Statewide Iowa — It’s not a mandate, but Iowa schools have been encouraged for the past few years to incorporate Iowa history in every grade.
The idea is to replace the traditional practice of one unit of Iowa history in fifth or sixth grade.
That’s Leo Landis, curator of the State Historical Museum and a member of the Iowa History Council that recommended the change in 2016. Landis says for young kids, Iowa history can become part of learning about spaces and places.
Suzan Turner is an instructional coach in the Nashua Plainfield district. She works with teachers to infuse Iowa history into their lessons and encourage students to do things like search through local newspapers to gain insight.
Turner also works with students in the school’s talented and gifted program. One of her students won a 2021 National History Day award. Landis, the state museum curator, says he took one unit of Iowa history as a fifth-grader. Over the past few years, Landis and others in the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs have been developing Iowa history curriculum for younger kids.
Kids learning about Iowa history may know that Monday is statehood day. December 28th, 1846 is the date Iowa became a state — so THIS December 28th is Iowa’s 175th anniversary.
