Nations Classroom Blog

In honor of Presidents Day today we've put together a special SCHOOL TRIP SPOTLIGHT, featuring experienced Washington, D.C. Tour Guide Aaron Killian's personal review, tips, and advice for taking school groups to Mount Vernon, the historic home of George and Martha Washington. 

Today’s high school and middle school students have no memory of September 11, 2001. A visit to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is important because it connects youth with recent history. There are deep discussions and meaningful connections to be made on a school trip to Washington, D.C. 

So many groups get caught up with visiting the White House and Capitol Building that the Supreme Court often gets lost in the shuffle.  It’s hidden in plain site atop Capitol Hill beside the Library of Congress (LOC). The court is easy to spot once you know what to look for - it’s big, gleaming white, and has monumental statues out front that guard the imposing stairs. Dare you challenge them?

Curious about how much time to allot when your group visits the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.?  Or what other memorials to do alongside it? Or where the best group photo spot is? Read on for licensed tour guide Aaron Killian’s school trip spotlight on visiting the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

No trip to D.C. is complete without a visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The White House serves as the president’s home and a symbol of the nation’s enduring strength. Plus, it’s got a movie theater and a swimming pool. 

Read below for tips on the best photo spot at the White House and learn how to get your group access inside.

On the night of April 14th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was mortally wounded by a gunshot to the head. The assassin was John Wilkes Booth.  The scene of the attack was Ford’s Theatre. Honest Abe would die the next morning inside the back bedroom of the Petersen Boarding House, located across the street from the theater. If you’d like to learn more about the complex and riveting series of events that led to Lincoln’s demise, there’s no better place than the actual historic site!

Welcome to the one place in Washington, D.C. where you can touch an actual moon rock before buying a bag of freeze dried, astronaut ice cream (which we recommend eating AFTER you ride in the flight simulators.)  Here are five highlights not to be missed at the D.C. museum.

The Pentagon Tour is a special event for any school group visiting Washington, D.C. After all, it’s not every day that we get an inside look at the headquarters of the Department of Defense. In order to clear security, planning must begin well in advance.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery are two art collections housed in the same gallery. Despite the building's history and impressive collections, it is often an underutilized gem and worth a visit on a school trip to Washington, D.C.