About 100 Altara Elementary fifth-grade students can name the marble lions stationed outside the entrances of the state Capitol or share some state historic facts about the Pony Express or the Golden Spike that are illustrated in Capitol paintings and murals. Students even know about the base isolation system under the Capitol designed so the building can withstand a 7.3-magnitude earthquake.

The field trip for the four fifth-grade classes included exploring the Capitol complex with guides from Canyons School District’s external relations staff and former Canyons Board of Education President Nancy Tingey. They showed students the Capitol’s grand architecture and its historic statues.

“The Capitol was pretty cool,” fifth-grader Evelina Pettersson said. “It’s symmetrical and there are really big marble pillars.”

The tour included stops in the House and Senate galleries, the historic Utah Supreme Court chamber and the ornate State Reception Room, also known as the Gold Room.

Canyons External Relations Public Engagement Coordinator Susan Edwards was one of Altara’s guides.

“We love when our students come to the Capitol,” she said. “On the tours of the Capitol, we discuss the locally sourced materials from Utah used to make the Capitol: granite on the exterior from Little Cottonwood Canyon, oolite on the interior from Sanpete County; copper on the roof of the rotunda from Bingham Canyon. During the 45-day legislative session, Canyons Legislative delegation love a visit with students. The legislators are great to take their time to show students the house or the senate.”

Students said Sen. Kathleen Riebe and Rep. Tracy Miller shared with them about their roles in government as well as introduced them to some of the bills under consideration.

“Senator Reibe asked us if we knew who the governor was and who our senator was, and it was her,” Evelina said.

Fifth-grader Gregory Bromiley learned the representatives serve for two years while senators are elected for four years. Classmate Lani Casson chipped in there are 75 representatives in the house and 29 in the senate.

It was the bills which had them realizing the job legislators do.

“They were talking about a bill for people who are less fortunate and are under 6 years old so they can get health care,” Evelina said. “It sounded like a good bill because for the less fortunate families, it’s harder to get the care they need.”

Another bill discussed affordable housing options.

“They talked about a bill to reduce tax for new homeowners,” Gregory said.

Lani said the idea made sense to her.

“Not everyone can afford a home and sometimes, people who can’t afford a home have to live on the streets so this would make it easier for them to have a safe place,” she said.

Gregory agreed: “It makes sense they don’t pay as much in tax so they can have affordable housing.”

Teacher Kathy Smith said the visit helps students connect their classroom lessons to the real world and understand the importance of civic engagement. After seeing the seat of state government, she hopes students remember their role as residents.

“They could write or talk to their representative,” Smith said, adding she hopes when they’re older, they will register to vote and stay active in their communities.

Students were planning to write thank-you notes to their tour guides and lawmakers.

Evelina, who recently moved to Utah, said this was her first introduction to Utah government.

“I had zero clue about the Capitol and government,” she said. “I didn’t even know we had a building and now, I have an understanding of it. It’s pretty cool.”