Virtual School Programs

Art anywhere, at school or at home! Join us for our Virtual School Programs, every weekday happening daily, Monday to Friday, via Zoom.

Visit us often for a new perspective on the AGO Collection: in person and virtually. We invite students at home or in school to join us daily, Monday to Friday, for a live conversation with an AGO Art Educator. Three conversations are offered daily, for JK - Gr. 3, Gr 4 - Gr. 6 and Gr. 7 and, beyond and are linked to the Ontario Curriculum. Each program is 30 minutes, with elements of wellness and art woven into the session. There is a small creative exercise for students, so they should have pencils, pens or crayons and paper at the ready.

These sessions are free of charge to you, thanks to the extraordinary support of The Michael Young Family Foundation.


VIRTUAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS SCHEDULE

Three conversations are offered daily, for JK - Gr. 3, Gr 4 - Gr. 6 and Gr. 7 and beyond and are linked to the Ontario Curriculum. 

Register below!

 

Virtual Schools - Supercards

Special Guest Presenters

Virtual School Programs is excited to welcome special guest presenters. Our goal is to expand geographical, economic and cultural access to students and teachers as we inspire the ongoing love of learning with the arts. Join us each month as our Art Educators and special guest presenters lead conversations on cross-disciplinary explorations inspired by the AGO Collection.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

One of Canada’s most respected arts organizations, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) plays a vital role in the city’s dynamic cultural life. Committed to serving local and national communities through vibrant performances and expansive educational activities, the TSO offers a wide range of programming that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds. With a notable recording and broadcast history complementing international touring engagements, the TSO is a unique musical ambassador for Canada around the world.

 

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

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Monday - Artmaking 101

After exploring one artwork in the AGO Collection, students try simple drawing techniques inspired by elements and principles of design in the Visual Arts Curriculum, with a pencil and a piece of paper! If you have scissors, coloured pencils - bring them too!

Curriculum links: Visual Art

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Tuesday - Indigenous Perspectives

Discover how Indigenous artists have creatively interpreted the diversity of what we now know as Canada. Learn about the concept of decolonization, the history of Indigenous creativity, and indigenous teachings through art and conversation.

Curriculum Links: Visual Art, Social Studies, History, Language Arts

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Wednesday - Black Artists and the Global Diaspora

Take a deep-dive into work in the AGO Collection created by Black artists. Students consider concepts of identity through the history and presence of the African diaspora nationally and globally.

Curriculum links: The Arts, Language, Social Studies, History, Geography

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Thursday - AGO X Partner

Students explore interconnectivity through exchanges with partner institutions that provide opportunity for cultural exchange and artistic expression.

Curriculum links: The Arts, Language, History, Geography

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Friday – Mindfulness

Explore artworks by contemporary artists in the AGO’s collection to understand how artists have used visual media as a source of inspiration and wellness.

Curriculum Links: Visual Art, Social Studies, History, Language Arts

 

Virtual School Visit FAQs

How much does it cost?

The weekly Virtual School Program sessions are free!

How do I join one of the weekly sessions?

Please select the class in the schedule you would like to join and then register. A Zoom webinar link will be emailed to you.

I have the Zoom link; how does my class join and participate?

Please feel free to forward the Zoom link to your students. Students do not need to download Zoom to watch the session; they will just need to click “View in Browser” when prompted.

Other options include sharing the session with your students via Google Meets/Classroom. You will need to make sure you accept conference audio when joining the session, otherwise you will not be able to hear the presenter.

Is my student’s privacy at risk?

The Zoom link shared with your students will be registered as the name on the invitation.
All students will have the name given on registration upon joining the session.

What will we be doing?

In each 30-minute session, participants in AGO Virtual School Programs will explore and discuss two artworks from the AGO Collection, with a focus on the Critical Analysis Process. Also included is a mini-wellness moment, and a mini-artmaking “spark” so you and your class can continue to think about the topic once the session is over.

Please note: this is not a full artmaking session. The AGO does offer several artmaking classes taught by professional artist/educators. Click here to see all the creative classes we offer.

How do I prepare my class?

Students may want a pencil and a sheet of paper as they tune into the sessions. The emphasis of this session is visual literacy, so we ask students to respond to questions posed by the Art Educators, using a keyboard and the Q&A function of the webinar. There will be no verbal replies. All comments are visible to all participants in the session, so here's a gentle reminder to please use the Q&A function respectfully.

If students are onsite, they may choose to write or sketch their responses on a sheet of paper. We would love to see them so please share your completed masterpiece #AGOSchools @AGOToronto

Will any of us be visible during the meeting?

No.

Do I need a microphone or a webcam to participate?

All sessions will be done in a Zoom webinar; student responses are typed in. Participants will not be seen or heard, so no mic or webcam is needed.

Will all the sessions in a week have the same link?

Once registered, a Zoom webinar link will be emailed and will provide you access to all sessions in that grade level for the week.

Do I need to attend all sessions in the week?

No, only participate in the sessions you want to join. Each Zoom link is valid for the week, and you are welcome to attend as many sessions as you like throughout the semester.

Can we use the Chat function?

No. Please use the Q&A function to respond to questions posed by the Art Educator. There are also no audio or verbal replies.

Can I watch a recorded version of this session later on?

These sessions are presented live and not recorded.

Are the sessions the same each week?

We strive to provide unique sessions each week under the daily theme, however sometimes we may show the same work in the different sessions so students become more familiar with the art and they can discuss it from various perspectives.

Can I record the session to show my students later?

Due to copyright restrictions on different artworks, you are unable to record the session on Zoom

Troubleshooting Your Zoom Link

  • If the link is not working, the quickest fix is to reregister. Our system will send a new link immediately.
  • Only links sent from the AGO will work. Please do not use third-party links.
  • Are there any blank spaces accidentally pasted at the front of the invite?
  • Make sure that you have registered for the correct date, time and subject.
  • Do you have pop-ups enabled?
  • Could Zoom be blocked? Some school networks block Zoom.
  • Try a different browser.
  • Click the link that says, “Click to join” or “Join from your Android or Apple device”.
  • Although you do not need the Zoom app to participate, it may help with your connection. Try downloading the app on your computer or device.

Troubleshooting Your Zoom Audio

  • Check your volume settings, and make sure your headphones are in appropriately if you are using them.
  • Be sure that you have enabled computer audio as part of your Zoom set up.
  • Check your internet connection. Even excellent Wi-Fi can get spotty and prevent a connection. If possible, it’s best to be connected via Ethernet.
  • If you are screensharing via Google Meets/Classroom, make sure your audio settings are in place to accept webinar audio, and that there is access to your computer audio. If Zoom prompts you with any sound requests, please accept them.
  • Zoom may function slightly differently on different devices. For other tech issues you may experience, please check out Zoom’s help section: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us

 

 

Learning Resources for Teachers

Learning Resources for Teachers

Find resources and activities you can use in your classroom to help students build visual literacy and develop their skills in observation, interpretation, critical thinking and creativity.

LEARN MORE
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