Latest news with #Montana
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Exploring history: Fourth graders learn about Montana through hands-on experiences
Jun. 1—Sam Cox walked into Karissa Prewitt's fourth-grade class at Peterson Elementary one morning with numerous historical articles from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Cox, who has attended the reenactment of the battle in Southern Montana twice, talked through what life was like in 1876, like what shoes soldiers would wear and what bullets they would use. The day prior, in the middle of their Montana history unit, Prewitt taught the students about the battle. The students later told Cox they remembered that the battle was between the United States and the Native Americans, that it was General Custer's last stand and that it took place on a river. "If you ever get the chance to, you should go down there," Cox said. "It's history, it's important to know." Hands-on learning can elevate a child's educational experience, said Prewitt, which is why she tries to make lessons exciting. Incorporating presentations, guest speakers and activities into school units, such as Montana history, can help information truly reach students. "Incorporating hands-on experiences really just promotes a deeper understanding of what you're trying to teach," she said. Rather than just sitting and listening or looking at a computer, they can listen to guest speakers, touch things, see things, and more importantly ask questions ... they get a better understanding." Prewitt began the unit earlier this spring, with numerous topics and presentations included. The class covered and participated in traditional Native American games, panned for gems and learned about the history of packing with a visit from real horses. The unit ended with the history of Glacier National Park. John Peine and Rich Mathies visited Prewitt's class toward the end of the unit to talk about the history of horse and mule packing in Montana, something both men are familiar with due to volunteering in various wilderness areas. From why packing was first used to horse safety to the different sorts of saddles, kids were able to visualize the process and learn that the "bonus" to having horses is hiking in without carrying your own stuff and, in turn, having an elevated or better camp. Kids even got to meet the horses. "There are teachers who are still trying to teach history. It is important," Prewitt said. "I want kids to have a well-rounded education experience." From discussing the history of true Montana cowboys to the adventures of Lewis and Clark, Prewitt scheduled a range of presenters to expand the experience. Max Campbell, a local beaver trapper and a father to a student in Prewitt's class, spoke to students about the role of trapping in Montana history. In the 1800s, beavers changed the history of Montana as the fur trade took off. Campbell brought an array of traps and furs for students to look at during the presentation. With each presenter and item, the kids' curiosity expanded, Prewitt said. It's lessons like these that the kids will remember, Prewitt reflected, as they move forward in their education. "I get excited about it all, which is why I continue to do it," Prewitt said. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@ Cloudy, one of the pack horses, gets a treat during a demonstration by Rick Mathies and John Peine of the Northwest Montana Backcountry Horsemen on Friday, May 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Fourth graders explore various animal furs at a classroom presentation on the history of trapping. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Sam Cox shows students gear that was used during the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Rick Mathies shows Cloudy, a pack horse, to Bowan Lopan, a fourth-grader in Karissa Prewitt's class at Peterson Elementary, during a demonstration by the Northwest Montana Backcountry Horsemen on Friday, May 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Sam Cox shows students gear that was used during the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Cloudy, one of the pack horses, gets a kiss from a fourth-grader in Karissa Prewitt's class at Peterson Elementary during a demonstration by the Northwest Montana Backcountry Horsemen on Friday, May 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Students look at photos from reenactments of the Battle of Little Bighorn. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Max Campbell, a local trapper, passes around various furs at a classroom presentation on trapping. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Students hold beaver teeth during a classroom presentation. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Fourth graders explore various animal furs at a classroom presentation on the history of trapping. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Samaritan House raises $2 million in donations for expansion amid a federal grant delay
May 31—The Samaritan House has raised $2 million through community donations, furthering its hefty expansion project and helping fill a funding gap created by a loss of federal dollars. "It's really a beautiful thing," said Chris Krager, executive director of the Kalispell homeless shelter and transitional living facility. "The community has risen to the occasion to help us get started." The Samaritan House is undergoing a $16.9 million expansion that would nearly double its capacity, allowing it to serve 85 more people. The $2 million will go toward the first phase of construction, which entails a new apartment building with 18 income-based two- and three-bedroom apartments. The administrative building will also be expanded to accommodate a larger cafeteria and an overflow for the shelter. Montana-based contractor Swank Enterprises is expected to roll onto the property on July 1 after the Department of Environmental Quality finishes cleanup at the former Army Reserve Armory