Kansas Territory
Traveling Resource Trunk
Grades 7th-8th
How bloody was Bleeding Kansas? This trunk explores the excitement that took place in Kansas Territory before statehood in 1861. In the years leading up to the Civil War, Americans looked at Kansas Territory as example of what might happen with the nation as a whole. Would the federal government outlaw slavery in the nation, and what would happen if it did? No one knew for sure, but the creation of Kansas Territory in 1854 gave the citizens of the new territory the right to decide whether they would live in a free state or a slave state. Americans across the country read news reports from “Bleeding Kansas,” the place on the western frontier where conflict between those who wanted slavery, and those who didn't, turned violent.
The trunk contains a variety of materials to help students explore this tumultuous period of Kansas history. A corn-husking peg, John Brown’s surveyors hat, a ballot box, flags from two sides of the conflict, and other artifact reproductions provide hands-on learning opportunities. Organizational tools, like a wall-sized chart and timeline cards, help students learn about people who lived in Kansas Territory and what happened to them while they did. Students read primary sources to identify pieces of propaganda published in the territory and then study persuasive techniques to create their own. Each of the five complete lesson plans included in the teaching manual is designed to fulfill educational standards in History, Reading and/or Writing for 7th and 8th grades.
The items contained in this trunk make it a great program addition in non-classroom settings. Youth groups find it useful in meeting badge or project requirements. The hands-on components lend themselves to discovery center areas in museums and libraries.
Ideas for using this trunk with other ages and youth groups.
Contents of Trunk
Trunk Manual
Trunk Specifications
Weight: 29 pounds
Dimensions: 24" x 19" x 13"
Insure for $500 when shipping
The Kansas Historical Society developed the Kansas Territory traveling resource trunk with major funding provided by the Kansas State Department of Education.
