Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, May 5, 2015
(UNDATED) - A new program will teach elementary-age children about the Indiana’s history, from before the Ice Age through modern times.
Part of the lessons will be how that history is tied to Indiana State Parks.
"Hoosier History and Indiana State Parks" is a series of 11 curriculum units available online. The units target fourth-graders and their study of Indiana history but could be adapted for any grade level or informal education at home, or taught through scout organizations and other groups.
The program is one way Indiana State Parks is gearing up for its centennial celebration and the state's bicentennial celebration. Both are in 2016.
"Now is the perfect time to look at how past and current events at our state parks link to past and current events in Indiana history," said Ben Clark, chief of cultural resources for Indiana State Parks, who oversaw the development of the curriculum.
Topics include fossils, glaciers, American Indian culture, pioneers and the clearing of Indiana's forests, historic African-American settlements, the Civilian Conservation Corps and more. Students can watch videos and read visually appealing study guides that relate those concepts to individual parks, from Pokagon in the north to Clifty Falls in the south.
The curriculum is at stateparks.IN.gov/8280.htm. Lessons meet state educational standards for English, science and social studies.
Indiana State Parks developed the curriculum with help from the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Bicentennial Commission, Indiana Geological Survey, Ball State University, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.
"It has been a real partnership," said Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship for Indiana State Parks.
The units are self-explanatory and ready to use, but Indiana State Parks also will host a series of workshops around the state this summer and early fall for teachers. The workshops will introduce the curriculum and activities and share resources and information about Indiana State Parks history.
When teachers incorporate the curriculum into their classrooms and share results of the lessons with state parks, all students in that class receive one free admission to a state park of their choice. More info will be available on the web page.
The curriculum does not require a park field trip, although Indiana State Parks encourages field trips for all types of learning opportunities. Schools and home-school educators may be eligible for field trip financial assistance through The Discovering the Outdoors Field Trip Grant Program. Information is at IndianaNRF.org.
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