Student Programming and Field Trips
SCHEDULING INFORMATION
To schedule any program, please call or email our Booking Line at 214-421-4500 x 104 or simply fill out this form and someone will be back in touch shortly.
If your program is scheduled to take place at the Hall of State, please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the program.
If you have program questions or would like to request more information or historical resources, please contact the Education Department by email or phone, 214-421-4500 ext. 104.
For pre- and post- activities, free program downloads and TEKS material, click here for the DHS Teacher Resource Page.
To take a brief survey about one of our tours or performances, please click HISTORIC CHARACTER SURVEY or TOUR SURVEY.
DALLAS AREA REGIONAL HISTORY DAY
Each year thousands of students, encouraged by teachers and parents nationwide, participate in National History Day (NHD). This year’s theme is Conflict and Compromise in History
Interested students are encouraged to do both primary and secondary research about their historical topic as it relates to the NHD’s annual theme. In order to do this, students should utilize tools such as libraries, archives (like the Dallas Historical Society’s collection) and museums, conduct oral history interviews, and visit historic sites. Students may present their work and research in one of five ways: as a research paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a website. Each of the categories (except papers) can be created by a group of two to five students. Research papers are done individually.
Student projects may be entered into competitions in the spring at one of our regional contests across North Texas. The Dallas Area Regional History Day contest will be held at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center on February 17, 2018. The deadline to enter is February 3rd. Winners from each regional competition will advance to the state contest in Austin on April 28, 2018 at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Students who place first or second at our state contest advance to the National Contest June 10-14 at the University of Maryland at College Park.
For more information about the Dallas Area Regional History Day contest, please email Susan Reno at sreno@dallasisd.org or visit this website.
TEACHING WITH DOCUMENTS
Please email Booking Line for availability and pricing.
Students will learn the difference between primary and secondary sources, and the importance of each. They will analyze various artifacts and documents to determine its source type. Students will be asked to explain the document, its potential significance to history, and why they came to the conclusion they did.
Students will learn how to read a map of Fair Park. They will examine older maps and current maps and will evaluate and discuss the differences. Students will apply map skills to real life by finding locations in Fair Park through a type of scavenger hunt. At the locations, they will discuss what they learned about the older versions of Fair Park versus what the areas look like now.
VISITING THE HALL OF STATE IN HISTORIC FAIR PARK
Want to see the building before you visit? CLICK HERE to take a virtual tour of the Hall of State!
- 30 minute tour (50 student max/tour)
- Grades 3-12
- Docent led
- $3.00 per person
- Teachers FREE
Students will learn about Texas history while touring the Great Hall of the Hall of State, which was built as a part of the 1936 Centennial to honor Texas State History. Guided tour features the murals, statues, architecture, photographs and current museum exhibits that illustrate Texas History. The Texas History Tour is available Tuesday-Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
FREE HALL OF STATE WALKING TOUR
- Self-guided
- All Grades
- Free
Students will learn about Texas History while touring the Hall of State, which was built as part of the 1936 Centennial to honor Texas State History. Self-Guided tours feature the murals, statues, architecture, photographs and current museum exhibitions that illustrate the great history of Texas. Information about the building is available for FREE download at the Teacher Resource page or by emailing Dealey Campbell.
EXHIBITS AND TRAVELING TRUNKS
VIEW EXHIBIT SCHEDULE AT THE HALL OF STATE BY CLICKING HERE
Recommended for Grades 3rd and up
All exhibits are located in the Hall of State in Fair Park
FREE Admission
WAYS OF THE WEST HANDS-ON EXHIBIT AND TRAVELING TRUNK
- Grades 1-4.
- Available any day of the week.
- Each presentation will be approximately 30 minutes long.
- Flat Rate of $250 which includes TWO 30-minute presentations for 25 students each (50 students total).
- Additional 30-minute presentations are $50 each.
- Can be an in-school or field trip program.
Traveling Hands-On Exhibit facilitates a discussion of Native Americans, cowboys and cattle drives, life on the Texas frontier, the ranching industry, as well as frontier games and toys.
HISTORIC CHARACTER PERFORMANCES
- All character performances are available in-school as well as at the Hall of State as a field trip
- Programs not available at the Hall of State during the State Fair of Texas
- Duration of program is 45 minutes to one hour with an optional Q & A session for the students
- $300 First Performance; $100 (each) 2nd and 3rd Performance (same character). Max three in one day.
HISTORIC CHARACTERS FOR GRADES 3-12
STORYTELLING PERFORMANCES
“Tales from the Trail” (a.k.a. Cowboy Jack)
Grades K – 4
Reminisce with “Ole Big Tex,” a real cowboy, as he remembers his life and adventures on the cattle trail from ranch to market. Stories, songs and hands-on objects bring the Texas cattle trail to life in front of students’ eyes.
Grades Pre-K – 1st
Aunt Rose tells Fairy Tales Texas style.
DHS programs sponsored in part by: City of Dallas-Office of Cultural Affairs
To become a DHS member, click here.
