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The state curriculum requirements for grades 1-6, provide no specific scope and sequence model for teaching Iowa history.  Data from the most recent Iowa history teacher survey conducted by the State Historical Society of Iowa, revealed that Iowa history is taught most frequently at grade 5 followed by grade 6 and grade 4.  In addition, some schools choose to teach a portion of Iowa history at each grade level K-6 while others place Iowa history instruction at the middle school level. 

The Iowa History Online website provides the following lesson plans loosely structured around the eighteen Iowa History Benchmarks.   These plans can provide a guide for Iowa history teachers as they develop a scope and sequence model appropriate for their local school community.

Iowa History Benchmark: 

1. The Physical Landscape

Iowa History Benchmark: 

2. Native Americans

Iowa History Benchmark: 


3. European contacts

Iowa History Benchmark: 

4. Pioneer Life on the Prairie

Iowa History Benchmark: 

5. Providing a Government

Iowa History Benchmark: 

6. Transportation

Iowa History Benchmark: 

7. The Civil War

Iowa History Benchmark: 

8. Settlers from Many Lands

Iowa History Benchmark: 

9. Education

Iowa History Benchmark: 

10. Religion

Iowa History Benchmark: 

11. Agriculture and rural life in the early 20th century

Iowa History Benchmark: 

12. Urbanization

Iowa History Benchmark: 

13. Technological change in the early 20th century

Iowa History Benchmark: 

14. Business and Industry in Iowa

Iowa History Benchmark: 

15. World War I and its impact

Iowa History Benchmark: 

16. Depression and WWII

Iowa History Benchmark: 

17. Post-war Adjustments, 1955-Farm Crisis of 1980s

Iowa History Benchmark: 

18. Transition to the 21st Century, Farm Crisis to 2002


Copyright 2008 Iowa History Online.
Malcolm Price Laboratory School
Lynn Nielsen, Project Director
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA