Sept. 24, 2019 (Detroit) — A new partnership between Warren Consolidated Schools and the Detroit Institute of Arts will allow every third grader in the district to experience a customized tour during a free field trip to the museum. The tour entitled “Shaping Identity” focuses on literacy and social studies standards.

“For many of our students, this field trip to the DIA is their first experience in a museum,” said Dr. Robert Livernois, Warren Consolidated Schools superintendent. “The DIA is an important resource for our students because art is a tool that can be used to express beliefs, ideas, traditions and identities without using words.” 

During each field trip, the DIA provides writing support and interactive activity sheets that help the third-graders make connections between art and their own lives, as well as gain a greater understanding of the art’s time period and culture. At the end of their visit, students write short stories about an object they discovered at the museum.

“We are proud to partner with Warren Consolidated Schools to create a tailored field trip experience that incorporates art in meaningful and engaging ways to help meet the needs of its third graders,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA director. “Free field trips to the Detroit Institute of Arts help metro Detroit students connect what they are learning in the classroom with art and history they can’t find on television, in books or on TV.”

The visits to the museum also help English Language Learners (ELL) improve their basic vocabularies. After the field trip, ELL students receive sentence starters to help them share their thoughts and ideas about their experiences.

The DIA provides free bus transportation and admission for students from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties as part of the tri-county millage passed in 2012. Last school year, 14,977 Macomb County students enjoyed free visits to the DIA.

To schedule a group tour or field trip, contact the DIA at 313-833-7981.