R9 Social Studies- Student Opps
Student Opportunities 24-25
Vernon, TX 76384
Thanks in part to a generous grant the Red River Valley Museum is now able to offer FREE tours to school groups through this school year! The museum aims to give free tours to at least 2,000 students in the coming year.
Schedule a tour of the entire museum for your class or school! Staff will guide students through each exhibit allowing them to experience all the museum has to offer in the time you have set. Ample outdoor space is available for picnic lunches and field activities.
- The Berry Gallery- Prehistoric fossils, Native American Artifacts, Texas History, Cattle Drives, & more!
- The Bond Gallery- Animal Science, Biology, Conservation, Adaptation, Habitats, & more!
- The Waggoner Gallery- Texas & Local History, Cowboy Heritage, Arts & Culture, & more!
Schools must provide at least 1 adult for every 15 children.
Please schedule your field trip a month in advance so the Museum has time to schedule guides for your visit!
To schedule a FREE tour for a group of students call the museum at 940-553-1848.
New Traveling Exhibit Launches in 2024
Seven rural Texas communities have been selected by the Texas Historical Commission to host a travelling Smithsonian exhibit that takes a close look at the evolution of rural America in the last century. Experience the national story going on now!
Tour Dates:
San Augustine - August 24-October 6, 2024
Clifton - October 12-December 1, 2024
Brenham - December 7, 2024-January 19, 2024
Rockport - January 25–March 9, 2025
Buffalo Gap - March 15–April 27, 2025
San Elizario - May 3–June 15, 2025
Bandera - June 21–August 2, 2025
“It’s me again, Hank the Cowdog!” — this opening statement has been the start of over 74 children’s books in an ongoing series by John R. Erickson which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Now, that very same line will open a brand-new podcast series starring Matthew McConaughey as none other than…”Hank the Cowdog.”
There are 5 episodes in the mystery genre with educational activities aligned to 3rd-5th grade ELAR and Science TEKS, based on Hank the Cowdog Book 11 Lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest.
Students, your voice matters! Spotlight civic issues you are passionate about to a national audience by joining Retro Report’s #CivicEngagementChallenge. Retro Report is teaming up with Civics Unplugged to invite students to create essays or videos that model civil discourse while exploring issues and places that people aren’t paying attention to, but need to. Judges will select 10 winners to receive $500.
Open to all students ages 13 to 18
Deadline: October 13, 2024
Civic Engagement Challenge Landing Page
Civic Engagement Challenge Toolkit
Prize: 10 winners will receive $500 and have their work highlighted to a national audience
Texas History Day encourages all participating students to submit a T-shirt design, download instructions here. The best design will be featured on this year’s T-shirt at the state contest, and the winning student will receive $250 and a free T-shirt, provided by AJL Advertising.
The 2025 T-shirt design should have a connection to Texas and incorporate the NHD theme for 2025, “Rights and Responsibilities in History” The design should also have a connection to Texas.
Deadline: January 9, 2025
Each year the Bryan Museum's “I Am Texas” theme encourages contestants to use historical artifacts found in the Museum as inspiration for their writing. The Bryan Museum houses over 70,000 pieces that tell the story of Texas and the American West and contains many online resources for student research.
This year, middle and high school students can write either a fiction or nonfiction piece about the artifacts from the Museum’s collection. Elementary students are asked to write a letter to a Texan from the past or present. Student artists should get creative and use their unique perspective to interpret the “I Am Texas” theme.
Top winners in each category will receive cash prizes!
Open to 2nd -12th grade students.
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Chelsea Howells
Region 9 ESC
Email: chelsea.howells@esc9.net
Location: 301 Texas 11 Loop, Wichita Falls, TX, USA
Phone: 940-397-8106
Twitter: @ChelseaHowells9
