Education

Virtual and Museum Field Trips

Virtual and Museum Field Trips

Welcome to this page, especially for you! We’re excited to offer student-driven learning combining curiosity and primary sources. We look forward to providing experiences with compelling questions and artifacts via Virtual Field Trips and On-Site visits at the Nebraska History Museum. See below to learn more about the programs, click on the links below to register for these programs. If you need a one-pager for your team, click here to download a list of our programs for the 2022-23 school year.

On-Site Learning: Nebraska History Museum

Available August 2022 – May 2023
Click this LINK to request any of these in-person tours.
Please note these accommodations are available for your students. These options and basic follow-up questions will be found in the tour registration form.
*Students using mobility devices
*Students with hearing impairment
Nebraska Newsroom: What's the Scoop? (60 Min., 10-64 students, 3rd-5th grades)
Curious Curators: What Do They Do? (60 min., 10-75 students, 3rd-5th grades)
Exhibit Explorers: Make Your Way Through History (30-60 min., 10-125 students, 3rd-12th grades)
Chronologically Nebraska 9th-12th grades: (45 minutes, 10-50 students):
Make History: Vote! (3rd-6th grade, 60 minutes, 10-64 students)
Media Literacy: Influence and Influencers (7th-8th grade, 60 minutes, 10-64 students)
Media Literacy: Read Between the Lines (9th-12th grade, 60 minutes, 10-64 students)

Nebraska Newsroom: What’s the Scoop? (60 Min., 10-64 students, 3rd-5th grades)

Field Trip: Extra, Extra! Read all about this field trip! Students will use historic objects from the Nebraska Unwrapped exhibit to imagine that they are reporters for the “History Now!” newspaper investigating the question, “Is it better to change or stay the same?” Equipped with interview questions, students find their assigned object and see what evidence it contributes to this question. Then it’s time to print the paper as each reporter writes a headline to share the results of their interview.

Cost: Participating students and their adults are free of charge. Donations are always welcome!

Pre-Visit: Give your students more time in the exhibits with this pre-visit preparation! Students get a preview of their field trip using a “Field Trip Story” slide deck and then start imagining the role they’ll play at the museum. Students start by discussing their observations about how reporters collect and share information, and then they give it a try by “interviewing” classroom objects. Flexibly fit this 20 min. pre-visit activity into your day using a one-page lesson plan we’ll attach to your confirmation.

Curious Curators: What Do They Do? (60 min., 10-75 students, 3rd-5th grades)

Field Trip: What happens if you give a curator a cool object? Students will discover what Curators do first-hand in this fun field trip that takes them to up to three different exhibits! Your class will leave with a book of your student’s curator notes on the two objects they loved the most.

Cost: Participating students and their adults are free of charge. Donations are always welcome!

Pre-Visit:Give your students more time in the exhibits with this pre-visit preparation! Students talk about museums, objects, and curators using a “Field Trip Story” slide deck. Then take some curator notes by observing a classroom object and recording the answers to three simple questions. Flexibly fit this 20 min. pre-visit activity into your day using a one-page lesson plan we’ll attach to your confirmation.

Exhibit Explorers: Make Your Way Through History (30-60 min., 10-125 students, 3rd-12th grades)

Field Trip: Students will explore up to three different exhibits with a half-sheet scavenger hunt for each in this self-guided experience. Pencils, worksheet copies, and writing boards will be provided.

Cost: Participating students and their adults are free of charge. Donations are always welcome!

Pre-Visit: Give your students more time in the exhibits with this pre-visit preparation! Students talk about museums, objects, and curators using a “Field Trip Story” slide deck. Then take some curator notes by observing a classroom object and recording the answers to three simple questions. Flexibly fit this 20 min. pre-visit activity into your day using a one-page lesson plan we’ll attach to your confirmation.

Chronologically Nebraska 9th-12th grades: (45 minutes, 10-50 students):

Test your knowledge of Nebraska History as you explore the Nebraska History Museum! Groups can build their own timeline of Nebraska historical events using our Chronologically Nebraska card game and the information you find in the museum! Play as one big team or small groups to prove your historical expertise or as a fun way to explore the museum!

Make History: Vote! (3rd-6th grade, 60 minutes, 10-64 students)

We’ve all heard of voting before; you might have even voted at school! But why is voting so important? Students take a closer look at voting and why it is so important to a healthy democracy while exploring the Smithsonian exhibit “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.”

