Heartland is Iowa history resource for schools

With current state social studies standards, sixth grade students across Iowa all take a unit on Iowa history. These studies give students a chance to learn about and appreciate the history of where they live, and how that history has made our communities what they are today.

Students at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and other nearby schools have the advantage of a special local resource for Iowa History: the Heartland Museum.

On Friday, the museum hosted sixth graders from Clarion-Goldfield-Dows for Iowa history activities. In the weeks prior, they also had students from Webster City, Eagle Grove, and Humboldt come to visit.

Students attended sessions at four stations: a country school talk, led by Sheila Ruka; prairie medicine, led by Sonna Johnson; area natural history, hosted by county naturalist Jake Schaben; and an activities station which included rope making, quilt tying, weaving, cat’s cradle, other old-fashioned games, and even information about black powder. Close to 20 Heartland Museum volunteers make the school day activities possible.

For the full story, see the May 3 edition of the Monitor.