Spring Homeschool Field Trip Day
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Republic, MO 65738
Homeschool Field Trip is organized for homeschool students in the area. All ages are welcome, but activities are targeted for grades kindergarten through eight grade. Descriptions of the stations, schedules, and registration instructions can be found below.
Activities
Location |
Activity Topic |
Grade |
Description |
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250 Years at Wilson's Creek {20 minutes} |
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| Visitor Center | Work and Play Like a Kid Back in the Day | K-2 |
Chores, school, then playing games. Does that sound familiar? The activities of kids in the 1800s are in many ways the same and also very different from kids today. Join a park volunteer to learn and try your hand at games that kids played in the 1800s.
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| Visitor Center | Hop on the Information Train | 3rd-5th |
Consider how information is obtained today and how that has changed over the last 250 years of our nation. Take your place on a timeline and learn firsthand how fast we are learning new things. Presenters from the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation will take you on this journey of discovery!
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| Visitor Center | Osage Culture | 6th-8th |
Join friends from the History Museum on the Square to explore the history and culture of the Osage people. Explore tangible items and listen to
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In Their Shoes: Life in 1861 {20 minutes} |
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| Ray House | Ray House Tours | All ages |
Take a walk through the Ray Home and learn about what it was like to live, work, and grow up in the 1800s. Hear stories of the battle of Wilson's Creek, and how one family reacted to the fighting on their doorsteps.
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The World Around Us {20 minutes} |
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| Stop 5 | Nature Detectives | K-2 |
Learn what an ecosystem is with partners from Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. Investigate living things that make their home at Wilson's Creek and explore what happens when plants or animals are removed from this place.
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| Stop 5 | What is in the Water?! | 3rd-5th |
Join friends from the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network to learn about animals that live in our rivers and streams. Play a matching game to learn how to identify different types of critters.
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| Stop 5 | Check back soon! | 6th-8th |
Check Back soon!
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This Means War {20 minutes} |
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| Stop 7 | Load Nine Times: Wooden Musket Drilling | K-2 |
When people think of Civil War soldiers, they picture battle. However, battle made up a very small percentage of a Civil War soldiers time. Learn about the camp life of a soldier and get some hands-on practice with what soldiers spent much of their time doing, drilling!
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| Stop 7 | On the Cannon Crew (no actual cannon firing ) | 3rd-5th |
Learn how cannons were used during the battle and work together with a team to simulate the firing of a cannon. Learn the job of each member of a cannon crew and imagine the pressure of firing in the heat of battle.
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| Stop 7 | Decisions, Decisions: Military Strategy & Critical Thinking | 6th-8th |
Surprise attack, divide and surround, cut them off, take the high ground. There are many decisions to make before engaging in battle. Join a park ranger to learn about the tactical decisions that were made during the battle of Wilson's Creek and employ your own skills of critical thinking to work through some military strategy challenges.
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In Their Footsteps {45 minutes} |
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| Stop 3 | A Hike Through History | K-4 |
Take a hike through history on the wire road. Along the way, learn about different people and events that took place by investigating clues. The hike will be less than a mile on gravel and rocky substrate with some steep portions.
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| Stop 7 | The Things We Remember - Commemoration | 5th-8th |
More than 1,700 soldiers were killed in the fighting at Bloody Hill on August 10, 1861. Take a hike along the trail to learn about the fight, and consider the importance of remembering these events as part of our history. The hike will be less than a mile on gravel and rocky substrate with some steep portions.
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Schedules
Schedules reflect the period of activities and includes time for lunch. Participants should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of their first program.
With Guided Hike
- 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
- 10:30 am - 3:00 pm
- 11:30 am - 4:00 pm
Without guided hike
- 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
- 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
- 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Registration
Send an email to wicr_education@nps.gov or use the contact us link below.
Include:
1. Your contact information.
2. Age(s) of your student(s).
3. Preferred schedule including multiple preferred start times. Please also include if your group will participate in the guided hike.
4. If you prefer to keep your children in one group or split into different age categories. If staying in a group, which activities you would like your group to do (k-2nd, 2nd-5th, or 6th-8th).
5. Accommodations needed for accessibility.
* Please note a responsible adult must be on site and within visual and hearing range of all children in your group.
After recieving your request, a park representative will get back to you with a confirmation, final schedule, map, and suggestions for what to bring on the day of your visit.
Wilson's Creek Education Team and partners look forward to welcoming your students out to the battlefield!
Fee Information
Free
