Student Tours
TOURS:
Best of the West (Grades 3 – 12): The frontier was home to many indigenous tribes and settled by rugged, versatile pioneers. During this program students will 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.
People on the Move (Grades K – 6): Explore the nomadic culture of America’s indigenous Plains Indians through artifact and art. In this program students will identify cultural aspects of nomadic peoples, analyze how the Plains Indians utilized materials from the environment to create material culture, and compare and contrast historic and contemporary traditions.
The American Cowboy (Grades K – 6): From the day’s beginning before the sun rises to the day’s end after the sun sets, a cowboy’s job requires long hours and hard labor. In this program, students discover the cowboy’s life by considering: What was a cowboy’s day like? Where did they eat, sleep, and socialize? What did cowboys wear and what equipment did he use? Students will find the answers to these questions and more while honing their observation skills and imagining themselves in the saddle throughout the Museum exhibitions.
Oklahoma as the West (Grades 3 – 4): 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 will 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 make comparisons to their lives today.
Weather in the West (Grades K – 3): Learn how the often-brutal environment of the West – with its dramatic blizzards, violent thunder storms, floods, droughts, tornadoes, and hurricanes – shaped the history of the American West. This program explores the roles of land and sky, two major natural forces in the West, as portrayed through Western landscape paintings. Students will creatively address topics of adaptability, alteration, and environment through facilitated activities.
Animals in Western Art (Grades PK-1): Track different animals in art and explore their habitats using verbal cues, animal tracks and fur. After a 30-minute tour, children have the opportunity to explore animal tracks through art activities for an additional 20 minutes.
Teacher-Directed Museum Visits: 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.
