A year-round field trip opportunity for students in all grades at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art!
Introduce your students to art through Student Art Start (SAS) at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA):
- an exciting and affordable field trip program for students in all grades
- integrates contemporary visual art and Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOLs)
This four-step program engages children in the following ways:
- Pre-Visit Materials
Teachers receive pre-visit materials designed by MOCA to introduce students to changing contemporary exhibitions as they relate to core SOLs. - Tour
For the first part of the field trip, students are led through the exhibitions in a one-hour guided tour. MOCA's trained gallery teachers use inquiry-based strategies to enhance students understanding of the exhibition. - Art Activity
The tour is followed by a one-hour art activity based on the lessons students learned from the exhibition. MOCA's SAS educators help students create a unique work of art to take home! - Post-Visit Materials
The post-visit materials, provided by MOCA, initiate a classroom discussion to reinforce what students have learned.
Audience:
The Student Art Start (SAS) program is designed for elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms in the Hampton Roads community. MOCA also welcomes independent and home school participation.
Philosophy:
Most SAS students have never visited an art museum prior to their participation in our program. SAS, therefore, seeks to actively engage students to observe, think about and personally respond to works of art. The promotion of self-discovery, creative expression, and problem solving are important aspects of the program. We incorporate relevant Virginia Standards of Learning for the core curricula and visual art in our pre-visit materials.
Free Museum Pass:
At the end of the day, each student will also receive a MOCA guest pass, allowing them to return with up to five friends and family members for free! Using this free pass, students and their parents can view, discuss, and create art, further reinforcing what was learned during the class visit.
Enrollment:
Teachers may enroll for the SAS program by contacting the MOCA education department at 757. 425.0000 x.23. In order to allow adequate preparation and scheduling for gallery teachers and SAS educators, MOCA requests that reservations be made at least one month from the date of participation.
SAS is sponsored by Target.




