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Iowa
 
Travel America

Learn before you travel. This section of Fun Easy English focuses on facts and other cool stuff about your favorite U.S. state. This is great English reading practice. This page focuses on the state of Iowa.
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Iowa

Although it is sometimes called the "Corn State," Iowa really is a breadbasket for the U.S., with 90 percent of its land devoted to farming. The main products are corn and hogs. Named for the Iowa River, which was named for the Iowa, or Ioway, Indians, Iowa joined the Union in 1846 as the 29th state. The wild rose is the state flower and the capital is Des Moines.
Flag of IowaIowa State Flag


Iowa was almost 75 years old before the state banner was adopted by the Legislature in 1921. With memory of the Civil War still fresh in their minds, Iowans had not adopted a state banner because they felt a national banner was the only one needed.

Iowa's flag was designed by the state's Daughters of the American Revolution in response to Iowa national Guardsmen stationed at the Mexican border during WWI that requested an emblem of Iowa to represent their unit.

The flag consists of three vertical stripes: the blue stripe stands for loyalty, justice and truth; the white stripe for purity; and the red stripe for courage. On the white center an eagle carries streamers in its beak which are inscribed with the state's motto: "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." The name "IOWA" is in red below the streamers. The eagle carrying streamers also appears on Iowa's state seal.
Source: State Symbols USA
 
The great seal of the state of IowaIowa State Facts

Picture: state seal of Iowa
State Capital Des Moines
Nickname Hawkeye State / Corn State
Motto Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.
Statehood December 28, 1846 (29th)
Origin of Name From the Dakota Indian word "Ayuhwa," meaning "sleepy ones," referring to a tribe living in that area
Largest Cities Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo
Border States Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Area 55,875 sq. mi.; 23rdlargest
State Bird Eastern Goldfinch
State Flower Wild Prairie Rose (rosa pratincola)
State Tree Oak (quercus)
State Song The Song of Iowa
Map showing the location of IowaTravel and tourism site for Iowa - This state travel and territorial tourism site provides ideas for your vacations, meetings, and more.
Iowa Stories
 
National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library

What are some of the ethnic groups in your community? Do any of them have a museum to honor their heritage? Cedar Rapids, Iowa, may not seem a likely place for a museum honoring Czechs and Slovaks, but that's exactly where you will find the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.

In October 1996, three heads of state, America's Bill Clinton, the Czech Republic's Vaclav Havel, and Slovakia's Michal Kovac dedicated the museum and library, which were created to preserve the cultural traditions of some of the first immigrants to the Cedar Rapids area -- Czech and Slovak farmers. Although there are differences, Czechs and Slovaks share a common Slavic heritage. An interesting piece of shared Czech and Slovak culture is that spiders are considered good luck. So don't forget to say "dobr'y den" the next time you see a spider. It means "good day" in Czech!
 
Prairie Voices - Teaching History

How much do you know about the history of your state? In Iowa, state officials are making sure that Iowans know their state history. They have even created a special educational program to teach students.

The State Historical Society of Iowa appointed a Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Teaching of Iowa History because some were concerned that young people were growing up with little understanding or appreciation of their Iowa heritage. Prairie Voices: An Iowa Heritage Curriculum was created to teach Iowa's historical and cultural heritage.

As part of Prairie Voices, a timeline has been created to document the state's history that goes back 2.5 billion years! How far back can you trace your state's history? Other sources of information for students to learn about Iowa history include historic farms, cemetery studies, historic sites and Native American history and heritage. How many sources can you think of to learn about your state?
 
Iowa State Fair

Iowa is a state of farms. It is one of the leading producers of food in America, and its annual state fair celebrates Iowa's important contributions to the nation's well being.

Since 1854, people from every corner of the state have flocked to Des Moines for the annual Iowa State Fair every August. The fair is the state's largest event, attracting nearly 1 million visitors a year -- not only from Iowa but also from all over the Midwest. The fair's primary purpose is to celebrate Iowa's livelihood -- farming. There are livestock shows, including exhibitions of dairy and beef cattle, sheep, hogs, horses and poultry. The fair also provides a place for farmers to meet and discuss innovations, equipment, and successes. There is also a place where visitors can hold the baby animals.

In addition to animals there are many other activities at the fair. Some people show off their cooking skills or compete in a talent show. In the cultural center, the fair hosts the state's largest arts show, featuring photography, sculpture, and painting.
 
Tulip Time

Many of the people who founded Iowa were from the Netherlands. Can you think of something the Netherlands is famous for that people might have brought with them? Hint: it's a type of flower.

If you answered "tulips," you would be right. You'd also be right to guess that Iowa still loves this springtime flower. So much so that the state holds a three-day Tulip Festival in the city of Pella to remember the sacrifices of the town's Dutch founding fathers.

