Mapping to MN State Standards
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The resources on this page have been selected by eLibraryMN and Minnesota Digital Library librarians and curators to support the MN English Language Arts and the Social Studies standards, both current and pending, specifically related to parks, that are relevant to students. Resources in eLibraryMN and EbooksMN have unlimited simultaneous user access and are freely available to anyone geolocated in Minnesota. The primary source resources detailed are available to all, regardless of location.
Please reach out with questions or suggestions about linking to, using, or sharing these resources.
Academic Research
Below is a collection of available topic overviews that link to many related articles and resources within ELM.
Britannica Elementary
Explore the Interactive National Park Map
And then look up more detailed information about individual parks such as Acadia National Park in Maine, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and Yosemite National Park in California.
PebbleGO
To introduce students to the story of how the National Parks were established, introduce them to Pebble Go’s entry on Teddy Roosevelt
Gale in Context: Middle School
Middle school students studying the National Parks will enjoy Gale’s overview of the National Parks as well as a mix of news, research articles, primary sources and more about each of the parks and the unique issues that they face.
Ebooks
This is a curated group of fiction and nonfiction ebooks related to citizenship, Grade Interest Level K-8. All titles are available to students geolocated in MN without login. Linking directly to chapters is also possible. To link directly to the titles and share in your LMS or libguides, copy the link to the title(s) you want from our persistent link spreadsheet (if you are not accessing through the MackinVia app). Reach out to us with questions about linking.
Parks for All: U.S. National Parks
Offers a brief overview of the national park system, discussing the creation, conservation, and human/nature interactions in multiple parks.
Death Valley
Presents photos and information about Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada. Discusses the park's plants, animals, and landscape and offers information about tourism and heat danger. Includes a comprehension activity, glossary, index, and resources for further information.
Grand Canyon
An introduction to Arizona's Grand Canyon, one of the Natural Wonders of the World, including how it was formed, who lives nearby, and animals and plants of the region.
Yellowstone
Presents photos and information about Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Discusses geysers, bison, native plants, tourism, and safety. Includes a model geyser activity, glossary, index, and resources for further information.
Primary Sources
Resources below are recommended by MDL curators from partners in primary source history.
Minnesota’s state park system is the second oldest in the nation, starting with the establishment of Itasca State Park in 1891. These parks preserve natural and historic areas across the state.
Many state parks were valued as beautiful natural spaces before officially becoming parks, including Minneopa Falls, pictured here.
Parks are visited for a variety of reasons, from picnics to hiking trips to camping adventures.
Construction at Cascade River State Park
In the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps teams built bridges, waysides, lodges, and other structures at many parks.
Chia Vang at Whitewater State Park
In this 2017 interview, Chia Vang shares memories about camping, fishing, and exploring the park. Listen to more oral histories like this.
The Superior National Forest was established in 1909 and includes three million acres of land between Lake Superior, Canada, and Voyageurs National Park for preservation and recreation.
Bike map showing Voyageurs National Park
Minnesota is home to Voyageurs National Park, established by the park service in 1975. This map shows the park in green along the Canadian border.
The National Park Service also manages several other monuments, sites, and scenic rivers and trails in Minnesota. Pipestone National Monument was established in 1937 to preserve sacred and historic pipestone quarries and formations.
Interlibrary Loan/Resource Sharing
For in depth research into these topics, sometimes you need to request materials from other libraries. These can be digital or they can sometimes be printed books. There are two main options for requesting these materials. One, MNLINK, allows you to search all Minnesota libraries for the requires the use of a public library card and PIN. While many educators use their own library card to help students, it is recommended that students use their own. However, this is not always possible, so there is a second option: Minitex Resource sharing for schools. This allows one staff member per school to request items on behalf of students and have the items sent directly to the school building. If you have questions about which option is better for you and your students, reach out to us and we can help.