Activity Ideas & Project Guide

Hands-on Texas history projects for grades 4–12, ready to adapt for classrooms, clubs, and community partners.

Discover a curated set of chapter activities that bring Texas history to life through research, fieldwork, public storytelling, and community collaboration. Each idea is concise, flexible, and sized for real classrooms—whether you’re starting small or planning a year-long project.

Use this guide to launch chapter projects, prepare entries for contests and Texas History Day, and build skills in inquiry, writing, presentation, and digital media. Adapt activities to local stories, follow campus policies for permissions and media, and share your successes so other chapters can learn from your work.

If your chapter needs extra funding, TSHA can provide funding to help offset costs and expand access to meaningful, hands-on learning experiences beyond the classroom. The grant program allows student groups to apply for funding support for educational field trips or enrichment activities. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and groups will be notified of funding decisions after review.

Grant Application for Chapter Activities

Community Resource Index

Create a simple digital index (spreadsheet or shared drive) of people, places, collections, and archives in your community. This becomes your chapter’s go-to directory for projects, sources, and partnerships.

Community Collections Drive

Organize a respectful, well-publicized effort to identify (and when appropriate, borrow or receive copies of) letters, diaries, ledgers, maps, artifacts, and ephemera. Log each item with owner info, date, description, and permission notes; route originals to local repositories when possible.

Historic Photo Archive (Past & Present)

Build a collection of historical photographs and add context (who/what/where/when/why). Then document the present with new images of the same locations or themes (industry, schools, neighborhoods) for then/now comparisons. Scan at 300+ dpi, capture captions and credits, and track permissions.

Oral History Project

Record interviews tied to a theme (e.g., migration stories, wartime service, agriculture, civil rights, local businesses). Prepare question lists, get consent, capture audio/video, and transcribe key excerpts. Store files with dates, interviewee bios, and clear metadata.

Cemetery Study & Memorial Research

Survey a local cemetery to document names, dates, iconography, and patterns (epidemics, demographics, veteran markers). Prefer non-invasive methods (photography, transcription); follow site rules and consult caretakers. Share findings with caretakers or historical commissions.

Place-Name Research

Investigate the origin of town, street, school, and landmark names. Connect names to settlement patterns, cultural heritage, and notable events; present findings on a map, mini-exhibit, or short article series.

Local Architecture Survey

Learn basic architectural styles and survey notable buildings. Record addresses, dates, style, uses over time, condition, and sources; photograph exteriors (and interiors with permission). Share a short illustrated guide or walking tour with the community.

Family History Starter

Have students research and write a short family history using photos, documents, and interviews. Emphasize history in context (beyond basic genealogy) and encourage expansion into longer research papers or exhibits.

Folkways & Traditional Skills

Document regional traditions (crafts, foodways, ranching/farming skills) with photos, short videos, and interviews. Capture processes, tools, and vocabulary; credit culture bearers and obtain permissions before sharing.

Student Publications

Compile short essays, photo essays, or research briefs into a chapter magazine, blog series, or mini-journal. Use consistent style, add captions and credits, and distribute to campus, partners, and local libraries.

Reading Circles: SHQ & The Texas Historian

Run small-group discussions using articles from the Southwestern Historical Quarterly and The Texas Historian. Focus on argument, sources, structure, and how ideas could be adapted to local topics or student projects.

Local Economic History

Explore how your community’s economy changed (railroads/highways, agriculture to industry, oil/gas, tourism). Use oral histories, business records, and newspapers; profile one site, firm, or corridor over time.

School History Project

Research and write the history of your campus: founding, principals, notable alumni, mascots, facilities, and traditions. Use yearbooks, school newspapers, and interviews; produce a timeline or hallway exhibit.

Patriotic & Commemorative Programs

Develop a short assembly or video for key observances (e.g., Texas Independence Day, San Jacinto Day, Constitution Day, Celebrate Freedom Week, Texas History Month). Include student research, brief narratives, and primary sources.

Chapter Showcase & Web Presence

Maintain a bulletin board or display case on campus and a simple website (or page on the school site) highlighting projects, photo galleries, and event recaps. Follow school media policies, copyright, and photo-release rules; consider basic maps or GIS to plot historic sites.

