Since Stephen is in the 4th grade this year, he gets to take Idaho History. I have been waiting for this since he started kindergarten. I loved Idaho History when I was a kid.One of the first things Stephen learned about was all the state symbols and emblems and things like that. The state horse is the Appaloosa, the state flower is the Syringa, the state gem is the Star Garnet which can only be found in Idaho (in Benewah and Latah counties) and India. The state vegetable is...well I probably don't need to tell you that one. Check out this website for more state emblems.
After learning about all of these emblems for a couple of weeks, Stephen's teacher gave the class a test. I was helping him study and came to the last question which was about the state song. I asked Stephen what it was and he answered it right. I am kind of a corny mom sometimes, so I started singing it. Stephen looked at me like he was impressed that I actually knew it. Anne and Ellen just looked at my like I was being a little too silly. Stephen then headed downstairs, went into his bedroom and started humming the song right where I had left off. Oh, did that make me smile!
Click HERE to listen to a UofI choir sing the chorus of Here We Have Idaho.
6 comments:
Tell Stephen that Grandpa and I have both loved that song since we took Idaho history as 4th graders. He'll really be amazed then; that we were ever that young.
Oh, how I wish my children would have had the opportunity to study Idaho history! ... one of my favorite memories! I truly love the state song. How blessed you are to live there and be able to share this with your children.
So do all states do state history in the 4th grade? 'Cause to be perfectly honest- I couldn't tell you anything about Colorado. I don't even know if they have a state song.
I loved learning Idaho history too. If only I could remember what I learned!
We took it in the sixth grade, and part of it was on a radio show which was always introduced by my father on KTFI, an NBC affiliate in Twin Falls.
In Italy, I only knew one other Elder from Idaho. He was a Boise guy with a great sense of humor. I remember him sitting down at the piano after a sacrament meeting one time and banging out a honky-tonk version of Here We Have Idaho. He might have done it partly for me. I don't recall. Mostly, though, I think he did it because he was a nut. You should have seen the blank stares on the faces of the few Italians who were still in the room!
Man, I LOVE the Here We Have Idaho song, too!! You know what else I still sing on a regular basis? The Idaho Counties song. I use it to figure out what county people are from when I spot Idaho license plates here in California. "Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bearlake, Benniwah, Binghma, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Bounty, too. Camus,Canyon, Carribou, Casha, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont..." Well, you get the idea.:) Never knew I had all that in me did you, Cousin?? Ha!
Oh! and please tell Stephen that when I was in 5th grade and living in Moscow, I went garnet hunting and FOUND an actual STAR GARNET!!
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