Turning Water into Medicine
Hot Springs National Park
Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
State Standards:
H.12.4.1 Create historical narratives using chronological sequences D2.His.1.3-5
H.12.4.5 Reference historic places and national parks to guide inquiry about history
H.13.4.1 Describe ways people’s perspectives shaped the historical sources they created
"Turning Water into Medicine" is a student-led history program exploring the transformation of Hot Springs from a mountainside of open thermal springs into Bathhouse Row with its highly sophisticated medical practices. The program begins along Bathhouse Row, at the Display Springs to briefly introduce the geology of the water. The bulk of the program takes place inside the historic Fordyce Bathhouse Museum, where students will examine how different parts of the bathhouse functioned by using historical analysis skills incorporating historical documents and images as well as public presentation skills.
This program has been developed for 4th graders but has been successful for students grades 2-5. It lasts 1 to 1.5 hours. Groups are ideally no larger than 20 students. Having 1 adult chaperone per 5 students is preferred.
Due to high visitation during much of the year, “Turning Water into Medicine" program begins between 9am and 10am. Later start times may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Tags: public health history bathhouse row thermal water health and medicine
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service