Decades of research into which instructional strategies are successful in K-12 history and social studies conclude that having students write is extremely important. Effective writing assignments--whether a 3- to 5-paragraph essay, a longer term-paper-style assignment, or even a fictional short story based on a historical period or event--require…

This issue of the children's magazine, "The Goldfinch," focuses on Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover. The articles included are: (1) "Getting To Know Herbert Clark Hoover"; (2) "Lou Henry Hoover"; (3) "Meet an Iowa Author"; (4) "The Great Depression"; (5) "A Different Kind of Coupon"; (6)…

This student handbook provides an overview of the Klondike Alaska Gold Rush of 1897-98. The unit was designed for junior high school students but can be modified for different grade levels. A vocabulary list and worksheet accompanies the unit, along with a time line and map activity. A group activity requires students to work in teams to get their…

This primary source kit supports the study of history in the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Each primary source selected for the kit, whether it be a photograph, a broadside, a map, or a private letter, reflects a meaningful part of Maryland and U.S. history. The kit provides educators with an opportunity to use primary documents from…

This issue of the children's quarterly magazine, "The Goldfinch," focuses on World War I. A brief discussion of how the United States came to enter the War is followed by a discussion of propaganda. An article on the use of posters to encourage citizens to participate in the war effort is illustrated with reproductions of several of…

This simulation allows students to pretend to go to a one-room schoolhouse in the last half of the 19th century. Students work to earn points in order to graduate from Apple Valley School. A sense of history is developed as students learn about a "school of long ago" and compare it to today's schools. Role play, writing activities, and critical…

This flexible resource teaching package describes the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and explores how conflicts begin and how they can be ended. Lessons address visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners while fostering critical thinking skills as students read, write, analyze, and draw conclusions. Role playing and other creative activities are…

Designed for use in Iowa elementary schools, this unit introduces students to Iowa's Amana Colonies. Four lessons cover the history and cultural heritage of the colonies, daily life in historical times, daily life in modern times, and the colonies as a corporate museum. Throughout the lessons, emphasis is placed on the values and organization of…

This theme issue of "The Goldfinch" focuses on music as an art using sound in time to express ideas and emotions and contains articles featuring appreciations of some of Iowa's renowned musical artists. The first article gives an overview of music in Iowa's history. The next article describes Antonin Dvorak's summer sojourn in Spillville…

Prepared primarily by the Iowa State Department of Education, this annotated bibliography of materials by Iowans or about Iowans is a revised third edition of the original 1969 publication. It both combines and expands the scope of the two major sections of previous editions, i.e., Iowan history and literature, and out-of-print materials are…

This theme issue of "Goldfinch" focuses on the definition of 'hero' and uses examples from Iowa's history to demonstrate the definition. Heroes of all ages have appeared in legends and real life, facing different challenges in the circumstances of life. The heroes profiled are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. Those…

This issue of "Loblolly Magazine" is dedicated to Sybil Scott, born in 1910 and still going at the age of 85. She shares some interesting tales of what it was like growing up in the '10's and '20's in Texas, including her school years. She remembers, very vividly, her childhood and teenage years in East Texas. Among the many interesting…

This theme issue of "The Goldfinch" presents the story of Iowans at work beginning with the Ioway Indians before 1830 through the Great Depression of the 1930s. One article looks at how children worked to help their families buy food and clothing. Organized labor helped all workers in Iowa by providing better working conditions. Women in…

This issue of "The Goldfinch: Iowa History for Young People" focuses upon the Amana Colonies, which were home to many German immigrants in the 19th century, and which retain much of their ethnic heritage today. The articles and activities included in this issue are "Amana Today"; "No Black Buggies in Amana";…

This issue focuses on "Toys and Games." Students are encouraged to explore games of the past, particularly from the early 1900s. Activities include playing games from the past and making toys. Feature articles describe toys and games through time, Iowa-made toys, ethnic games, how play imitates work, and how world events impact play.…