Kansas Day at the Museum

Kansas became a state on January 29, 1861!

Celebrate the 148th Kansas Day at the Kansas Museum of History!

9 a.m. — 3 p.m.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Free Admission
Groups of 10 or more are asked to register in advance at education@kshs.org or by calling 785-272-8681, ext. 414.

Mr. Lincoln Comes to Kansas!

On Kansas Day 2009 we celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth and the sesquicentennial of his visit to Kansas. Abraham Lincoln visited Kansas in December 1859, almost a year before being elected president.

Learn more about Abraham Lincoln and his visit to Kansas as you take part in the 2009 Kansas Day at the Museum. Activities, performances, and exhibits will celebrate Kansas's 148th birthday and the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.

Kansas Day at the Museum 2009 will feature a special visit from Governor Kathleen Sebelius and performances by Tom Leahy and Richard Pitts.

Tom Leahy will present "Abraham Lincoln Remembered." Leahy has performed as Abraham Lincoln from Kansas to New York. His experiences teaching in an elementary school classroom help make his performances especially useful for school groups.

Richard Camara Pitts is an African-American storyteller and drummer. His stories are derived from the rich West Africa and African-American folktales, legends and histories of the people who came to North American shores centuries ago. The African hand drummers from Nigeria, Sengal and Mali influence his "Roots of Rhythm" performance.

Performances

Performances take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the hour in the Museum Classrooms located just off the lobby. Each performance is thirty minutes in length.

10 a.m. A special visit from Governor Kathleen Sebelius in honor of Kansas Day and Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. Immediately following is Roots of Rhythm, a performance of African American storytelling, drumming and history performed by Richard Camara Pitts. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

11– 11:30 a.m. Abraham Lincoln Remembered: Enjoy a visit from “Abraham Lincoln” as he is portrayed by Tom Leahy, a Kansas teacher.

12 – 12:30 p.m. Roots of Rhythm (same as earlier performance)

1– 1:30 p.m. Abraham Lincoln Remembered (same as earlier performance)

Activities In the Lobby

• Young Freestaters
  Activities for younger visitors focusing on Kansas symbols and Abraham Lincoln.
  
• A Hat Full of Stories
  Collect facts and stories about Abraham Lincoln and then assemble them into a Lincoln's Hat booklet.
  
• Adding Up to a Happy Birthday!
  Kansas Day is Kansas' 148th birthday. See how many different ways you can combine coins and bills to make 148!
  
• Gallery Scavenger Hunts
  Explore the Main Gallery and the Potawatomi Mission using themed scavenger hunts.
  
• Kids Voting Kansas
  Learn about the voting process.
  
• Who Can Vote?
  Compare voting rights in 1861 to 2009.
  
• Who Are You Voting For?
  Campaign buttons provide clues about what candidates stood for and believed in. Explore some campaign buttons from past elections, and make one of your own!
  
• "It Happens First in Kansas"
  Learn about elected officials from Kansas who have helped change our nation as you examine historic photos and create a timeline.
  
• Building a More Perfect Union
  Explore the municipal, county and state government through their buildings.
  
• Happy Birthday President Lincoln!
  Help celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday by making him a birthday card and donating a "Lincoln" penny to help preserve Lincoln's birthplace and five other Lincoln historic sites.

Photo Opportunities

Bring a camera! You won’t want to miss all the fun photo opportunities! Help bring Lincoln ‘to life’ with our special Kansas Day at the Museum photo panel.

Historic Craft Demonstrations

Learn about the low-tech life of the past as you talk to Kansans demonstrating historic crafts and trades such as rope making, weaving, horn carving, quilting, basket making, and more.

Learn from the Experts

Tour guides will be stationed throughout the Main Gallery and in the Potawatomi Mission with an assortment of hands-on items. They will share their knowledge and help you look more closely at the museum exhibits.

Exhibits

Exhibits exploring the history of Kansas are available in three galleries.

• Main Gallery
• Lincoln in Kansas
• The Potawatomi Mission exhibits

Kansas Curricular Standards

Kansas Day 2009 activities and performances correlate to several state curricular standards in the following areas:

Kindergarten History Standard

• Benchmark 3, Indicator 2 -- Understands that Kansas is a state in the United States and the significance of Kansas Day as the celebration of the state's birthday.
• Benchmark 3, Indicator 4 -- Recognizes important Kansas state symbols (e.g., state bird, flower, animal).
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 1 -- Places events in sequential order.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 2 -- Uses information to find main idea.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 3 -- Scans historic photographs to gain information.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 4 -- Asks questions, shares information, and discusses ideas about the past.

