I Want To Be A Cowboy Hat
By Steve Medemar
Jim Konen
Bob Schalk
Grade Level: 8th Grade
Montana Content Standards for 8th Grade:
1. Social Studies Content Standards 1
Students access, synthesize, and evaluate information to communicate
and apply social studies knowledge to the real world. Benchmarks: 1,
2, and 3.
2. Social Studies Content Standards 6
Students demonstrate an understanding of the impact of human interaction
and cultural diversity on societies. Benchmarks: 1, 3, and 4.
Subject: Social Studies
Description: Understand the importance of the cowboy hat in the western era. Cowboy or Western hats are one of the unique trademarks of the cowboy. Hats of felt are worn in cold weather and straw hats are worn in hot weather. The important parts of a cowboy hat are the brim, crown, and crease. Felt is the material of choice for a cowboy hat for good reason. Felt is matted fur. Because it is matted, and the hairs run in all directions interlocking with each other, felt is stronger and lighter than woven materials. A water resistant fur / felt is desirable to help the hat hold its shape and shed water.
Teacher Background Information: Beaver, or muskrat are the best and most expensive fur / felts. Rabbit, or a combination of rabbit with one of the other felts, is most common. Wool felt will not hold its shape. Nothing looks worse than a droopy cowboy hat. Felt hats are made of rabbit and beaver hair. A 5X hat is all rabbit, a 10X hat is 50% rabbit and 50% beaver, and a 100X hat is 100% beaver.
Goal: the purpose of this lesson is for each student to learn the different styles, functions and importance of the cowboy hat.
Objectives:
1. Students will be able to identify different styles of cowboy hats
2. Students will be able to explain useful functions of the cowboy hat
3. Students will learn the importance of role-playing
4. Students will analyze the history of the cowboy
Materials:
1. Grant Kohrs traveling trunk
2. Era cowboy hats
3. Photos of cowboys and their hats
4. Teacher collection of cowboy hats (if possible)
5. Western movies showing the different cowboys and their hats (teacher
made)
6. Have each student bring a cowboy hat (if possible)
Teacher Information:
1. Types of hats worn by cowboys during the late 19th century and early
20th century
a) Plainsman b) Sugar-loaf Sombrero c) Slouch hat
d) Montana Peak e) Texas f) Bowler
g) Wool hat
2. "The Boss of the Plains" by J.B. Stetson - 1865 4"
brim and 4" crown
3. "Dakota" by Stetson
4. "Men's Panama Hat" by Montgomery Wards 1874 (not work hats)
5. "Men's Planter's Hat" by Montgomery Wards 1878 (not work
hats)
6. "Buckskin Sombrero" 1883 - 5" brim and 4" crown
7. "Chief Moses" by Montgomery Wards 1900 - 3.5""
brim and 5" crown
8. "The Denver" by Montgomery Wards 1910 - 3.5" brim
and 5.5" crown
9. "Big Four Hat" by Montgomery Wards 1910 - 4" brim
and 6" crown
Cowboy Hat Functions:
1. Badge of individuality 5. Identification of origin of wearer 8. Head
cover
2. Shade from sun 6. Umbrella against rain, hail, snow 9. Worn to nap
or sleep
3. Fan a fire 7. Carry water 10. Signal for help
4. Urge a horse to go faster (used as a riding crop)
Vocabulary:
1. Brim:
2. Crown:
3. Crease:
4. Felt
Procedure: (Activities)
1. Instruct students on the different kinds of cowboy hats by showing
pictures and reproductions of
different hats.
2. Break into small groups with each group is given a different style
of hat. Instruct each group to create a short role-play about the cowboy
under their specific cowboy hat.
3. Break into small groups with each group is a cowboy hat. Instruct
each group to create a list of as many uses the cowboy had for his cowboy
hat.
4. Show pictures of cowboys in groups and have students identify the
types of hats worn by each cowboy.
5. Show clips of different western movies or televisions shows and have
student identify the different types of cowboy hat.
Assessment:
1. Oral quiz over hat identification using individual hats provided
by the Grant Kohrs traveling trunk.
2. Short quiz on the functions of the cowboy hat discussed in class.
Enrichment Activities:
1. Compare and contrast the materials used in hat making, i.e. felts,
straws, leather.
2. Discuss the style of cowboy hats considering geographic features.
3. Research cowboy hat manufactures such as Stetson, Montgomery Ward,
etc.
4. Design and make your own cowboy hat
Resources:
1. Grant Kohrs National Park:
Matt Connor, Chief Ranger and Interpreter
(406) 846-2070 ext. 230
2. web sites:
www.nps.gov/grko/home.htm Grant Kohrs Ranch:
http://www.cowboystore.com
http://riverjunction.com
http://www.randhats.com/hat_history4.htm
3. References:
The Cowboys. New York: Time-Life Books, 1973, p. 23
Foster-Harris. The Look of the Old West. New York: The Viking Press, 1955, p. 103 - 6.
Lindmier, Tom & Mount, Steve. I See By Your Outfit. Glendo, Wyoming: High Plains Press, 1996, p. 32 - 42.
Morris, Michele. The Cowboy Life. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996, p. 63 - 70.
Murdoch, David. Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Books:
Cowboy. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2000, p. 20 - 1.