Education

Explore the history, culture, and wonder of what life in the Santa Cruz Valley Area was like! Learn about the exciting Anza Expedition, be an Archaeologist, try your hand at our Historical Scavenger Hunt, study modes of Transportation, or be your own Historian. Our programs are based off of state curriculum standards, follow STEAM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) and promote literacy, evidential reasoning, empathy, critical thinking, communication, tolerance, collaboration, and creativity. We’ll help you customize an immersive, standards-based experience. There’s so much for students to discover--whether in the classroom or at home!

Click here to see the list of all of our activities!

There is no minimum or maximum amount for the size of the group. However, teachers and chaperones are responsible for leading their students throughout the Park and guiding the activities. We suggest classes break-up into smaller groups and start at different locations of the Park in order to maximize the amount of activities and lessons teachers would like to execute.

School groups usually arrive at the Park between 9am and 10am. They typically spend about two hours touring the park with lessons and activities they have chosen and printed from our website. Some groups bring their own activities they have created as well. Groups can eat their lunches in our spacious and shaded picnic grounds. Groups also get access to the Park all day. If you have any further questions, please call us at 520-398-2252.

Here are a few extra educational activities:

English teachers bring your students to practice Ekphrastic writing (writing in response to works of art or artifacts) in the galleries. Co-lead a writing workshop and host a reading at the end.

History teachers don’t forget about the American historical sources hanging all over our Museum walls. Browse through our list of historical activities you can do at home, in class, or at our Park.

Foreign language teachers, bring your students to discuss works of art, history, or plants in our eight gardens in a second language.

Math teachers, did you know that the golden ratio has long been used in the visual arts because it is the most aesthetically pleasing? Or that artists often lay out there works based on a series of 45-degree angles? Bring your students to see how math is used in this realistic application with our art or browse through our list of other STEAM activities.

Science teachers, sculptures and artifacts can be used to explain physics, photography exhibits can be used to talk about chemical reactions, and paintings can be used to discuss the natural world.

If you are an educator, we'd appreciate you filling out the survey after you've completed

the lesson plan. Thank you!

Educator Survey

Activities

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Activities

The Anza Trail: Moving from Tubac to San Francisco

This activity is suggested to engage the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade scholar in learning the importance of Southwest Arizona and how history can be found throughout their studies in many subjects. It takes into account the 2018 Arizona Standards in its design.

Cavalcade of History at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum

Transportation Throughout the Years

This activity is suggested to engage scholars in learning the importance of Southwest Arizona and how history can be found throughout their studies in many subjects. It takes into account the 2018 Arizona Standards in its design.

The images are from the Cavalcade of History Collection, painted by artist Bill Ahrendt for Arizona Highways magazine. They are owned by the Tubac Historical Society, and are on loan to, and on display at, the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park.

Every Student is Their Own Historian

Genealogy is the creation of their family history. That History is the recording of change over time and that we can use our own family history to see how the lives of the student’s parents and grandparents was different from their lives. By recognizing these changes, we can better understand why we are where we are today.

A Duel of Honor at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum

Historical Scavenger Hunt: Multiple Perspectives and Interpreting History

“History” can be defined as the interpretation of change over time. Historians look at documents, archaeological records, oral histories, newspapers, and any other evidence of an event to determine why it is important and how to present it. Sometimes there is a lot of evidence, and sometimes there is not much to discover.

In this exercise, the student will look at documents, make notes from those documents, and then write their version of the event. In this exercise the conflict between Edward Cross, newspaper editor and Sylvester Mowry, Territorial representative will be examined.

Underground Exhibit at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum

Archaeology: Sister of History

Students will be exposed to archaeology and learn why it is important in the study of history. They will use skills and processes to understand that many topics have more than one perspective. Students will also employ critical thinking and visual learning while observing objects and be exposed to various cultures to see how innovation in technology helped foster civilization.

Otero Hall Ambulance Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum

Tubac Presidio STEAM Activities

Our suggested STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities give your students the opportunity to learn about the vast and exciting history of the Santa Cruz and Pima County region in a fun, hands on way.

Spain and the American Revolution

The following activity is suggested to engage scholars in learning the importance of Southwest Arizona, the role of the Spanish in American History, and how history can be found throughout their studies in many subjects. It takes into account the 2018 Arizona Standards in its design.

One Day Tu Parks Tumacacori and Tubac Presidio

Tumacacori and Tubac - One Day, Tu Parks

Learn about Arizona history where it happened! Two historical sites only minutes apart bring state standards to life.

Includes science, art, geography, mathematics, language arts, and more.

Arizona Territorial Period Class Circa 1

A Day at School in the Arizona Territory

The Old Tubac Schoolhouse living history program invites you to become a part of the past. The program combines seven years of research and development with the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and even the tastes of a territorial period school day.

We're sure that your class will enjoy adding the motion and style to make history live.

Junior Ranger Journal

Join Rocky Ringtail and become a Junior Ranger at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum!

Griffin Museum at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum

Tubac Presidio Scavenger Hunt

Do you want to go on a Scavenger Hunt? Learn about history from the past 2,000 years! We have two Scavenger Hunts for you to choose from: Tubac Presidio Scavenger Hunt and Tubac Presidio Scavenger Hunt about Women and Girls.