Field Trip Guide For Teachers

I. PLANNING PHASE

A. Why take a field trip to the Capitol?

A visit to the Georgia Capitol offers students an opportunity to view first-hand the most important government building in the state. An interpretive tour provided by the Office of the Secretary of State gives students an overview of Georgia history and the Capitol building.

B. Which grade levels would most benefit from a tour of the Capitol?

Guided tours provided by the Office of Secretary of State are available for grades 2-12. Guided tours are not available for students in first grade and below. Older students (8th grade and above) who are studying Georgia government and political science benefit from a trip during the legislative session (usually January through March); however, the Georgia General Assembly has adopted a policy encouraging elementary level teachers to schedule their class trips when the legislature is not in session. Not only is there less confusion during this time, but students also have more freedom to become acquainted with the Capitol and the Georgia Capitol Museum.

C. Where does a field trip to the Capitol fit into your curriculum?

There are no hard and fast rules about when to schedule a field trip in relation to your course of study. Some teachers effectively use the trip as a final activity following a unit on citizenship, civics or Georgia history. Others use this opportunity as a preliminary activity. Regardless of when the trip is made, it is imperative that an orientation be given before students visit the Capitol.

D. What is the basic format of a Capitol tour?

Guided tours last approximately 30 minutes. The tour begins on the second floor in the Capitol Rotunda where a tour guide provides an overview of the building’s history.
Throughout the Capitol, students will view portions of the state’s $2 million art collection containing some of the oldest portraits in the state of Georgia. Tours include a visit to one of the public galleries of the Georgia General Assembly. While in the Capitol, students are encouraged to look at the museum cases on the fourth floor. The Hall of Valor, which houses the state’s historic flag collection, is located on the first floor.

The tour format may be changed without notice due to unforeseen circumstances such as construction, special events and large crowds.

E. How can visits to the Capitol be scheduled?

Tours of the Capitol should be scheduled in advance to assure that a tour guide will be available. Even if a group does not wish to take a guided tour, advanced scheduling is still recommended for fire code compliance. To schedule a tour of the Capitol, contact the tour staff in the Office of the Secretary of State at (404) 463-4536 or sostour@sos.state.ga.us. Before calling to schedule a tour, please identify three alternate dates and times in case your first choice is unavailable.

F. How many visitors may tour the Capitol at one time?

http://www.sos.ga.gov/archives/tours/about.html

G. What are the available tour times?

http://www.sos.ga.gov/archives/tours/about.html

H. How do I obtain directions to the Capitol?

Directions to the Capitol are available online at sos.state.ga.us or by calling 404-656-2844.

I. Is the Capitol accessible by public transportation?

Yes. MARTA is an option for transportation to the Capitol. MARTA stops located nearest the Capitol are the Georgia State Station (directly across from the Capitol in the Sloppy Floyd/Twin Towers complex) or the Five Points station (two blocks west of the Capitol at Underground Atlanta.)

II. DAY OF THE VISIT

A. What time should groups arrive for a scheduled tour?

Groups needing to use restroom facilities at the Capitol should enter the building 20 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Groups not needing restroom facilities should enter the building 10 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Early arrival will allow ample time for groups to clear security and begin tours promptly. Tour times may be shortened or changed to self-guided tours for groups who arrive late.

B. Where is parking available for school buses and automobiles?

Buses and commercial vans (not minivans) may park, free of charge, on the right curb of Washington Street in front of the Capitol. Visitors in automobiles may park in state parking lots, which charge a nominal fee. Lots which are available for public parking include: the Steve Polk Plaza parking lot (next to the old World of Coca Cola building) and the public lot at Underground Atlanta located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

C. What kind of security can we expect when entering the Capitol?

In compliance with security regulations, all visitors must enter the Capitol through a metal detector; the X-ray machine must examine hand-carried items. Visitors should not bring non-essential metal objects into the building, as these items often set off the metal detector and delay groups when entering. No weapons, including pocketknives, are allowed in the Capitol. All adults must show a photo I.D. upon entering the building.

D. What is the conduct code for the Capitol?

Teachers are responsible for the discipline and safety of their students at all times during the tour. Students should not run on the marble floors and stairs and should not lean on the balcony railings. Noise must be kept to a minimum. While outside the Capitol, students must not climb on statues or walk through the grass and/or flowerbeds.
Students should be reminded that important state business is being conducted in each chamber. All visitors to the galleries must remain seated and quiet and may not applaud. Students are not allowed to lean on the gallery railing from the first row.
Groups who do not adhere to the code of conduct will be asked by a tour guide and/or Capitol security officer to modify their behavior. If a group continues to be unruly they may be directed by officers to exit the Capitol prior to the end of their tour.

E. Are cameras allowed inside the Capitol?

Photography is prohibited in the House and Senate galleries while the legislature is in session. Video cameras are also prohibited during the legislative session. If the General Assembly is not in session, photography is permitted as it is throughout the public areas of the Capitol.

F. Are dining facilities available for students?

If a group brings lunch, students may eat outside at tables in the upper and lower levels of Plaza Park, directly across from the western entrance of the Capitol. The food court at Underground Atlanta is nearby for groups who wish to purchase lunch. Groups may also reserve the Garden Room, free of charge, by contacting the Georgia Building Authority at 404-656-3252. The Garden Room is an indoor facility located across the street from the Capitol.

G. Where are the restrooms located?

Groups needing to take advantage of restroom facilities before the tour begins, are asked to arrive at the Capitol 20 minutes before their scheduled tour time. Tours begin promptly at the scheduled tour times. Tours will not be postponed or interrupted in order for groups to use restrooms.
Public restrooms in the Capitol are located on the first and third floors. Groups must remain quiet and orderly as they wait in the hall near the restrooms, as the Capitol is a professional workplace where important state business is conducted.

III. Pre and Post Planning the Fieldtrip

A. What resources are provided by the Secretary of State’s Office to prepare students for their Capitol field trip?

The Secretary of State website (www.sos.state.ga.us) contains Capitol and state information such as a list of state symbols and an outline of the legislative process. Resources for teachers provide historical and procedural information regarding the Capitol and the legislative process. A teacher guidebook is available online.

We Look Forward To Seeing You Soon!

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