In past years, Berthoud students would visit the museum with their school as part of the local history unit per the Colorado State Standards. During the recent pandemic, field trips were not be possible, which is where the primer, or educational booklet, was created. Even today, it is a useful resource of Berthoud History and with it, students are able to interact with some of the museum’s artifacts and themes.

The primer is an eight-page booklet overview of Berthoud’s history from the 1800s to about 1970. It includes eight different activities called “Think Like a Historian” that encourage students to think critically about the town’s past ideas, objects, events and people. Throughout the primer there are optional links (or QR codes on the printable version) that offer additional information on particular topics. The digital version allows students to input their answers to the activities online and is compatible with Google Classroom – ideal for remote online learning!

The accompanying Teacher Guide includes the Colorado Second Grade State Standards for Social Studies the primer addresses, versions available (and how to use them), and possible uses and modifications.