Your Special Treasures

K–12 Resource: Field Trip Activities

Pre-Visit Activity: Explore why special things are important to keep and share

Learning Objectives

In this activity, you will:

  • choose three things you own that are special and talk about why they are important to you
  • explore why people keep meaningful things
  • learn that museums care for and protect important objects, too

Materials Needed

  • Three small things that are special to you
  • A table or desk to display your treasures

Assignment

What Are Your Treasures?

We all have things that are special to us. Some things remind us of a nice memory. Others tell a fun story. Some make us smile when we look at them. Sometimes things are special because we made them ourselves.

Think about the things you have at home. Which of them would you call treasures? Think of things that are small enough to sit on your desk and that would be safe to bring to school.

Talk about these questions with a partner to help you choose three treasures.

  • What’s something that’s important to me?
  • What's something that helps me remember a special moment?
  • What’s something I want to keep for a long time?
  • What’s something I made myself that I’m proud of?

Why Are These Things Special to You?

Bring your three treasures to school. If you can’t bring them to school, you can draw pictures of them instead. Clear your table or desk to make room to display them. Place them carefully and neatly, then take a moment to look at them. Think of one sentence about why each treasure is special to you.

Here are some ideas:

  • "This is special to me because…"
  • "This reminds me of..."
  • "I want to keep this because..."

Share Your Stories

With a partner, take turns showing your treasures and talking about them. Share why each one is important to you.

After your partner shares, tell them something you learned about them from their treasures.

A Place Full of Treasures

We often keep special things because they matter to us. They may tell stories, share ideas, or make us feel something. They may help us remember important moments. Museums collect and care for special objects for these reasons, too.

During your field trip to the Getty Museum, you’ll see artworks that have been cared for and kept safe for a long time. The museum protects and displays these objects so people like you can enjoy and learn from them.