Planning to go to Washington, D.C., and want discipline journey concepts? This metropolis is filled with world-class museums, historic landmarks, and iconic authorities buildings, and lots of of them are inside strolling distance of each other.
Why Lecturers Love Washington, D.C.
“Washington, D.C., is an unparalleled vacation spot for discipline journeys, providing a variety of alternatives to discover every little thing from African American historical past and tradition to the nation’s political scene,” shares native elementary faculty instructor Assunta Clary. “Town actually enhances college students’ creativeness and curiosity. Publicity is the important thing to creating memorable classroom experiences translate to actual life, and Washington, D.C., does simply that!”
Listed below are must-see stops in Washington, D.C., which might be value including to your itinerary.
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Civics and Authorities Subject Journeys in Washington, D.C.
These iconic Washington, D.C., discipline journey concepts make civics and authorities participating, memorable, and related for college kids.
U.S. Capitol
- Admission price: Free. Excursions could be requested through your U.S. consultant or U.S. senator.
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: U.S. Historical past, Civics, Authorities
This landmark can also be a working authorities constructing. College students can discover the constructing’s historical past, structure, and the laws course of that shapes life for everybody in america.
Trainer tip: For a private tour with additional entry (and fewer traces), contact one among your U.S. senators or member of Congress and request a staff-led tour.
Exercise thought: Have college students monitor an actual invoice earlier than your journey, then focus on the place it might transfer by Congress as they discover the constructing. Afterward, ask them to replicate by answering questions like “Who has probably the most energy in shaping legal guidelines: the folks, Congress, or the president?”
Study extra: U.S. Capital Customer Middle
U.S. Supreme Court docket
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: U.S. Historical past, Civics, Authorities
Get an up-close take a look at the primary two flooring of the constructing that homes the nation’s highest federal court docket. Educated docents lead 30-minute packages that introduce the judicial features of the court docket, the historical past of the constructing, and the structure of the courtroom.
Trainer tip: When the court docket is in session, excursions can be found solely after court docket adjourns for the day, so remember to verify the court docket calendar.
Exercise thought: Maintain a Supreme Court docket–type classroom debate. Select one among our center faculty debate matters or highschool debate matters, and have college students put collectively their arguments utilizing graphic organizers earlier than presenting their circumstances and voting on a remaining court docket choice.
Study extra: U.S. Supreme Court docket
Debate Graphic Organizers (Free Printable)
Our debate graphic organizers work at any grade degree. They’re an ideal software to assist college students observe their argumentative writing or debate abilities.
The White Home
- Admission price: Free. Excursions could be requested through your U.S. consultant or senator.
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: U.S. Historical past, Civics, Authorities
Positive, you possibly can view the long-lasting Individuals’s Home by the black iron gates. However you and your college students also can stroll proper inside and tour the president’s workplace and residence (nicely, a minimum of the general public rooms).
Trainer tip: If you name your senator’s or congressperson’s workplace for a Capitol tour, remember to request a White Home tour on your class. You’ll be able to request a tour as much as 90 days prematurely.
Exercise thought: Encourage your college students to investigate historic inaugural addresses and pictures, observe the occasions of Inauguration Day, and even design their very own Inauguration Day announcement or invitation.
Study extra: The White Home
Inauguration Worksheet Bundle (Free Printables)
Have interaction your college students earlier than or after their journey to the White Home with this exercise bundle that includes 4 printable inauguration actions.
Lincoln Memorial
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: U.S. Historical past
Take within the scale and symbolism of one among Washington’s most recognizable presidential monuments. It options the long-lasting giant seated sculpture of President Lincoln, inscriptions of two of his speeches, and an attractive view of the Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument, and Nationwide Mall. It was additionally the positioning of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech” and different essential moments in historical past.
Trainer tip: Starting in summer time 2026, you can too tour the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft for the primary time. You’ll be able to be taught extra about how the memorial was constructed by interactive displays and multimedia shows.
Study extra: Lincoln Memorial
Science and Innovation Subject Journeys in Washington, D.C.
