Pella Historical Review Scholte House Lesson Plan Index

THE AUTHOR
This guide, the brainchild of the Pella Historical Society Education Committee, was prepared by Lisa Jaarsma. Lisa, a Pella native and 6th grade teacher in Chariton, Iowa is a Pella Dutch enthusiast. She spent time in the Netherlands on five different occasions including a semester of study at the University of Leiden. For a project while there, Lisa researched the reasons for the colony's immigration to Pella. She and Wendy Crow Buseman have conducted a week long Dutch Day Camp for the Pella Historical Society each summer since 1990. Lisa's family has always been very active in the preservation of Pella's cultural history. She is proud to take part in these enriching activities.

Pella History / Scholte House Guide
The purpose of this guide is to give a historical review of Pella Iowa's founding Scholte family and to provide suggested activities for enriching the curriculum of classrooms taking a field trip to Scholte House. Though it is directed at grades 5 - 7, the ideas can be adapted or adjusted for varied age groups.

Dominie Scholte

Section I - Historical Review

This section is provided to give the teacher and/or group leader background information about the founder of Pella It includes a portrait of the colorful and dynamic character, Hendrik Pieter Scholte, leader of the Dutch settlers who came to Pella in 1846. Also, the reader will learn about Scholte's first wife, her untimely death, and his marriage to the young and beautiful Mareah Scholte, her children and step-children.

A brief overview of The Scholte House highlights the construction of the home and the many authentic artifacts located there.

The De Kolonie (The Colony) section takes the reader through the stages Before Emigration and of Preparing for the Journey from the Netherlands to the destination in Pella, Iowa. A brief synopsis of The Journey, Early Days of Pella and Pella's First Decade give additional background information.

Section I will help the group leader acquire a glimpse of the historical perspectives that make Scholte House such a fascinating study in one of Iowa's unique early settlements.

Dominie Scholte

Mareah Scholte

Scholte House

De Kolonie

Before Emigration

Preparing for Journey

The Journey

Early Pella

Pella's 1st Decade

Suggested Activities

Section II - Suggested Activities

This section provides ideas for activities prior to and following the Scholte House field trip. It is a sampling of student centered activities that can serve as a catalyst for the teacher as they develop lesson plans that incorporate the field trip to Scholte House in Pella, Iowa as an enriching experience into the existing curriculum.

Section II is divided into 4 categories:

The Trip to a New World gives chronological consideration to simulation of emigration experiences.
Classroom Preparation / Review is a list of topics and questions that might be included in pre and post Scholte House visits to enhance the experience.
An Annotated Bibliography provides a listing of books and materials that can be used by the teacher for read aloud stories, story telling and information needed for role play, dramatizations, etc.
Problem Solving Activities involving higher order thinking skills are included as a springboard for creative planning.

Mareah Scholte