EDUCATION

      

Attention researchers

  
 

LESSON PLANS

Two lesson plans are included as resource material. “Iowa and the Civil War” is based on activities for grades 5-12. It emphasizes research, cooperative learning, writing and discussion on the effect the war had on people in the state.

“The Study of Flags” can be used for the study of symbols in 1st grade and adapted to 4th & 5th grade Iowa History studies and 10th & 11th American History and Government. Students can learn the significance of flags as they research and present a flag topic.
Explore our website to complement, or expand upon these lesson plans.
Download a PDF lesson plan of “Iowa in the Civil War”

Download a PDF lesson plan of
“The Study of Flags”

 

  

The following statement can be read out loud for reflection and discussion before starting the lesson activities:

“Today many of us look upon our nation’s flag as a powerful symbol. It is carried in parades, adorns out clothing, and serves as an avenue of political expression. But to Civil War veterans, flags meant much more.
During the war, battle flags had served the regiments as treasured comrades. The soldiers had looked to the flags when the smoke and rattle of thousands of muskets deafened their ears to their officer’s calls. The flags guided them forward and rallied them when pressed near destruction. In turn, the men cherished the flags for the lives they had saved and the horrors they had shared. The tattered flags were the memories of thousands, dead or maimed, who served, honored, and carried them for what they represented – our nation.”

Bill Johnson, battle flag curator, State Historical Society of Iowa

 

The State Historical Society of Iowa makes the battle flag collection available to researchers and scholars to an extent that is practical and consistent with the goals and best interest of both the SHSI and the collection. Researchers may use the battle flag collection of the SHSI provided that they have a stated research goal with an educational, public or genealogical purpose, can demonstrate an appreciation of the unique and delicate nature of the resource, and can conduct research in a responsible manner.

Additional information about research at SHSI will be provided upon request. All researchers must complete the Research Registration Form, read the entire research policy, and sign/date the form before they are allowed access to the collections.

All requests for research privileges and appointments must be made in advance so that the SHSI staff may make arrangements, assemble the requested flag(s), and schedule staff time. Requests and appointments must be made in writing. The last Wednesday of each month is reserved for researchers. No researcher should assume that they would have immediate access to the collections without a scheduled appointment. Lab times are between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm on weekdays.