The more students participate actively in learning, the longer the learning sticks!
To help you get your students excited about discovering Texas history, one good idea is to take a field trip where they can see the places “history happened” close to home.
Fortunately, you pretty much live in the middle of a field trip waiting to happen!
For example, check out the Texas Forts Trail–a self-guided tour put together by the Texas Historical Commission as part of their Texas Time Travel project. Your kids may feel like they really have traveled back in time to the days when the events in novels like Old Yeller and Lonesome Dove were part of everyday life.
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)
Fort Mason (Mason, TX)
TEACHER TIPS:
- Before you go, read the novel Old Yeller by Mason, Texas author Fred Gipson (who passed away August 14, 1973). Talk about the hardships of pioneer life and why the Texas Forts were needed to protect the frontier.
- Since 1997, the Texas Camel Corp has been a crowd favorite at Texas frontier forts’ Living History Days and 19th century re-enactments. Check their website to see if they’re coming to an event near you.
