Are you counting the days until summer break? At the Kansas Historical Society, we're counting the days until school starts! We're designing more standards-based tours, writing copy for Kaleidoscope, and finding other ways to support you in accomplishing your curriculum goals. This issue is packed with information about our summer programs and a look ahead to fall. You'll find articles about:

- We want your feedback! A kshs.org survey
- Summer Youth Education Programs and Volunteer Opportunities
- FREE Project Archaeology Teacher Workshop
- KATP Field School
- History Day Camps
- Indian Heritage Overnight Program
- KCHE Conference

Read on to learn more. If you can't find what you're looking for by clicking on the links or exploring our website, don't hesitate to contact our Education/Outreach staff at 785-272-8681 ext. 415 or e-mail us.

Note: This is our last teacher e-news until school starts up again in the fall. Have a great summer and be sure to read all the way down to the bottom for a special summer vacation treat!

As we prepare to redesign our website, we're looking to those people who use it most for feedback on the site as it is now and what you'd like to see changed. If you'd like to help, please take our survey. If you complete the survey before 5 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2008, you'll be entered into a drawing for the coffee table book Kansas: Simply Beautiful. (Note: One entry per person, please. Employees of the Kansas Historical Society or KSHS, Inc., and their dependents are not eligible to win. )

Click here to take the survey. Thank you for your time and feedback!

- Summer Youth Programs in June and July at the Kansas Museum of History - designed for kids age 4-9. Program topics include life on the Oregon Trail, Kansas explorers, transportation, Indian homes, and rural school days. Click here for details.

- Young Troopers Camp for 6th graders at Fort Hays State Historic Site - June 20-28, 2008. Call 785-625-6812 for details.

- Youth Volunteer Opportunities- Youth age 13-16 can often be found at the Historical Society during the summer, working in the office, helping with special events, assisting with summer youth education programs, and more! Contact Joy Brennan at 785-272-8681 ext. 431 or e-mail her at jbrennan@kshs.org.

Intermediate and middle school teachers and college students majoring in education are invited to join us June 16-20, 2008 in Manhattan for "Learning About Cultures: Past and Present." This workshop includes:

- sessions on understanding and "doing" archeology
- investigating issues and case studies in archeology
- field trip to the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site to see volunteers and archeologists at work at the Kansas Archeology Training Program field school.

Click here for more information and to download a registration form. Registrations must be received by May 15, 2008.

Speaking of archeology...have you ever wondered what it would be like to work as part of a team at an archeological site? Here's your opportunity! Join us May 31-June 15 (or any one or more of those days) near Republic at the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site for the 2008 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school. Participants range from professional archeologists to people with no archeology experience.

The field school includes classes and workshops to help prepare you for working in the field. Volunteer as much or as little as you like. Participants can be as young as 10 years old (volunteers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times).

Click here for more information or to download a registration packet.

Get a jump on next year's history day projects with our History Day camps!

The week-long camps for students will provide lessons on research and note-taking skills and give students access to area libraries and research facilities to gather resources for their projects. Camps are offered on the following schedule:

- June 23 – June 27 - Beginner (6th grade)
- July 21 – 25 - Beginner (6th grade)
- June 30 – July 3 - Advanced (7th/8th grade)
- July 28 – August 1 - Advanced (7th/8th grade)

For more information call 785-272-8681, ext. 414.

Congratulations to 2008 Kansas History Day finalists who will represent Kansas at National History Day in June!

Designed for boy scouts but available to any youth group, our Indian Heritage Overnight Program is an opportunity to study, discover, and explore the American Indian experience in Kansas. Participants will:

- sleep overnight in a building that was a mission school for Potawatomi Indians
- take a private after-hours tour of the Indian exhibits in the museum galleries
- experience a flashlight tour of our nature trail with a campfire (weather permitting)
- receive participation patch

Participating Boy Scouts will be eligible for the American Heritage and Indian Lore Badges upon completion of the overnight!

Click here for more information!

The Kansas Council and the Missouri Council of History Educators are hosting a joint fall conference in Blue Springs, Missouri, September 26-27, 2008. The topic of the conference is “Changing Political Power: Democracies, Monarchies, Dynasties.” Kansas Historical Society staff will be on hand to present information about the following:

- how to enhance lessons dealing with Populism and the Progressive and Reform Movements through the use of primary source materials, including the latest Read Kansas!lessons developed specifically for this topic
- how to increase student interaction through the use of Kansas Memory and its bookbag feature
- an exhibit at the conference where teachers can purchase other Read Kansas! lessons and materials.

- Make sure to check our website throughout the summer as we develop new standards-based tours for next fall.

- Our online offering of Kansas Kaleidoscope: Real People. Real Stories. For Kids! teacher supplements has been updated.

- Mark your calendar! The Kansas Conference for the Social Studies will hold its fall 2008 conference at the Kansas Museum of History. This year's theme is "Contexts, Perspectives, and Practices.

Question:  I’ve seen the one-room schoolhouse located next to the Kansas Museum of History. How can my students get a chance to explore this historic building?

Our staff's response: The Stach School was built in the late 1800s and was originally located just north of the Douglas/Jackson County line. The school was relocated to the grounds of the Kansas Historical Society in 1984. The schoolhouse has been refurbished to its 1920 appearance, complete with slate boards, coal stove and traditional cloakroom.

Your students can explore the Stach School when you make a reservation for either our one-hour or four-hour Rural School Days programs. Spring reservations for the Stach School fill up quickly – schedule early and/or considering visiting the Stach School in the fall.

Do you have a question regarding our educational resources?: Click here. Even if we don't include your question in the e-news, we'll certainly try to respond to you via e-mail.

Through January 4, 2009
Topeka
Forces of Nature
Special Exhibit
Kansas Museum of History
785-272-8681

May 3 & 4, 2008
Studley
Annual Sheep Dog Trials
Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site
785-627-5866

June 21-22, 2008
Council Grove
Wah-Shun-Gah Days
Kaw Mission State Historic Site
620-767-5410

June 1, 2008
Topeka
Lost Nation: The Ioway film preview
Kansas Historical Society
785-272-8681

June 27-28, 2008
Lecompton
Territorial Days 2008
Constitution Hall State Historic Site
785-887-6520

July 4, 2008
Hays
Independence Day Celebration
Fort Hays State Historic Site
785-625-6812

Fridays July 18 - August 8, 2008
Topeka
Sundown Film Festival
Kansas Museum of History
785-272-8681

August 17, 2008
Council Grove
Annual Band Concert and Ice Cream Social
Kaw Mission State Historic Site
620-767-5410

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