Museum Tours and Educator Resources
Virtual Field Trip
Please note: Requests to book The Arizona Capitol Museum virtual field trip are open now.
Arizona Capitol Museum tours support Arizona Social Studies Standards with an emphasis on government and civics. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Arizona Department of Education encourages virtual learning over on-site field trips in the 2020-21 academic year. The Arizona Capitol Museum’s Virtual Field Trip Program enables students to experience the museum and expand their social studies learning from home.
The field trip consists of:
- Filmed recordings that follow Arizona’s journey from westward expansion through statehood, the Arizona legislative process, and more.
- Pre- and post-tour activities.
- An opportunity to interact with a museum educator through either a live Q&A or a digital question form.
In-Person Tour
A visit to the Arizona Capitol Museum helps students and schools gain a greater understanding of Arizona history and civics. Objectives taught at the museum include many of the newly updated Arizona Social Science Standards for grades 3rd through 8th.
Please review the Educator Handbook for information on guided tours and museum policies before booking.
More than a Tour
Plan to allow extra time beyond the guided tour. Our tour is a valuable educational experience, but it doesn’t cover everything.
- See artifacts from the state’s namesake battleship, the USS Arizona and World War II.
- Use digital touch tables to discover the historic Capitol connections.
- Explore changing exhibits in our seasonal exhibit space.
- Stand under the copper dome to see (and hear) Winged Victory move with the wind.
Museum Activities and Resources
These worksheets, puzzles, and resources can be used to explore the south wing of the Capitol and as a part of your pre- or post-tour classroom lesson.
Self-Guided Interactive Packet
Elementary Activities:
- Introduction to the History and Government of Arizona and the Capitol Museum
- Arizona as a Territory Worksheet
- Capitol Investigators
- Picture Perfect
- Capitol Crossword Puzzle
- Arizona Word Search
- Bingo
- Making a Law Worksheet
Middle School Activities:
- Extra! Extra! Newspaper Article Worksheet
- Campaign for Statehood Questions and Answers
- Primary Sources: Analyzing Photographs & Prints
Classroom Resources:
- Kids and the Capitol: The Arizona Legislative Centennial Civics Project - A civics education initiative for K-12 students in Arizona.
- Arizona Almanac - Information about the State of Arizona.
- Documents Leading to Statehood - The Federal and Territorial papers that created Arizona.
- Arizona Memory Project - A research tool for a wide range of topics about Arizona past and present.
- iCivics – Founded by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics provides free lesson plans and games for learning civics.
Arizona Social Science Standards
Guided tours through the Arizona Capitol Museum and Legislative buildings cover many of the Arizona Social Science objectives from 3rd through 8th grade. View your grade below to see the highlighted standards covered.
Document Based Inquiry And Interaction
The Capitol Museum utilizes artifacts, technology, and interactive activities to support varied learning styles. Maps, photographs, newspapers, proclamations, treaties, and official acts are used to build exhibits and experiences that enhance critical thinking skills. Resources are developed with primary and secondary sources held by the Arizona State Library and Archives, Library of Congress, National Archives, and other reputable repositories.
Arizona Capitol Museum Gift Shop
The Arizona Capitol Museum Gift Shop accepts school purchase orders for all store products including educational materials such as books and preordered student gift bags. Call the Museum Gift Shop at (602) 926-3666 or visit azcapitolgifts.ecwid.com for more information on products.
