Back to the Future

Sock-Puppet theater, Prairie Costumes, and cardboard models helped David Duran’s Garden City high-school history class illustrate reports about forts along westward trails to Mindy Duran’s second-graders, who were studying Native American tribes in Kansas.

And both classes enjoyed their joint field trip to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University and the old Fort Hays military post.

The Durans, husband and wife, are part of the Teaching American History project, a five-year federal grant of $662,400 to the local school district. KU professors work each year with 25 K-12 teachers to develop multimedia lessons in all facets of American history, especially documents such as the U.S. Constitution.

Focusing on Kansas on its 150th anniversary, Kelley Jenkins’ fifth-and sixth-graders studied towns along the Oregon and Santa Fe trails. Megan Ford invited local zookeepers to bring Kansas animals into her first-grade class to discuss their impact on history and the ecosystem.

Three KU history partners advise the teachers as they plan their projects, as well as lead a summer workshop in Garden City, says Allan Miller of KU, the grant’s academic director.“The historians do an excellent job of blending lectures, activities, and multimedia presentations. There’s never a dull moment.”

Teaching American History

This U.S. Department of education grant program, begun in 2001, supports professional development for K-12 teachers to increase students’knowledge of and appreciation for traditional American history.

Partners

Garden City Public schools, KU School of Education’s Institute for Educational Research, KU Department of History, Finney County Historical Museum

In Garden City

KU history department partners Rita Napier, lead historian; Dale Nimz; and Paul Steuwe conduct summer workshops.

At KU in Lawrence

Garden City teachers attend a professional development weekend in February.