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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.

Activities for Your 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. Algunas actividades disponibles en español.

Download Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Hunt! Explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in the Winter

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!

Download Scavenger Hunt

Descargar ¡Busca y encuentra!
¡Busca y encuentra! Explora el Minneapolis Sculpture Garden en el invierno

¡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!

Descargar ¡Busca y encuentra!

Download Seek and Find
Seek and Find! Explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

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!

Download Seek and Find

Descargar ¡Busca y encuentra!
¡Busca y encuentra! Explora el Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

¡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!

Descargar ¡Busca y encuentra!

Download Plant Bingo
Pollinator Plant Bingo!

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.

Download Plant Bingo

Descargar el bingo (de flores)
¡El bingo de polinización de flores!

¡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.

Descargar el bingo (de flores)

Download Insect Bingo
Pollinator Insect Bingo!

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.

Download Insect Bingo

Descargar el bingo (insectos)
¡El bingo de polinización de insectos!

¡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.

Descargar el bingo (insectos)

Art at Home

Check out these fun art-making activities that you can make with materials from home. Algunas actividades disponibles en español.

Download Kinetic Characters
Kinetic Characters

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.

Download Kinetic Characters

Reflecting Your Community

Reflecting Your Community

Create your own picture frame in this activity inspired by the artist Lorraine O’Grady. For ages 4 and up, younger kids will need help from an adult.

Download Reflecting Your Community

Download Chance Drawing
Chance Drawing

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.

Download Chance Drawing

Download Coloring Book
Frank Big Bear Coloring Book

Frank Big Bear Coloring Book

Download this coloring book designed by beloved Minnesota-based, Anishinaabe artist Frank Big Bear. For all ages.

Download Coloring Book

Download Abstract Drawing Activities
Meet the Instruments! Make an Abstract Drawing

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.

Download Abstract Drawing Activities

Download Costume Activities
Meet the Instruments! Design a Costume and Create Your Own Performance

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.

Download Costume Activities

Download Drawing Activities
Jazz Up Your Drawing!

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.

Download Drawing Activities

Descargar ¡Haz tu dibujo más interesante!
¡Haz tu dibujo más interesante!

¡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.

Descargar ¡Haz tu dibujo más interesante!

Download Kinetic Painting
Kinetic Painting

Kinetic Painting

Be inspired by artist Olafur Eliasson and create your own abstract painting using movement. For all ages.

Download Kinetic Painting

Download Mirror Party
Mirror Party

Mirror Party

Create your own Mirror Painting like artist Michelangelo Pistoletto and you can be inside the art! For all ages.

Download Mirror Party

Download Paper Marbling
Paper Marbling

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.

Download Paper Marbling

Download Sustainable Sculptures
Sustainable Sculptures

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.

Download Sustainable Sculptures

Descargar esculturas sostenibles
Esculturas sostenibles

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.

Descargar esculturas sostenibles

Download Take Action!
Take Action!

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.

Download Take Action!

Virtual Workshops


Virtual Workshops and Performances (English)


Art Tour: Share Your Love With the World!

This interactive presentation of three pieces of art explores how artists share love with the world through their work. All you need is a camera, marker, paper, and your imagination. For ages 4 and up, approximately 12 minutes.

Download transcript


Art Tour: Express Yourself

This interactive presentation of three pieces of art explores how artists communicate through their work. All you need is a camera, pencil, paper, and your imagination. For ages 4 and up, approximately 12 minutes.

Download transcript


Workshop: Connect across Time and Space through Dance

Connect with friends and family through movement. Learn several short dance sequences by artists in the Walker’s collection, then create your own dance! For all ages, approximately 20 minutes.

Download transcript


Workshop: Tell Your Story through Dance

Explore how dancer/choreographer Maria Hassabi expresses her unique voice, then create your own original dance to share your story! For ages 5 and up, approximately 7 minutes.


Talleres y actuaciones virtuales (Español)


Tour de arte: ¡Comparte tu amor con el mundo!

Esta presentación interactiva de tres obras de arte explora cómo los artistas comparten su amor con el mundo a través del arte. Todo lo que necesitas es una cámara, marcador, papel y tu imaginación. Para niños a partir de los 4 años, aproximadamente 12 minutos.

Baje el guion aquí


Tour de arte: ¡Exprésate!

Participe de un recorrido virtual interactivo de tres obras para explorar cómo los artistas se comunican a través de su arte. Todo lo que necesitas es una cámara, lápiz, papel y tu imaginación. Para niños a partir de los 4 años, aproximadamente 12 minutos.

Baje el guion aquí


Taller: Conéctese a través del tiempo y el espacio por medio de la danza

Conéctese con sus amigos y familia a través del movimiento. Aprenda varias secuencias de danza por artistas en la colección del Walker, luego interprete su propia danza. Para todas las edades, aproximadamente 20 minutos.

Baje el guion aquí

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.


Video in English with English closed captions


Video with Hmong open captions

Resources for Parents and Caregivers

Family friendly events and opportunities
  • 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.

 

Anti-racist teaching resources
  • 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

Short Films (For All Ages)


We; Camera

This animated film features musician Shenandoah Davis encountering a bird on the trail. They become friends.

Keep Exploring:
What does the bird bring to Shenandoah? What is in the box? How do the characters show each other that they want to be friends? How do you show people you want to be their friend? What did you notice about the yellow bird? What about its home?

Try It at Home:
Make a paper bird using scissors, a paper bag, pens, tape, and string. Hang your bird in a window to share with your neighbors or find a box to make it a birdhouse.

 


Solid and Strong

Musician Kimya Dawson and friends head to the neighborhood aquatics center for fun and synchronized swimming.

Keep Exploring:
What does it mean to be “solid and strong”? What do these words mean for a tree? What do these words mean for you and your family? What is your favorite part of the town you live in? Why do you like it?

Try It at Home:
Watch the video again and make up your own dance to represent your favorite part of town! Use whatever objects you have in your home and move your body in a way that reminds you of that place.

Family Programs are supported by the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, thanks to Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely.

Lead support for the Walker’s Learning and Public Programs is provided by the Pohlad Family Community Engagement Fund. Additional support is provided by the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation and Susan and Rob White.