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Education Programs One-Room School Living History Education Program
Children are dropped off at the historic ranch headquarters site and are dressed in the period appropriate costumes. Park staff work with each teacher, so that some clothing items may be worn from home. The park is working toward procuring more clothing, but some assistance is needed. A list of these items are found in the information packet. The lunches that the children bring are placed in the tin pales. Once the children are dressed in the costumes and the lunches are ready to go, they walk with a park employee through the prairie, across the creek over the bridge, and walk on to school. Along the way, they learn about the plants and animals that live in the prairie. If they are late, the teacher will ring her bell warning the children that they have five minutes until school begins. Upon arrival at the 1882 Lower Fox Creek School, the children line up in front of the schoolhouse to have their photograph taken. This was a very common practice, usually taken on the last day of school. As part of the program, a digital copy of this photo is given to the teacher, so that copies can be reproduced as appropriate. Before any of these photos are placed on the internet, a release form must be signed and given to the park by each parent or guardian of the children attending the program. All photos on this page were given the proper release. A signed release is not required for attendance at this program. All requests will be honored by the park. Follow the link to view and print past class photos. Once the photos have been
taken, a restroom and water break are given before classroom work
begins. The photos below are from the April 2004 session. We encourage you to become part of this exciting new program.
Children are divided into groups and led by park rangers
on a two-hour tour of the historic house,
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Several
days are set aside in April each year for this new program. There
is no charge for this program. 
There
are no permanent toilets at the school, so a port-a-john is placed
at the site. Hand-sanitizer is also provided for health and safety.
School work begins promptly after these necessities are completed.
The girls and boys line up and enter the school through each respective
doorway. Girls enter though the south door and boys through the
north. After the children take their seats, the teacher(played by
park staff member) takes roll call. Next the flag salute is completed,
followed by a visit from the county superintendent, role also played
by a park staff member. School is then in session until 11:30 a.m.,
when we break for lunch. Children eat lunch at their desks, which
is then followed by a thirty-minute recess. Period appropriate games
are played, such as Tag, Annie-Over, Catch, Tick-tack-Toe, and other
games. After recess, class is back in session until 2 p.m. Throughout
the day the children are required to learn a Memory Gem and by the
end of the day, should be able to recite this from memory. More
information on this activity is found in the information packet.
Afternoon classwork winds down with a good old-fashioned Spelling
Bee. Children then clean up and return to the historic ranch headquarters
by "walking home" through the prairie. Period clothing
is left at the historic ranch headquarters and children return to
the 21st century on their trip ride home. It is a very active day
and the children come away with a better understanding and appreciation
for attending school during the1880s on the Kansas prairie. 
barn,
outbuildings, Southwind Nature Trail, and Lower Fox Creek School.
There is a $1 charge per child, with teacher being free. Parents
and adults accompanying the group are charged $5 per individual.
Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance for
this activity and can be made by calling the preserve at 620-273-8494.
To better serve the children and our visitors, we can only present
one school tour per day. Dates fill quickly, so call now to reserve
your space. There are still spaces available for this activity.