Teachers & Schools
School Field Trips
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City offers a range of educational field trip opportunities. Spark your students’ interest and augment your teaching plans with the Museum’s dynamic programs.
Docent facilitated tours for students are offered Monday through Friday. The following guided programs are available. Each experience is designed to last 60 minutes unless noted otherwise.
Animals in Western Art
Introduce young learners to the world of animals through the fascinating lens of Western art. Students engage in a series of activities using verbal clues, tracks and fur to identify different animals and explore their depictions in art
First Peoples
Before it was “West,” this land was the ancestral home of many indigenous communities. Their culture is reflected in how they live and the types of dwellings they inhabit. The migration of European immigrants brought about the loss of land and lifeways, but introduced trade and new materials that were utilized in everyday life. This tour explores how the First Peoples persevered and are working to reclaim and advance cultural continuity.
Oklahoma as the West
The frontier was settled by rugged, versatile pioneers from around the world. They moved into the new frontier for many reasons and Oklahoma was no exception. Students compare and contrast life in the state for its Native American population and turn-of-the-century settlers, analyze the role of the military including the Buffalo Soldier, explore life in a recreated turn-of-the-century frontier town and how it relates to their lives today.
The Cowboy
What is a cowboy? Where did cowboy traditions come from? In this program students learn about the origins of the cowboy and what their daily lives looked like. Explore common myths popular culture has taught us and discover the rich diversity that makes up what we know as the cowboy today.
Best of the West
The frontier was home to many indigenous tribes and settled by emigrants from across the globe. During this program students compare and contrast Native American and non-Indian lifestyles, explore the legend of the American cowboy, analyze and interpret premier Western art using visual thinking strategy inquiry and identify how artifacts and artwork help communicate the story of the West today.
Signature Tour
From Albert Bierstadt’s glowing landscape Emigrants Crossing the Plains to pieces by Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, see some of the finest Western art in the country. View ethnographic material from Native Americans and mountain men and learn about frontier military life. Round out the tour with a look at the evolution of the working cowboy, from the range to their portrayal in film and pop culture. Walk away with a better understanding of the diverse cultures that have shaped the West.
Self-Guided Tours
Teacher-directed tours are welcome anytime. Think about the Museum as an extension of your classroom. Create your own lessons, scavenger hunts, and self-guided field experiences or utilize one of the Museum’s inquiry-based gallery guides to explore. When you schedule your visit, staff can provide suggestions.
Teacher Resources
The Dickinson Research Center
The Dickinson Research Center (DRC) is a specialized library and archive dedicated to preserving and providing access to an extensive collection of materials related to the American West. It includes significant documents, books, periodicals, films, photograph, oral histories and more. The DRC offers public access to its collections, as well as assistance in academic research, to engage and inform guests about the significance of the American West in national and global contexts.
Digital Discovery
This dynamic collection of video content is built upon the Museum’s art, artifacts and exhibitions. Each piece of content is crafted to complement and enhance your educational objectives, making history resonate with today’s tech-savvy learners. With Digital Discovery, you’re connecting students to the experts and history makers that define Western heritage!
Traveling Trunks
Whether setting the stage for a Museum visit or enhancing your curriculum, Traveling Trunks are the perfect resource. They include artifacts, tools, clothing, images of artwork from the Museum’s collection, primary source activities, assessment suggestions, and story books to share with students. Best of all? They’re yours to borrow – free of charge! Simply pick them up and return them when you’re done. Don’t miss this opportunity to bring history to life in your classroom!
