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Texana Living History Association

Mary Ann (Molly) Dyer Goodnight - First Person Interpretation
Time Frames
During School Day, After School, Summer, Weekend
Formats
On Campus Program
Grades
3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, Community/Fam., Talented/Gifted, Special Ed
Standards

Description
Molly Goodnight was a schoolteacher in her younger years and later became the wife of Charles Goodnight. Together they established a huge ranch in the Texas panhandle where Charles is credited with several inventions including the chuckwagon. Molly was the first white woman on the Llano Estacado. She was well loved and respected by the cattlemen for her compassion, discretion, and her many home remedies. She became known as “the Mother of the Panhandle” and as “The Darling of the Plains”. Her life centered on the traditional chores of ranch life, however, her interests extended far beyond. She was instrumental in saving the buffalo from extension and even had her own brands! She was a truly extraordinary woman. Hear her story told by one of Texana's costumed characters delivered in a monologue-style first person presentation. Presentation is altered to accommodate the age of students. Q and A session is allotted at the end to discuss aspects of either the character’s life or the presentation style.

Students Will
  • Make a personal connection with someone who was previously just a name in a book.
  • Have a better understanding of how individual people can affect historical events and how historical events affect individuals.
  • Learn from visual and auditory presentation.
  • Learn about the life in the Texas Panhandle when the nearest neighbor was 3 miles away.
  • Develop listening and critical thinking skills by asking questions of the presenter about her role as an actor and/or about the life of Molly Goodnight.
  • Learn about Molly's struggle to keep the buffalo from becoming extinct and crossbreeding range cattle with buffalo to produce “Cattalo.”
  • Literacy: Extraordinary Women of the American West; By: Judy Alter; ISBN: 0-516-20974-4

Details
Dates: Any day on first come-first serve basis, but calendar fills up quickly, especially the month of May.
Times: Program may begin anytime after 10:00 am.
Duration: Approximately one hour (includes Q & A session)
School Fee: $275 flat rate for first presentation. $85 for additional back-to-back presentation by Molly Ann Goodnight. Please ask about discount when booking the program.
Minimum Attendance: 2
Maximum Attendance: 200
Bilingual: No
Technical Needs: Sound system, restroom/ dressing room. 1 adult per 25 students must attend and maintain discipline among students.
Other Information: Contact [email protected] for educational materials.

Scheduling / Booking
Instructions: To schedule this program, contact Kathy Ogle at [email protected] or call 214-906-5792. If no reply within 24 hours, please call 972-235-5629.
Deadline: Please book 2-3 weeks in advance. However, sometimes last-minute requests can be accommodated.
Cancellation Policy: CANCELLATION POLICY: To cancel or reschedule an event, notice should be given at least 3 weeks prior to the date of the program. Every effort to re-schedule the program will be made. However, rescheduling is sometimes impossible and a full refund will be given if notice is given at least 3 weeks in advance of a program. No refund can be issued without 3 weeks notice for general programs. RAIN POLICY FOR OUTDOOR PROGRAMS: We cannot reschedule or cancel a program because of rain. Please provide a place indoors where our presenters can move equipment inside to do demonstrations excluding tents, wagon and campfire. Please discuss possible options with the Texana Coordinator prior to camp. SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER Schools should contact the Texana Program Coordinator when inclement weather (other than rain) is expected. When possible, we will try to reschedule program if prior notice is given. Please note that some of our presenters live a long distance from Dallas and will try to arrive as scheduled if the school is open and chose not to reschedule or cancel the program. However, we will not travel if road conditions are considered unsafe for the presenter and no refunds offered if the presenter cannot travel due to unsafe road conditions. If rescheduling is not possible and 48 hour notice is given, we will refund payment to the school. No refunds offered for school closings due to inclement weather unless 48 hour notice of cancellation is given.
After School Policy: AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM POLICY: A minimum of 2 students required in a class. Class may not occur with fewer than 2 students. Maximum number of students will vary with specific program. For example, some of the Pioneer Life Skill Demonstrations and Workshops may be limited to a maximum of 15 students. However, stage presentations may accommodate up to 200 students. In all cases, unless stated, we request at least 1 school-staff adult to be present per every 20 students. A few programs require additional adults. Adults are expected to participate in the program. If appropriate adult supervision is not provided, the program will not continue. Please verify minimum and maximum student and adult requirements prior to booking the program.

Curriculum Information

Lesson Plans
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Standards
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