The State Historical Society of Iowa has hatched a program called Goldie’s Kids Club to introduce children aged 12 and under to Iowa history – starting with Goldie the eastern goldfinch, the state bird.
Goldie's Kids Club members have exclusive access to select museum programs and events. All programs are free for Goldie's Kids Club members.
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The activities listed below can be downloaded and printed out at home for children to use immediately and independently.
Register for a Goldie's Kids Club Spring Break Kit. Members can register for a free kit (limit of one per household), which will include exclusive previews of future Innovative Iowans and Storytime activities that focus on state symbols to commemorate Iowa's 175th year of statehood. The kits will be mailed to participants in mid-March.
The State Historical Museum of Iowa has a variety of virtual offerings for Goldie's Kids Club members to enjoy the museum and historic artifacts from the comfort of their own homes. Join Goldie the Goldfinch virtually on the first Saturday of every month to learn about Iowa history and help solve some of its mysteries!
Register to join museum staff on Zoom for a live version of Goldie's Kids Club's "History Mystery" program this fall. The new digital format brings the museum and thousands of objects from Iowa history into any home. This virtual program provides participants unique access to artifacts and historic images from the State Historical Museum to determine how they were used and who might have used them. Help your young historian become a history super sleuth!
This program is free to attend, but space is limited and advanced registration is required. Please register by 4 p.m. on the Friday before each program. While attending this virtual program, each child (recommended for ages 8-12) must be accompanied by an adult for its duration.
Goldie's Kids Club: Innovative Iowans is another digital "First Saturday" program for families to do together at home. Innovative Iowans involves interactive activities that connect history with STEAM education – science, technology, engineering, art and math. The easy-to-follow instructions require few materials and can provide children with a fun, hands-on approach to Iowa history.
Iowa is full of colorful characters! Meet a few on the third Wednesday of each month with Goldie's Kids Club's digital storytime program. Each month, a new book recommendation with an Iowa connection and a fun activity will be digitally released. This at-home program is recommended for young historians (ages 3-7).
Join Goldie the Goldfinch for At-Home Expeditions to explore the state together through online activities to bring history alive from the comfort of your own home! Historians of all ages can learn more about a state historic site, an Iowa history topic or a local museum. These unique expeditions are exclusive to the State Historical Museum of Iowa.
Join Goldie's Kids Club for seasonal break programs throughout the year. To help commemorate the upcoming 175th anniversary of Iowa statehood on Dec. 28, 2021, the museum has a variety of Iowa-themed programs and activities to guide young historians as they explore the history of the state from home.
The State Historical Museum of Iowa is looking for ways to improve Goldie’s Kids Club programs. Please take a short survey and tell us how we are doing.
