History Time

A Newsletter for Kansas Educators

January 2025

Kansas Day Edventure 2025

Join us on Wednesday, January 29 to celebrate Kansas Day with a full day of free live virtual sessions designed for PK-8 students and available through Wichita Public Schools Edventure Program. All classrooms throughout the state are welcome and encouraged to participate in these FREE programs. These thirty-minute sessions will feature popular topics in Kansas history and allow students to interact with presenters through live question and answer periods. If your class cannot engage with the live sessions, no need to worry! They will be recorded and accessible after each program.



Kansas Historical Society staff are presenting the following Edventure programs:

Kansas State Symbols - 9:30 am - 10:00 am

Discover the unique symbols that make Kansas special! Just like your school or favorite sports team has its own logo or mascot, states have their own meaningful symbols too. Kansas is home to 25 official state symbols, including the sunflower and the American Bison. Join us on a journey to explore them all and gain a deeper sense of place and identity through these fascinating icons!

Who Was John Brown? - 10:30 am - 11:00 am

Dive into the extraordinary life and legacy of John Brown, one of America’s most famous abolitionists. This presentation begins with the history of slavery in the United States and the fragile compromises made to hold the nation together. From Brown’s childhood and deep-rooted faith to his radical transformation and bold actions in Kansas Territory, this story culminates in his daring raid on Harpers Ferry and the legacy he left behind.

History Through Documents at the State Archives - 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Give students a glimpse into history with an exploration of the incredible documents preserved at the Kansas Historical Society State Archives! This presentation highlights the power of primary sources in uncovering the stories of the past and showcases the diverse range of materials available in the State Archives. From Benjamin “Pap” Singleton to Carry Nation, railroads, and beyond, students will discover fascinating topics that bring history to life.

Made by Kansans - 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Kansans far and wide have demonstrated their skills and creativity with new products and inventions. From technological advances to dog food, Kansans have left their mark on the world. Join the Kansas Historical Society and discover what amazing innovations have roots in the sunflower state.

Kansas Day in the Classroom

Kansas is turning 164 on January 29, 2025! A variety of resources are available at Kansas Day in the Classroom to help teach your students about Kansas. This includes materials related to Kansas symbols, state government, the Capitol, and notable Kansans.



• Watch the Kansas State Capitol Dome Tour and learn about the building’s history.
•  Make an American buffalo stick puppet as you learn about the official state symbols.
• Make your own Kansas flag.
• Go on a virtual Wagons, Wheels, and Wings tour and explore five types of transportation in Kansas.

Make and take activities, standards-based lessons, guided tours, and more are available to help you create a fun and engaging Kansas Day for your students.

Make & Take:

Kansas Symbols Matching Game

Learning about the state symbols is a great way to celebrate Kansas Day! Incorporate this matching game into your lesson plan for a fun activity all about Kansas symbols. Use the accompanying text to learn about the 25 official state symbols and their significance to our state.

Why Do We Celebrate Kansas Day?

Every year on January 29th we celebrate our state’s birthday. What’s up with that? Hardly any other states do that! Kansas Day is a holiday commemorating the anniversary of Kansas becoming the 34th state in 1861. Every year classrooms around the state take an entire day to explore all the cool things that make Kansas special. Believe it or not, the Kansas Day as we know it goes all the way back to 1882! A Kansas schoolteacher, L. G. A. Copley, came up with the idea in 1877 when he realized students were more interested in something when it happened to fall on the anniversary of the event. A few years later, the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, Emporia, Wichita, and Fort Scott were setting aside an hour of the school day to celebrate Kansas. Back then, their “celebrations” were a little less fun than what we do today. The brochure that students learned from focused on geography, poetry, politics, statistics, and snippets from the Kansas Constitution.

Kansas Day at the Capitol

The Kansas Historical Society is pleased to co-host a special unveiling of new artwork at the Kansas State Capitol, the first to feature the work of a woman artist. The story of the Kansas suffragists is told in Phyllis J. Garibay-Coon’s mural, Rebel Women.

The Kansas Day program begins on the Capitol’s first floor rotunda with Governor Laura Kelly, senators, representatives, and fellow Kansans at 12 p.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

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.