Virtual Pre-visit: In preparation for your upcoming visit, classes will connect virtually with a museum educator to explore the exhibit’s themes, Nebraska connections, and necessary vocabulary to make the most of your learning experience! This pre-lesson lasts 15 minutes and is scheduled alongside your field trip.

Media Literacy: Influence and Influencers (7th-8th grade, 60 minutes, 10-64 students)

In a world full of influencers and social media it might be hard to imagine that media has been used to influence the public since our country’s founding. Using the Smithsonian’s exhibit “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith,” students will investigate how the media has been used to influence American politics throughout our history.

Virtual Previsit: In preparation for your upcoming visit classes will connect virtually with a museum educator to explore the exhibits themes, Nebraska connections, and necessary vocabulary to make the most of your learning experience! This pre-lesson lasts 15 minutes and is scheduled alongside your field trip.

Media Literacy: Read Between the Lines (9th-12th grade, 60 minutes, 10-64 students)

Media is everywhere and we are constantly consuming it. Students will learn how to identify, examine, and read between the lines of agenda in the media. Using the Smithsonian’s exhibit “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith,” students will use critical thinking skills to discover hidden meanings in media that can have an impact on our democracy.

Virtual Previsit: In preparation for your upcoming visit classes will connect virtually with a museum educator to explore the exhibits themes, Nebraska connections, and necessary vocabulary to make the most of your learning experience! This pre-lesson lasts 15 minutes and is scheduled alongside your field trip.

Virtual Field Trips

Join us online and explore Nebraska’s history. Click this LINK to request any of these tours. We ask that you please request a program at least one week out to allow our team to prepare and provide the best experience possible for your students.

Connecting Virtually
Classrooms only need an internet connection and a computer or laptop with a webcam and microphone to participate in our virtual programs. Our primary video conferencing tool is Google Meet, but we can connect through Zoom and Microsoft Teams by request.

Learning can be done from anywhere! History Nebraska’s virtual programs remove distance as a barrier, enabling students and educators across Nebraska to explore our state’s rich history and diversity from the comfort of their classroom. Programs are aligned to Nebraska academic standards and aim to promote critical thinking, empathy, and curiosity.

Piecing Together the Past in 10 questions or less! (Recommended for 4th-6th grades)
Explore 13,000 years of Nebraska history with this virtual field trip! This lesson centers around answering the most common questions asked of History Nebraska archeologists and asking students critical thinking questions to learn about archeology and Nebraska history. This lesson covers archeological sites, Nebraska’s indigenous populations, bones, and more! This virtual field trip is an overview of the “Piecing Together the Past” exhibit on display now at the Nebraska History Museum. This 30-minute virtual field trip is recommended for 6th-grade learners and is facilitated virtually by History Nebraska educators and History Nebraska archeologists.

Senator George W. Norris: The Life of a Public Servant (Recommended for 3rd-5th grades)
Students learn about the life and triumphs of one of Nebraska’s most important public servants George W. Norris. What does it take to be a public servant? What was life like for Nebraskans of the past? These two 30-minute lessons can be facilitated virtually by a History Nebraska Educator or teachers in their own classrooms and are recommended for 4th-grade learners.

The Oregon Trail: Chance Choice and Chimney Rock! (Recommended for 4th-6th grades)
Walk along the historic path of the Oregon trail as students explore choice, chance, and opportunity at Chimney Rock!

Bison in America (Recommended for 4th-6th grade)
Explore bison’s past, present, and future, as well as Nebraska’s deep connection and cultural connections to north America’s largest land mammal!

George Norris and the Unicameral: How did Nebraska become a One-house Legislature? (Recommended for 4th-8th and 9th-12th grades)

Nebraska has the only one-house legislature in the United States. In this lesson, students will learn how Nebraska’s nonpartisan unicameral works, how state senators represent their constituents, and how one of Nebraska’s most famous politicians made it all possible.

 

Nebraska Trailblazers: The Buffalo Soldiers (Recommended for 2nd-5th grade)

Nebraska’s History is full of African American trailblazers. The program series Nebraska Trailblazers will explore how these figures in Nebraska’s history became some of the first, greatest, and most memorable in their fields. In this lesson, students will explore the rich and complicated history of America’s first black servicemen, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Students will learn the history and legacy of these soldiers who called Nebraska’s Fort Robinson home.

 

Help Shape History

Become a Member

Being a member is the easiest way to be involved in our mission to preserve and share our state's rich history. Find out how!

Volunteer

Volunteers work with History Nebraska staff members to support our mission

Start Your Career

Interested in joining the History Nebraska team? Keep an eye on job listings!
About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.
Nebraska Collections
History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.
Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.