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Educator Resources

We love supporting educators with resources that bring art and culture into the classroom and beyond. These tools are designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection, whether you’re planning a lesson, exploring hands-on activities, or looking for fresh inspiration.

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A group of elementary students stand in a classroom holding up colorful handmade masks decorated with feathers, beads, and paper cutouts. Art supplies and storage bins are visible in the background.

Teaching with the Museum

The University of Mississippi Museum is committed to sharing its collections and special exhibitions with learners of all ages, extending beyond the walls of the museum. At the heart of both the Museum’s and University’s mission is a dedication to engaging new audiences through innovative, accessible education.

Traveling Trunks

The Traveling Trunk program offers themed trunks, completely free of charge, filled with lessons, educational objects, and artistic materials that bring museum-based learning directly to the classroom. These trunks can supplement a field trip to the Museum or serve as standalone enrichment tools for classroom studies.

  • A Thematic Introduction
  • Materials & Instructions for a Visual Arts Activity
  • A Language Arts Component
  • A Social Studies or History Component

  1. A Museum Educator will travel within a one-hour radius of Oxford to present a traveling trunk. Each trunk provides lessons that meet current grade-specific standards, educational objects or images, and artistic materials to enrich classroom studies.
  2. Educators may check the trunks out themselves for up to two weeks of use. Each trunk provides lessons that meet current grade-specific standards, educational objects or images, and artistic materials to enrich classroom studies.

  1. African Art

    Explore the rich cultures of West Africa through masks, storytelling, and hands-on art activities inspired by the Museum's collection of artifacts from the Western Sudan, Guinea Coast, and present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  2. Ancient Greece

    Dive into ancient Greece and Rome! Learn about mythology, history, and art while discovering how these civilizations shaped the world we live in today.

  3. Chinese Art

    Discover over 5,000 years of Chinese history, art, and innovation through hands-on activities and lessons inspired by the Museum's traveling exhibits on Chinese ceramics and culture.

  4. Folk Art

    Explore Southern folk art through quilts, pottery, carvings, and paintings, learning about the artists' personal stories, community, and cultural traditions.

  5. Low Country Basket Weaving

    Learn about the unique Gullah/Geechee culture of South Carolina and Georgia through basket weaving, folktales, music, and hands-on activities that celebrate their African heritage and traditions.

  6. Native Americans of Mississippi

    Explore the history of Mississippi's earliest peoples—from Paleoindian hunter-gatherers to the complex Mississippian societies—through hands-on activities that highlight agriculture, pottery, and mound-building traditions.

  7. Theora Hamblett

    Discover the whimsical landscapes and vivid trees of Mississippi artist Theora Hamblett, whose paintings capture childhood memories, farm life, and personal visions through a unique and colorful style.

  8. Walter Anderson

    Dive into the Gulf Coast world of Walter Anderson, exploring his nature-inspired drawings, prints, and pottery that celebrate the movement, color, and beauty of the natural world.

  9. M.B. Mayfield

    Learn about Mississippi folk artist M.B. Mayfield, whose memory-filled paintings depict African American community life, landscapes, and personal experiences from childhood to adulthood.

  10. Faulkner’s Rowan Oak (High School)

    Step into the life and works of William Faulkner, exploring his historic Oxford home, literary achievements, and the stories that shaped his view of the South.

University Museum Guided Tours

Take your experience at the Museum to the next level and gain a greater understanding of the diverse collections on display by booking a group tour today! The UM Museum Education staff offers guided tours for visitors of all ages and interests.

  • PreK–Grade 12 Tours

    Introduce students to the world of art through engaging, age-appropriate tours that spark curiosity and creativity. Each visit encourages observation, discussion, and connection to classroom learning, helping young artists and thinkers explore art in new ways.

    Request a Tour

  • University & Adult Tours

    Deepen your understanding of art, culture, and history through guided tours designed for college classes, community groups, and lifelong learners. Explore the museum’s diverse collections and exhibitions while engaging in thoughtful dialogue that enhances your appreciation and perspective.

    Request a Tour