Education & Learning
Museum Tours
The Museum welcomes local community groups, students, and teachers for free guided tours of our gallery exhibitions for groups of 10 or more. All museum tours are led by trained museum educators that emphasize:
- Close looking, visual thinking strategies, and inquiry.
- Free-choice learning by exploring and choosing what to learn; the information given affirms and expands on the choices made.
- Making connections to ideas, other art forms, other school subjects, and to one’s experience.
- Cultural relevance by connecting art and local history to diverse communities, cultural traditions, and lived experiences.
- Optional hands-on studio-art making experience for groups less with than 50 participants.
Museum tours can serve as an extension of the classroom. We recommend exhibitions for specific grade levels, and our museum educators can adapt exhibition content to your groups’ learning needs. For school tours grades K-12, our tours are based on the California Common Core State Standards (CCCSS) in a range of subjects including English Language Arts, History/Social Science, Science, and Visual Arts.
Available Tour Offerings:
Built on Water: Ontario Inland Southern California
Recommended for Grades 3
Built on Water is a history exhibition that brings together the story of local water agencies, regional tribes, agriculture, water conservation, and the establishment of the City of Ontario. Tour groups will learn about Ontario’s water sources and gain a deeper understanding of key questions such as: Where does water come from? Who does water belong to? Do we have enough water? And who are the Water Guardians? Groups will leave this tour with new insights into local water systems and the option to utilize interactive components of the exhibition, such as, water guardian pledge cards and sharing your personal water story on water droplets. For groups older than 13 years of age, visitors can follow the life of a Monarch butterfly through a one-of-a-kind virtual reality experience
Gem of the Foothills
Recommended for Grades 3+
Tour groups will learn about the rich history of the Ontario region through artifacts, personal stories, and photography, gaining insight into the contributions of its diverse communities. Gem of the Foothills - the Museum’s longest-running history exhibition - traces the region’s roots from Native peoples and California Rancheros to the establishment of the city of Ontario by George Chaffey.
Rotating Art Exhibitions
All Grade levels
Students will engage with the artworks through close looking and inquiry, exploring shared themes, artistic techniques, and cultural influences. The Museum presents several art exhibitions throughout the year—visit the exhibitons page to view current and upcoming exhibitions.
Tongva and California Native Plant Garden
Recommended Grades K-6
The Museum grounds highlight California native plants used by the Tongva people, the historic Frankish Fountain, and examples of water conservation throughout the landscape.
What to Expect on Your Tour
Your group should plan a minimum of 45 minutes for your tour experiences at the Museum. If your group plans to visit more than one exhibition or participate in an art-making workshop (only available for groups of 50 or less), we recommend allowing 90 minutes to three hours for your visit. A museum educator will lead your group, facilitate in-gallery activities, and guide your experience throughout the Museum. When your group arrives to the Museum, the museum educator will greet you in the Historic Museum Council Chambers. Groups of more than 25 students will be asked to divide into smaller groups for the day.
Book a Tour
To schedule a tour, please complete the request form which includes details about your group and the type of experience you're looking for. A museum educator will get back to you within five business days to confirm your visit date and arrival time and provide any additional information. Your trip is not officially booked until you receive a confirmation email and return the signed Museum Tour Code of Conduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Educator Resources
Museum Open House for Educators
The Museum invites local teachers and educators to join us for this free professional development event. Enjoy a special program and learn what the Museum has to offer you and your classroom. Join us on August xx, 2025, to meet Museum staff, receive guided tours of our exhibitions, participate in an artist-led workshop, and enter for a chance to win raffle prizes.
Curriculum Guides
Built on Water: Ontario Inland Southern California