History Time
A Newsletter for Kansas Educators

October 2021
Food preservation has been an essential activity throughout history. Drying is perhaps the oldest of all food preservation techniques. It also is one of the most simple in that it removes water, the ingredient needed for all forms of life to survive. A good example of preserving food through drying is the pumpkin mats made by the early Pawnee and Wichita peoples of Kansas. Strips of pumpkin were dried and woven into mats for storage and trade.
Explore how food preservation played a key role in both agriculture and trade by showing your students how to make their very own pumpkin mats. No pumpkins? No worries. This make and take activity can be adapted with construction paper and scissors.
HGSS Standard #3: Societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of individuals and groups.
 
When it comes to history, people often think it is all facts and dates. But history is also about thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. Sometimes you can gain a better understanding of the past by making a personal connection to learn how others think or believe. After reading Mai Phrakornkham’s story in “Woven Traditions,” students can answer questions about the importance of cultural traditions and of passing them on to the next generation.
National History Day 2022
History Day is an opportunity for students in grades six through twelve to learn valuable research skills while exploring topics that interest them. Students choose a topic that best fits the annual History Day theme and then build a project through a careful analysis of primary sources. Kansas history is full of topics that meet 2022’s theme of Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences. The State Archives is a wonderful tool for research, and our archivists are available to help students identify and access material for their History Day projects. Contact us at kshs.reference@ks.gov to learn more.
 
More information about Kansas History Day can be found by visiting http://www.kansashistoryday.org
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail, an international trail of commerce. Both American and Mexican traders carried mass produced goods west from the industrialized United States and raw materials east from the newly formed Mexican nation. The longest stretch of the Santa Fe Trail crossed Kansas, and the route was lined with campsites, state stations, and military forts. The lessons in the teacher’s manual are written for teaching at a fourth grade level, but this trunk can be borrowed and used by anyone. 
The U.S. Census is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years. The census tells us who we are and where we are going as a nation. The most recent U.S. Census took place in 2020 and helps our communities determine where to build everything from schools to supermarkets, and from homes to hospitals.
 
Census records are also a great research tool for genealogy: the study of families, family history, and the tracing of lineage. October is Family History Month. Introduce your intermediate and middle school students to the kind of information found in the census with this quick and easy Everyone Counts! activity.

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Meet Our Staff: Lauren Gray
Head of Reference
Lauren Gray is the Head of Reference at the Kansas Historical Society, where she facilitates patron access to the State Archives collections through research and public outreach. An avid history buff, Lauren earned her Master’s in early U.S. History from the University of New Mexico and is currently studying for her Master’s in Library Science. She is eager to help students, teachers, and parents explore the collections at the State Archive, and to share the many interesting and valuable stories from Kansas’ rich history. In her free time, Lauren enjoys baking, playing with her dog, and showing her German exchange student all around Kansas.

Feel free to contact the State Archives reference desk with questions or requests at kshs.reference@ks.gov.
Don't Miss Us! Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities


  • November 13; 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Cherryvale - Kansas History, Government, and Social Studies Standards for Museum Educators with the Southeast Kansas Museum Alliance at the Cherryvale Historical Museum.

  • December 9; 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., virtual event - Kansas Historical Society Educator Resources. Virtual Breakout Session at the Bishop Professional Development Center with Topeka Public Schools.


Be sure to check our KSHS Professional Support page for updates.
Don't Forget!
State historic sites offer guided tours. Assistance with admission and transportation costs are available at some sites. Look for a site in your area.
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.

Student Photo Contest entries are accepted through December 15, 2021.
Shop online at our Museum Store and discover a variety of Kansas made items and historical resources. Members receive a 10% discount in the museum store.
This copper pendant is made of the original roof at the Kansas State Capitol with an acid etching detail.
Support the Kansas Historical Society and our educational programs by becoming a member. You will receive a quarterly magazine, discounts on merchandise, and free admission to the Kansas Museum of History and our historic sites.