Education Programs
The Augusta Museum of History Department of Education relates, through interpretation, the Museum’s collections and its commitment to their preservation, study and display, to the needs and interests of a diverse audience. The department has developed programs for children, families, teachers, adult learners, and special audiences alike.

School Field Trips & Tours

The Augusta Museum of History offers docent-led tours and self-guided tours of the museum for both adults and schoolchildren. Tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance by calling the Education Department at (706) 722-8454. Please inform the Education Department of any special needs or interests in your group when scheduling your tour. For school groups, the museum can accommodate up to one hundred children at one time, in groups no larger than twenty-five students. 

1797 Ezekiel Harris House 
Museum Tour 
(Grades 3-12)

Learn more about the life of Ezekiel Harris, the society in which he lived, and the Harrisburg neighborhood. This facility is not wheelchair accessible, but alternative learning experience is available for those who cannot access the house.
(30 students can be accommodated) 

A joint tour of both the Augusta Museum of History and the Ezekiel Harris House.  This tour can be focused on the colonial history of Augusta at your request.  Students are welcome to have lunch in the park next to the Ezekiel Harris House between the tours. 
(30 students can be accommodated)

A Historical Overview of the CSRA – General TOur
(Grade 2 - Adult)

An in-depth examination of the history of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) is provided to students as they explore the events and forces of the past 12,000 years, which have shaped their community.   Through a guided tour of the award-winning exhibition, Augusta’s Story¸ the history of Augusta is traced from the area’s earliest inhabitants to modern day.  Also included in this tour is The Transportation Corridor, which highlights 150 years of transportation history in Augusta, including a 1914 Steam Engine. 

(100 students can be accommodated)

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY OF AUGUSTA
(Grade 4 - Adult)

This tour explores the historical and cultural experiences of African-Americans in the CSRA, beginning with Oglethorpe’s ban on slavery during the founding of Georgia through the 1970 Augusta Riot.  This tour is presented primarily through historical information and group discussion.  Following the tour, teachers may choose the option of viewing a 25-minute video, American History Through Southern Eyes:  The Road to Civil Rights, in the History Theater.  

(60 students can be accommodated) 

Touch and See Tour
(Kindergarten - Grade 2)

Hands-on interaction through the use of historical reproductions helps local and regional history come to life for children in our exhibition, Augusta’s Story.  By comparing the past to the present, children learn more about their world. 

(50 students can be accommodated)

This tour can be adapted for visually impaired
visitors of all ages.  Reservations are required. 

Georgia Studies:  Images and Artifacts
(Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 8)

Through collaboration between the Augusta Museum of History and the Morris Museum of Art, the Georgia Studies:  Images and Artifacts tour allows students to visit both museums and explore local and state history through art and artifacts.  Each grade level has a tour that meets their respective Georgia History curriculum.  To further enhance the Georgia Studies experience, a classroom resource kit, including lesson plans, books and video, are available to check-out from either museum or the media centers at Burke, Columbia and Richmond County public schools.  The lesson plans can also be found on both museums’ websites. 

(50 students can be accommodated per site)

SELF-GUIDED

The Augusta Museum of History offers two alternatives for groups not wishing to participate in guided tours:  Hunt for History worksheets or The American History Through Southern Eyes DVD Series. 

Hunt for History
(Kindergarten - Grade 12)

Students explore Augusta’s Story and The Transportation Corridor while seeking answers to questions taken from the exhibits.  Teachers choose activity sheets from a variety of themes to best fit their curriculum.  The Hunt for History activity sheets can be found on the Augusta Museum of History website under the Teacher Resources tab.  Hunt for History is based on the same exhibits covered in the guided tours.  It is not recommended that students participate in both the guided and self-guided tours.  Teachers will need to provide copies of the worksheets and pencils. 
Hunt for History Worksheets

American History through Southern Eyes
(Grade 4 - Adult)

Teachers may choose to have students view a 25-minute DVD from the “American History through Southern Eyes” collection (as listed below) or check the Museum website for current movies playing in the History Theater as an additional component following the Self-Guided portion. 

Living the American Revolution
Living the Civil War
King Cotton
The Road to Civil Rights
Making a Modern South
World War I and the South

Tour Scheduling
For all tour scheduling contact Heather Sellers, Education Manager, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at 706-722-8454 or hsellers@augustamuseum.org. Tours are scheduled two weeks in advance depending on available time and gallery space. Tour bookings are made on a first-come, first-served basis.



Preparing for Your Visit
After scheduling your tour, you will receive a confirmation letter with important information about your visit, tips for teachers and chaperones, and suggestions for pre-visit and post-visit activities. This letter will also include information on where to meet your tour guide, how to make arrangements for visitors with special needs, and telephone numbers to call if you need to make changes in your scheduled tour.



Age Level
Kindergarten (5 years-old) through Adult



Group Size
The minimum size for a guided tour is 10 people. Most school tours can accommodate 100 students in groups of 25. Kindergarten & 1st grade must have one adult for every 5 students
Older school groups should have an adult for every 10 students. Teachers are responsible for supervising their students while in the museum. Special arrangements can be made for larger groups when time and space are available.



Availability
Scheduled tours are available from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.



Special Needs
In order to better serve the schools and give all children a wonderful learning experience, the Department of Education and Public Programs would like school teachers to consider the following suggestions when booking a tour for school children who have learning and/or behavioral disorders, or any other special needs:
· Please advise the tour coordinator of your group’s special needs.
· Request additional docents.
· Have extra chaperones accompany your group.