Teachers & Schools
Welcome, educators! We can’t wait to help your students discover The Cowboy!
What is the American West? If you’re looking to extend learning beyond the classroom, we provide several programs that bring that history to life, from the cowboy era to Native American cultures and Western art.
With hands-on activities and interactive displays, students will gain a deeper understanding of historical events, cultural traditions and artistic achievements.
Find the perfect tour, program, or event for your classroom and let your students find their place in the West!
School Tours & Programs
Animal Tales
Foster imagination and critical thinking through animal folklore! Engage with tall tales, fables, legends and stories that impart lessons, values, insights and creative explanations for nature.
(60-minute tour)
American Cowboy
Trace the heart of cowboy culture from its vibrant origin story to the adrenaline-pumping world of modern rodeo. Compete in a cattle drive challenge and identify the tools and technology on which survival depends. Leave with an understanding and deep appreciation for what the cowboy represents
(60-minute tour)
First Peoples
This land is the ancestral home to many First American nations. The arrival of immigrants introduced new trade items and materials for daily use, however it also brought about the loss of land and lifeways. Explore these defining challenges and the perseverance of Native people and culture.
(60-minute tour)
People on the Move
Discover the forces that expanded a nation through the dreams, challenges and motivations that sparked westward movement and settlement. The results transformed America’s landscape, added to its complex history and continue to impact our society.
(60-minute tour)
Go West, Young Artist
Explore the impact of significant artwork of the American West by examining how the elements of composition are used by artists to reveal the uniqueness of the land and its people. Students will develop their skills of art criticism through this active discovery of the Museum’s featured pieces.
(60 minute tour)
Masters of Western Art
Study the artists who defined Western art and the contemporary visionaries shaping its future. Dive into the techniques and stories behind these great works.
(60-minute tour)
Oklahoma History
Journey through time to examine three significant eras in the development of the state, with specific focus to Indigenous cultures, the legacy of military presence, and the economic growth of early boomtowns prior to statehood. Meet people through stories and artifacts that shaped Oklahoma’s unique heritage.
(60-minute tour)
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.
FAQ
This addresses common questions related to School Tour Reservations, Admission Rates, Making Payment, Lunch Facilities, Rules for Schools and more.
Educational Resources
NEW! Social Studies Curriculum
Enhance student learning of Oklahoma Academic and National Social Studies Standards through classroom-ready lessons, complete with primary sources and inquiry-based strategies that develop independent, as well as collaborative critical thinking skills.
Old and New: Keepers of Native Cultures (Grades K-2)
Back in the Saddle Again (Grades 3-4)
Black Cowboys of the West (OKH/USH)
Art of the American West (MS/HS)
NEW! Character Education
The Code of the West serves as a foundation for an inspiring and thought-provoking series of lessons that support character development, ethics and service to one’s community. Utilizing popular children’s literature and biographical tales of the West’s role models, children (ages 4-12) learn how the values we share contribute to our individual and societal well-being.
NEW! Professional Development Opportunities
The Museum invites districts, schools and teachers to enjoy a partnership in education by providing interactive and engaging training sessions led by experienced educators and curriculum leaders. Contact us to schedule our free in-services, offered on-site or via remote learning. (Appropriate for Grades 3-12.)
pmerrill@nationalcowboymuseum.org
Seeing is Believing, Investigations of Imagery, Art, and Artifacts
Exploring Inquiry: The 5-E Lesson Design Model
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!
