Distance Learning
Bringing the Museum to you.
Connect with a Museum Educator through live, free, interactive videoconferencing direct from the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Can't bring your class to the Museum? Bring the Museum to your class! Distance learning with the Museum invites students to explore history through conversations with Museum Educators. These curriculum-enhancing experiences engage your students in thinking analytically about Texas history by examining artifacts and primary sources. Programs are designed with pre- and post-viewing activities and a variety of teacher resources aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
All programs are free and run approximately 45–60 minutes.
2025–2026 Student Programs
This was one of the best virtual lessons I have ever experienced. My kids LOVED it! I am already looking and reserving the next one. AMAZING! Blanton Elementary
American Indians: Cultures and First Encounters
Dates covered: 1500s–1600s
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
Step back in time to explore the lifestyles of early American Indian tribes of Texas, such as the Caddo, Jumano, Apache and Karankawa. Learn about where they lived, foods they ate, farming, hunting, and other aspects of their lives prior to meeting Spanish explorers. Discover through paintings and artifacts how the lives of both the American Indians and the Spanish explorers changed after their first encounters in the land that would become Texas.
Cattle Drives: Making Money in Texas
Dates covered: 1866–1890
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
Saddle up for a journey back to the heyday of the Texas cattle drives! From 1866 to 1890, this short but legendary era shaped the iconic image of the Texas cowboy. Discover who started the drives and why, where the trails led, and what life was really like on the trail. Explore the tough jobs, big risks, and surprising rewards of moving cattle to market—and learn how this gritty chapter helped define Texas.
Civil War and Texas
Dates covered: 1860–1880
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
How can a country go to war against itself? What could make people fight against their neighbors? Explore the causes and impact of the Civil War—on families, the economy, and the lives of enslaved people, especially in Texas. Learn about battles fought on Texas soil and the daily life and hardships faced by soldiers on both sides. Gain a deeper understanding of how this conflict reshaped Texas and the nation.
French Explorers in Texas — How La Salle Changed History
Dates covered: 1680s–2010s
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
Dive into a Texas-sized story of 17th-century exploration, shipwreck, and discovery! Learn about French explorer La Salle and how he and his sunken ship, La Belle, reshaped Texas history. Investigate artifacts, uncover the impact of La Belle’s sinking, and explore the remarkable technology used to excavate, preserve, and bring the mystery of this 300-year-old ship to life.
Genre Discovery: Biographies and Bessie Coleman
Grades: 3–5 | Time: 50 minutes
Soar into history with the inspiring story of Bessie Coleman! Explore the biography genre, author’s purpose, and how primary sources help bring real people to life on the page. After enjoying a reading of Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight by Karyn Parsons, discuss her remarkable journey and how the author tells her story. It’s a high-flying mix of literacy, history, and inspiration!
Genre Discovery: Fractured Fairy Tales
Grades: K–5 | Time: 45 minutes
Saddle up for a Texas twist on a classic tale! Enjoy an entertaining reading and discussion of the story Bubba, the Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman. Explore the fairy tale genre and key literary elements such as character, setting, problem and solution. Discover what makes this Western romp a fractured fairy tale as you compare and contrast this story with its familiar fairy tale partner. Yeehaw!
Genre Discovery: Tall Tales in Texas
Grades: K–5 | Time: 45 minutes
Get ready for larger-than-life fun as students dive into the wild world of tall tales! Enjoy a lively read-aloud of Pecos Bill Invents the Ten-Gallon Hat, written by Kevin Strauss. Learn about the key elements that make a story a true tall tale and decide if Pecos Bill measures up to the genre’s legendary standards. Packed with imagination, exaggeration, and literary exploration, this program is a rootin’-tootin’ way to build thinking and storytelling skills!
Happy Holidays from Texas
Grades: K–5 | Time: 45 minutes
Celebrate the season with a journey through winter holidays around Texas! Explore traditions like Hanukkah, winter solstice, Christmas, Las Posadas, Kwanzaa, and Japanese New Year. Discover the rich cultures of these celebrations—and then compare to your own family traditions! This festive, inclusive program sparks curiosity, builds cultural awareness, and brings the joy of the holidays into your classroom.
Immigration to Texas: 1845–1924
Dates covered: 1845–1924
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
Explore the rich history of immigration to Texas in this engaging program! Examine four primary waves of immigration between 1845–1924, uncovering the challenges and opportunities that people faced when moving to Texas. Hear fascinating stories of their journeys, learn about the history behind their movement, and view artifacts they brought along. Discover the birth of Texas as a crossroads of cultures, shaping the state we know today.
