Integrating museum visits into curriculum

Subjects that can be integrated into a visit to the Gallen-Kallela Museum include visual arts, history, mother tongue and literature, as well as all broad learning units. During the tours, the subjects are highlighted through the works of art.

We also recommend teachers to discuss with the students about the role and importance of museums in society. It is advisable to go through the theme before the visit. Essential questions include why museums were established, what kind of objects are kept in them and why people want to visit them.

About museums

The role of museums is to collect, preserve, study and display material evidence of humans and their environment. It is also to ensure that people can continue to explore the past in the future.

The mission of the Gallen-Kallela Museum is to preserve and promote the life's work of the artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The museum's collections include paintings, sculptures, prints and furniture by Aksel Gallen-Kallela. However, not all the works of art and objects are on display at the same time; some are in storage or on loan to other exhibitions.

Before a visit to a museum, it is a good idea to discuss the following questions with the class:

• How many of you have ever collected objects?
• What kinds of objects have you collected? Why have you collected them?
• Have you displayed your collection to other people?
• Was the aim to collect a complete set?
• Where are the objects kept?
• How are the objects looked after?
• What is the story behind the object?
• How are the objects studied?

The ABCs of viewing art

Art can be approached from many different angles and starting points. In the list below, you will find questions to consider during your visit to the museum.

• What does the image represent? You can try to describe a work of art or its atmosphere in three words.
• How is the work composed?
• What media are used to create the work?
• Why did the artist choose these particular media?
• What is your own interpretation of the work?
• What do you think is most important aspect of it?

Welcome to the Gallen-Kallela Museum!

This video tells you about the artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931), his art and the museum's mission. With the help of our guide Vilma, you can explore not only the studio building in Tarvaspää, but also the museum's courtyard, hear about the themes of Gallen-Kallela's art and learn about the history of the area.

• Check out the assignments before watching the video.
• For further help, consult the glossary of terms, which contains more detailed information on the most difficult words used in the videos.
• Download the exercises and the glossary of terms as a pdf file from the links below.
• You can choose between subtitles in Finnish, Swedish and English for the video.

Download links (Finnish, Swedis and English)

• Lataa tehtävät tästä linkistä.
• Lataa käsitelista tästä linkistä.
• Ladda ner övningsuppgifterna från denna länk.
• Ladda ner begreppslista från denna länk.
• Download the excercises from this link.
• Download the glossary of terms from this link.