The Illinois Mississippi River Valley Project Teacher’s Guide is designed to be used by Illinois classroom teachers in order to introduce the arts and culture of the Illinois Mississippi River Valley to students through hands-on activities in the classroom. While the lesson plans have been geared to K-6 elementary and middle students, they can be adapted to meet Common Core Learning Standards and goals for pre-K, junior high, and high school students. This resource can also be used by libraries, park districts, and other community organizations interested in introducing arts activities related to the Illinois Mississippi River Valley to youth groups, teachers, and other educators.
The Illinois Mississippi River Valley Project (IMRVP) is a result of a partnership between the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), an agency of the state of Illinois, and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Program. Challenge America was created to provide additional funding for arts education and outreach activities for rural and underserved areas.