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“Choctaw Code Talkers 1918” is a virtual reality experience that tells the incredible story of America’s original Code Talkers. Stationed in France in 1918, soldiers from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma communicated tactical messages in their native language across battlefield phone lines, helping to turn the tides of the war.
Classroom VR Trunks provide an opportunity for teachers to bring the story of the Choctaw Code Talkers to the classroom through a loan of virtual reality headsets provided by the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The trunk includes five VR headsets and a classroom-ready lesson to help your students learn from the experience, as well as from articles and activities.
Trunks must be picked up by the teacher at the Museum and Memorial.
Students will
- learn about the experiences and contributions of Native Americans during and after WWI.
- learn specifics about the United States’ military’s first Code Talkers; what they did, how they did it, and why do their actions matter.
- build empathy for those who served during WWI and build a broader understanding of who those soldiers were.
- learn about communications technology during WWI.
- create media to show their learning.
- 5th-12th grade classrooms
- Teachers who are looking for an innovative way to integrate technology into their classroom
- Teachers looking to provide diverse perspectives about WWI and/or U.S. History
- One Classroom VR Trunk is available per school at a given time.
- The school/teacher must provide a credit card for the account. The credit card information will be stored until a fully damage-free and complete VR Trunk is returned.
- If the VR Trunk is missing any hardware or hardware has been damaged, a $250 fee will be applied to the account.
- Trunk must be picked up on a Wednesday, before the Museum and Memorial closes at 5 p.m.
- Trunks must be returned the following Tuesday, before the Museum and Memorial closes at 5 p.m.
- If the trunk is returned later than 72 hours after the agreed-upon return date, a $250 fee will be applied to the account.
- Contact our museum education team using this form to schedule a date.
- Your first choice of date might not be available due to the limited number of trunks, so it is important that you provide more than one option.
- Visit the Museum and Memorial on your agreed-upon date to pick up your VR Trunk.
- Upon arrival, our team will provide you with the trunk, run the provided credit card, and get your signature on an agreement to return the trunk with all of its contents intact and on time.
- Choose from two provided lessons:
- “Native Americans and WWI: An Exploration of Service” – A one-two class period activity set that includes stations and a short assessment activity. (Grades 5-12) Get lesson plan (PDF)
- “Our Worlds Choctaw Code Talkers 1918” – Designed for between six and eight class periods, this activity set includes a wide variety of activities and research. The VR headsets are only used for one-two class periods. (Grades 9-12) Sign up for access to classroom materials
- Prepare any necessary resources for the lesson for your students.
- Prepare a rotation list for the use of the VR headsets – the experience lasts around five minutes.
- Preview instructions for the VR Trunk. They will also be included in the trunk. Get instruction sheet (PDF)
- 5 headsets
- 5 sets of controllers
- 5 charging cables + charging adapter
- 1 Lesson Guide
- 1 bag of lens cleaners
- 1 bag of gasket cleaners (anti-bacterial wipes)
- 1 VR Trunk reference sheet
- 1 trunk contents photo
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- Eyeglasses can be used with these VR headsets.
- The VR experience includes audio and closed captioning.
- After using the lesson and VR Trunks with students, we will reach out with a survey that covers the process for borrowing, your experience with the trunks and your students’ learning outcomes. Responses to this survey will ensure our ability to continue, and potentially expand, this program.
- You are responsible for cleaning and charging the headsets before they are returned.
- In the case of inclement weather and school closings during your borrowing session, you will need to contact the Museum and Memorial as soon as possible. Unfortunately, as we serve hundreds of schools across the metropolitan area, we will not be able to promise extended time with the VR Trunk. Concessions for return time will be made when reasonable, such as inclement weather on the intended day of return.
