North High School AP Government students dig into Iowa caucus history and presidential politics with the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s “First in the Nation” traveling display.

Iowa Students “Caucus Up” with Traveling Display

Sara Stieler broke into a broad grin in her school’s library last week.

The Des Moines North High School teacher was watching her AP Government students learn about the Iowa Caucuses and see artifacts in a traveling display from the State Historical Museum of Iowa.

“I like hearing them talk about it and pick up on things and forming opinions,” she said. “We are just finishing a unit about the caucuses, so the traveling display has really helped us supplement our lesson plans and the learning experience for the kids.”

Des Moines North High School teacher Sara Stieler helps senior Brandon Gordon with a classroom assignment that compares and contrasts election commercials.

The display, called “First in the Nation,” is at North this month in between stops at Drake University and the University of Northern Iowa. The multi-media exhibit includes images, film clips and artifacts about Iowa’s unique presidential election process. It also demystifies the process while exploring campaigns going back to 1972.

Stieler’s students are mostly seniors who are old enough to participate in the upcoming caucuses. Most of them said they plan to do so.

North senior Brandon Gordon, 17, said the display helped put the upcoming election in context with past caucus cycles.

Des Moines North High School’s Brandon Gordon pauses inside the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s traveling display, “First in the Nation.”

“The caucuses are important because they’re the first step in how we determine the future and the outcome of the nation,” he said. “I’ll probably go with my parents.”

Bariture Ibaakee, another 17-year-old senior, said she’s keeping up with the current campaigns and issues but doesn’t necessarily align herself with any political party.

“I like Elizabeth Warren because she is pretty interesting, but I’m also learning what Donald Trump has done over the past three years and what he wants to do with another four years,” she said.

Des Moines North High School student Bariture Ibaakee takes a tour of the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s “First in the Nation” traveling display in the school’s library.

Meanwhile, the students also got to compare and contrast campaign ads going back to the 1960s — from Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Daisy” and Barack Obama’s “Big Bird” commercials to Joni Ernst’s “Make ’em Squeal” and Valerie Plame’s “Undercover” ads.

Eric Tello of Des Moines North High School fills out a classroom assignment to compare and contrast past and current campaign commercials.

“The lesson plans have helped the students learn about the caucus process and prepares them to participate, but it’s really nice to have the traveling display come here,” Stieler said. “With this, it means we can have more students partake without taking time away from class and having to come up with money to pay for a field trip.”

The “First in the Nation” traveling display will be at the University of Northern Iowa’s Rod Library Jan. 7–30. A companion exhibition, also called “First in the Nation,” is on display at the State Historical Museum of Iowa.

— Jeff Morgan, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs