reading were integrated into the lessons. In the lesson on Ancient Greece, students folded a cardstock tetrahedron- a four-sided triangular pyramid. Demonstrating how 2D equilateral triangles transform into a 3D shape provided a tactile understanding of abstract third-grade math concepts. The lesson included an overview of Plato’ s five geometric solids and their association with Aristotle’ s five elements. Many students were inspired to draw elemental designs on their tetrahedra. The interdisciplinary lesson connected existing classroom topics, creating a broader historical understanding through art. In a second-grade lesson on Southwestern Native American culture, students created“ fossils” by pressing shells into clay slabs. Fossils found alongside petroglyphs in southwestern canyons may have influenced Ancestral Puebloan belief systems. This lesson plan was developed with recent publications authored by or in collaboration with tribe members to ensure current, accurate information aligned with contemporary research.
Van Gogh Outreach lessons are continuously updated and refined to deliver well-researched presentations and innovative art projects that enhance classroom learning while offering unique programming to schools.
A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT CYCLE
The key to long-term success with outreach programs is continuous review and improvement of the program. During school visits, we ask students about previous lessons, and they demonstrate strong recall of both history content and art projects, confirming the effectiveness of these educational experiences.
We email a survey to teachers immediately following each visit, using a scale of 1 – 5 questions to gather comparable, quantitative data. For example,“ The instructor was well prepared and began the lesson at the scheduled time.” 96 % of respondents chose 5 / 5 for all survey questions. We also ask free-response questions to give us more specific information to reflect on, and also to provide testimony
that we can quote in grant applications. For example, one teacher shared,“ Today was a very memorable day for both me and my students. I enjoyed getting to share my class with someone so knowledgeable and excited to engage with my kids. It was a wonderful experience!”
Actively improving the program also means working to update and refresh infrastructure beyond lesson plans. In summer of 2025, the WKMA received five new Van Gogh Outreach vehicles- all 2024-2025 Ford and Dodge models. The vehicles were purchased through a one-time grant that will provide ongoing benefits to the program. When seeking grants for program updates, emphasize local impact and explain how the short-term funding will have long-term benefits. Regularly update donors on gift outcomes and maintain strong relationships to build trust and secure future support.
While outreach doesn ' t directly increase museum visitation, it effectively fulfills the institution ' s educational mission.
• Students received stickers featuring the program name, museum, and donors at each visit’ s conclusion. A parent called us after her child came home and shared her class experience on that day. Having never heard of the WKMA, she expressed excitement about bringing her children to the museum.
Charlotte Torrence, M. A., is the former Youth Education Director of the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Virginia. She is currently the Lead Academic Program Coordinator at the School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University. She can be reached at torrenceca @ vcu. edu
Kelsie Christian is the current Director of Youth and Family Education at the William King Museum of Art, where she oversees the Van Gogh Outreach program serving the Appalachian counties. She can be reached at kchristian @ wkmuseum. org
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