School Visits
School Visits
School visits at the Heard Museum are FREE, designed for K-12 students, and focus on helping students learn more about tribal nations and communities in the Southwest.
Group leads can choose between two different visit formats. All groups, whether on a guided tour or self-guided visit, are welcome to bring lunch to eat on campus and complete an activity as part of their visit.
Guided Tours
Guided tours are visits led and paced by our skilled Docents from the Heard Museum Guild. This option is great for groups looking for a more structured experience and who want the ability to ask questions during their visit.
Self-Guided Visits
Self-guided visits are led and paced by the teachers and chaperones. This option is great for groups who want to focus on a specific topic or exhibition.
Self-Directed Summers
During the months of June-August, we are happy to offer self-guided tours for school groups. Your group will enjoy visiting any of the galleries in the Heard Museum at your own pace. Make sure to check below for our Self-Directed Tour Teacher Resources packet, which includes information about the current exhibitions, engagement strategies and an art journey activity to complete with your group. If you would prefer a Guided School Tour, please schedule your visit September- May.
Ready to book? Fill out the form here:
School Visits FAQ
Guided Tours
HOME: Native People in the Southwest (Grades K-12) highlights the ancestral and present-day Native people of the Greater Southwest. This exhibition shows a wide array of Indigenous creativity including pottery, baskets, jewelry, and Hopi katsina dolls.
Self-Guided Visit
1. HOME: Native People in the Southwest (Grades K-12) highlights the ancestral and present-day Native people of the Greater Southwest. This exhibition shows a wide array of Indigenous creativity including pottery, baskets, jewelry, and Hopi katsina dolls
2. Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories (Grades 7-12) traces the history of the U.S. government’s efforts to “kill the Indian and save the man.” The exhibition highlights the arrival of students, their classroom work, dorms and extracurricular activities. Many multimedia stations enhance the experience.
3. “Highlights of the Heard” gives groups the opportunity to spend a bit of time in each of the galleries in the museum.
Guided tours are available Monday – Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Self-guided visits are available daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Guided Tours
Our expert Docents from the Heard Museum Guild’s Las Guias group will skillfully lead your tour.
Self-Guided Visits
Teachers and chaperones will lead their students in groups.
You can book at tour up to a year in advance, and no later than 3 weeks in advance.
Guided tours last for 45 minutes. Self-guided visits are booked for an hour.
Guided tours accommodate a maximum of 100 students. Self-guided visits cater to groups of up to 80 students.
*Please note: if your group exceeds 60 students, you will be divided into two rotations and should plan to stay for 2 hours.
We require a 1:7 chaperone to student ratio for grades K-8 and a 1:10 ratio for grades 9-12.
Thanks to generous support, we do not charge individual student or chaperone fees. Instead, each group pays a one-time $20 booking fee to secure the tour.
Currently, we feature the Plains Cuff art activity, led by Heard Museum Staff, and the self-guided Outdoor Art Walk activity, which focuses on six works of art located on the Heard campus. Self-guided groups can request copies of our in-gallery animal search activity. Interested in adding an activity to your tour? Let us know during booking or email education@heard.org. More activities on the horizon!
Groups can pay using check or credit card. Further details will be shared upon booking.
Absolutely! Lunches and water bottles can be stored in our Dorrance Education Building. The Hearst Foundations Children’s Courtyard and the Libby Amphitheater are both great outdoor lunch spots.
Currently, we do not offer lunch for purchase at the museum.
Of course! Please fill out the booking form. If you have any additional questions, reach out to education@heard.org.
Yes! Buses may load/unload and park in the Bus Bay outside of the Dorrance Education Building.
Buses should enter on Encanto off of Central Avenue and leave out of the Monte Vista exit. Buses may remain in the Bus Bay during the visit, but please shut off the engine. Restrooms are conveniently located in the Dorrance Education Building.
ASL and Spanish Language translation can be arranged with prior notice.
Assistive listening devices are available at the Admissions desk.
Printed text about the exhibitions is available at the Admissions desk.
While it is the museum policy that any guest may use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity, single-stall, all-gender restrooms are located in the Grand Gallery for your convenience.
If you have any questions or specific needs for the tour, please let us know in advance.
Use this one-pager to prep students in advance of the trip.
Guided Tours
Most tours of HOME: Native People in the Southwest at the Heard Museum support classroom instruction surrounding State History and Social Science Standards. However, each tour varies slightly based on guide and group interests.
Tours of HOME serve as a broad introduction to the different Indigenous peoples of the Southwest and may not cover each standard that refers to Arizona’s Tribal Nations.
Most tours of HOME: Native People in the Southwest at the Heard Museum support classroom instruction of the AZ Visual Arts Standards. The artistic process of Creating is utilized in school visits art activities. The artistic processes of Presenting, Responding and Connecting are supported through participation in the Heard’s school visits within the galleries.
If there are specific areas you hope to cover in your tour, please let us know in advance.
More information can be found here.
School Tour AZ State Standards
Self-Guided Tours
As self-guided visits are led by the teachers/chaperones, the AZ State Standards covered during the visit will be up to the teacher to choose.
Most visits in HOME: Native People in the Southwest at the Heard Museum support classroom instruction surrounding State History and Social Science Standards.
For changes, email education@heard.org.
To cancel, call Visitor Services at least 3 business days in advance at 602.252.8840.
Please note that no-shows incur a $25 cancellation fee.
Prepare with our teacher resource packets
New Guided Tour Teacher Packet coming soon!
Sponsors
The school visits program is made possible with the support of the following sponsors:
Youth & Family Programming Sponsors