History Time

A Newsletter for Kansas Educators

September 2024

Carry Nation Trivia Kahoot!

How much do you know about Carry Nation and prohibition in Kansas? Put your knowledge to the test with this fun Kahoot! Questions cover Nation’s early life and work as a temperance activist in Kansas. Maybe you’ll learn something new about the famous bar room smasher!

Standards Based Lesson:

Know Your Government

Standard #2: Individuals have rights and responsibilities.

Continue the theme of Prohibition in Kansas with Read Kansas! lesson M-1, Know Your Government. What rights do state constitutions grant their citizens? How do states amend their constitutions to reflect the will of the people?

This lesson familiarizes students with the Bill of Rights portion of the Kansas Constitution. Working in pairs, students interpret one or more of the 20 rights specifically given to Kansas citizens in the state constitution. Each pair will produce a poster, define the related vocabulary, and present to the class. As an extended activity each student can submit an article from a contemporary source that illustrates one of the Kansas Bill of Rights. 

Reform in Kansas Episode 2: Prohibition

In this second installment of our series on reform movements in Kansas, students learn about Prohibition, the banning of the manufacturing, transportation, possession, and consumption of alcohol.

Although alcohol abuse became a major social issue after the end of the Civil War, residents of Kansas Territory began to form temperance groups even before Kansas was a state.

Kansan's reform efforts culminated with the ratification of an amendment prohibiting alcohol on May 1st, 1881. Kansas became the first state to constitutionally outlaw the manufacture or sale of alcohol. This was 38 years before the 18th amendment which prohibited alcohol across the United States.

You're Still Closed??

The Kansas Museum of History is not quite ready to host field trips this school year. We miss seeing buses and students flooding our grounds, so please keep us at the top of your list for next school year. We promise the new museum gallery will be worth your wait! 



In the meantime, here’s a teaser! Our buffalo, who has spent 40 years proudly standing among the prairie setting in the museum, may be getting a new friend to keep him company in the future! But for now he’s getting pampered with a good vacuuming and perhaps even a mani pedi. He is hanging out in the exhibits work room watching staff create exciting items for the new gallery.

Professional Development

September 21 - Victory on the Prairie, Tallgrass Prairie National Reserve

Experience life on the home front of World War II with displays from the Kansas Historical Society, the Kansas National Guard Museum, and educational talks from the Eisenhower Presidential Library and more!

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.