History Time

A Newsletter for Kansas Educators

April 2025

Make and Take: Bird Feeder

Earth Day takes place on April 22 every year to raise awareness of environmental issues and promote conservation and sustainability. Celebrate the day with your students by creating this DIY bird feeder using recycled materials easily found at home. Bird feeders can serve as a handy food source during migration or harsh winters. Prepare for the activity by learning about the different bird species in your local area. Use the activity as a jumping off point to learn about other ways people can help support local wildlife – butterfly gardens, bat houses, etc. Tie the activity to environmental history by discussing how humans have changed the natural landscape over time, reducing habitat space for birds and other wildlife.

Standards Based Lesson:

Big Dam Foolishness

Standard #5: Relationships among people, places, ideas, and environments are dynamic.

In 1938 the U.S. Congress proposed the building of Tuttle Creek Reservoir near Manhattan. Building the dam and reservoir would disrupt the lives of citizens in 10 Kansas communities, completely destroying five of these, and inundating more than 50,000 acres of prime farm land. Without the protection of the dam, the potential damage during a flood to cities and towns downstream could amount to millions of acres of flooded crop land, transportation facilities paralyzed, and businesses destroyed. In this "fence sitting" activity, students representing Blue Valley residents or the U.S. Corps of Engineers and merchants downstream will use primary sources including videos to persuade classmates who are the politicians to take a stand. 

Discover Kansas Archeology

April is officially Kansas Archeology Month! Learn more about the exciting field of archeology with our next Museum After Hours program on April 9, 2025. Join State Archeologist, Dr. Nikki Klarmann, and former KSHS staff members Dr. Robert Hoard, Virginia Wulfkuhle, and Dr. Tim Weston as they reflect on the history of the agency’s archeology department. Interested in gaining first-hand knowledge and experience? Consider participating in the 2025 Kansas Archeology Training Program (KATP) Field School in June. This year’s program will focus on the ruins of a home built in 1857 by the secretary and twice acting governor of Kansas Territory, Frederick P. Stanton. We hope to see you there!

What is Archeology?

Archeology is the scientific study of cultures and people of the past. By examining the things those people left behind, archeologists attempt to determine what happened in the past. They do this by finding sites of past human activity, systematically excavating them, and carefully studying the recovered materials.

People first came to Kansas 11,000 to 12,000 years ago, during the last of the Ice Age. Although the state was not glaciated at that time, the climate was cooler and less seasonal than today. Huge animals such as mammoth and mastodon roamed the area until a gradual warming trend brought an end to the Ice Age, and mass extinctions occurred around 10,000 years ago.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Kansas Historical Society

Volunteers at the Kansas Historical Society play a vital role in sharing the unique stories that make up the history of Kansas. Your service will help ensure the history of our state is celebrated for generations to come. Volunteer opportunities located in Topeka include hands-on experiences in fields such as archaeology, archiving, special projects, and more. You will work alongside professionals, gaining valuable experience that positively impacts the greater Topeka community. Interested in getting involved? Reach out to Mia Santarelli, Tour and Volunteer Coordinator, for more information. We also invite you to visit us at the Shawnee County Volunteer Expo on April 17 at Fairlawn Plaza. Come learn how you can make a difference in your community. We hope to see you there!

Don't Forget!

State Historic Sites now have free admission! Look for one in your area. Call ahead as some are only open seasonally.

Read Kansas! lessons are available free of charge for primary, intermediate, middle, and high school students while supplies last.

A variety of virtual tours, videos, and Nearpod lessons are available to use in your classroom. 

Traveling resource trunks are available to borrow. Reserve one now for the school year.

The Kansas Museum of History is closed for renovations. Although the museum is not available for field trips, our staff is here for you.

Zephyr, our newest publication, provides information on events, programs, updates on the museum renovation, and highlights a variety of state historic sites.