Fifty States: Iowa

Is this a Full Unit or Mini Unit? Iowa is a little bit of both! It is a Mini Unit, in that it is just four lessons, designed to be completed in one week. However, instead of just two pages per day in the Student Notebooks, there are five per day, and this unit will cover all your subjects other than math. 

What is this unit about? Come along to the wide-open prairies of Iowa, where amber waves of grain meet winding rivers, kettle lakes, and towering bluffs carved long ago. Travel the Loess Hills Scenic Byway, step inside the iconic American Gothic House, hike through winding caves, and cross the High Trestle Trail Bridge high above the Des Moines River. Along the way, you’ll learn all about the Indigenous groups who were the first to call this land home, the impact of the Louisiana Purchase and the Black Hawk War, and how pioneer life helped shape the state’s steady spirit. We will explore Iowa’s rich prairie habitats and state symbols like the goldfinch and wild rose. As you dig into Iowa’s economy, you will see how agriculture, railroads, manufacturing, and biotechnology have made the state a leader in feeding and fueling the nation. From Tulip Time celebrations to sinking your teeth into fluffy poffertjes, there is more here than meets the eye. Student Book activities include mapping, lesson summaries, farming equipment, pioneer life, and so much more.  This short (but full) mini unit is designed to be completed in four days, but we have packed each lesson with some great information and activities. At the end of the unit, students will have the opportunity to review what they learned with some narration-style questions found in the appendix of the Teacher’s Guide. Student packs are divided into three levels:  

• Level 1 is for Pre-Reader and Early Reader with little to no writing and more hands-on or cut and paste activities.

• Level 2 is designed for Early to Upper Elementary with a bit of writing without being too heavy.

• Level 3 is for Middle School and High School with more written responses and deeper thinking.

What should I buy? The digital family bundle comes with the Teacher's Guide and all three levels of student workbooks in digital format. They come as a digital download in PDF format for you to print at home and are licensed for individual immediate family use within your own household only. Please note that there are no refunds or exchanges allowed on digital items.

How long is it designed to last?  This unit is four lessons long, designed to be completed in one week. That being said, you're in control! Set a schedule that works best for your family and your pace will dictate how quickly you complete any given unit. 

Check out the Resources! Most of our units have a free resource page on our free app. These have video links for each lesson, a way to track what you have done, as well as suggested reading lists, PDF downloads, and more! Click on the button a little further down to see what we have for this unit!

Print-at-home instructions: All digital files are designed to be printed double sided. Blank pages are intentional for messy art or cutouts, but are not marked to save on ink costs. Print from the free Adobe PDF reader and use the 'print as image' setting for best results.