December 2005/January 2006

A fun magazine for kids!

Cows and Cowboys in Kansas History

On The Cover

Kansas cowboy Bill Tenpenny practices his roping skills. Tenpenny and his horse, Harley, have competed in this event at many rodeos.

For Parents and Teachers:

This magazine strives to provide teachers with tools to address the history and reading curricular standards whenever possible. Stories address specific standards in this issue including the following: "Cows, Cowboys, and Kansas" and "Food on the Moo-ve" address the fourth grade economics standard, "gives an example of economic specialization that leads to trade between regions of the U.S." and the fifth grade economics standard, "gives examples of economic interdependence at either the local, state, regional, or national level." These stories also address the fourth grade history standard, "describes how communications and transportation systems connect Kansas to other regions, past and present."

At Old Cowtown Living History Museum in Wichita you get to experience the days of cattle-drive cowboys. The museum combines twenty-six buildings with live animals plus reenactors to tell you what life was like in Kansas between 1865 and the 1880s. The museum is located at 1871 Sim Park Drive, Wichita. For more information call 316-2644-0671 or visit www.old-cowtown.org.

The first census of Kansas was completed in January and February of 1855 before Kansas became a state. Census takers, workers who counted the people, did not count military people or American Indians. The census recorded 8,601 persons living in Kansas Territory. Do you know how many people live in Kansas today?

Which came first--cows, cowboys, or the state of Kansas? If you guessed cows, you would be correct.

Cowboys wore special clothing that helped make their jobs easier. James Kellerman, who worked on a Kansas ranch in 1885, had this portrait taken at a photograph studio.

Today, hamburgers are one of the most popular meals in America. Restaurants like McDonalds, Wendy's and Burger King sell billions of burgers a year.

When herds of cattle freely roamed the open ranges, each rancher needed a way to identify his cows. Unique (one of a kind) designs were burned into a cow's hip with a hot branding iron.

Many people think that life on the cattle trail would be one of adventure and fun. In some ways, this was true.

Cowboys wished for that perfect cowpony--the one that sensed the cowboy's everywish and kept him safe. Talented cowponies became legendary!

Kansas cattletowns and railroads made a lot of money from the Texas cattle drives. But after twenty years, the cattle drive era came to an end. Why?

Historians rely on many different sources to learn about the past. Sometimes people write down their life stories; these are called autobiographies.

The Cowboy Hero

Americans had become fascinated with the rough and rowdy life of the cowboy. Books, magazines, plays, and songs were written that told of the cowboy's devotion to duty, his love of nature, and his lonesome way of life.

In the late 1800s, rodeos became a new form of entertainment. The rodeo featured cowboys competing for prizes by riding wild bucking horses and roping cattle.

Television appeared in American homes by the 1950s. Westerns quickly became the most popular programs with kids.

With the end of the long cattle drives in the 1880s came a new beginning for cattle ranching in Kansas. Farmers were experimenting with different breeds of cattle.

Teacher Supplement