In search of Washington, D.C., discipline journey concepts that may encourage future scientists, engineers, and innovators? These locations deliver STEM studying to life.
The Smithsonian’s Nationwide Air and Area Museum
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: Okay–12
- Curriculum connection: Science, Physics
This museum will present college students with a complete historical past of human flight. It’s the world’s largest assortment of aviation and area artifacts, together with the area go well with from the primary stroll on the moon and the primary efficiently powered airplane.
Trainer tip: Native elementary faculty instructor Assunta Clary recommends springing for an IMAX planetarium present for much more enjoyable!
Exercise thought: Cut up college students into teams to finish a mission-based scavenger hunt. Mission classes can vary from historic plane fact-finding to the area race and planetary exploration. Deliver the group again collectively and ask questions like “What shocked you most in regards to the historical past of flight and area journey?”
Study extra: Smithsonian Nationwide Air and Area Museum
Smithsonian Nationwide Zoological Park
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: Okay–5
- Curriculum connection: Science, Geography
The large pandas would possibly get probably the most consideration of all of the residents of the nationwide zoo, however it’s residence to over 2,000 animals from nearly 400 species! There are day by day demonstrations the place you possibly can meet an animal and their keeper or see a feeding.
Exercise thought: Play I-Spy along with your college students. Search for animals with totally different colours or patterns or bodily options. Have college students use a Venn diagram to check and distinction what they noticed in every class.
Study extra: Smithsonian Nationwide Zoological Park
Venn Diagram Template Bundle (Free Printable)
Seize all eight of our Venn diagram templates for college kids to check animals throughout your journey to the Smithsonian Nationwide Zoological Park.
United States Botanic Backyard
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: 4–8
- Curriculum connection: Science, Artwork
Really feel the warmth of the greenhouse all yr lengthy on the oldest repeatedly working public backyard in america. It homes crops from quite a lot of environments, starting from lush tropics to arid deserts. Rotating displays and residing crops imply you might have the prospect to see one thing just a little totally different in bloom or on show relying on what time of yr you go to.
Exercise thought: Join forward of time for an instructor-led lesson tailor-made to your grade degree, or have your college students full a nature scavenger hunt throughout your journey.
Study extra: United States Botanic Backyard
Scavenger Hunts (Free Printable)
Take our free printable nature scavenger hunt alongside on your journey to america Botanic Backyard.
Smithsonian Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: Okay–8
- Curriculum connection: Science, Historical past
You’ll be greeted within the foyer by Henry, the 13-foot-tall, 11-ton African elephant, to begin your tour. Many college students are then rapidly captivated by the dinosaur fossils, however the Museum of Pure Historical past permits you to discover every little thing from birds and butterflies to bison and whales.
Trainer tip: Digital excursions are additionally obtainable if there’s an exhibit you missed or wish to revisit along with your class.
Study extra: Smithsonian Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past
Nationwide Geographic Museum of Exploration
- Admission price: $22.99 to $29.99 relying on age (reductions for teams of 20+)
- Greatest for grades: Okay–12
- Curriculum connection: Science, Social Research, Geography, Artwork
You could be one of many first to go to this new addition in Washington, D.C., which reopened in June 2026. The Nationwide Geographic Museum of Exploration makes use of storytelling to deliver guests by interactive displays devoted to wildlife, landscapes, and world cultures. There are even rooms created particularly for varsity teams to discover.
Trainer tip: Group tickets not solely include a reduction, they supply you a particular orientation and separate entrance to skip the road.
Study extra: Nationwide Geographic Museum of Exploration
Historical past Subject Journeys in Washington, D.C.
In search of Washington, D.C., discipline journey concepts that assist college students expertise historical past past the textbook? These locations provide unforgettable alternatives to be taught from the previous.
Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: 4–12
- Curriculum connection: Historical past
Inside you’ll discover over 45,000 artifacts that deliver tales of African American tradition, creativity, and resilience to life. The museum’s decrease ranges concentrate on the legacy of slavery, segregation, and the early civil rights motion, whereas the higher flooring have a good time contributions to visible arts, navy service, music, sports activities, and up to date tradition.