Music in Texas: How the Blues Were Created
Recording Only
Dates covered: 1920–1970
Grades: 4–7 | Time: 45 minutes
Turn up the volume and explore the soulful sounds of the blues! Discover the African roots of blues music, the instruments that bring it to life—like the guitar—and how Texas artists made it their own. Dive into this powerful, beloved genre through music theory, poetry-inspired lyrics and rhythmic patterns.
Oil in Texas
Dates covered: 1880s–1920s
Grades: 4–7 | Time: 50 minutes
Strike it rich with the history of Texas oil! Explore the science behind oil and where it was found, uncover Texas’s first big discoveries like Spindletop, and dive into life in a rapidly expanding Boomtown. Learn about wildcatters, roughnecks and derrick hands, who made their living from Texas Tea. Using primary source images, imagine the sights and sounds of the oil rush, play a fun oil vocabulary game, and crunch numbers in a Boomtown population math activity.
Poetry Texas-Style
Grades: K–5 | Time: 45 minutes
Spark poetic imagination with a Texas twist! Listen to Texas-themed poems and then dive into the world of poetry to explore structure, style, and figurative language. Discover what makes each poem unique through analysis and discussion and write a Texas-inspired verse. This interactive program boosts reading comprehension, creative writing skills, and a love for language—all through the vibrant lens of Texas poetry!
Regions of Texas
Grades: K–7 | Time: 50 minutes
Journey across Texas without leaving your classroom! Take an interactive virtual road trip adventure through the state’s four major regions—Mountains and Basins, Great Plains, North Central Plains, and Coastal Plains. Explore landforms, climate, wildlife, and major cities, visit a Texas State Park, and play a fun game using iconic Texas landscape paintings.
Spanish Missions in Texas
Dates covered: 1650–1750
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
Who were the first Europeans to try to tame the Texas landscape? Learn why the Spanish built missions in Texas in the 16th and 17th centuries—and what impact they had on American Indians who lived in the area. With the help of maps, timelines, and historical sources, investigate the goals, struggles, and lasting effects of the Spanish mission system and whether these missions were a success, a failure, or something in between.
State Symbols: What Makes Texas, Texas?
Grades: K–7 | Time: 50 minutes
What comes to mind when you think of Texas—bluebonnets, armadillos, or maybe the state flag? In this fun and interactive program, explore some of the official symbols chosen to represent our state. Discover the meaning behind these symbols and explore what they say about the Lone Star State. From flowers to flags, it’s a celebration of Texas pride that sparks curiosity and state spirit!
Texas Revolution: Myths and Unsolved Mysteries
Dates covered: 1820–1840
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
What sparked the Texas Revolution, and how did a small group of revolutionaries win independence from Mexico? Become history detectives and uncover the key people, events and untold mysteries behind this epic struggle. Through artifact exploration, separate fact from fiction and discover how the Texas Revolution helped set the stage for our Lone Star state!
Texas Tombstones: What Cemeteries Teach Us About Texas History
Grades: 4–12 | Time: 50 minutes
Discover the stories buried in Texas’s historic cemeteries! What makes a cemetery “historic,” and why preserve these places? Explore diverse Texas cemeteries and uncover clues about people and events that shaped the Lone Star State. Through maps, headstone analysis, and historical context, learn how cemeteries reflect community heritage. Promote empathy and respect for preservation using Texas history connections in a meaningful way.
Registration and Scheduling
Distance learning program reservations are limited and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The Museum makes all distance learning connections through Connect2Texas, a distance learning service and support partner that is run by Education Service Center Region 11.
To register
- Create a free account on Connect2Texas
- Search for programs on specific dates and times by clicking on "Events" and select Bullock Texas State History Museum on the program filter. Click “Apply” at the bottom.
- Be ready to supply this information:
- Name of a teacher or program coordinator that will be present during the program
- Contact information (campus, address, phone, email address)
- Grade level
- Number of students
- Education Service Center (ESC) number if located in Texas
- If you would like to request a program on a specific day and time that is not listed on the Events calendar, email Distance.Learning@TheStoryofTexas.com or call (512) 936-4620 to speak to a Museum Educator.
Technical Requirements
You must have a device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone) with internet access (hard wire connections preferred over wireless), camera, microphone, and a way to display in the classroom (large monitor, projector, smartboard, etc.). Our programs are connected using Zoom. Connect2Texas will provide the connection link.
For technical assistance, testing, or to ask questions about connectivity, contact Lori Hamm-Neckar, (817) 740-7516, C2TX@esc11.net.
School Programs are generously funded by Featured sponsor The Marie M. and James H. Galloway Foundation and Contributing sponsor The Honorable Kent R. Hance.
The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.