Family Activities
Whether you are looking to get creative at home or planning a visit to the Walker or Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, these art-making activities, scavenger hunts, and interactive workshops for all ages will help you connect with art, artists, and the world around you.
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
- The Hmong Museum offers many free downloadable activities for families to explore Hmong culture and art on their website.
- St. Paul Public Library has activities and resources for families on their website, including STEAM activities, story times, sing-alongs, and distance-learning support.
- Visit the community garden at North Lyndale and North 23rd Avenue in Minneapolis, designed and built by Walker artist-in-residence Jordan Weber and Youth Farm.
- Artist Seitu Jones has shared instructions to create your own #blues4George stencils and artwork.
- Black Lives Matter at School has an anti-racist curriculum guide with resources for all ages.
- D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice has resources for early childhood and elementary school-aged students.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Talking About Race portal includes resources for parents and caregivers.
- Raising Race Conscious Children provides resources for talking about race with young children.
- The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice Project has resources for teaching about Black Lives Matter.
- The Anti-Defamation League has a guide for family discussions about racism and police violence available in English and Spanish.
- Watch this Act.TV video explaining systemic racism to kids who are elementary school aged or older.
- This New York Times article on explaining protest and racism to children includes recommendations and a list of books organized by developmental level.
- The Saint Paul Public Library compiled a list of picture books to use as a tool when talking about race with children.
- The Saint Paul Public Library has a storytime video that offers resources for talking to children about the trial of Derek Chauvin and the emotions children and adults may be processing.
- The Saint Paul Public Library offers an Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource list of books for all ages that provide context on Asian American experiences
Virtual workshops and performances (english)
Talleres y actuaciones virtuales (español)
Activities for your Walker visit
Get in touch with the world around you, from art in the Garden and the galleries to the plants and insects that live outside your door. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Find out about visiting the Walker here. Algunas actividades disponibles en español.
Scavenger Hunt! Explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in the Winter
The whole family can join in this fun scavenger hunt in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden is open daily from 6 am to 12 midnight!
¡Busca y encuentra! Explora el Minneapolis Sculpture Garden en el invierno
Toda la familia puede participar en esta divertida búsqueda del tesoro en el jardín de esculturas de Minneapolis. ¡El jardín está abierto todos los días de 6 am a 12 de la noche!
Seek and Find! Explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
The whole family can join in this fun scavenger hunt in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden is open daily from 6 am to 12 midnight!
¡Busca y encuentra! Explora el Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Toda la familia puede participar en esta divertida búsqueda del tesoro en el jardín de esculturas de Minneapolis. ¡El jardín está abierto todos los días de 6 am a 12 de la noche!
Pollinator Plant Bingo!
Look for plants that feed pollinators in your neighborhood or the Garden using these bingo cards from the Exploring Pollinator Pathways project at the University of St. Thomas.
¡El bingo de polinización de flores!
Buscar plantas que alimentan a los polinizadores en su vecindario o en el jardín usando estos cartones de bingo del proyecto “Explorando las rutas de los polinizadores” en la Universidad de St. Thomas.
Pollinator Insect Bingo!
See how many pollinator insects you can find in the Garden or in your neighborhood using these bingo cards from the Exploring Pollinator Pathways project at the University of St. Thomas.
¡El bingo de polinización de insectos!
Ver cuántos insectos polinizadores se puede encontrar en el jardín o en su vecindario usando estos cartones de bingo del proyecto “Explorando las rutas de los polinizadores” en la Universidad de St. Thomas.
Five Ways In Family Activity Guide (English)
Explore the exhibition with activities and illustrations by Cori Lin.
Five Ways In Family Activity Guide (Hmong/English)
Explore the exhibition with activities and illustrations by Tou Yia Xiong.
Five Ways In Family Activity Guide (Somali/English)
Explore the exhibition with activities and illustrations by Aziz Osman and Ifrah Mansour.
Five Ways In Family Activity Guide (Spanish/English)
Explore the exhibition with activities and illustrations by Luis Fitch.
Make art at home
Check out these fun art-making activities that you can make with materials from home. Algunas actividades disponibles en español.
Kinetic Characters
Some artists and filmmakers build moveable puppets to create animated film characters. Learn how to create your own puppet character! For ages 5 and up.
Reflecting Your Community
Create your own picture frame in this activity inspired by the artist <a href=”https://walkerart.org/collections/artists/lorraine-ogrady”>Lorraine O’Grady</a>. For ages 4 and up, younger kids will need help from an adult.
Chance Drawing
Some artists use chance to create their works—and now you can too. Try both of these fun activities! For ages 4 and up.
Frank Big Bear Coloring Book
Download this coloring book designed by beloved Minnesota-based, Anishinaabe artist Frank Big Bear. For all ages.
Meet the Instruments! Make an Abstract Drawing
Explore the sounds that different instruments make and create your own abstract drawing inspired by music! For ages 3 and up.
Meet the Instruments! Design a Costume and Create Your Own Performance
Learn about sound and movement through the dances and costumes of Merce Cunningham, then listen to a performance by the MN Orchestra. For ages 4 and up.
Jazz Up Your Drawing!
Build your own drawing tool, then use it to create an abstract drawing inspired by the work of Jack Whitten. For ages 4 and up.
¡Haz tu dibujo más interesante!
Construir su propia herramienta de dibujo, luego úsela para crear un dibujo abstracto inspirado en el trabajo de Jack Whitten. A partir de los 4 años, los niños pequeños pueden necesitar la ayuda de un adulto.
Kinetic Painting
Be inspired by artist Olafur Eliasson and create your own abstract painting using movement. For all ages.
Mirror Party
Create your own Mirror Painting like artist Michelangelo Pistoletto and you can be inside the art! For all ages.
Paper Marbling
Create your own marbled paper using food coloring and shaving cream or vegetable oil. For all ages, younger kids may need help from an adult.
Sustainable Sculptures
Create your own sculpture out of materials you find in nature! For ages 6 and up, younger kids will need help from an adult.
Esculturas sostenibles
Crear su propia escultura con materiales que encuentre en la naturaleza. A partir de los 6 años, los niños más pequeños necesitarán la ayuda de un adulto.
Take Action!
Express the change you want to see in the world with words and movement, inspired by Gary Simmons’s work Everforward…. For ages 4 and up.
Watch: short films
For all ages.
Learn about The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang
Get to know the author and the illustrator of the picture book The Most Beautiful Thing through a Q&A and discussion with local partners. Then, download a pack of related activities and discussion guides. For all ages, approximately 32 minutes; pre-recorded videos.
Family Programs are supported by the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, thanks to Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely.