Kindergarden Math Standard 1

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 5 -- Identifies pennies and dimes and states the value of the coins using money models.

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 2 -- Identifies the office of the president as the leader of the United States ... .
• Benchmark 2, Indicator 4 -- Compares types of shelter used by American Indians in Kansas over time (e.g., grass lodge, tipi, earth lodge ...).
• Benchmark 3, Indicator 1 -- Recognizes the United States flag, Pledge of Allegiance, and the bald eagle as important national symbols.
• Benchmark 3, Indicator 2 -- Recognizes the Kansas flag and identifies the symbols on it.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 1 -- Puts events in chronological order.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 2 -- Uses information to provide details to support a main idea in history.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 3 -- Asks questions, shares information, and discusses ideas about the past using resources such as maps, photographs, books, and people.

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 5 -- Identifies coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters) and currency ($1, $5, $10) and states the value of each coin and each type of currency using money models.
• Benchmark 1, Indicator 6 -- Recognizes and counts a like group of coins (pennies, nickels, dimes).

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 1 -- Compares various forms of transportation in Kansas past and present (e.g., the horse, steamboat, trains, airplanes, cars).
• Benchmark 1, Indicator 4 -- Recognizes the impact of contributions made by leaders past and present.
• Benchmark 2, Indicator 1 -- Compares and contrasts daily life of an historic Plains Indian family, a pioneer family, and a modern family in Kansas. (This is met when the Potawatomi Mission activity is also done.)
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 4 -- Compares and contrasts to draw conclusions.

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 5 -- Identifies coins, states their values, and determines the total value to $1.00 of mixed group of coins using pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half-dollars.
• Benchmark 1, Indicator 6 -- Counts a like combination of currency ($1, $5, $10, $20) to $100.

• Benchmark 4, Indicator 1 -- Recognizes that citizenship has rights, privileges, and civic responsibilities (e.g., ... voting ... ).
• Benchmark 5, Indicator 2 -- Identifies people or groups who make, apply, and enforce rules or laws within a family, school, or community (e.g., parent/buardian, police, mayor, governor, president).

• Benchmark 4, Indicaotr 3 -- Uses information to frame important historical questions.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 4 -- Observes and draws conclusions in his/her own words.

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 3c -- Knows, explains, and uses equivalent representations including the use of mathematical models for: addition and subtraction of money, e.g., three half dollars equals 50¢ + 50¢ + 50¢ OR 50¢ + 100¢.
• Benchmark 1, Indicator 4 -- Determines the value of mixed coins and bills with a total value of $50.00 or less.

• Benchmark 4, Indicator 1 -- Determines how people can participate in government and why it is important (e.g., ... voting, running for office).
• Benchmark 5, Indicator 1 -- Describes the function of state governments (e.g., establish law for the state, provide public service, provide public safety).

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 1 -- Explains how various American Indians adapted to their environment in relationship to shelter and food (e.g., Plains ...).

• Benchmark 4, Indicator 1 -- Computes with efficiency and accuracy using various computational methods including mental math, paper and pencil, concrete materials, and appropriate technology.
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 3a -- Performs and explains these computational procedures -- adds and subtracts whole numbers from 0 through 100,000 and when used as monetary amounts).

• Benchmark 4, Indicator 1 -- Understands that rights are personal, political, and economic (e.g., ... political: holding public office ...).
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 3 -- Recognizes that rights require responsibilities of citizenship (e.g., ... voting ...).
• Benchmark 4, Indicator 4 -- Examines the steps necessary to become an informed voter (e.g., recognizes issues and candidates ...).

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 1a -- Knows, explains, and uses representations for ($); whole numbers from 0 through 1,000,000.

• Benchmark 3, Indicator 1 -- Explains the three branches of Kansas government.

• Benchmark 1, Indicator 1 -- Compares and contrasts nomadic and sedentary tribes in Kansas (e.g., ... housing...).

Online Materials

Discover Lincoln's connections to Kansas history at Lincoln in Kansas.

Lunch

Please store lunches on the second floor of the Potawatomi Mission while you are visiting the museum and enjoying Kansas Day activities. Groups are invited to eat their sack lunches on the second floor of the Mission. Use of the lunchroom is available on a first come first served basis. A limited amount of room for eating is also available in the snack area off the museum lobby. Food vendors will not be present on Kansas Day.

Museum Store

The Museum Store offers a wide variety of low cost items. Teachers will find activity books, Kansas related items such as stickers and posters. Students will enjoy kits, jewelry, and small games and toys such as jaw harps.

We would like to thank Kids Voting Kansas, Inc., for their participation in Kansas Day at the Museum 2009.