!
Workshops for K–12 Schools & Districts
Learning Through Art at the MFAH connects the Museum’s collections of world art into the classroom curriculum for art, language arts, math, science, and social studies. The MFAH offers workshops on the LTA curriculum throughout the year. Workshops based on the curriculum are conducted at the Museum, schools, and district facilities. These workshops may be specially designed to suit the needs and interests of the group and can be tailored based on subject area, goals, and grade levels. Contact teachers@mfah.org to schedule your LTA training. Through tours of the Museum’s galleries and hands-on art projects using everyday materials, LTA elementary-level teacher training introduces TEKS-aligned lessons that use the visual arts to teach literacy and writing skills, math, science, and social studies.
See a list of all LTA workshops.
TEKS and STAAR Correlations
Learning Through Art at the MFAH connects to the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) and TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills).
Make connections to TEKS and TAKS for grades 1–6.
Make connections to TEKS and TAKS for grades 6–8:
Related Children’s Literature
Children’s literature is used to create deeper meaning and explore broader contexts throughout LTA/MFAH.
View the selection of children’s literature connecting to Learning Through Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston:
The Learning Through Art program is endowed by Melvyn and Cyvia Wolff.
The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
All Learning and Interpretation programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, receive endowment funds provided by Louise Jarrett Moran Bequest; Caroline Wiess Law; the William Randolph Hearst Foundation; Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Fondren Foundation; BMC Software, Inc.; the Wallace Foundation; the Neal Myers and Ken Black Children’s Art Fund; Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Ballard; Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Tate; the Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation; Virginia and Ira Jackson; the Favrot Fund; Neiman Marcus Youth Arts Education; gifts in memory of John Wynne; and gifts in honor of Beth Schneider.