IdaGem Curriculum

At the heart of IdaGem are 15 quests–each carefully designed to guide students through major eras, communities,  and issues in Idaho history. Each quest centers on a compelling essential question and culminates in a student-created museum exhibit. 

Each quest includes:

• 12-20 primary and secondary source documents that reflect diverse voices and perspectives.

• Adapted texts accessible to fourth-grade readers without sacrificing complexity.

• An essential question and a guiding historical question to frame inquiry and spark curiosity. 

• Scaffolded learning routines including vocabulary support, guided reading, and discussion prompts.

• 10 predictable phases that mirror the process of historical inquiry and support deep, standards-aligned learning.
  • Phase I is an invitation that draws students into the mystery or moment in Idaho history with a story, image, or artifact. 
  • Phases II – V engage students in analyzing primary and secondary source documents, learning key vocabulary, and developing historical context. 
  • Phase VI asks students to select one of the source documents to carefully explore, sketch, and write about to share how it informs their understanding. 
  • Phase VII supports students in summarizing what they’ve learned and citing key evidence. 
  • Phase VIII asks students to design a museum exhibit that reflects what they’ve learned. 
  • Phase IX features writing activities where students craft an interpretive sign to accompany their exhibit. It also includes an optional extension activity where students are supported through an extended writing process. 
  • Phase X concludes the quest with opportunities for final reflection and discussion about the essential and guiding questions.

This design keeps students at the center of the learning process – asking questions, exploring ideas, making connections, and expressing their insights through writing, discussion, and art.