Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society

The South Dakota State Historical Society offers education kits to South Dakota classrooms and other groups. Each kit contains hands-on objects, relevant lesson text, ready-to-use worksheets, and a variety of fun and unique activities.

The Suitcase Kits Available
[End of the hunt]The Buffalo and the Plains Indians
 The Buffalo and the Plains Indian examines how the buffalo was utilized by the Plains Indians to meet a wide variety of needs. A buffalo robe sample, horn spoon, hair rope, hooves, moccasins, and rawhide sample are included in this kit.

Teaching Aids -Click to view the documents included with each kit.
Please feel free to print them for your own use.
[Tipi scene]Indians and the Environment:
Living With the Land
 Indians and the Environment tells the story of how long ago Indians living in different environments used their natural surroundings to survive. Objects in this kit include a Pueblo pot, a parfleche container, a birch bark basket, eleven photographs, and a cassette tape of American Indian flute music. tells the story of how long ago Indians living in different environments used their natural surroundings to survive. Objects in this kit include a Pueblo pot, a parfleche container, a birch bark basket, eleven photographs, and a cassette tape of American Indian flute music. tells the story of how long ago Indians living in different environments used their natural surroundings to survive. Objects in this kit include a Pueblo pot, a parfleche container, a birch bark basket, eleven photographs, and a cassette tape of American Indian flute music. tells the story of how long ago Indians living in different environments used their natural surroundings to survive. Objects in this kit include a Pueblo pot, a parfleche container, a birch bark basket, eleven photographs, and a cassette tape of American Indian flute music.
Teaching Aids -Click to view the documents included with each kit.
Please feel free to print them for your own use.
Fur Trade: Bridging Two Worlds
 Two very different cultures met and established a common ground of understanding during the fur trade era. Students will learn about the environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects of the fur trade. Objects in this kit include buffalo hide samples, pelts, beads, trade silver, quillwork, trade cloth, ribbon, and other trade goods

Teaching Aids Click to view the documents included with each kit.
Please feel free to print them for your own use.
Cowboys & Ranch Lifee-cwby pht1.JPG (57058 bytes)
 Explore the history and development of cattle and sheep ranching in South Dakota with Cowboys & Ranch Life and learn about some of the everyday work cowboys do. Objects in this kit include a branding iron, cowhide, cowboy boots, spurs, a sheep fleece, hand carders, and more. Nine photographs are also included.
Teaching Aids Click to view the documents included with each kit. Please feel free to print them for your own use.

Homesteading
Homesteading lets students explore the not so distant past of early Dakota homesteaders. The can play pioneer games, map changes in population, crops, and settlement patterns, and learn about building a sod house. Objects in this kit include a sod sample, washboard, butter churn, and barbed wire samples. Nine photographs show early homesteads and settlers.
Teaching Aids Click to view the documents included with each kit.
Please feel free to print them for your own use.
For more information or to schedule a kit contact:
Ronette Rumpca
Curator of Interpretation
900 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2217
Telephone: (605) 773-6011
Ronette.Rumpca@state.sd.us

Updated May, 2003