Hendrik Pieter Scholte, born in 1805 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was the founder of Pella. Scholte was a minister who immigrated with his wife, three daughters and a following of 800 people to build their "City of Refuge" in America in the late 1840s. They came to seek religious freedom. They moved to a rural area and by necessity Scholte became a jack-of-all-trades. He laid out a plan for the town, chose names for the streets, and built a "make-do" church. He took care of legal affairs, started a lime and brick kiln and a sawmill, opened a bank, established a newspaper, and became the postmaster and the land agent. That's a lot of extra work for an already busy preacher! As you can tell, tulips were just one part of Dutch culture that Scholte and his followers brought with them to Pella.
 
Iowa's Most Popular Crop

About 90 percent of Iowa's land is dedicated to farming. In addition to producing soybeans and raising livestock, the state grows corn in great quantities. Much of its economy is based on the production of corn and corn byproducts -- popcorn, corn oil, corn syrup, cornmeal, cornstarch, and animal feed.

Corn, also known as maize, was grown in the Americas long before the European explorers arrived. It was an important source of food for many native peoples. Scientists believe that corn originated in Mexico thousands of years ago and that Native Americans cultivated it from a wild grass commonly known as teosinte. Archaeologists have found traces of corn that are 5,300 years old.
 
National Balloon Classic

Have you ever seen a Flying Purple Eater? If you go to the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa, in August, you just might. The Flying Purple Eater is an insect-like hot-air balloon -- one of more than 100 -- that takes part in this three-day event.

Held each year, this hot-air balloon competition and race began in 1970 as the first U.S. National Championship in ballooning. Do you know how hot-air balloons work? Balloons are aerostats, which means that they are lighter than air when inflated. Once a balloon is in the air, it moves with an air mass or wind, which carries it along at the same speed and in the same direction as the air.

Do you remember how the Wizard landed in Oz? He was in a hot-air balloon. The pilot of the balloon has control of the altitude (how high or low the balloon flies) and can alter its course by finding an air mass going in a slightly different direction. Hot air balloons use ordinary air as the lifting gas. By heating the air inside the balloon, the pilot makes that air lighter than the outside air, and the balloon rises. As the internal air cools, the balloon becomes heavier and descends unless the pilot adds more heat.
Source: Library of Congress
National Monuments of Iowa

The following is a description of national monuments in the state of Iowa. There are no national forests or parks in this state. If you plan to visit or live in Iowa for awhile then you should definitely plan to visit some of these fantastic places.
 
National Monuments
Effigy Mounds

This monument preserves three prehistoric sites with 206 prehistoric mounds, notable for 31 unusual mounds in the shape of mammals, birds, or reptiles.
 
Travel America
 
 
 
Cool America
About the U.S.A.

About the U.S.A. is an American Studies reader that examines the customs, government, and history of the United States of America. The text provides a wealth of information on U.S. geography and history; the roles of local, state, and federal government; national holidays and symbols; the Constitution; and citizenship. The book, which was written for intermediate to advanced learners of English, contains a range of activities for language students to practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing. (opens to a new PDF window) Great English reading practice.
About America

Learn about the fascinating history and government of the United States of America. Lessons include content on American Government, American History, and Integrated Civics. Handouts with interactive games and student-centered activities encompass all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Great English reading practice for beginning to intermediate students.
American Teens Talk!

Americans Teens Talk! is a collection of interviews of American high school students. Each interview is accompanied by vocabulary notes and discussion questions. The interviews in American Teens Talk! give learners a view into the lives of adolescents in the U.S. Through the written format of the interviews, learners are able to increase their vocabulary, practice their reading and listening skills, engage in discussions, and learn more about U.S. culture. These interviews come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading
Sing Out Loud Children's Songs

Sing Out Loud Children's Songs includes popular children's songs in the U.S.A. Posters accompany the individual Sing Out Loud Children's Songs. These songs come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading practice.
Sing Out Loud Traditional Songs

The Sing Out Loud Traditional Songs collection contains 13 traditional American folk songs and song lyrics. Listen to the songs online, read the lyrics, and collect the posters that accompany the songs. These songs come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading practice.
Sing Out Loud American Rhythms

Do you love music? Want to use it to learn English? Check out the hip-hop inspired song "Peace" from Sing Out Loud American Rhythms. American Rhythms includes a variety of musical genres from many different artists in the U.S.A. These songs will appeal to teens and young adults. These songs come with audio programs. Great English listening and reading practice.
Route 66 - Famous American Road

U.S. Route 66 (US 66 or Route 66), also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America or the Mother Road, was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in the United States, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California, near Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km). It was recognized in popular culture by both the hit song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s.
Route 66: The Highway That's the Best
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Chicago: The Start of Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Going West for Decades on Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Arizona: The Spirit of Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Route 66 California: The End of the Trail
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Ten Must-See Route 66 Attractions
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
Four Famous Foods On Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
International Tourists Drawn to Route 66
(Beginner - Listening)

A video lesson which shows you an interesting place in America.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening practice.
This video shows travel along Route 66, the most famous road in America.
 
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