North Tama Elementary fourth graders analyze an object during a field trip to the Traer Historical Museum on Thursday, May 15. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TRAER – The Traer Historical Museum hosted 42 North Tama Elementary fourth-grade students and their teachers on Thursday, May 15. The downtown museum was a bustling hive of activity as students interacted with volunteers and items from the museum’s collection.

Students discussed how communities change over time, as well as how some things stay the same. One student shared how she saw old bricks on a road that was being redone. Others talked about how technology, including phones, farm equipment, etc. have changed over time, while many of the buildings that were here over 100 years ago still remain.

Volunteers with the ham radio club were present to share information about Morse code; each student was able to tap out his or her name using the code.

Students received a tour of the museum from volunteer Marshall Mullinex. Others participated in a scavenger hunt led by college student and volunteer Kacey Shimp. Students used their creative thinking and analytical skills to identify the purpose of primary sources such as a cherry pitter, an animal vet pill tool, and a noodle cutter.

This is the third year fourth-grade classes, led by teacher Brenda O’Malley, have visited the museum which is located at 514 Second Street.

Traer Historical Museum volunteer Marshall Mullinex, back, leads North Tama fourth-grade students on a tour of the museum on May 15. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“The students love the visit to the museum,” O’Malley said. “They like to see the primary sources that we have learned about through our Iowa history lessons on change and continuity. They also love to see pictures of their own community in the past.”

One of the students’ favorite parts of the visit this year was learning about Morse code, she added, as well as guessing what the items from the past were used for, the scavenger hunt, and the tour.

“We love that Traer has a museum and that our visits are always so organized and it is definitely time well spent.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO