Event Details
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the State Historical Society of Iowa are partnering to host a dynamic workshop for K-12 teachers in Dubuque, where history and rivers come alive! Participants will learn about early Iowa social and environmental history in the Driftless Area through hands-on, experiential activities at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Through object-based learning with historical artifacts and interactive museum tours, teachers will learn about the many ways to connect with stories of natural science and human innovation—all influenced by Iowa’s inland waterways. No matter the grade or discipline, every K-12 teacher will walk away ready to inspire stewardship in students through educational experiences that bring history and rivers to life. Teachers have the option to complete a project and earn 1 free license renewal credit through the ISEA.
Workshop Agenda
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Welcome, Introductions, & Overview Meet the workshop staff and fellow participants through an interactive warm-up activity. |
| 8:30 AM | Session I – Discussion of Iowa’s Environmental History Discuss the pre-reading text, The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa. |
| 9:15 AM | Break |
| 9:30 AM | Session II – Mock Field Trip & Facilities Tour An immersive professional development experience that blends a guided facility tour with examples of station activities. As you explore the 14-acre campus, you’ll discover how exhibits align to the Iowa Social Social Studies standards and how to use hands-on learning to make history come alive in real-world contexts. |
| 11:30 AM | Lunch Participants will order and pay for lunch in advance through the caterer, or bring a sack lunch. |
| 12:15 PM | Session III – Vignette Project Learn best practices for implementing object-based learning in the classroom. We’ll review the vignette project implementation and prepare to observe historical artifacts. |
| 1:00 PM | Session IV – Historic Collections & Work Time Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic collections. Capacity is limited, so those not touring will have unstructured time to work on the vignette project or to explore the museum. |
| 2:30 PM | Break |
| 2:45 PM | Session V – Local Collaborators & Resources Hear from local collaborators about resources for teaching about the Driftless Area and Iowa in your K-12 classroom. A digital resource list will be provided. |
| 3:45 PM | Debrief & Depart |
Required Text:
- “Chapter 1: Setting the Stage”, The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa, Cornelia F. Mutel
Outcomes and Objectives:
- To improve objected-based and place-based instruction with primary sources
- To make interdisciplinary connections between Iowa’s social history and environment
- To develop a lesson vignette with an artifact that helps students build a critical understanding of place
Evaluation:
- Using what is learned about object-based and placed-based learning strategies during the workshop, participants will select an artifact and develop a lesson vignette. The artifact should act as a stimulus for students and anchor their learning. The vignette will explain how students will interact with the artifact, what disciplinary concepts and thinking will be developed, how teaching challenges will be confronted, and how the lesson will contribute to building a critical understanding of place. The vignette must be completed and turned in by February 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Course Requirements:
- Credit seekers must complete the pre-workshop reading, attend the in-person workshop, actively participate in class, and complete a vignette that demonstrates their understanding of object-based and place-based learning strategies.
Instructors & Contact Information:
- Rachel Hansen, rachel.hansen@iowa.gov, State Historical Society of Iowa
- Erin Martin, emartin@rivermuseum.org, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Registration Details
Participants must register by January 14, 2026. Registration is required to attend.