Fifth-grade students at North Cedar School in Mechanicsville help to reset a tombstone at historic Pioneer Grove Cemetery as part of their Prairie Voices  project.

Prairie Voices

In 1988 the administrator of the State Historical Society of Iowa appointed 45 Iowans to a Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Teaching of Iowa history. The study began in response to the many Iowans who had expressed concern for the future generations of the state. It was felt that young people were growing up with little comprehension or appreciation of their Iowa heritage. In response to the task force's recommendations, the State Historical Society established a 20-member Committee for Heritage Education. It is this committee that developed Prairie Voices: An Iowa Heritage Curriculum, the first comprehensive statewide plan for teaching Iowa's historical and cultural heritage. Each year new topics and lesson plans are added so that Prairie Voices remains a dynamic document that meets the ongoing needs of Iowa's teachers and students.

Originally submitted by: Tom Harkin, Senator.

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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

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