School Programs

The Alice Austen House Museum Education Programs

A National Historic Landmark, devoted to the life and work of one of America's earliest and most prolific female photographers, the Alice Austen House Museum is proud to present education programs that will enhance your curricula and stimulate your students.
 

At the Museum

Through Alice's Eyes
All levels

Tour Alice Austen's Victorian Gothic Cottage, Clear Comfort, and learn about this remarkable woman, her family, and old Staten Island through her photographs.   
Students will pair up and explore the temporary photography exhibition on view by choosing one of the photographs from the exhibition to write about using our worksheets. Each child will be able to stand where Alice once stood and capture what she once photographed with our digital cameras. The group will then compare and contrast and discuss what has changed and what has remained the same. Each child will take home their photograph. Classes will also enjoy the wondrous views of the New York Narrows.
$6.00 per student/$75 minimum/ only one class per visit.  Grant support might be available.

NYS standards
S.S - #1 2,3
Language Arts- #E2, E3, E4
The Arts- #1,2,3,4

In Your School

Alice Austen, Photographer
In your school, grades 2 - 12
A 75-minute photography workshop with digital cameras supplied by our experienced teaching artist.  $150 per class with a two-class minimum.  Grant support might be available.

Alice Austen had a strong and determined eye: She knew what she wanted to capture and more often than not she achieved her goal.  By analyzing Alice's images students learn about her techniques.  Working in groups, each student takes a photograph with a digital camera paying attention to angles, props, and composition.  Excellent hands-on activity and art experience.
NYS standards
S.S - #1 2,3
Language Arts- #E2, E3, E4
The Arts- #1,2,3,4

Alice Austen and Me, Portrait photography
In your school, grades 3- 12
Two 75-minute photography workshops with digital cameras supplied by our experienced teaching artist.  $150 per classroom visit/$300 for the two session program with a two-class minimum per day.  Grant support might be available.

Students analyze Alice's photographs and self-portraits to uncover the life and work of the woman who took them.  Alice lived by her own rules and dared to defy conventions during an age when society limited women's choices to marriage and motherhood. Each student takes a portrait photograph of a partner and by using props and angles captures something of the subject's personality. Students write about themselves using a worksheet provided by our educator. Excellent hands-on activity and art experience.
NYS standards
S.S - #1 2,3
Language Arts- #E2, E3, E4
The Arts- #1,2,3,4

 

History through the Photographer’s Lens
Grade 2-Alice Austen Street Photography (workers)
Grade 3-Alice Austen Travel photographs
Grades 4- Alice Austen immigration and quarantine photographs

Grade 5-Alice Austen photographs highlighting woman’s rights       

A 60 minute workshop using Alice’s photographs with an experienced educator $150.00 per class/three classes $400. Grant support might be available

This is a wonderful introduction to Alice Austen in your classroom. Students will learn about early photography by seeing an antique glass plate and a pinhole camera. They will learn about Alice, her life and history by looking at her photographs. After the introduction, each group will receive a different photograph to write about with our worksheets and then present their photograph to the class. Topics vary depending on curriculum and include immigration, the rural roots of Staten Island, and woman’s rights. After this workshop, students will look forward to visiting Alice’s home, Clear Comfort

NYS standards                                                                           
S.S - #1 2,3 Language Arts- #E2, E3, E4 The Arts-#1,2,3,4


Etiquette Classes (At the Museum or in your school)
All Levels
Social Etiquette, Communication Skills, and Table Manners

60 minute workshops with a certified instructor from The International School of Protocol, $150.00 per class/three classes $400. Grant support might be available

At a time when children spend more time with computers than with people, we are offering classes in social etiquette, communications skills, and table manners.  Students learn such basic skills as introductions, common courtesies, telephone etiquette, and how to set a table.

Contact the Museum for more information

Teen Studio
Make new friends and develop your knowledge of photography. The course includes digital photography, history, fine art techniques, professional lighting and light painting.

Contact the Museum for information. Scholarships are available.

Senior Program
Travel back in time with an engaging talk about Alice Austen as a prolific photographer who documented and keenly observed her Victorian world. Tour Alice’s Victorian Gothic cottage, Clear Comfort and see a 20 minute award winning video narrated by Helen Hayes.

$5.00 per person/ 25 people maximum per group


Summer Camps
In July and August we offer Austen Summer Camps which include Teen Photography Camp
(Ages 12-17) Photography Camp (ages 7-11) Mad About Manners! (Ages 8-12) and Manners Can Be Fun! (Ages 5-7). 

    

Students learn all about Alice Austen but they will also explore the Victorian world, the architecture of Clear Comfort, and the ships of New York harbor.

Contact the Museum for more information



For registration and information, call the Alice Austen House at (718) 816-4506 x 10 or e-mail at EAAusten@aol.com

Our education programs are made possible by generous grants and support from:

The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
The Richmond County Savings Foundation
The Staten Island Foundation
The Board of the Alice Austen House Museum



 

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