Educational Opportunities

Young student rebuilds northside of square

Student tour groups are always welcomed at the museum during our regular season and special interest activities can be arranged with advance notice so that regardless of the exhibit theme, your visit can be made to relate to your curriculum. "History hunt" games, videos, coloring sheets and other hands-on activities are usually part of every exhibit we do so your class can participate in their visit and not just be lectured.

History Field Days for entire grades or combination of grades can be arranged, too, and include additional indoor and outdoor activities relating to history or nature beyond the main gallery exhibit experience. Since local performers and/or nearby historical site staff persons assist us, these events need to be scheduled at the start of either semester so they can be properly organized. If you wish further information on a History Field Day, please call the museum and ask to speak with the Museum Director/Curator.

NEW!! "Famous Carthaginians" Resource for Teachers and Students

State Historical Society of Missouri's "Famous Missourians" Resource Guide for Teachers and Students

Poster exhibit found in Lewis & Clark trunk.

The Powers Museum has participated in several Teaching American History Grants provided by the US Department of Education, administered by the Southwest Center for Educational Excellence in Webb City. Check this link for further information on current TAHG projects at the Southwest Center for Educational Excellence.

Teacher Resources created by teachers and available at the Southwest Center for Educational Excellence, Webb City (using Powers Museum materials)

Gilded Age (including topics covering Populism, Chautauqua, Women's Suffrage, Progressism, Ragtime Music, Victorian/TofC Fashions and MORE) Carthage residents Watson Heston and Emily Newell Blair are covered in this trunk.

Food in the Ozarks from Osage to Depression Although based on tomato production, this could be used for strawberry production that was concentrated in eastern Jasper County as well as fruit production or orchards that also dominated SW MO during early decades of the 20th century.

Civil War in Southwest Missouri — There are several trunks devoted to this topic.
Archive 1, Archive 2

World War II
This trunk includes materials for Joplin, Carthage and Webb City, including copies of Big Smith newsletters in the collection of the Powers Museum archives.

COMING FALL 2008: Industrialization of Missouri using Watkins Woolen Mill (ne of Kansas City) & Carthage Woolen Mill. Also includes info on child labor.

Tri-State Mining Trunk

Full list of Southwest Center trunks (available for loan to teachers in SCEE member school districts)

Full list of Southwest Center lesson notebooks available for loan.

Circus World Museum video

Educational Resources for Loan from the Powers Museum
The Powers Museum has a series of videos and slide programs that can be borrowed by teachers and home school groups. Many of these items have been purchased and used with programming associated with previous exhibits.

Click here for traveling trunks for use at schools and on-site at museum with homeschool groups.

Click here for media programs and lesson units available for borrowing.

Contact the museum for further information on content and borrowing terms. Items are meant to be picked up and returned to the museum but if borrowers are not in the immediate area, the museum will mailout items; however, two-way postage is the responsibility of the borrower. Please call or e-mail for more information or exact title listing.

In School Programs by the Powers Museum
As allowed by the Director's on-site activities, school presentations can be made on an occasional basis in the Carthage/Jasper/Avilla/Alba/Diamond area but must be arranged at least one month in advance of appearance. (No off-site programs are given during January or late-March to mid-April unless booked prior to Dec. 20, 2008). Among the programs presented in the past have been demonstrations and hands-on activities revolving around historic Valentines and Christmas tree decorations, Victorian life, fashions and quilts. The museum is happy to create a program for your needs and can do other subjects supported by our collection holdings. Click here for other program ideas offered through our "Speakers Bureau."

History Day Project by Linda Lesue, 1988

National History Day
The Powers Museum welcomes the opportunity to assist students and teachers with National History Day projects, including the suggestion of topics that might be applicable to museum collections/archives as well as other local history topics.

2009 Theme: "The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies"

National History Day 2009

Selected Missouri history ideas for 2009

Selected local history ideas for 2009

Even if students are working on topics that are not local in nature, sometimes the museum does have primary or secondary resources in its library that might be of interest, we will be glad to answer e-mail or telephone inquiries covering other topics, too.

Also, teachers are advised to consult the Library/Archives section of this Web site for further information on research resources.

 

ATTENTION MUSIC TEACHERS

Looking for a small, intimate recital space? The museum's meeting room is available for such activities and can seat up to 30—35 (or a few more depending on arrangement). Our historic, 1905 Knabe piano is kept in tune and can be used by students, too. If your recital is held during regular public hours (click here for schedule) there is no rental fee although a donation to offset setup and cleanup time is appreciated. If you wish to book a recital at night (date/time subject to staff availability to open and close facility), a donation of $50.00 is suggested. For further information, call the museum's director at 417-358-2667.

 

 

Image at the top of this page:
Miss Beckman's Room 3 class at Mark Twain School, 1919—20

 

 

Copyright © 2008 Powers Museum
1617 West Oak • P.O. Box 593 • Carthage, MO 64836
e-mail:infonow@powersmuseum.com  |  phone: 417-358-2667
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Resources for Loan

In School Programs

National History Day