Iowa

Iowa was a bit book-light, but we enjoyed learning about the Iowa Caucuses, and about the butter cow and other butter sculptures at the Iowa State Fair! We also enjoyed listening to some Glenn Miller music while we did our art project.

Books:

• Ten Beautiful Things by Molly Beth Griffin

• Dewey by Vicki Myron

• H is for Hawkeye by Patricia Pierce

• Corn by Gail Gibbons

• Artist in Overalls by John Duggleby

• Iowa (My United States: A True Book) by Ann Squire 

• Grant and Tillie Go Walking by Monica Kulling

Art Project:

Iowa corn fields

We did a google image search for Iowa corn fields and used a few of the farms we saw as models to draw (pencil sketch followed by sharpies for details on the farm buildings, then oil pastel for coloring in those plus the fields, followed by water color for the sky).

Indiana

I've never been to Indiana. Luckily, I know a few people from Indiana who were able to give some suggestions on places in Indiana to include in our virtual visit, and we definitely have a wish list should we ever find ourselves in the area, including the very cool Children's Museum in Indianapolis. 

Books:

• Mayor Pete by Rob Sanders

• H is for Hoosier: An Indiana Alphabet by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds

• Indiana (My United States: A True Book) by Tamara Orr

• Rhymes of Childhood by James Whitcomb Riley

• (Riley was known as as “the Hoosier Poet” and “the Children’s Poet” during his lifetime.)

• Madame C.J. Walker Builds a Business (Rebel Girls chapter book)

• Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist by Lesa Cline-Ransome

• Wake Up, Woods, by Michael Homoya, Shane Gibson, and Gillian Harris

Art project:

Valparaiso Popcorn Festival

The kids decided to depict the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, showing a banner and float going down the street. Made using a mix of sharpie, oil pastel, and water color (sky and concrete).