Trainer tip: Since there may be a lot to see, you possibly can assist information your college students to particular artifacts with NMAAHC-created journals.
Study extra: Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: Historical past
This museum strives to function a residing memorial to the Holocaust and encourage “residents and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, forestall genocide, and promote human dignity.” Because of the delicate nature of the subject material, the Everlasting Exhibition is really useful for ages 11 and up. Faculty teams ought to use the museum’s on-line group reservation system.
Study extra: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Nationwide Museum of the American Indian
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: Okay–12
- Curriculum connection: Historical past, Social Research
The curved exterior and east-facing entrance enable you get a way for the museum earlier than you even step foot inside. As soon as inside, there are over 800,000 objects and pictures representing greater than 1,200 Indigenous cultures that may assist deliver the historical past, languages, artwork, and cultural traditions of American Indians to life.
Trainer tip: The imagiNATIONS Exercise Middle is an interactive area inside the museum created particularly for grades pre-Okay by 4.
Study extra: Nationwide Museum of the American Indian
Frederick Douglass Nationwide Historic Web site
- Admission price: Faculty teams pay a flat price of $10 as of this writing.
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: Historical past, Social Research
When abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass purchased the 9-acre property of Cedar Hill, he grew to become the primary African American to purchase a house within the Outdated Anacostia neighborhood. The 21-room Victorian mansion tour and packages train guests about Douglass’ efforts to abolish slavery. Set excessive within the hills, the home and its grounds additionally open up onto one of the crucial breathtaking views of Washington.
Trainer tip: Hours change barely seasonally so verify their web site as you propose your go to.
Study extra: Frederick Douglass Nationwide Historic Web site
Artwork and Tradition Subject Journeys in Washington, D.C.
Discover these Washington, D.C., discipline journey concepts for artwork and tradition, the place college students can uncover world-class collections, artistic expression, and the varied tales that form our nation.
Ford’s Theatre
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: Historical past, Social Research, English, Performing Arts
The location of Abraham Lincoln’s 1865 assassination remains to be an energetic performing arts middle immediately. You’ll be able to catch a efficiency or tour the museum and theater to be taught extra about Lincoln’s presidency and American life at the moment.
Exercise thought: Pair a weekday matinee with a theater-provided lesson plan to maintain the dialog going.
Study extra: Ford’s Theatre
Abraham Lincoln Details (Free Google Slides)
Seize your full set of ready-to-go Abraham Lincoln Google Slides, together with kid-friendly explanations, a timeline, and extra.
Folger Shakespeare Library
- Admission price: $10 per particular person
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: English
Head to the world’s largest Shakespeare assortment to learn how the bard’s performs got here to life. Tour the galleries, and take part in hands-on experiences just like the print store and paper-folding for books.
Trainer tip: You too can plan a workshop expertise on your college students utilizing the Folger Technique to deliver Shakespeare alive for every type of scholars.
Exercise thought: Earlier than your journey, learn widespread Shakespearean poems and train your college students methods to write a Shakespearean sonnet.
Study extra: Folger Shakespeare Library
Shakespearean Sonnet Worksheets (Free Printables)
This sonnet worksheet bundle walks college students by selecting a theme, following correct rhyme scheme and meter, and extra.
Widespread Shakespearean Poems (Free Printables)
This printable Shakespearean poetry bundle consists of the full textual content of 25 widespread poems as a free printable to make use of along with your college students.
Washington Nationwide Cathedral
- Admission price: Free
- Greatest for grades: 6–12
- Curriculum connection: Historical past
Discover the third-tallest constructing in Washington (fourth-tallest construction general, together with the Washington Monument). Excursions, led by a cathedral docent, present an summary of the cathedral’s artwork, structure, historical past, and mission, together with the gargoyles and stained-glass home windows.
Trainer tip: Contact the Washington Nationwide Cathedral to plan your go to. Group reservations are required.
Study extra: Washington Nationwide Cathedral
Don’t overlook to seize your free printable Subject Journey Reflection sheets!
