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Presidio Museum Offers Educational Opportunities For Student Groups

In-person and virtual programs for Tucson student groups of all types

By Sponsored content from the Presidio Museum October 30, 2020

In today’s world, many of our children are staying at home more and learning online either every day or several days a week. If you’re looking for an interactive way for your child to learn about Tucson and Southern Arizona’s history, the Presidio Museum can help!  We offer programs that run the gamut from completely live to completely virtual, and these programs can be used by professional educators, homeschoolers or family groups. The following programs are listed from 100% live to 100% virtual:

Program 1: Morning Muster – An On-Site Live Field Trip

TWO HOUR VISIT/$5 per person
Minimum of 8 participants. Capped at 30 participants (including adults)



This program begins with either an in-person visit (masked) or a Zoom visit with a Presidio Museum Outreach Coordinator for a 45-minute age-appropriate presentation about the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson and its history. Following that, your group will arrive another day for a previously scheduled on-site visit. A brief recap of the history of the Presidio will be given before the group is separated into smaller groups that will rotate through four stations that may include the following (based on volunteer and staff availability):
  • Children’s chores of early Tucson settlers    
  • Tinsmithing activity and blacksmithing demo    
  • Games children played before screens
  • The life of a Presidio soldier
  • Calligraphy
Program 1 Contact: 
Jean Baxter, Education Director: tbaxter559@aol.com

Program 2: History in the Field - Themed On-Site Live Field Trips

TWO HOUR VISIT/$5 per person
Minimum of 8 participants. Capped at 30 participants (including adults)
Your group will schedule an on-site visit with a Presidio Outreach Specialist for a themed visit.  Three theme options available.



Theme A: Archaeology 
Ages restricted to 9 and up. Identify and learn about specific artifacts found in recent archaeological excavations and participate in field mapping.  An excavation activity in our dig site can be included for groups of 8 or fewer.




Theme B: Early Peoples 
Your group will time travel back to 400 A.D. to experience the daily life of the Hohokam. You will visit an excavated Early Agricultural period pit house.  Then your group will have to make your own tools using local materials and may engage in the following activities: using an atl-atl, using an early drill, and making a utilitarian basket or pot.



Theme C: How Did They Make That? 
What did the people in 1775 (Indigenous and Spanish) use to build their homes and make their tools? Your group will learn about the Sonoran environment and how it affects the world we live in.  Activities will focus on sustainable living practices that are being re-learned today.

Program 2 Contact: Ginger Thompson,
Family Programming and Educational Outreach Manager, gingert@TucsonPresidio.com

Program 3: Portable Presidio – At YOUR Site

Program 3 will be available in 2021, but you can register now!

TWO HOUR VISIT TO YOUR SITE. Minimum of 12 participants. Capped at 40 participants (including adults).
Program 3 is similar to the Morning Muster program above but at your school or homeschool site. You will make two appointments with a Presidio Museum Outreach Specialist. The first will be either an in-person visit (masked) or a Zoom visit to give a 45-minute age-appropriate presentation about the Presidio Museum and its history.  

For your second appointment, two Presidio Education Specialists will visit you at your OPEN AIR site and bring a “field trip in a box”. Your group will be broken into smaller groups and rotate through 4 stations similar to the Morning Muster Program 1. Additional assistance from parents or staff will be necessary for this program.

Register now by contacting Ginger Thompson, Family Programming and Educational Outreach Manager, gingert@TucsonPresidio.com


Program 4: Museum in a Box

Week-long trunk check-out with Zoom support only (No live interaction)
Program 4 will be available in Spring 2021.  Email gingert@TucsonPresidio.com for questions.
FEE FOR TRUNK: $15 per day or $60 a week (Monday-Friday)     



Theme 1: Historic Hats of Arizona
A “Historic Hats” trunk will be delivered to your site. You will make a zoom appointment with a Presidio Museum Outreach Specialist who will present “Historic Hats of Arizona” to your group with live Q and A time.  Then your group will identify the hats in the trunk and do further investigation on the individual who would have worn that hat.  
Additional activities and curriculum are also provided in the trunk.



Theme 2: A Day in the Life of a Presidio Inhabitant
A Presidio trunk of supplies and activities will be delivered to your site. You will have a pre-scheduled Zoom presentation, video and live Q and A time with a Presidio Museum Outreach Specialist. This trunk will have a teacher packet, materials and supplies for the registered number of children. Provided directions will help a teacher/parents to run an activity with their participants. Activities may include:
  • Basket making activity
  • Calligraphy, a literacy lesson
  • Tinsmithing Mexican craft
  • Art with natural materials of the desert

Program 5: Virtual Presidio

60 MINUTE ONLINE PRESENTATION WITH ACTIVITY SHEETS
Capped at 30 participants (including adults) per zoom call.
$50 for first presentation, $30 for any additional presentation at the same school in the same school year.
Registration opening soon for Spring.  Email gingert@TucsonPresidio.com for questions.





TucsonPresidio.com

Note: All photos in this article were taken prior to COVID-19. Please click HERE to read the Presidio Museum's current health and safety policies. 

The Presidio San Agustin del Tucson is a valued sponsor of East Tucson Macaroni Kid. Sponsors like The Presidio Museum keep the East Tucson Macaroni Kid website and newsletter FREE for readers like you. If you visit the Museum or participate in one of their programs, be sure to tell them you heard about them from Macaroni Kid.