student tour guide

Flip the script and have your students be the tour guide! This engaging classroom project will deepen student engagement as they explore Washington D.C. on their school trip.

Student Tour Guide: The Assignment

It’s your turn to be the tour guide! Prepare a 5-7 minute speech that showcases one of the sites that we will visit during our Washington D.C. trip. Your speech should include historical context of the site, architectural elements, a story, and relevant logistics. Your presentation must also incorporate visual aids. Get ready to shine the light on Washington D.C. !

Student Tour Guide: Speech Elements

History

Provide brief context or background for events that inspired the construction of the memorial, building, city, or sculpture. For example, for the Abraham Lincoln memorial, you could briefly highlight a few events from the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

Architectural Elements

Discuss the symbolism, layout, or interesting facts about memorial/building design. For example, at the Lincoln Memorial, you could share that the 36 columns of the memorial are symbolic of the 36 states that were part of the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death.

Story

Tell a fun or interesting story pertaining to the memorial/building and/or the event it commemorates. For example, at the Lincoln Memorial, you could tell stories pertaining to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech or Marion Anderson’s Easter Sunday performance.

Logistics

Address any relevant information pertaining to bathrooms, photography, security, meeting time, etc.

Student Tour Guide: Visual Aids

Visual aids are essential context for your presentation. However, since tour guides do not implement Powerpoint, Google Slides, etc. while on tour, this is not to be included. You may include one or more of the following:

Student Tour Guide:  Places to Choose From