Each spring, local 3rd and 4th grade students step into California history through our educational tours—3rd grade tours take place in April, and 4th grade tours in May. Led by dedicated members of the Education Committee, these tours receive rave reviews from participating teachers. To volunteer on the committee as an Education Docent, click here to fill out a short application. Each tour rotates students through a series of stations where they explore periods in our history.
Third graders visit three stations.
Permanent Exhibition station:
In the Museum’s Permanent Exhibition, docents guide students through an eight-station interactive Scavenger Hunt. Working in small groups, students study artifacts, maps, and biographical stories to learn about the diverse people and cultures that have shaped our local community. As they answer meaningful prompts in their “passports,” students engage both individually and collaboratively. The tour concludes with an interactive reflection by docents, encouraging students to connect insights from the Scavenger Hunt with their classroom learning.
J. Gilbert Smith House station:
Third graders enjoy a trip back in time inside the J. Gilbert Smith House, where they explore a 1930s-era farmhouse, complete with period furnishings, a child’s bedroom, and toys from the “olden days.”
Community Center station:
At the final station located in the Los Altos Community Center, students view colorful paintings by local artist Annie Knapp Fitz, and learn the historical stories each piece represents. Each student creates their own “Annie” picture, bringing a piece of local history back to their classroom.
Fourth grade students visit three stations.
Permanent Exhibition station:
The Permanent Exhibition provides the setting as fourth graders, working in partner teams, collaborate with two World War II veterans to become “People Movers.” Through the characters of Joe and Jane, students explore post-war life in 1950—establishing homes, starting families, and traveling for summer vacations, sporting events, and concerts. By fall of 1952, they engage in a simulated civic debate and vote on the incorporation of Los Altos as an official city. The lesson concludes with a visit to the railroad diorama and a hands-on activity simulating the catching of steelhead trout in Adobe Creek.
Courtyard Station:
In the Museum courtyard, students explore the Agricultural Exhibit to learn about two key crops that central to Los Altos in the early 1900s—apricots and walnuts. They also examine vintage farm equipment and tools used in the harvesting process, gaining insight into the region’s agricultural roots.
Council Chambers Station:
At the third station, students step into the Los Altos City Council Chambers to re-enact an actual 1953 City Council meeting focused on Ordinance #33. Taking on the roles of Council members, City staff, and community attendees, budding thespians engage in a hands-on civics lesson that brings local government history to life.