located at 1110 Second St. W., which is where the forthcoming apartment complex will go up. Krager said that fundraising efforts will continue, though, and more community support is needed to fund a 16-unit building to house homeless veterans. AROUND $8.4 million has been raised so far, just over half of which are federal dollars, according to Krager. "We're making progress. Nothing is in limbo. We are rolling," Krager said. But construction plans had to slightly shift earlier in the spring after a multimillion-dollar federal grant seemingly disappeared. The Samaritan House was in the midst of getting a $4.3 million grant approved when the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency in charge of dolling out the funds, abruptly cut contact. The Samaritan House was left in the dark on the status of the grant program until a week ago when the federal agency reached back out to Krager, inviting him to reapply. "We'll reapply. I know our application is really, really strong, so that's good," Krager said. The funding comes from the federal agency's Continuum of Care grant program, which "is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness," according to the federal agency. The Samaritan House will be hosting ongoing construction tours. To schedule one, email Chris Krager at ckrager@ Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Samaritan House raises $2 million in donations for expansion amid a federal grant delay
May 31—The Samaritan House has raised $2 million through community donations, furthering its hefty expansion project and helping fill a funding gap created by a loss of federal dollars. "It's really a beautiful thing," said Chris Krager, executive director of the Kalispell homeless shelter and transitional living facility. "The community has risen to the occasion to help us get started." The Samaritan House is undergoing a $16.9 million expansion that would nearly double its capacity, allowing it to serve 85 more people. The $2 million will go toward the first phase of construction, which entails a new apartment building with 18 income-based two- and three-bedroom apartments. The administrative building will also be expanded to accommodate a larger cafeteria and an overflow for the shelter. Montana-based contractor Swank Enterprises is expected to roll onto the property on July 1 after the Department of Environmental Quality finishes cleanup at the former Army Reserve Armory located at 1110 Second St. W., which is where the forthcoming apartment complex will go up. Krager said that fundraising efforts will continue, though, and more community support is needed to fund a 16-unit building to house homeless veterans. AROUND $8.4 million has been raised so far, just over half of which are federal dollars, according to Krager. "We're making progress. Nothing is in limbo. We are rolling," Krager said. But construction plans had to slightly shift earlier in the spring after a multimillion-dollar federal grant seemingly disappeared. The Samaritan House was in the midst of getting a $4.3 million grant approved when the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency in charge of dolling out the funds, abruptly cut contact. The Samaritan House was left in the dark on the status of the grant program until a week ago when the federal agency reached back out to Krager, inviting him to reapply. "We'll reapply. I know our application is really, really strong, so that's good," Krager said. The funding comes from the federal agency's Continuum of Care grant program, which "is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness," according to the federal agency. The Samaritan House will be hosting ongoing construction tours. To schedule one, email Chris Krager at ckrager@ Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
Fox News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump admin pulls Jared Isaacman's nomination for NASA administrator, replacement to be announced 'soon'
The Trump administration recently pulled Jared Isaacman's nomination to be NASA administrator, alluding that he was not in "complete alignment" with the president's agenda. "The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President [Donald] Trump's bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars," White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston told Fox News Digital on Saturday. Huston added it is "essential" that the next leader of NASA "is in complete alignment" with President Trump's "America First" agenda. A replacement will be announced directly by Trump "soon," according to the White House. Isaacman is the billionaire founder and CEO of Shift4 payments, a credit card payment processing company. He reportedly dropped out of high school as a teen, using a $10,000 check from his grandfather to form his tech business. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., who introduced Isaacman to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, described him as "a successful innovator, entrepreneur, pilot, and astronaut." "Jared believes in NASA's core mission," Sheehy told Fox. "He has the experience and skillset to ensure we continue to lead in the greatest frontier ever known, and I look forward to adding NASA administrator to his already remarkable resume." "For nearly 70 years, the United States has been at the forefront of space exploration," he continued. "President Trump knows how critical it is to reinvigorate NASA so we can once again lead the world to new heights, and that's why he chose exactly the right man for the job: Jared Isaacman." The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Diddy faces more lurid allegations... from a tiny town thousands of miles away from his 'freak offs'
'Thank you for calling the Sean P Diddy Combs abuse helpline. This call is being recorded.' This is the first thing that up to 40 people a week are hearing when they ring the Montana-based call center fielding legal complaints from alleged victims of the embattled music mogul.
