History Time

A Newsletter for Kansas Educators

January 2026

Kansas Day 2026: Still Time to Register!

Come celebrate our state's birthday with Kansas Day at the Museum on Thursday, January 29, 2026! From 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, we will have 10 different demonstrators featuring crafts like ropemaking, woodcarving, weaving, and flint knapping.

Students can also take part in 11 hands-on educational activities with guest activities provided by the Topeka Zoo and the Mulvane Art Museum.

There's still time to register before your group comes!

Kansas Day in the Classroom

Educators across our 105 counties use Kansas Day as an opportunity to teach students about their state. Tons of resources are available at Kansas Day in the Classroom to help connect students of all ages with our state's fascinating history. You can find materials related to Kansas symbols, state government, the Capitol, and notable Kansans.

• Play a game of Kansas Bingo on paper or virtually.
• Make a paper drinking cup as you learn about Samuel Crumbine, and then drink water from it.
• Make your own Kansas flag.
• Test your memory with our Kansas symbols matching game.

All of these, plus make and take activities, standards-based lessons, educational videos, and much more are available to help you create a truly unique Kansas Day for your students.

Kansas Day 2026: Edventure

Join us virtually on January 29, 2026 to celebrate Kansas Day with a full day of free live virtual sessions designed for PK-8 students and available through the Wichita Public Schools Edventure Program. All classrooms throughout the state are welcome and encouraged to participate in these FREE programs. Kansas Historical Society staff will be delivering the following programs:

Kansas State Symbols: 9:30 am - 10:00 am for grades PK-3

A symbol is something that stands for something else. Just like your school or favorite sports team, states have symbols too! In this program, students will build a sense of place and identity as they explore all 25 official Kansas state symbols, including the sunflower, the American bison, and many more.



Famous Kansans: 10:30 am - 11:00 am for grades 4-8

When people think about Kansas history, they often think about the people who helped shape the state. Some of those names are familiar, like Amelia Earhart or Dwight D. Eisenhower, while others may be new to you - even though their impact was just as important. Come explore the stories of several famous Kansans and learn how their ideas, actions, and choices helped shape Kansas in lasting ways.

Check out our Kansas Day in the Classroom page for a link to the 2026 Edventure website once it goes live!

Educational Videos

Looking for engaging video content to celebrate our state’s birthday? Kansas Day is the perfect excuse to explore a wide range of topics on our educational YouTube channel. With more than 65 videos, you can dive into fascinating moments in Kansas history, including Bleeding Kansas, the Capitol building, the Santa Fe Trail, and more. Be sure to stay tuned for our upcoming series, Indigenous Voices, featuring tribal members from Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

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 now open! Guided tours begin after February 1, 2026.