Guided Tour Package
Our current tour packages are designed in connection with the Utah State Social Studies Core Curriculum. Tours are perfect for field-trip groups or homeschool families. Each tour includes a visit to the exhibits and a hands-on museum-led activity. They can be scheduled and customized to your group or family by contacting the education team by phone at 801-422-0022 or email at mpc_programs@byu.edu
All tours are free of charge.
See a description of each tour below:
-
Toggle ItemPeople of Utah Package (Grade 4-7)Students will learn about the cultures that have inhabited the Utah Valley for thousands of years. Students will see artifacts from ancient times as well as from Utah Valley’s early European settlers. They will participate in an activity such as weaving or making clay pots, a hands-on approach to learning about ancient artistry with something they can take home. The museum will provide a worksheet that aligns with tour.
Aligns with Utah Social Studies curriculums:
Standards 4.1.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.3.2, 4.5.1, 4.5.4, 5.1.1., 5.4.1, 5.4.2
UT Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.6,
WG Standards 3.1, 3.7
WH standard 1.2 -
Toggle ItemWorld Tour Package (All Ages)Students will explore differing world cultures through our rotating exhibits. Current exhibits for 2025-2026 are “Kava Bowls: Stories of Community in the Pacific Islands” and “Intertwined: Basketry Around the World.” Students will learn how to “read” artifacts by handling baskets and and participate in a hands-on activity, like practicing archaeology at our dig site (weather permitting).
This tour can be scaled to all ages Pre-K—high school.
Aligns with World Geography Standards 3.1, 3.2, 3.6, 3.7, 5.4 -
Toggle ItemBehind-the-Scenes Museum Experience Package (Ages 14+)Learn more about the day-to-day of museum careers. Students will participate in a mock dig site and then explore the back of the museum as they learn from the Collections and Archaeology team to get an up-close look at artifacts and how we preserve objects, prepare exhibits, and share culture.
Designed for ages 14+ but can be adapted upon request.
Culture Cases
Culture Cases are fun, hands-on educational kits that let you explore world cultures up close in your classroom or home. Each case includes a guidebook, real artifacts, creative activity ideas, and other learning resources to help you and your students explore peoples and cultures from around the world. Aligned with Utah curriculum standards for elementary, middle school, and high school, they’re available to borrow free of charge.
Contact our Education Office at 801-422-0022 or mpc_programs@byu.edu for availability and to place a reservation. See below for details.
-
Toggle ItemGreat Basin
This case has objects from Native American tribes such as the Fremont, Shoshone, and Ute, including things like a cradleboard, pottery, jewelry, and clothing. *Pair this case with a field trip to see the museum's exhibit on Utah Valley. -
Toggle ItemAmerican Southwest
The American Southwest covers present-day Arizona and New Mexico, as well as regions of Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Mexico. This case includes objects like projectile points (arrowheads), baskets, and pottery from tribes such as Ancestral Puebloan (formerly Anasazi), Navajo/Dine, Hohokam, Hopi, and Zuni.
American Southwest Guidebook -
Toggle ItemMesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region extending south and east from central Mexico including parts of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This case features objects from the Maya and the Aztec civilizations, such as beautifully woven textiles, a metate for grinding corn, and projectile points (arrowheads).
Mesoamerican Guidebook -
Toggle ItemAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt is the north-eastern part of Africa. This case includes objects such as papyrus, a replica of the Rosetta Stone, and Egyptian funerary goods.
Ancient Egypt Guidebook -
Toggle ItemOuelessebougou
Ouelessebougou is a town located in the West African country of Mali. This culture case was made by the Ouelessebougou-Utah Alliance, and features instruments, jewelry, soap, and more! -
Toggle ItemAncient Greece & Rome
Ancient Greece and Rome are in the Mediterranean and are the base of western civilization. This case includes a Roman oil lamp, Greek playing marbles, coins, tiles, and more. Ancient Greece and Rome Guidebook -
Toggle ItemThe Andes
The Andes were home to many of the greatest civilizations in the Americas, including the Inca. The objects in this case include llama wool, clay dishes, and ceremonial objects figurines.
Andes Guidebook -
Toggle ItemUtah Lake
Utah Lake has been a hub for human activity for over 20,000 years. This case will help you learn more about the peoples who have lived around Utah Lake in the past, and how they used the lake’s resources and even changed its makeup.
Cases can be reserved using the box below and are available for pick up and drop off at the Museum on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Note the standard length of reservation is one week, but we are willing to adjust as needed. Contact our Education Office at 801-422-0022 or email mpc_programs@byu.edu for more information.
Please note the museum closes at 5:00pm.
Native American Curriculum Initiative Lessons
BYU Arts Partnership has crafted a series of lesson plans as part of their Native American Curriculum Initiative (NACI). This initiative is to "amplify native voices in the classroom, building bridges between Native and educational communities."
These lesson plans are readily accessible and free to download! At the museum, we even offer material needed for a few of the lessons. Contact us to check out this material just like you would reserve a Culture Case. Click on the "Culture Cases" tab at the left of this webpage to learn more about the borrowing process.
Here are the NACI lesson plans we currently loan material for:
Coyote Steals Fire Creative Movement (includes a lesson plan, book, and 37 red/orange/yellow scarves)
The Greedy Porcupine Reader's Theatre (includes a lesson plan, instruments, and 8 script booklets)