Field Trips 

The Johnson County Museum offers innovative and engaging field trip experiences at two locations, the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center in Overland Park and the Lanesfield Historic Site in Edgerton, KS.

Once you’ve decided on the perfect program for your class, complete this form to start the scheduling process. We look forward to having your group tour our sites! For questions, please call 913-715-2570.

Field Trip Scholarships
The Johnson County Museum Foundation provides 1/2 price admission to Title One schools to attend all museum field trip. Qualifying schools may apply for funding on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Programs at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center

All museum field trips at the Arts & Heritage Center are $7 per child, $6 per adult, $5 per senior; School staff receive complimentary admission.  

All elementary programs include a guided tour of our signature exhibit Becoming Johnson County, unstructured exploration time in KidScape (preschool-3rd grade), and one of the structured activities described below. 

There is a minimum of 15 students required for a guided field trip. Maximum of 75 for K-3rd, 50 for 4th grade and up. Additional questions? Check out our Field Trip Logisitics.

Just want to visit KidScape? Visit our Kidscape page to learn more.

Preschool

Retro Storytime! Remember The Little Red Hen? The Poky Little Puppy? Your preschoolers will love the stories and illustrations from long ago, read by a special guest from the 1950s All-Electric House! After the story, enjoy an art project for little hands. Program lasts approximately 1 hour.

Adaptable for preschool aged students.

K and 1st Grade

Thank You Community Helpers. What is a community and who are the helpers? Play an active game and work together to solve puzzles as your class learns about real people who help in Johnson County. Includes a kid-friendly tour of the signature exhibition "Becoming Johnson County" and exploration time in KidScape. Program lasts approximately 2 hours.

Adaptable for students in Kindergarten and 1^st grade.

2nd Grade and Up

History Detectives. Put on your white gloves and grab your clipboards! Use your observational and critical thinking skills as you evaluate a mystery object from the past. Includes a kid-friendly tour of the signature exhibition "Becoming Johnson County" and exploration time in KidScape. Program lasts approximately 2 hours.

Adaptable for students 2^nd grade through high school

Community Planners Challenge.  Students watch the story of Johnson County unfold, then work together to create a city of their dreams! Working in small groups, students choose a mayor and plan roads, buildings, landscapes, and special places.  Includes a kid-friendly tour of the signature exhibition "Becoming Johnson County" and exploration time in KidScape. Program lasts approximately 2 hours. 

Adaptable for students 2^nd grade through middle school.

Middle & High School

Redlining Field Trip

Students will learn about early Johnson County history that led to the growth of the suburbs and then take a deep dive into the history of redlining and housing inequality. Following the tour, students will analyze primary sources related to the policies, practices, and legacy of redlining. This experience is 1 ½ - 2 hours. We can accommodate 2 classes, or approximately 50 students at a time.

*Need-based scholarships available thanks to the generous support of UMB Bank and the Johnson County Museum Foundation.  

Programs at Lanesfield Historic Site

• To start the booking process for your group, please complete this form. For questions, please call 913-715-2570.
• We encourage all teachers to prepare their students for their field trip to Lanefield School by reading aloud about George’s experience in the story "Not a Bad Day After All."
• Students may purchase items from the Lanesfield Gift Shop List, if teachers approve. Please let the museum staff know if your group intends to purchase so time can be allotted.

Grades K-3

Farm Family. Students experience what it was like to be a child in 1904—from life on the farm and completing chores to the challenges of lessons inside the one-room schoolhouse led by a costumed schoolteacher. Program is limited to groups no larger than 60, with a minimum of 20 paid admissions. This 2-hour program is appropriate for students K-2^nd grade. Admission is $5 per person; School staff receive complimentary admission.

Farm Family Teacher Packet:  Learn more about what to expect on your class’s field trip, Social Studies standards this program addresses, as well as post-visit activities to extend classroom learning.

Grades 4-5

 Living History Program. Students experience a day in the life of a child attending a one-room school in 1904! In this fully immersive program, kids are encouraged to dress up and bring a lunch pail. The program is 4 hours, targeted at 4^th and 5^th grade students. Admission is $160 per group, 30 people maximum, including school staff and parents.

Living History Lite. Students get a taste of what life was like for children attending a one-room school in 1904. In this fully immersive program, kids are encouraged to dress up. This 2-hour program can be adapted to mixed-age groups K-6^th grade. Admission is $80 per group, 30 people maximum, including school staff and parents.

Living History Teacher Packet: Learn more about what to expect on your class’s field trip, Social Studies standards this program addresses, as well as post-visit activities to extend classroom learning.

Traveling Trunks

Bring the museum into your classroom with our traveling trunks! Trunks contain everything you need to bring history to life for children grades 1^st – 6^th. Artifacts and photographs bring primary source learning into your classroom, complete with a teachers’ guide and lessons to guide your discovery.

Curious what’s in the trunk? Click below to see the content list. 

School and Play: exploring life in a one-room schoolhouse

What was school like in the early 1900s? What did children do for fun? Experience learning and fun with hands-on objects and activities. From penmanship lessons and arithmetic bees to playground games and May Day celebrations, give your students a taste for life in a rural, one-room school community over 100 years ago! 

Farm Life: exploring life on rural Kansas farms

Growing up on a farm in Johnson County 100 years ago was a totally different experience than growing up in Johnson County today. Students can explore artifacts and activities that show what daily life was like for early farm families, from chores, to play, and more!

Cost: $30 for 2-week rental*

The trunk must be picked up and dropped off at the Johnson County Museum; located inside the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center at 8788 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66212. For questions, call the museum reservation line 913-715-2570. Interested in booking a trunk? Fill out this form.

A Raisin in the Sun and the Legacy of Redlining - Virtual Field Trip Kit

This one-of-a-kind experience takes students through the topic of redlining and housing inequity through an examination of literature, theater, history, and fine art. Students will engage in inquiry-based lessons that promotes critical thinking, discussion, and a deeper understanding of our community.

This inter-disciplinary field trip kit brings the topic of redlining into your classroom in a customizable format that includes physical and digital materials, guides, and standards to align with your curriculum. 

The kit is available for 2-week rentals. Cost is $20 for one class, $5 per additional class. 

The kit includes:

• Printed student guides
• Raisin in the Sun books
• Filmed scenes from the play
• Filmed tour of the Redlined exhibit
• Primary Source packets & worksheets
• Fine art supplies 
• Teacher guide 

The kit includes supplies and digital resources for one class, or 25 students. For additional supplies, please contact us in advance to arrange. The kit must be picked up and dropped off at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center during regular business hours. 

We are able to offer this experience at a low cost thanks to the generous funding of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area. 

To book the field trip kit, fill out this FORM.