How to Plan a Curriculum-Based Toronto School Trip (That Includes a Walking Tour)

A guide for teachers booking student tours, staying on schedule, and making the most of Toronto with grades 6-grade 8, and high school classes on a school trip

Our tours aren't actually led by raccoons.

Spring field trips are a rite of passage in many Ontario classrooms. Whether you're teaching Grade 7 history, leading a Grade 8 civics or geography class, or inspiring the next Picasso as a high school art teacher, planning a Toronto school trip doesn't have to be difficult. You've got the paperwork and permission slips covered, let us handle the tour.

At Tour Guys, we specialize in educational walking tours designed for school groups, covering everything from Canadian history and immigration to street art, civic spaces, and multicultural neighbourhoods.

If you're looking for curriculum-based school trip ideas in Toronto, especially for Grades 7 and 8, or high school, you're in the right place.

Why Choose a Walking Tour for Your School Field Trip?

Toronto is full of museums and attractions, but a walking tour lets students see the city as a living classroom.

Whether you're exploring Canadian identity, urban development, immigration, the arts, or public protest, our tours help bring those topics to life through real stories and real streets.

Our most popular student walking tours align with the Ontario curriculum and offer rich opportunities for:

• Inquiry-based learning

• Observation and discussion

• Critical thinking and reflection

What Curriculum Connections Do Our Walking Tours Cover?

Our walking tours are a great fit for both Grade 7 and Grade 8 classes.

Grade 7

• History of early Canada and Indigenous-settler relations

• Immigration and the development of Toronto

• Urban geography and social spaces

Grade 8

• Confederation, politics, and protest movements

• Civic institutions (City Hall, public squares, courthouses)

• Canadian identity, diversity, and multiculturalism

• Visual arts and media (especially in our Graffiti in Toronto tour)

Want a specific focus? Just ask, we can adjust content based on your current unit or classroom goals.

🚍 Toronto Traffic Tip: Build in Buffer Time

We’re not trying to scare you, but Toronto traffic crawls. Even TTC can slow to a crawl some days.

If you're arriving by school bus from outside the city, plan to add 15–30 minutes to your expected arrival. This avoids stress and gives students time to stretch, snack, and settle in before the tour begins.

🗺️ Choosing the Right Student Walking Tour in Toronto

Our most popular tours for student groups are:

• Graffiti in Toronto

• Kensington Market & Chinatown

• Old Town Toronto History

• Downtown Toronto

Each tour has a suggested start and end point, but we can adjust based on your itinerary.

✅ Examples:

• Starting with lunch in Kensington? We can meet at Bellevue Square Park instead of the AGO.

• Taking your group to the Eaton Centre after the Downtown Tour? We can end there.

• Need to finish near Union Station? No problem — we’ll plan for that.

Tell us what else is on your schedule and we’ll help make the day flow smoothly.

🚻 Washroom Planning for School Groups

Here’s where to find public washrooms near each tour starting point:

• Graffiti & Kensington Tours → The Grange Mall by the AGO

• Old Town & Downtown Tours → City Hall, Union Station, or St. Lawrence Market

Best practice? Have students use the school washroom before departure, then allow time for a quick break if needed when you arrive.

Let your guide know if your group needs a bio-break before the walk.

🥪 Hungry Students Don't Care About History

Plan your tour around when your students typically eat.

If your tour runs from 10:30 to noon but your students usually eat lunch at 11:00, you’ll lose them halfway through.

We recommend:

• Encouraging bring-your-own snacks (granola bars, fruit, etc.)

• Booking tours to end near your lunch stop

• Letting us know your plan — we’ll adapt the route if needed

☔️ Tours Run Rain or Shine — Dress for It

Toronto weather can flip fast. If it rains, it usually doesn't rain for long. A forecast calling for rain doesn't necessarily mean it will rain while the tour is happening. Weather radar tends to tell a better story than numbers and cloud icons on a weather app. Our tours go ahead unless it’s dangerous... but wet students are grumpy students.

Recommendations:

• Bring at least a small umbrella

• Avoid heavy cotton hoodies (wet = cold)

• Pack a water-resistant outer layer

• Wear comfortable shoes, not fashion-first sneakers or slides

  
  

👣 Touring with Large School Groups: What to Expect from Our Guides

If you're booking more than one guide (highly recommended for large classes), each guide will take their own group. While the core tour themes are the same, each guide brings their own energy and experience.

Some are professional actors. Others are educators, historians, comedians, or writers.

What they all share is:

• A gift for connecting with students

• Deep local knowledge

• Strong storytelling skills

We don’t use scripts — guides adapt content based on the group, weather, pacing, and your learning goals.

📱 Stay in Touch on the Day of the Tour

To make things run smoothly:

• Share the lead teacher’s name and cell number when booking

• Let us know if you have multiple buses or multiple groups

• We’ll assign a lead guide to coordinate

• Do a quick check-in at the start to confirm end point and timing

✅ Teacher Checklist for Planning a Toronto School Trip

•  Students used the school washroom before leaving

•  You know where the nearest washrooms are at tour start

•  Students have snacks, water, and good footwear

•  You’ve shared your contact info with your Tour Guys rep

•  You’ve told us about your curriculum focus

•  You’ve ready for the weather (packed umbrellas or ponchos)

We look forward to being your walking tour partner of choice for 2026 and beyond.

If you have questions or want help planning, get in touch with us today.

Let’s make your next class field trip into something unforgettable... and curriculum-aligned!