School Groups

Overview

Cooper Hewitt offers free, dynamic educational programs for K–12 school groups. Our immersive learning experience is designed to align with city, state, and national learning standards. Drawing upon the museum’s exhibitions, design educators facilitate thoughtful discussions and activities focused on the process of design thinking. We empower students to view the world optimistically through the lens of design and to improve it by honing their design thinking abilities.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Practice creative critical thinking
• Develop interdisciplinary problem-solving skills
• Collaborate with peers using verbal and visual strategies
• Define key design process terminology
• Build advocacy/empathy competencies

VIRTUAL DESIGN FIELD TRIP

The virtual Design Field Trip experience is a 60-minute program in which K-12 students explore the design process, build connections to Cooper Hewitt’s collection, and foster a deeper understanding of brainstorming techniques and inclusive design. Our interactive field trip inspires the next generation of designers to take action in their community, build self-confidence and self-esteem, and learn how to harness their superpowers to create change for the better.

Each DFT will expand students’ awareness of design and cultivate design-thinking competencies

• Design Explorers (K–3)
  Younger students explore the impact of design on everyday life and gain new perspective on the types of challenges designers face.
• Arts Integration (4–12)
  Help students build creative confidence by exploring how and where designers find inspiration.

Help students build creative confidence by exploring how and where designers find inspiration.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Visit our Design Field Trip FAQ page

DESIGN ONLNE | TAKE YOUR DESIGN FIELD TRIP FURTHER

Whether learning from home or at school, our online arc of programming extends beyond the virtual Design Field Trip to ensure your students get the most out of their experience.

COMING SOON! Our pre-recorded, Design at Home Pre-Visit video prepares students for the virtual Design Field Trip through an exploration of the design process, a warm-up activity and a quick brainstorming challenge to spark students’ creativity.

Our post-visit extension resources engage students in a hands-on design challenge that connects to the key design concepts explored during the virtual program. While are unable to prototype during the virtual field trip, we hope your students will take their ideas further.

DESIGN FIELD TRIP: DESIGNING FOR IDENTITY AND INCLUSION IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Take your Design Field Trip further! Explore icons, symbols, and logos to create a design of your own to represent a community you belong to. Recommended for grades 4–12.

DESIGN IT YOURSELF: PRACTICE DESIGN OBSERVATION

Practice observation, used in design, art, and science. Recommended for grades K–3.

DESIGN IT YOURSELF: DESIGN A POSTER

Use elements such as color, line, and composition to design a poster. Recommended for grades K–12.

ONLINE Self-guided Visits FOR GRADES K–12

Not able to join us for a virtual Design Field Trip? No problem. Our online self-guided Design Field Trips provide the perfect STEAM connection. Explore the effects of climate change and empower students to take action in their home, school or community.

SELF-GUIDED DESIGN FIELD TRIP: DESIGN + CLIMATE CHANGE

Engage in a self-guided Design Field Trip. Explore climate change through a hands-on design challenge and learn how you can take action in your community.

Design It Yourself: Design a Green Roof

Design a green roof or roof garden that will help keep a city or building cool during the summer months.