Distance Learning
Distance Learning
Turn your classroom into a gateway to the West—no field trip required!
Our free Distance Learning program brings the Museum straight to your students through engaging virtual sessions lasting 30–45 minutes, complete with time for Q&A. Each experience is thoughtfully aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), making it a perfect fit for your curriculum. Dive into the stories, artifacts, and history of the American West—right from your classroom.
2025 Fall Featured Programs
Buffalo Fluffalo
Grades K-3 Time: 30 minutes
Buffalo Fluffalo tries to bluff and fluff his way into appearing bigger. The other animals just want to be his friend. Join a museum educator for a read-aloud of Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb and discover how Buffalo Fluffalo learned he is great just the way he is!
Students will join a museum educator in talking about kindness and friendship following the read aloud.
The Warriors of Little Bighorn
Grades 5-8 Time: 45 minutes
Have you ever wanted to know more about the victorious warriors at the Battle of Little Bighorn?
Join a museum educator to learn about the Battle of Little Bighorn. Then, take a closer look at the lives of 3 notable warriors who played a large part in the battle.
Vaqueros: The Original Texas Cowboys
Grades 4-7 Time: 45 minutes
Who were the original Texas Cowboys?
Join the Briscoe Museum to learn about Vaqueros. A museum educator will lead students to discover who they were, where they came from, and why they were important to the development of the west.
All Listed Programs Available Upon Request
Rio Ruby's Tall Tale Adventure Grades 1-4 Time: 45 minutes
Have you ever wondered where things come from? Tall tales are sometimes called origin stories. But are they true? Join a museum educator to learn more about Tall Tales and listen to the story “Rio Ruby Invents the Pecan Pie”. You will also have the opportunity to learn how to draw one of the main characters in the book!
Gone for the Winter: Hummingbird MigrationGrades 3-5 Time: 45 minutes
Have you ever wanted to learn more about hummingbirds? Why do hummingbirds migrate? Where do they go? Explore these and other questions with a museum educator to discover the migration patterns of hummingbirds.
Grizzly 399's Hibernation PandemoniumGrades K-5 Time: 45 minutes
What is hibernation? How do animals prepare for hibernation? Who is Grizzly 399?
Join a museum educator and discover the answer to these questions while listening to a fictional tale about this famous bear and her cubs.
Grizzly 399 was a well-known bear in North America. At the age of 24, a ripe old age for a grizzly, she was thought to be too old to produce any more offspring. However, in the spring of 2020, she emerged from her den with four beautiful cubs
History of the Vaqueros: From Spain to North America to HawaiiGrades 5-7 Time: 45 minutes
Did you know the cowboys we think of today actually came from Spain? Join a museum educator to explore the remarkable cultural transmission between Mexican vaqueros, cowboys, and Hawaiian paniolos, tracing how cowboy traditions traveled across the west and into the Pacific in the 19th century.
Farolitos vs. LuminariasGrades 1-4 Time: 30 minutes
What do you call the brightly lit paper bags used for holiday decorations? Are they Luminarias? Or are they Farolitos? No matter what you call them, a museum educator will lead students through a discussion of their history and purpose. We will also read a story, The Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anaya to learn how these traditional lights saved the holiday for one family.
