LEARN
LOOKING TO LEARN¬
Looking to Learn at Virginia MOCA encourages valuable social emotional skills that help children build and develop greater empathy and respect for their peers and community.
Children ages 3–8 and their caregivers join us each month to look, learn, and make in response to themes from our current exhibitions. This program includes close-looking at artwork, reading of a storybook, and a making activity inspired by the theme. Check out the discussion guides below and enjoy making and learning with the little ones in your life.
LOOKING TO LEARN
PROGRAM GUIDES¬
Reflection
AUGUST 2022— This month we looked at Maya Lin's Silver Chesapeake, read the book Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey, and created a metal embossing as we talked about the meaning of reflection. If you missed our program or are looking to continue the conversation from home, here are the highlights!
Observation
JUNE 2022— This month we looked at Maya Lin's Imaginary Iceberg, read the book The Fog by Kyo Maclear, and created field journals as we talked about the value of observation. If you missed our program or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
Community
APRIL 2022— This month we looked at Maya Lin's Marble Chesapeake and Delaware Bay, read the book We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, and created recycled glass mosaics on wood. If you missed our program or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
Making Assumptions
January 2022— This month we looked at a selection of works from Agnes Grochulska's Archetypes series in the Virginia MOCA Community Gallery, read the book Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Pena, and created portraits with colored wire. If you missed our program or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
VIEW GUIDE
CHARACTER MATCHING WORKSHEET
ARTIST STATEMENT WORKSHEET
Memory
November 2021— This month we looked at Every day I think of You by Pattie Chalmers from our exhibition Shaping Memories: Expressions in Clay, read the book Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol, and created hanging sculptures that remind us of a favorite memory. If you missed the program or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
VIEW GUIDE
Expectations & Identity
September 2021— This month we looked at Pour Me and (I am) Not an Iron by Sue Johnson, from our exhibition Amplify, read the book Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, and made expressive zines about our own personalities. If you missed our program, or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
Empathy & Imagination
August 2021— This week we looked at La Mujer Moderna by Helen Criales, from our exhibition Amplify, and read the book Saturday by Oge Mora, with Lynn Jacobs from the Virginia Beach Public Library. For our making activity, caretakers and kids worked together to make paper bag puppets. If you missed our program, or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
Speaking Up
July 2021— This week we looked at And I'm Calm, Calculated and Perfectly Aligned by April Bey from our exhibition She Says, read the book Say Something by Peter Reynolds and made hanging statement signs, using our voices to speak up for something we care about. If you missed our program, or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
Food with Personality
May 2021— This week we looked at the work of current ARTlab muralist, Aimee Bruce, read the book Fruit Bowl by Mark Hoffman, and made air-dry clay food sculptures. If you missed our program, or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
Taking Action
April 2021— This week we looked closely at Rain Workers by Andy Harris, an artwork from our exhibition Nourish, read What Matters by Alison Hughes and made an upcycled shopping bag. If you missed our program, or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
What We Eat
March 2021— This week we looked closely at Do Tomatoes Grow on Trees? by Nikki Leone, an artwork from our exhibition Nourish, and read Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery. If you missed our program, or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
Making Memories at Mealtime
February 2021— This week we looked closely at Sharing from the Eternal Bowl, Together We Fill, Together We Share by Richard Nickel, an artwork from our exhibition Nourish, and read Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora. If you missed our program, or are looking to continue the discussion from home, here are the highlights!
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