• To me, the people in my school history books had one thing in common–they were all dead. I had no connection to them, so they were not important to me. But when I hiked to a rock shelter where some nameless tribesman had left his handprint in red paint, a feeling swept over me. “I was here. Remember,” it seemed to say.
• I cannot remember one word of any lecture I ever heard in a history class before college, but even as a child I loved the historic homes in our town and noticed that they didn’t have indoor plumbing.
• The pictures in my textbooks were black and white and shades of gray, but when my family attended a play where scenes from history were reenacted, history came alive!

If you’re like me, most of the education you received in school was PASSIVE–which is possibly why I had the vague notion sometimes that education was something inflicted upon me. My presence was required as well as my cooperation in reading textbooks, listening to lectures, and quietly watching the occasional movie as a rare treat. But studies prove that we remember

• only 10% of what we read
• 20% of what we hear
• 30% of what we see (pictures and other visual images)
• and just 50% of what we see hear presented in a passive manner. (a movie, exhibit, or demonstration)

But when learning is ACTIVE–when we

• participate in a discussion
• tell others what we’ve learned
• participate in a dramatic presentation
• simulate a real experience, or
• do “the real thing”

retention jumps to 70%-90%!

Field trips provide an opportunity to connect with the people who made history–to walk where they walked, to experience a bit of their life, and to gain an appreciation for their goals and challenges. We participate in their drama, and we talk about what we’ve learned with others who are also excited.

That’s why, through Discover Texas, we strive to make it easier to find and organize field trips that fit your family’s interests. The posts in this series represent only a few of the field trip ideas listed in the Teacher Tips section of each volume. No one family could do them all–at least it’s unlikely that you could see it all in one year–but I’d encourage you to plan at least some.

There’s still time before the Labor Day weekend, and I guarantee there’s an interesting historical site near you. Think how much more enjoyable this year will be if your students are excited and engaged in their study of Texas history!

Field Trips are an Indispensible Part of Learning is a post from: News Around Texas

You could also hike to see the native Texans’ Rock Art. There are actually tours at many locations in far west Texas and in the western regions of the South Texas Plains, so you’ll need to check the calendar to find a convenient date and place.

If you homeschool in Trans-Pecos Texas… is a post from: News Around Texas

Several selections in San Antonio run a very close second. (I LOVE San Antonio—something that will probably become obvious as you read this blog.) If you are able to plan a Texas History field trip for the whole Labor Day weekend, you wouldn’t run out of things to see and do!

Of course there’s the Alamo and four other historic Spanish missions. (Check the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau for information.)

Perhaps less well known is the Institute of Texas Cultures, displaying the best aspects of all the many people groups who now call themselves Texans.

And the The Witte Museum has an excellent walk-through diorama depicting the geographical regions of our state, as well as a display of Texas’ first nations—the indigenous tribes.

If you homeschool in the Texas Hill Country… is a post from: News Around Texas

If you homeschool on the South Texas Plains… is a post from: News Around Texas

Replicas of Columbus’ ships, courtesy of Ships of Discovery, can be toured in Corpus Christi harbor. Though Columbus never made it as far as the mainland of Texas, these ships are typical of those that brought other explorers in the Age of Exploration. I was amazed at their small size! Not sure I’d want to cross uncharted oceans in such a small craft…

Of course, Presidio La Bahia  at Goliad, the San Jacinto Museum of History in La Porte, and the Star of the Republic Museum  at Washington-on-the-Brazos are great places to introduce students to the sweeping saga of our state.

If you prefer something even more interactive, try the Barrington Living History Farm near Washington-on-the-Brazos or the George Ranch Historical Park at Richmond.

If you homeschool on the Texas Gulf Coastal Plains… is a post from: News Around Texas

Since East Texas was the cradle of colonization, several of our earliest historical sites are preserved through state parks or universities in your area.

Try Caddoan Mounds near Alto, Mission Tejas State Park in Grapeland, the Stone Fort Museum and El Camino Real exhibit at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, or Stephen F. Austin State Historical Park–site of Austin’s original colony–at San Filipe.

If you homeschool in the Piney Woods of Texas… is a post from: News Around Texas

 Enjoy Frontier Texas!, an interactive history museum in Abilene

 OR

 Journey to Texas in the days BEFORE history at the Waco Mammoth Site.

If you homeschool in Central Texas… is a post from: News Around Texas

The show runs through August 21^st this year, so you’ll have to act fast. Seats fill quickly!

If you homeschool in the Panhandle of Texas… is a post from: News Around Texas

To help you get your students excited about discovering Texas history, we’ll start the year off with a series of blogs about field trips. If you don’t see one in your area, be patient. We’ll feature at least one great kick-off idea in every region.

For starters, these seasonal ideas are available in many areas:

A Corn Field Maze can be an “a-maize-ing” way to learn about Texas agriculture and history. There are mazes located in Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, Kilgore, West, Houston, Moulton, Angleton, Mercedes, and Hondo. Check individual websites for maps and times.

Since 1997, the Texas Camel Corp has been a crowd favorite at Texas frontier forts’ Living History Days and 19^th century re-enactments, appearing at:

Fort Lancaster (Sheffield, TX)

Fort McKavett (Fort McKavett, TX)

Fort Stockton (Fort Stockton, TX)

Fort Concho (San Angelo, TX)

Fort Leaton (Presidio, TX)

Fort Martin Scott (Fredericksburg, TX)

Fort Inge (Uvalde, TX)

Fort Phantom Hill (Abilene, TX)

Fort Richardson (Jacksboro, TX), and

Fort Griffin (Albany, TX)

Check for appearances at a historic fort in your area!

Start the Year Right! is a post from: News Around Texas

On this day in 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff. On board was Texas astronaut Judith Arlene Resnik. Seventeen years later (on Feb. 1, 2003) the space shuttle Columbia disentegrated over Texas as it prepared for landing. The vapor trail following the disaster was visible over much of the state, and many citizens took part in search and recovery efforts.

• Ask several people if they remember where they were when the Challenger and/or Columbia were lost. How did it affect or impact them?
• This would be a great time to plan a field trip to the Johnson Space Center in Houston (http://www.spacecenter.org/).
• Three space shuttles–Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor–are still flying. The shuttle program was scheduled to retire this year (2010)–the final chapter in a significant era of history. Learn more about the history of the program and efforts by some to extend space shuttle flights.

This is history in the making!

The Space Shuttles is a post from: News Around Texas