School Tours
The Pearl offers docent tours and hands-on activities for school groups throughout the school year. The museum hosts students from area public, private, and home schools. Tours are inquiry-based and age appropriate for student visitors. Though taking a large number of students off-campus can be complex, these tips will assist you in planning a memorable learning experience for your school. To schedule a tour for your school, contact Education Director Emily Guerra by phone at 281-376-6322 or by email at emily@pearlmfa.org.
Scheduling Your Field Trip
The first step in planning your school tour is to schedule a date on the museum calendar. You can contact Community Engagement Director Emily Guerra by phone at 281-376-6322 or by email at emily@pearlmfa.org to make a tour request. You should have an approximate number of classes that will attend and grade level. The final number of students will be confirmed prior to the field trip date. You can also request a specific project or tour emphasis at this time.
Chaperones
In an effort to provide a safe environment for your students, the schools are required to provide 1 teacher/chaperone for every 10 students. The best rule of thumb is 2 teachers/staff/chaperones per class. The field trip volunteers cannot take the students anywhere on the field trip without a school staff member, especially the restrooms. A teacher or staff member must stay with the class while the other chaperone accompanies the student to the restroom, water fountain, to get a tissue, etc. All school staff must wear school district-issued name badges to identify themselves. Parent chaperones should wear the visitor nametags issued by the school. Teachers should verify that all students are accounted for at all times during the field trip.
Note: Teachers that come to care for a specific student should not be counted in the overall number of chaperones.
In Case of Illness or Other Emergency During the Field Trip
Prior to coming on the field trip, each school should have a plan in place in the case that a student needs to return to school because of illness or any other reason. In the case of illness or any other emergency during the field trip, please contact a museum staff person immediately. During school tours, museum staff are stationed in the galleries and at the museum front desk. You can also send your volunteer or docent to locate a staff member. If a student needs to be removed from a field trip location, staff can advise a school representative on designated areas where the student can be taken.
Parking
Buses are encouraged to drop off students on the west side of the building and then park in the Harris County lot south of the museum and next to the Barbara Bush Library. The museum’s visitor parking is narrow, making it difficult for long vehicles to safely turn around. See our page, Instructions for Bus Drivers.
Chaperones
In an effort to provide a safe environment for your students, the schools are required to provide 1 teacher/chaperone for every 10 students. The best rule of thumb is 2 teachers/staff/chaperones per class. The field trip volunteers cannot take the students anywhere on the field trip without a school staff member, especially the restrooms. A teacher or staff member must stay with the class while the other chaperone accompanies the student to the restroom, water fountain, to get a tissue, etc. All school staff must wear school district-issued name badges to identify themselves. Parent chaperones should wear the visitor nametags issued by the school. Teachers should verify that all students are accounted for at all times during the field trip.
Note: Teachers that come to care for a specific student should not be counted in the overall number of chaperones.
In Case of Illness or Other Emergency During the Field Trip
Prior to coming on the field trip, each school should have a plan in place in the case that a student needs to return to school because of illness or any other reason. In the case of illness or any other emergency during the field trip, please contact a museum staff person immediately. During school tours, museum staff are stationed in the galleries and at the museum front desk. You can also send your volunteer or docent to locate a staff member. If a student needs to be removed from a field trip location, staff can advise a school representative on designated areas where the student can be taken.
Parking
Buses are encouraged to drop off students on the west side of the building and then park in the Harris County lot south of the museum and next to the Barbara Bush Library. The museum’s visitor parking is narrow, making it difficult for long vehicles to safely turn around. See our page, Instructions for Bus Drivers.