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=Welcome!=

bigskywiki.org is an online learning project created by Gary Myers and Dr. Rex Myers, for teachers and students of Montana history.

This site is a monitored wiki; this means that we try to review the information that is posted to this site for readability (pages should be written so that an average 4th grade student can read them), and historical accuracy. We make no scholarly guarantees! This information was intended for the use of Montana's 4th graders.

Generally speaking, the more people who add to a wiki, the better it is, so we invite all participants. If you email Gary with a request, he'll send you the "key" that is necessary to post to the site. Content on the site may be created by anyone, but we envisioned teachers, historians, librarians, and others adding rich, interesting content. Students are also welcome to add their stories to the site, but should have an adult review the material first.

We have created a suggested outline, into which you can plug “units” you have developed for teaching Montana history in Fourth Grade. It is both “suggested” and an “outline” which means if you have found some other organizational framework useful in your teaching, please feel free to work with this as a guide to share what you have.

The basis for this outline is the Montana Historical Society’s textbook on Montana history: __Montana: Stories of the Land__. This is deliberate. Although the textbook is designed for use above the fourth grade level, it provides balanced and thorough coverage of the state’s history. Indeed, we recommend you purchase a copy (or have your school purchase a copy) and use it as an overarching resources in your teaching. Early on the title also provides an opportunity to explore what the word “story” means in teaching history. Students, as Montanans, will have their own stories to add. Compilation of those stories, added to stories of others, provides an account of what Montana is today.

bigskywiki.org is the perfect campfire around which to share these stories. Welcome and tap 'er light!