Homeschool Explorations
Explore nature, science, engineering, the arts, and architecture at Taliesin West! Each lesson focuses on a new concept, and every activity takes inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, the Sonoran Desert, and our wonderful World Heritage Site, Taliesin West.
Registration fees are per student. Each class will be taught outside in a partially shaded area. We recommend dressing for the weather.
All classes meet at the ticket kiosk. A parent/guardian must accompany each student; please reserve a FREE parent/guardian ticket when purchasing your child’s ticket. Students and their families must stay with their Museum Educator during the lesson.
A tour of the historic area of Taliesin West is not included in this program. To purchase tour tickets, please go to our tours page.
Questions? Email Education@FrankLloydWright.Org
NEW for Spring 2025!
Homeschool Explorations just for teens! Taliesin West is now offering workshops for homeschoolers age 13-17. These workshops include in-depth hands-on learning, focusing on either interior design or interior design. Your teen will be inspired by the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, while creating their own projects and exploring new career paths and concepts.
Please note: Parents/guardians are welcome to drop off their child OR stay during these sessions. If staying on property, you must register for a FREE guardian ticket. Guardians must stay within the classroom during the workshop.
Questions? Email Education@FrankLloydWright.Org
Homeschool Explorations: Teen Interior Design Workshops
Thursdays, February 13, 20, 27
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., $80 for all 3 sessions
Ages 13-17
Teens will learn the basic principles of interior design and explore the items Frank Lloyd Wright designed for home interiors, such as furniture, lighting, and textiles. As junior interior designers, participants will create vision boards and architectural models of a completed, designed room of their choosing.
Homeschool Explorations: Teen Architectural Design Workshops
Thursdays, April 3, 10, 17
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., $80 for all 3 sessions
Ages 13-17
Does your child dream of being an architect? During this 3-day workshop, we’ll discuss how to design buildings for tricky environments, landscapes, and clients! Mimicking the design process, students will create fully detailed architectural models of innovative structures they dream up.
November 5 and 7, 2024
Building Bridges
Students will use the engineering design cycle to design model bridges using K’nex pieces. Through building structural bridges, students will learn about load, span and working in collaborative dynamics like engineers and architects. Students will also examine bridges from around the world.
Dates & Prices:
Two sessions of this class are offered:
For students age 6-8:
Tuesday, November 5, 2024; 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
For students age 9-11:
Thursday, November 7, 2024, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
November 19 and 21, 2024
Building with Balance: Cantilevers
Students will learn about how architects use cantilevers to lift their buildings into the air, soaring over rivers and ravines. They will then explore concepts of balance and use their new knowledge to build unique balancing sculptures.
Dates & Prices:
Two sessions of this class are offered:
For students age 6-8:
Tuesday, November 19, 2024; 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
For students age 9-11:
Thursday, November 21, 2024, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
December 10 and 12, 2024
Holiday Treasure Boxes
When Frank Lloyd Wright lived at Taliesin West with his students, they would create special gift boxes for him at Christmas. These gift boxes were often elaborately painted and hid special artworks or poems inside. In this tradition, students will create their own winter holiday boxes that can hide small notes and treasures.
Dates & Prices:
Two sessions of this class are offered:
For students age 6-8:
Tuesday, December 10, 2024; 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
For students age 9-11:
Thursday, December 12, 2024, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
January 14, 2025
Concrete Creations for Kids (for students age 6-11)
Learn about building materials and explore how the apprentices of Taliesin West made the building, using rocks from our own Sonoran Desert! Students will create their own “desert masonry” concrete art piece to take home.
Tuesday, January 14; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
January 28, 2025
Windmill Engineering Challenge (for students age 6-11)
Students will learn about the history of wind power, how architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a windmill (Romeo & Juliet), and then build their own functioning windmill.
Tuesday, January 28; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
February 11, 2025
Design a Desert Shelter (for students age 6-11)
Students will learn about the shelter building projects of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture apprentices. We’ll explore a shelter made by an apprentice, and then participate in a mini-shelter building project, where we’ll how to balance materials, costs, and creativity!
Tuesday, February 11; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
February 25, 2025
Japanese Woodblock Printing (for students age 6-11)
Frank Lloyd Wright was a collector of art, particularly Japanese Woodblock prints and Chinese ceramic pieces. During this class, we’ll explore both! Students will create their own stamp to create a piece of art inspired by Japanese prints.
Tuesday, February 25; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
March 4, 2025
Furniture Design for Kids (for students age 6-11)
Many architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, designed furniture as well! During this class, we’ll examine some of Wright’s furniture pieces, learn about other unique types of furniture, and make our own paper furniture models to take home.
Tuesday, March 4; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
March 18, 2025
Why Are Blueprints Blue? (For students age 6-11)
Students will learn about the history of blueprints, and why this artistic photographic process became so important to architecture! They will create their own cyanotype print to take home, using the same process Frank Lloyd Wright once used.
Tuesday, March 18; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
April 8, 2025
Stained Glass Discovery (For students 6-11)
Students will learn about the history of stained glass and how it is made. We will then explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s stained glass windows and how he interpreted nature in his designs. Students will create their own faux stained class art to take home.
Tuesday, April 8; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
April 22, 2025
Kids’ Eco-Engineering (Ages 6-11)
Students will learn about sustainable building practices, passive solar design, and how Frank Lloyd Wright used these techniques at his desert camp, Taliesin West. Then, they will learn about solar power and make a mini green-energy craft.
Tuesday, April 22; 2025 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homeschool student $15
Adult chaperone $0
Homeschool Group Tour:
A child-friendly tour can be arranged for your homeschool group! Together with a Museum Educator, your group will explore architectural history, the natural wonders of the Sonoran Desert, and more! You will see many spaces at Taliesin West that visitors of all ages enjoy, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s office and a special movie theatre from 1949 called “The Cabaret.”
Price:
Adults $30.00
Youth (6-8) $15.00
5 and under Free
Minimum of 10 paid guests required to book.
To inquire about booking a homeschool group visit, please email Education@FrankLloydWright.Org.
