Quick Summary
As the school year concludes, we celebrate how Minnesota educators have utilized our monthly Resource Packs to inspire learning. These collections combined materials from eLibrary Minnesota, Ebooks Minnesota, and the Minnesota Digital Library, providing content for all students and organized by grades K-5 and 6-12.
As we review the monthly highlights, remember that all Resource Packs remain accessible online to support your teaching year-round. Whether you explored all the packs or just a few, they're ready to spark meaningful conversations and fresh discoveries in your classroom whenever you need them. And if you have a moment, weā€™d love to hear your feedback about the Resource Packs and how they are working for you. Now, hereā€™s a recap!
August: Mental Health
We began with resources on emotions and mindfulness for young learners through EBSCO Explora Primary, while teens explored topics like depression and anxiety with Ebooks Minnesota. Historical context came from the Minnesota Digital Library, featuring primary sources on early psychiatric treatment in Minnesota since 1866.
September: Agriculture
This theme connected local farming to broader issues using Britannica, PebbleGo, and EBSCO Explora. Content ranged from farm animals to agricultural development history. Older students accessed debates on factory farming and comprehensive guides, complemented by historical farming images from the Minnesota Digital Library.
October: Voting and Democracy
Election season resources covered voting rights and electoral processes through Britannica, Gale in Context, and Points of View Reference Center. ProQuest US Newsstream supported current events research, while the Minnesota Digital Library provided local historical context with voter records and campaign materials.
November/December: Veterans
We honored service members with resources spanning generations. Young students engaged with titles like "Thank a Veteran," while high schoolers explored veterans' issues through multiple databases. The Minnesota Digital Library contributed audio interviews, World War II memorabilia, and stories of local veterans.
January: Weather and Climate
The new year began with engaging content on tornadoes, clouds, and natural disasters, plus in-depth research tools for older students. Historical weather events, including Rochester's tornado that led to the Mayo Clinic's founding, provided local connections.
February: Languages other than English
This collection highlighted tools for accessing content in over 80 languages and curated ebook collections in Somali, Hmong, Spanish, Ojibwe, and more, celebrating Minnesota's linguistic diversity and supporting bilingual students.
March: Arts and Crafts
Creative resources included artistic prompts, biographies of famous artists, and how-to guides for various crafts. The Minnesota Digital Library contributed artwork from local artists past and present.
April: STEM
Our STEM celebration featured databases, ebooks, and hands-on resources covering animal habitats to nuclear science. The Digital Library highlighted historical innovators throughout Minnesota's scientific and technological history.
School Librarians and Teachers: Your Feedback Needed
As we plan for next year's Resource Packs, we're collecting input from Minnesota educators. Please take a moment to fill out our short feedback formā€”your ideas help us make the packs even more useful and relevant for your classrooms. Thank you for another year of learning and discovery!
Image caption: Students in a school classroom in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, c. 1908. Northwest Minnesota Historical Center collection, https://collection.mndigital.org/catalog/mhd:190.
