Educator Resources
Museum educators offer informal, active education opportunities,
typically outside of the school classroom, although many museums bring
programs to school classrooms. Educators offer educational experiences
for ages pre-K to adult by incorporating active learning skills which
involve the learner in questioning and experiential learning. Through
this process foundational skills are developed which later enable
students to master reading, writing, social studies, science,
technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).
Museum educators incorporate curriculum standards into their lesson plans in order to meet classroom requirements and better serve their classroom teacher partners. A wide variety of resources are available to educators.
Museums in the classroom and/or field trips - Iowa museums have
programs for all ages on many subjects.
Photo courtesy of the Grout Museum District, Waterloo, Iowa.
Iowa Social Studies Standards
The new Iowa Social Studies Standards are posted here .
Lesson plans that correlate to new Iowa Social Studies Standards will be created over two years and posted at TeachingIowaHistory.com as ready.
History Relevance Campaign
The Iowa Museum Association is an endorser of the Value Statement and supporter of the History Relevance Campaign.
The History Relevance Campaign is a diverse group of history professionals posing questions about what makes the past relevant today.
The Campaign serves as a catalyst for discovering, demonstrating, and promulgating the value of history for individuals, communities, and the nation.
Click here to Learn the Value of History and Seven Ways it is Essential.
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding. To observe this momentous occasion, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission will encourage Americans to remember our past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a promising future. We are reaching out to individuals, communities, state and local governments, cultural institutions, national parks and proud partners across the country over the next six years — to inspire the American spirit in ways that are meaningful to all.