Goal 5: Learn and Experience History through Place

Texas residents and guests of all ages learn and experience the state’s diverse history through formal education, recreation, and everyday interactions with historic places.

Statewide Outcomes

1. 4th and 7th grade kids learn community/regional culturally inclusive history through place
2. Adults within a community learn local history and value of preservation
3. Increased visitation at historic sites statewide
4. Increased participation of underrepresented people in historic preservation

Action Ideas and Case Studies

• Action Idea: Create web-based history curricula for major ethnic groups in Texas
• Action Idea: Utilize Teacher Service Centers to promote teaching place-based history
• Action Idea: Site-based interpretation of the how’s and why’s of preservation
• Action Idea: Offer preservation education as part of adult leadership program curricula (i.e. Junior League, etc.)
• Case Study: Brownsville-21 Project
• Case Study: Texas Mountain Trail Cultural and Heritage Bicycle Routes

THC Programs Supporting Goal

• Texas Heritage Trails Program
• Heritage Tourism Program
• THC State Historic Sites
• Texas Archeology Month
• THC Educator Materials
• Texas Archeology in the Classroom: A Unit for Teachers

More Information and Resources

• Youth and Historic Preservation, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
• Service Learning & Historic Preservation
• Heritage Education, National Council for Preservation Technology & Training
• National Council for Preservation Education

• Statewide Plan Issues Preservation Education and Preservation Awareness

Web Resources for Teaching Texas History

Texas Beyond History: This site is a public education service of the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas with information and resources to help you “teach about the past in Texas, using archeology as a lens for discovery.” Check out the “Teacher” section for lesson plans for both elementary and secondary grades based on   Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), as well as the “Kids” section for games, facts and links.

Texas Heritage Online: Check out the links under “Resources,” where you will find all kinds of games, activities, lesson plans and other resources made available by institutions across the state.

Teaching Texas: Spearheaded by the Texas State Historical Association, this site focuses on nine types of resources (including programming and exhibits at historic sites and museums) for 4^th and 7^th grade teachers and students, all aligned with the appropriate curriculum standards and TEKs.

The Portal to Texas History: The University of North Texas has amassed a huge collection of digital resources. Using the resources, they’ve put together all sorts of tools for teachers, which you can find in the Resources 4 Educators section.