School–Community Cooperative Projects

Field Studies & Site Visits

Plan well-structured trips to museums, historic sites, archives, and neighborhoods. Connect to standards, assign student roles (docents, note-takers, photographers), and build in pre-work and reflection.

Community Service with History Organizations

Partner with museums, historical societies, and county historical commissions. Students can assist with cataloging, tours, events, research requests, or exhibit prep—great for service hours and career exposure.

Host a School History Day & Compete in THD/NHD

Run a school-level fair aligned to Texas History Day/National History Day categories (paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, website). Advance top projects to regional and state contests; use THD rubrics and timelines.

Adopt-a-Building / Site Stewardship

Adopt a local landmark with your heritage society or county commission. Research the architecture and social history, document conditions, and create a short public presentation. Where appropriate, explore marker eligibility.

Cultural Heritage / Folk Fair

Feature the foodways, music, clothing, and stories of cultural groups in your community. Invite families and local organizations; include student-curated exhibits, demonstrations, and short talks.

Local History Guide or Trail

Create a concise walking/driving guide (print PDF or web map) to key sites—photos, 1–2 paragraph histories, and directions. Coordinate with your city, Main Street program, or visitor center for distribution.

Pop-Up Exhibits & Mini-Museums

Design tabletop displays or window exhibits with models, artifacts, photos, captions, and QR links to videos or oral histories. Place them in schools, libraries, museums, or local businesses.

Public History Outreach (Media)

Share student work via a regular school/newspaper column, short podcast, radio piece, or video PSA. Keep releases/copyright in mind and coordinate with the school communications office.

Short Films & Storytelling

Produce 3–7 minute videos dramatizing local stories or summarizing research. Assign student crews (research, script, audio, edit). Premiere at a community night or embed on the chapter site.

Preservation & Conservation Days

Organize clean-ups at historic sites, cemetery care days, or Adopt-a-Highway litter pick-ups (with permits, training, and safety gear). Pair the service with historical interpretation.

Grants & Recognition

Identify small grants or sponsorships from local foundations, city programs, and preservation groups to support exhibits, fairs, or publications. Build a simple budget and timeline into proposals.

Other Activities, Contests, and Awards (Examples)

Check each organization’s site for current rules, eligibility, and deadlines.

  • DRT Texas History Essay Contest – Grade 4 & 7 essays on rotating Texas history topics.
  • SRT Texas History Essay Contest – Scholarships for high school seniors.
  • Friends of the Governor’s Mansion Presentation Contest – Local history multimedia presentations for high school students.
  • Veterans History Project (Library of Congress) – Conduct, document, and submit veterans’ oral histories.
  • Project Citizen (Law-Focused Education/State Bar of Texas) – Public policy research and action plans with historic/contextual links.
  • VFW Patriot’s Pen – Middle school essay contest on an annual theme.
  • Barbara Jordan Essay Competition – Statewide writing contest (check current prompt and eligibility).
  • Hatton W. Sumners Editorial Contest – High school editorial writing scholarships.
  • Texas History Day T-Shirt Design – Creative contest tied to the annual theme.

Keeping the Chapter’s History (Archive Best Practices)

Maintain a simple but permanent record (digital folder + binder or archival box): officer roster, constitution, minutes, project lists, programs, field trip logs, correspondence, press, photos with captions/credits/releases, oral histories (with metadata), publications, and a yearly treasurer summary. Use consistent file names and a shared drive so new officers can pick up each year.

Regional Meetings

Co-host a Saturday regional meet with nearby chapters at a museum or historic site: short student presentations, site tours, and a mini-workshop. TSHA Education can advise. Afterward, send 2–3 photos and a recap to juniorhistorians@tshaonline.org for recognition.

Annual Meeting & Awards

Held in late March/early April (Fri–Sat), the Junior Historians Annual Meeting features exhibitor setup, category judging, learning sessions, tours, and an awards ceremony. Recognition may include Writing Contest, Chapter Project, Adopt-a-Building/site stewardship, and Chapter Achievement awards. Day-trip options work well for groups with travel limits.