Our new Virtual and On-site Workshop offerings are activity-based and available in either a one- or two-hour class. The two-hour session is more comprehensive and allows students more time to work on their projects.
Virtual Workshops will occur online through Zoom. Students are required to have an internet connection, camera, and microphone in order to communicate with the class.
Cost: $10 per student, $12 per teacher
Descriptions of these classes are as follows:
Grades K–2
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
How we travel around the world—in trains, cars, planes, and rockets—has evolved exponentially over the past century as new innovations have been developed. Join us as we explore various modes of transportation, and use colors and shapes to create and design our own scenes with two-dimensional trains...
Grades 3–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Walt Disney was a storyteller whose characters captivated audiences through their unique personalities and distinct designs. In this virtual School Experience, students gain an understanding of the fundamentals of character design. Learn more about the creative process and how to create unique and...
Grades K–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
The Ink and Paint Department was an invaluable part of the animation process, especially with the addition of color to animated films. In this School Experience, students will learn about the relationship between colors, and how color theory utilizes both art and science in color mixing to achieve a...
Grades 3–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Discover how Walt Disney encouraged his staff to experiment with special effects technology to make animation more compelling and realistic, and how the resulting advancements inspired the industry as a whole. Students will experiment with a miniature multiplane set up—focusing on design elements...
Grades 5–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PT
The Walt Disney Studios pioneered storyboarding—an innovative way of depicting an artist’s vision of the film’s story. Join us in this virtual School Experience as we delve into timing, camera angles and shots, and how to plan out a visual project in a sequential form. Students will then take on the...
Grades K–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Create fun and unique art pieces with a painting technique involving small dots, patterns, and colored paints. Students will learn about impressionism and gain a basic understanding of color filling, shading, and tints to create a cohesive art piece.
Grades 3–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Before the use of cels, paper cut-out figures were a common form of animation. Join us as we create paper creations with simple shapes and designs using construction paper and glue, then animate our creations to make our own silent stop-motion short films.
Grades 5–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Walt Disney knew that at the heart of every animated film is a well-told story. Join us on this School Experience as we investigate the basics of narrative structure, establishing interesting and dynamic plots, and creating internal and external challenges that can impact a character’s journey...
Grades 5–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Animators often start their journey with a piece of paper, a pencil, and their own imagination. We will explore the traditional practices and principles of hand-drawn animation. With a few simple techniques, students will bring their drawings to life in the same way that animators in the 1930s did.
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Grades 3–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Background design is an important part of the storytelling process as it helps give context to the narrative by showing the world in which the characters live. Although not the main focus, backgrounds can amplify and fully immerse a viewer. In this virtual School Experience, we will discuss industry...
Grades 5–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
When creating theme parks, designers and architects apply their creative minds and technical ingenuity to design ambitious and timeless projects. Students will plan their own innovative theme parks using creative thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. They will work together to create their theme...
Grades K–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Benefitting from embedded digital media content, this walk-through the museum brings Walt’s inspirational message to life. Classes learn about his early failures, the art of animation, storytelling principles, and the technological innovations that made classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) possible.
Grades 5–12
Available by reservation Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm PST
Discover how 18th century automatons led to the creation of wind-up toys, the development of Audio-Animatronics® technology, and the evolution of today’s advanced robotics. Students will observe the mechanics of a simple automaton and create their own through trial and error.
Additional Resources
Scholarship Programs
We are committed to quality education and providing every student with the opportunity to benefit from our curriculum-based school experiences. To ensure that under-resourced schools can take part in our school experiences, we offer two scholarship programs.
Admission Waivers
Scholarships are available for museum admission for all Title I schools. Please indicate your Title I status on your registration form or contact education@wdfmuseum.org for more information.
Bus Scholarships
Bus scholarships are available for field trips scheduled during the academic year for Title I schools in the San Francisco Unified School District. Teachers are responsible for booking their own buses.