TRAER – The Traer Historical Museum hosted 38 fourth-grade students and their teachers from North Tama Schools on Thursday, May 14. The museum was a bustling hive of activity as students interacted with museum volunteers and items from the museum collection. Students discussed how communities change over time, as well as how some things stay the same. It was hard to imagine Traer in 1853 without automobiles! Many of the buildings are still here 156 years later, so while there has been a lot of change, some things have stayed the same. Students also learned about primary sources (made by or used by people long ago) versus secondary sources (books, videos etc. made by people who were not actually there). Volunteers from the local ham radio club shared information about Morse Code, and each student was able to tap out his or her name using code. Students were led on a tour of the museum by volunteer Marshall Mullinex, while others participated in a scavenger hunt led by Carol Boyce. 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 fourth year North Tama’s fourth-grade classes, led by teacher Brenda O’Malley, have visited the museum.