Free Norman Rockwell Museum Virtual Field Trip for Classrooms

Give your students a powerful, museum-quality experience—without leaving the classroom. The Imagining Freedom virtual field trip offers 24/7 access to a curated digital exhibition, along with ready-to-use, standards-aligned lesson plans.

• Grades: K–12
• Subjects: History/Social Studies, Civics, Visual Arts, English Language Arts/Humanities
• Theme: Narrative & Storytelling
• Access: Computers, mobile devices, smartboards, and VR

NRM’s virtual field trip has been designed to help teachers integrate the Imagining Freedom virtual exhibition into their classroom.

This innovative digital resource provides teachers and students 24/7 access on their computers, mobile devices, smartboards, or other classroom technology.  On the virtual field trip, students can explore the Norman Rockwell Museum and interact with art and objects in the galleries, and dive deeply into specific themes that support classroom curriculum.  Thematic lesson plans aligned to content standards give teachers the ability to easily facilitate a virtual field trip in their classroom.

How to use:
The lessons in the virtual field trip are flexible, with modular components that can be used to match curricular needs and time available.  Teachers can download PDF lessons in advance and choose the questions, discussion prompts, and activities that support their curriculum. Students can explore the galleries individually on their own devices or as a group on a shared device.  Each lesson includes a curated selection of works of art that speak to the lesson themes, questions that teachers can use to spark guided discussion, in-class activities to promote student engagement, and contextual information to deepen learning. Activities in each lesson can be used with one or all of the selected works of art.

Preview a Sample Lesson

Setting the Scene: Norman Rockwell and Narrative

Subject Areas: English Language Arts, Visual Arts
Grades: K–5
Theme: Narrative/Storytelling

What Teachers Are Saying

“This gave my students the opportunity to think deeply about freedom and how artists communicate important ideas visually.”
— Natalie Johnson, Educator

“An engaging and relevant way to bring social justice conversations into the classroom—students connected immediately.”
— Middle School Teacher, Massachusetts

What’s Included

🎨 Imagining Freedom Virtual Exhibition

Students explore Norman Rockwell’s Imagining Freedom in an interactive online gallery. The experience features compelling imagery and storytelling that invite reflection on democracy, human rights, and civic engagement.

📘 Ready-to-Use Lesson Plans

Each standards-aligned lesson includes:

  • A thematic selection of Rockwell’s artwork
  • Discussion questions for guided learning
  • In-class activities to boost engagement
  • Contextual info to deepen understanding

🧩 Flexible and Easy to Use

  • Lessons available as downloadable PDFs
  • Modular components to fit your curriculum and schedule
  • Ideal for individual devices or shared classroom screens
  • Designed to support national content standards

Free for Educators and Schools

This virtual field trip is offered free of charge to teachers and schools. Once approved, you’ll receive a unique access link you can use with your class anytime.

📅 Use anytime throughout the school year
🔁 Revisit as often as needed
💬 Response time: Within 2 business days

A museum educator will review your request and email your classroom’s access link upon approval.

Imagining Freedom - Main Gallery
Liberty Girl and access to the digital collection

AWARD RECIPIENT:
Education, Art & Culture – Awareness Category – Digital & Innovative Experiences

The Norman Rockwell Museum’s Virtual Museum was honored with a 2024 Anthem Award for excellence in Education, Art & Culture. Selected from over 2,300 submissions across 34 countries, this award recognizes innovative digital experiences that spark meaningful change.

Not a Teacher? Purchase the Exhibition for $5

If you’re not affiliated with a K-12 school but would like to explore the Imagining Freedom virtual exhibition:

🎟️ Price: $5 (one-time access)
💻 Use on computer, mobile device, or VR headset
🆓 Free for museum members

The Virtual Field Trip is generously supported by the following:
The K.A.H.R. Foundation | Irv & Carol Smokler | The Green Foundation | The Elephant Rock Foundation | The Feigenbaum Foundation | The Burton D. Morgan Foundation | Mass Humanities Foundation | The Ruth Krauss Foundation | Institute for Museum & Library Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

A: Educators and school staff from public, private, charter, and homeschool organizations, both in the U.S. and internationally, are welcome to apply.​

A: Our education staff reviews submissions within 2 business days. If approved, you’ll receive your unique classroom link by email.

A: We recommend that each teacher submit an individual application to receive a unique access link tailored to their classroom. If you prefer to coordinate access for multiple educators, please contact us to discuss customized solutions.​

A: Students will engage with Norman Rockwell’s art in an interactive setting, fostering critical thinking, visual literacy, and discussions on themes like narrative storytelling, social justice, and human rights.​

A: The program is flexible and can complement various units throughout the year. It’s particularly effective during studies of American history, art history, or discussions on civic engagement and social studies.​

A: Requirements may vary by district or institution. We advise consulting your school administrator to ensure compliance with local guidelines.​

A: There is no set deadline; applications are accepted on a rolling basis. However, we encourage early application to integrate the experience smoothly into your curriculum.​

A: Yes, homeschool educators are encouraged to apply and can benefit from the same resources as traditional school educators.​

A: Absolutely. If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact our support team for assistance.​

A: Yes. We do not collect any student data through the virtual field trip. All educator information is handled securely and in line with standard privacy practices. We are committed to maintaining a safe, trustworthy experience for educators and students.

A: Yes. The virtual field trip is completely free for educators and schools, thanks to the generous support of our donors.

A: No. Your information is never shared or sold. It’s only used to provide access and optional updates related to the virtual field trip experience.

A: The virtual field trip is currently fully funded and available at no cost to educators. If anything changes in the future, we’ll notify participants in advance and work to ensure continued access whenever possible.

Virtual Field Trip

Access Request Form 

Please fill out the form below.  A member of the Museum’s education staff will review your request.  Upon approval of your request, you will receive a link to the Virtual Field Trip.  This will be your class’s and/or school’s unique link to the experience. Please allow up to 2 business days for a response.




















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