Austin Nature and Science Center was founded in 1960 with a mission of providing hands-on educational exhibits that promote awareness and appreciation of nature and the environment. What better place to take your students to learn more about nature? The center is located on the edge of Zilker Park and has both indoor and outdoor nature exhibits. Your students can dig for dinosaur bones, look for fish in the creek, or check out the small zoo. If you’re bringing your students, there is a $1.00 per person fee if you’re doing your own tour.

Thinkery was founded in 1983 by a group of parents and educators. Their desire was to have more educational opportunities, and the initial Thinkery was mobile. Today, Thinkery is located in a 40,000 square foot facility! It sure has grown. Its focus is on STEAM exhibits and programs. School groups can visit Tuesdays- Fridays from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm during the school year. Hightlights of Thinkery include the two-story playground outside, which has limitless possibilities for your students to explore. There are ropes, slides, and mini-mountains of rope to climb. Make sure to also check out the water section, where you can put your hand into a water stream and see how the water responds.

The LBJ Presidential Library is located at University of Texas at Austin and is the presidential library of Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States. If you bring your students, you have a choice between a group tour and a self-guided tour. Groups of fewer than 15 people may visit without a reservation. All tours are available free of charge to school groups, however your group must have more than 15 and fewer than 60 if you want a guided tour. You’ll need one adult for every eight students. Exhibits include: the Presidential Limousine, the Social Justice Gallery, and the Vietnam Conflict.

The Texas Capitol is located in downtown Austin and was designed by Elijah E. Myers. It is taller than the United States Capitol and is the sixth-tallest state capitol in the United States. The building has been renovated several times, most recently in 1993 with an underground expansion and in 1995 with a comprehensive restoration of both the interior and exterior of the building.The main rotunda features portraits of important Texans and the Capitol building sits on 22 acres of grounds that have statues and landscaping. If you take your students during the holiday season, they may get to see the Capitol and its grounds decorated with lights.

Pioneer Farms is a living history park and museum that preserves the history and culture of Texas in the 1800s. The historic site offers immense hands-on opportunities to learn about history, science, and nature. All of the programs meet state TAKS requirements and Pioneer Farms can also provide supplemental teacher materials. Pricing varies, depending on which program you’re interested in: they range from $6 to $25. You and your students can see how pioneers lived and what their day to day was like through fun hands-on experiences.